One 5 Oh!, Dr. Gary Zustiak highlight The Main Event

By SYLVIA MCGINNIS

News Reporter

Dr. Gary Zustiak and One 5 Oh! will be the featured guests on Saturday, January 18 at the Main Event, an event geared to bringing more things into the community from a Christian standpoint.

The Main Event is being sponsored by the First Christian Church Target Ministries and the local FCA Club, according to Steve Lutz, Youth Minister with First Christian Church.

Lutz is responsible for organizing the Main Event for local and area residents, but he said the idea did not originate with him. He stated that he had previously worked with a youth minister by the name of Brad Taylor in Logansport, Ind. who came up with the concept of the Main Event three years ago.

The Main Event proved successful and grew from an attendance number of 60 that first year to over 3,000 at last year’s event. Lutz took that idea and brought it with him when he joined the community as Youth Minister at First Christian Church.

The highlight of the Main Event will be a concert that evening at 7 p.m. by One 5 Oh!, a praise and worship band that has gained popularity in Kentucky. The group will also be presenting workshops during the afternoon on Saturday, January 18, along with Dr. Gary Zustiak.

The featured speaker for the Main Event will be Dr. Gary Zustiak, the Director of Youth Ministries at CIY (Christ In Youth). However, Lutz warns residents to not think that Dr. Zustiak is an "an ole stiff." Lutz, who affectionately calls Dr. Zustiak "Zus," stated that Zustiak drives a Dodge Viper and didn’t always have a close relationship with God.

In fact, Zustiak started out like many teenagers, rebelling against the idea of attending church and accepting its seemingly strict ways. Zustiak grew up in church, was raised by Godly parents who attended church every Sunday, and he went to Sunday School, church, and Vacation Bible School.

Zustiak stated, "I never doubted the truth of the Bible or God’s existence or the resurrection of Christ or any of that. But, my church was also very legalistic. It seemed to me that Christianity could be summed up in this rule: ‘Don’t do this, don’t do that—and you must do this or you’re going to hell".

Zustiak added that he did not recall anyone speaking about a personal relationship with Christ and that there seemed to be no joy about the people he encountered, just lots of faith and obedience.

At a young age, Zustiak fell in love with The Beatles, and a desire to be like the group compelled him to buy a guitar and start hanging around older guys and playing in a local garage band that was asked to play for several events such as parties.

"This was an exciting world to me," stated Zustiak. "It was full of life, travel, parties, thrills and adventure. Of course, along with it came the negatives of early alcohol abuse and drug use. All this time I was leading a double lifestyle. My parents had no idea what I was doing away from home. I still went to church and Sunday School, but basically just sat there and daydreamed."

One day when Zustiak was sitting on his front porch playing the guitar, the Sunday School teacher at his church pulled up and introduced Zustiak to the stranger he had in the car with him, who turned out to be the summer youth minister. The youth minister asked Zustiak if he would attend some youth meetings and play guitar and lead singing.

"If it wasn’t for the fact that I was holding my guitar, I probably would have lied and said that I didn’t play guitar. But since I couldn’t do that I simply said as cold and matter of fact as I could, "Buddy, I don’t play any hymns!"

The youth minister surprised the young Zustiak by telling him that was okay because they would sing whatever songs he knew, whether it was The Beatles or the Rolling Stones. Not really believing what he had heard, Zustiak went to the meeting just to see if the youth minister would keep his word.

"I played all the popular contemporary stuff and the kids sang along and we had a great time. Afterwards he (the youth minister) talked about having a personal relationship with Jesus. The way this guy talked, you would have thought that Jesus lived next door or something. It was like he really knew him, loved him and gained a lot from being his friend. I had never heard anyone talk about Jesus that way before," Zustiak said. "I decided to give these new meetings a try and came back every week that summer. By the end of the summer I rededicated my life to Christ—this time to a personal relationship with Him, not just fire insurance. I have never looked back and have never regretted that decision. Jesus continually fills me with joy, purpose and meaning."

Since that summer between Zustiak’s junior and senior year of high school, he has come a long way in serving the Lord. He has published books, earned honors and awards, and has mission experiences that span from Inner City Chicago, IL and Hartford, CT to Barbados, Canada and Taiwan.

Zustiak has served as youth minister, preaching minister, associate minister, professor of youth ministry and psychology at various places, and his current position is Director of Youth Ministries and Resources at Christ in Youth.

Christ in Youth (CIY) specializes in connecting young people with Jesus Christ. CIY believes that God is opening doors to some incredible opportunities for CIY to minister to this generation.

Because of his own personal experiences and relationship with Christ, Zustiak is able to relate to today’s teens in a way that many people overlook...on their level.

In addition to Dr. Zustiak, another highlight of the Main Event will be a concert by One 5 Oh!, a praise and worship band, based out of Indianapolis, that has a passion to train and lead this new generation in intimate worship.

The group gets its name from Psalm 150, which says, "Let everything that has breath, praise the Lord!" The group is passionate about getting teens involved in worship, both in celebration and praise.

"One reason I chose One 5 Oh! is because they’re local favorites, especially in Kentucky," stated Lutz.

Dr. Zustiak and One 5 Oh! will kick-off the activities lined up for the Main Event at 1 p.m. at First Christian Church, when they present their first workshop for those who wish to attend. Zustiak will speak about the Importance of Mentoring Youth and One 5 Oh! will talk about Ministering through Music.

Another workshop is set to take place at 3 p.m., as Dr. Zustiak will speak on the topic Understanding Contemporary Youth Culture and One 5 Oh! will talk about the Role of the Worship Leader.

Both workshops will take place at First Christian Church. Those interested in attending, may attend both workshops for a $5 requested donation, in addition to the concert.

Lutz noted that the money collected during the workshops and the concert will be used to help the First Christian Youth Group recoup some of the money they have spent out of their youth fund to finance the Main Event.

Lutz also pointed out that if parents wish to attend these workshops, that the movie "Joshua" will be playing in the basement of the church to keep the kids occupied so the parents can participate in the workshops.

That evening at 6 p.m. there will be a praise and worship set by One 5 Oh! at the Wayne County High School Auditorium, followed by a special message by Dr. Zustiak at 6:30 p.m.

The Main Event activities will culminate that evening with a special concert by One 5 Oh!.

"This isn’t a membership drive for the church, it isn’t like that," Lutz noted. "This is to bring stuff into the community for kids from a Christian standpoint."

Lutz said the Main Event is being promoted in Kentucky and northern Tennessee and he is hoping for a good turnout. He has even issued a challenge that "if there’s a thousand people there, then I’ll shave my hair off."

Lutz noted that he made this challenge once before, prior to coming to Wayne County, and had to shave his hair off. Although he will miss his hair, Lutz is hoping for a big crowd, making the Main Event a huge success.

Admission to the One 5 Oh! concert is $5 in advance and $7.50 at the door. Lutz noted that scholarship money is available for those who wish to attend, but may be unable to afford the ticket cost.

For more information about the Main Event, call (606) 348-5131.

© The Wayne County Outlook

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