Eric
Hughes




Things I like? What a question.

I like sports - to play and to watch. I like the NBA and NFL. I love to golf. I like good music and love some of the worship stuff that is coming out lately. Matt Redman has some great stuff -- go buy it! I love to read (Piper, Watson, Bridges, Packer, Stott, Spurgeon -- some favorites). I love Mexican food which includes Taco Bell! I love my wife and kids and love hanging out with family and friends (especially if chips and salsa are involved!). I love my job and the guys I work with, and what I get to do there. I also love the band I get to play with, these are great guys!

I was born and raised in Scottsdale, Arizona, where we spent 90% of the summers in water! What else do you do when it is 107 degrees?

I grew up in the church am one of those "been a Christian as long as I can remember" guys. I had real and distinct experiences with God at an early age where I knew his love for me and understood how that was displayed on the cross. I loved learning about God, growing in Him and communicating my love back to Him in worship. I had a real desire to serve and please Him with all of my life.

By God's amazing grace, I was spared from the heartaches that result from seeking first what I wanted and made it through my teen years with a passion for God and His ways, instead of skidding out in rebellion.

I was far from perfect, though, and dealt with many sins growing up which included much pride and self righteousness, among many others. My parents did a great job helping me to grow and I am grateful for them. I also grew up loving sports and music and was involved in both. I began playing piano when I was 15 and guitar at 16. I learned both from my dad who knew some chords on piano and everything about the guitar! I learned by playing by ear and figuring songs out -- never by reading music.




 
 
 
 
I had real and distinct experiences with God at an early age where I knew his love for me and understood how that was displayed on the cross



 
 
 
 
Let your goal be to not "be in a band some day," but to be on a worship team some day

After some ability began to emerge, I was used on our worship team as the piano player. I was simultaneously leading worship in small group contexts with a guitar.

My family moved to Virginia Beach when I was 16 to be a part of a church that had started one year prior (now Sovereign Grace Church). It was here that my life really began to develop. I went to college here and graduated from Old Dominion University. I loved serving in multiple areas in the church -- including the youth group, my small group, and the worship team.

I met my wife here at the church and eventually was brought on staff to pastor single adults and to lead worship. My life so far has been a testimony to the grace of God.

I have a wonderful wife -- Marie, who is my best friend. We have three small children: Rachel (3), Ryan (2), and Sarah (1). I enjoy being a pastor, and work in the best church with awesome families, single adults, teens, and children.

This project was exciting to work on, especially because it stemmed from a vision that protects the importance of the local church. We are guys who love to be on our worship team. You could take everything else away and we wouldn't want to stop what we do each Sunday.

If God has given you musical gifts, allow Him to show you how you can use those for His glory. One way is to submit your giftings to your church. Let your goal be to not "be in a band some day," but to be on a worship team some day! Then see what amazing things God will do as you serve Him!