Out Of South Africa

Patrick Rattey and his family have been in America only since May. They scurried to sell their South African possessions and make their transcontinental leap. As the new music director and praise and worship leader at First Baptist Church of Spring Hill, Rattey feels certain this is where Christ wants him to serve.

Rattey's vision is to use the local body to help build a worship center that will serve as a model to include establishing a diverse worship leader training center for aspirant worship leaders.

"This church is a Restoration body," he said, "committed to helping people establish and restore their relationship with God, a 'purpose-driven church,' as the contemporary leader, Christian theologian and writer Rick Warren would put it.

"Our senior teaching pastor, Chuck Fightmaster, our leaders, members and our mission embody the five church purposes: worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry and evangelism.

"My wife, son and I are thrilled to come and live in America with the message of true worship in spirit and in God's truth that will dovetail into the directives of this purpose-driven church," Rattey said.

Fightmaster said Rattey is a wonderful addition to the ministry of the new upcoming The Bridge Christian Life Center. "I find his passion for God and desire for worship and praise infectious not only to the staff but the entire congregation," Fightmaster said.

Rattey continued: "Our new large multi-functional building is nearing completion. It will be dedicated in September, so the praise and worship and music will become greatly enhanced by multi-media video screens and state of the art sound and lighting equipment, and drama skits to illuminate the Bible messages. Imagine 24 LED lights that can create any color or pattern for dramatic effect. I can't tell you how excited I am about this church and how wonderful it is for us to be here."

Rattey was born in South Central Africa, Zambia, and educated in various British schools. His parents later moved to Zimbabwe, where he was granted a scholarship at age 18 to study voice and opera. He was drafted into the military, he said, and had to forego the voice training.

"After serving an initial nine months as a draftee," he recalled, "I would have 28 days as an active soldier and 28 days as a civilian, in and out for about three years during the then-known 'Freedom Struggle.' Then I left Zimbabwe to pursue a career in the music industry as a vocalist/guitarist.

"My young adult life was focused on contemporary secular music, and I found playing professionally on tours, at concerts and clubs, to be extremely lonely and unfulfilling, especially whilst not on stage. No home or possessions. Only music work and 'the road.' God made sure I would not fall prey to alcohol as it made me sick to drink. Drugs were popular in that lifestyle, but I didn't care much for them, either.

Disillusioned with life and people in general, Rattey said he became a recluse and on his own studied Eastern religion while living in an old farmhouse in the foothills of the Drakensburg mountains of Natal.

"I taught music at a nearby farm school," he said. "At this school I encountered a 16-year-old boy with a mission. He would walk two hours to get to my cottage and then argue the merits of Christianity over Eastern religion, and then walk back home, about twice weekly. God was with him, I realize today. He was a Pentecostal and was impassioned about his faith.

"Three years later I returned to secular life, disillusioned about Eastern religion, but with the seeds of Christianity firmly planted. I signed a contract to entertain guests with Holiday Inns and such.

"One evening an attractive young lady came up to the stage and asked me 'Do you know Jesus Christ?' Soon, I met her family and was invited to attend a service at their church. When it came time for the altar call I felt compelled forward to respond. After the service I was escorted into a small room with a white fluorescent light and a young man who was neatly dressed, whilst I was wearing my usual jeans, T-shirt and sandals. I felt 'dirty' by comparison within and without. He and the moment seemed to me to be pure and clean.

"We prayed, I wept, and eventually when I emerged from the room and walked out of the room, I felt changed and cleansed - lifted out of the darkness of sin. Unbeknown to me, the girl's family and about 50 other church folk were awaiting my exit. They were all cheering. Some were hugging, even kissing me, and someone told me the angels in heaven were rejoicing. It was a moving and life-changing experience."

Rattey moved out of secular music at age 30, and attended college to study engineering. It was during his studies that he met his wife, Anna-Marie. She is a pianist and enrolled as one of his music students.

Rattey spoke of becoming a technologist for the Electric Supply Co. of South Africa. When he and his family later joined a conservative church, the elders there disliked his praise and worship and livelier newer music approach, he said.

"Our son, Raymond, now 19, was home-schooled, since African schools were overcrowded. One of his subjects was music, so I was his teacher. Raymond later went to study guitar full time under a master. His first love is progressive rock, and he would love to join musicians in the area with the same musical interests.

"This church, First Baptist of Spring Hill, oozes talent in the performing arts and vocalists who just knock your socks off," Rattey added. "Some can instantly harmonize and transcribe into any key, so with the new building and equipment coming soon, we're getting ready for a musical explosion, to teach and equip people to become spiritual leaders and to make the most of their musical gifts.

"I believe this is where we were called by God to serve."

Because of his experience and training, Rattey is familiar with a wide range of music and is a Psalmody leader and teacher.

"Psalmody," he explained, "is the study of music as applied in the Bible, with emphasis on the Psalms. Worship accompanied by music is the extension of a lifestyle of obedience to God's word."

A member of the praise and worship team, Associate Pastor Tim Lewis plays the guitar and other instruments well, said Rattey. Pastor Lewis gave reciprocal affirmation to the Rattey family. "Patrick and his family have such a loving, quiet and humble spirit. They live their daily walk with God, and they are teaching that to us," Lewis said. "All of us are inspired by them and we are so glad to have them here."

Question: Patrick, how did you happen to come to Spring Hill and this church?

"In Africa, my wife and I were consumed with making videos and films for businesses, and doing a lot of commercial photography. We were tiring of it and wanted to serve more of our lives in church music, which had become our first love.

My sister is a member here, and in the church planning for all of the new growth and community outreach, music is of course an important part of what a church can embody to suit the chosen worship style and preferences. We were offered the position and thereby sold everything we could to jump at the unique opportunity.

How are you all adjusting to your new home and church?

Anna-Marie said she loves to cook, but is having some difficulty finding some African ingredients such as grenadilla, certain vegetables, a crumbly ready-made pastry topping and their favorite tea 'Five Roses.'

Patrick enjoys landscape photography and hopes to discover local vistas to capture, "especially in pre-dawn when the sunrise affords such special lighting."

Son Raymond, 19, is already engrossed in music and church offerings for leading youth.

All three love the local "loving, kind and wonderful people here at First Baptist, the senior pastor and other leaders and members, the community, beaches, parks and shopping," Rattey said.

What music and praise and worship changes will come to First Baptist besides the enhancements of more space and sound and lighting equipment?

Rattey is familiar with a wide range of music, and is a Psalmody leader and teacher. "Psalmody," Patrick explained, "is the study of music as applied in the Bible, with emphasis on the Psalms. Worship accompanied by music is the extension of a lifestyle of obedience to God."

Drama skits and music skills improvement are among the expanded opportunities that will be offered.

When do they meet?

Sunday praise and worship services: 9:30 and 11a.m.

(Nursery available both services)

Children's Sunday worship service: 9:30 a.m.

Children's Sunday Bible Clubs (ages 4-12{+t}{+h} grade): 11 a.m.

Wednesday service: 6:30 p.m.

Single parent group: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday

VBS: July 28 - August 1: 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Support groups and other information: call the church