Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Rains.
Jason, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up in a little town in north Louisiana and had the opportunity to see the ugliness of racial prejudice and injustice first hand. I was blessed enough to see the evil that it was and is and grow up seeking a new mentality and way of living. My last year of high school, I received what I would say is my calling to be a bridge-builder between cultures, church denominations and age groups.
My life has been surrounded by people that look, live, and think differently than I do. I have been blessed with the opportunity to see life from many different perspectives. I believe this has been a part of the work of Christ in me to help me see life and people the way He sees things to be.
Over the past five years, I have had the opportunity to put a lot of my understanding and growth into practice. I have been able to work with some of the most amazing groups in the area to help bring reconciliation, relationship, and collaborative action to our churches and community. My unique gift set of leading worship and connecting leaders is what has helped me accomplish this the most. Through the WorshipRevival movement, I am able to provide environments for people from different church backgrounds and experiences to get together and remove walls through intentional time in worship, praise, and prayer. Part of my work has allowed me to connect two major racial reconciliation groups, Dallas County based Project Unity lead by Pastor Richie Butler and Collin County-based Threaded led by Pastor Markus Lloyd. January 19th, 2020 the two organizations will join forces to bring to the COME.Unity event to the area. I also help co-produce this each year. This is a night where we look at the Reverend aspect or the faith view of Dr. King that motivated his work and life.
This is just some of what I get to do.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Nothing I do is smooth, mainly because it is all part-time. I have a full-time job in IT support.
I am also a husband and father of four. So my time is very limited. In other words, I have to more with a LOT less time. But luckily, my family supports this work and enters into it with me every chance they get.
There is also the issue of people’s mentalities. There are still SO SO many people who don’t see that there is really an issue with racism and disunity. There is always someone that is having to be convinced of the necessity of the work. And some need to be convinced over and over again.
Money is always an issue. I either have to use personal money for things or raise money to get things done, which can sometimes delay what can be done and how impactful it can be.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Jason L Rains Ministries / WorshipRevival – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
Jason L Rains Ministries exists to glorify God and make His name famous through the work of reconciliation and unity in the Body of Christ. When the Body of Christ operates in unity, love abounds. It becomes tangible, atmospheres begin to change and the world can see the love of Christ expressed through His church.
My work can be seen with several local Dallas County and Collin County ministries: UNITE Greater Dallas, Threaded, and Project Unity.
UNITE Greater Dallas – works to connect Christian leaders to each other and to resources needed to address the urgent social challenges facing our city.
Threaded – serves to inspire relationships, reconciliation, and collaborative action among the diverse Body of Christ through panel discussions on race relations, their racial reconciliation small group study and roundtable events that challenge the attendees to have the hard conversations that come with racial reconciliation.
Project Unity – this is a collaborative movement based on the faith-driven belief that what unites us is greater than what divides us. Its core focus is building and sustaining community. Its mission is fulfilled through dialogue, community-building events, and activities, education and empowerment.
I am most proud of what was able to be accomplished through our first annual WorshipRevival in October 2019. Not only was this a profound and amazing night of worship, but we were able to hold our first fundraiser to benefit Threaded. We were able to present Threaded with a check for $10,000 to help it pursue its mission in the community. My team and I are already preparing for the WorshipRevival 2020.
I am also extremely proud of my work with the annual COME.Unity event. Each year my primary co-producer responsibilities include the logistics and music planning for the evening. I get to work with over 40 different churches from an array of denominational and ethnic backgrounds. Here is a link to our current promo video: https://youtu.be/HXAUM0F0O2k.
I would say I am best known for drawing people together who might not normally get together on their own to work towards a common goal, especially in worship.
The thing that sets me apart, I would assume is my willingness to be in the uncomfortable moments of reconciliation and stay there until breakthrough comes. Most people have a hard time sitting in those moments, but that is where the work is done. In the tension.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I am going to continue to do what I have been doing. If something stops working, I’ll try something else. I do eventually hope to be doing this work full-time, where I can truly focus on the work of racial reconciliation and community engagement.
I look forward to growing the WorshipRevival movement to the point that it is drawing diversity from churches all over the DFW area and they are in turn taking it back to their houses of worship and communities spreading the work of Christ love through reconciliation opportunities.
Pricing:
- COME.Unity.2020 is $5 a person. tickets available at http://comeunity2020.eventbrite.com
Contact Info:
- Website: jasonlrains.wordpress.com
- Phone: 2149085257
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @revrains
- Facebook: @revrains
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