Blog #10: Picture Story — Uriah Garay

After traveling the world learning all he can about himself, Uriah Garay, 30, decided to settle down in Bellingham, Washington. Garay stumbled upon Bellingham when touring the U.S. performing free shows with his brothers.

His band, Thrice Beckoned, played at several house shows, churches and other venues. Through Garay’s previous experiences with worship bands performing and having to pay, Garay knew that was something he never wanted to do.

“I was really confused why I had to pay in order to worship the Lord,” Garay said.

During this time of touring, Garay felt called to serve in Israel. There he was serving at a church his father built years before. Working sound and music, Garay helped to build a studio for the church. Here is where he learned the biggest lesson he would take back home: “it’s not about you.”

He explained that he was going through a creative and spiritual rut at this time. He spent hours and hours playing music in the dark. Writing and banging away at a piano.

“I realized that this is for God and no one else,” Garay said. “The way I play in the dark should be the same as when I play in the light.”

Garay talked about how when doing worship or anything thing you do for God, it’s not always the very best in the world. But instead it’s your best. He explained it as, a small child at a piano recital and how their parents are in the crowd. The kid obviously is no Mozart or Bach but their parents are so proud and happy the fact that this was their kid’s best.

This is the same mentality that Garay brings when facilitating those who do worship at Ekklesia. Ekklesia is a young adults ministry in Bellingham. Through this avenue, Garay has been able to mold young musicians and vocalists.

“He definitely pushes you out of your comfort zone,” Ella Harris, one of the many Garay facilitates said. She went on about how he has helped her to get out of her head in and look at the big picture. Harris describes Garay as a clif pusher in the best way.

Garay talked about how he wanted to make a safe place for people in the same way that Israel did for him. He wants to create a place for people to fail but be okay with it. Garay knew that a lot of the time when it comes to being on stage, everyone feels as though it’s for everyone else and he wants to break that mentality.

“Everyone participate in serving in the kingdom [of God],” Garay said. “I just get to be a small part of making that space.”