Steve Schmutzer reports on American metal team WHITECROSS.

Walking the balance between music and ministry is not always easy, and Whitecross members can identify with this struggle. "When I have the time. I often battle with a great desire to get behind my kit and kick out some double bass licks." Mike says. "For me, it's at times like that when I really find it most necessary to get on my knees, pray, and read the Word instead. It'd be pretty easy for me to compromise those important things for the sake of my love for my instrument. But, after all, God gave us the talents we have individually; we really need to give God His proper place. Christians have really been the followers rather than the leaders musically in this business. I think, as we become better followers of God. We also develop the capacity to become better performers of our music'

Since the early days of Whitecross. it has remained a goal of the group and its management to effectively market the band in the international scene. Even the most casual follower of the band would now be hard pressed to recall a time when Whitecross was not being discussed within the context of some foreign effort. The band have now compiled an impressive roster of appearances in a large number of foreign countries. Over the past few months, their appearances in Guatemala have received consistent coverage in American magazines like CCM and Heaven's Metal, as well as others.

"Nobody really felt like going to Guatemala," Scot Wenzel, the group's lead singer, explains. "It had been the end of a rather difficult time on the road, and we were all just so tired . It's like we wanted to be about anywhere else but on a plane headed for Guatemala. But, but once on the plane, the Lord really grabbed us; we all underwent a serious change of heart regarding the whole situation, and as it turned out, hundreds of kids were saved because we were willing to go there. It's just another example of the effectiveness this band can have if we heed God's calling. "Basically, God opens the doors: we just go through them and leave the rest up to Him."

But Whitecross has loyal fans overseas that recognize the positive impact this band's ministry can have on the receptive lives of young people.

"The whole Guatemala thing was really a missions trip brought together by one man over there." explains Rex. "A missionary named Martin Hohl started the ball rolling by contacting the band and getting everything set up. Though the band ended up tithing all of its time and resources to see the project through, we also had to recognize the privilege that we were a part of being the first Christian or secular band to go there.

Kids over there just don't conceive the idea of the vitality of Christian living. I really think that other Christian bands need to make a concerted effort at getting over to Guatemala too. We had a lot of success with our altar calls there, and I'm convinced there's a huge ministry there awaiting bands who don't mind giving up some comfort for a few hard knocks. You know. I was really against the Guatemala trip before it ever happened, but my eyes were really opened. I now feel it should be an effort of Whitecross to engage in such similar mission trips on a regular, maybe even on a yearly basis."

As mentioned earlier, this is a travelin' man's band. Whitecross has been places most bands will only dream of going to, and they're headed to a lot more of them. In a time when the peoples of the world are changing as fast as their political structures, it's no small responsibility to go abroad with the Gospel. Some of the places Whitecross has been to already include Sweden in 1988, where they were the last and featured band on the line-up, because they gave an altar call. While in England in 1988, Whitecross appeared at the famed Greenbelt festival, the largest such music festival in Europe. Also in 1988 they went to Australia and New Zealand. In 1989, it was Australia again, as well as Canada, Germany ("...some of the world's greatest fans;; they did us up right while we were there..."...Rex), and Northern Ireland ("...those people need a lot of prayer, there's intense spiritual warfare and bondage over there..."...Rex). Finally, as we have already seen, in 1989 there was Guatemala,

As for the future, well', these metal missionaries won't be getting much more than a breather for 1990. White-cross embarked upon an additional U.S. leg of their Triumphant Return tour in April that focused upon a number of summer festivals, and the northeast, eastern, and south-central portions of the states. Then, from August and on, it's Holland, Germany, and England including another Greenbelt engagement. Japan is confirmed for September, followed with subsequent dates in Sweden and Norway. Wrapping up 1990 should be a list of appearances in France, Germany, and Switzerland. The year 19921 will be here sooner that we all realise, and for Whitecross, it holds possible appearances in Finland, Norway, Sweden, and even Russia! Whew! Like they say, 'there's no rest for the wicked, and the righteous don't need any.'

Rex elaborates, "I can't emphasize enough that it's still a great privilege to get out and play for everyone. It's great boost for all of us in the band when we receive letters from kids who say they buy our albums, they really like the band, and they use the record for witnessing. There's a lot of hard work to all this, but it's great; we love what we're doing!"

Rick Armstrong agrees "When you look at a band like Whitecross from the outside, you don't get a good perception of what's going on. Initially it looks like a lot of good time rock and roll. Actually, from the inside, it's quite the opposite. There's a lot of hard work, and the pressing issues of limited sleep and limited income are always reminding you of just how human you are. It makes you feel very vulnerable.

"The whole thing gets a little bit easier each tour," Scott explains. "We end up learning from our mistakes from the times before. Putting on a good show time after time is kind of like riding a bike. The first time, you fall off the thing, but it gets a little easier each time you try it. Eventually, you feel pretty good about what you're pulling off."

EASIER SAID THAN DONE
Anybody who has ever found themselves working earnestly within a ministry capacity knows it's not all fudge and flowers." The Word of God recognizes this and has much to say about such efforts. In these perspectives, the members of Whitecross are getting to be veterans of devoted ministry, and they offer their insights on lessons well learned. Mike explains, "A lot of bands don't seem to want to talk about or admit the tough times they have in getting along with each other. That's too bad, because they're not fooling anybody. We're all human and we all make mistakes. Getting along when you're in each other's faces a lot of the time demands a great deal of sacrifice from everybody. The number one thing Satan will try to do when he sees an effective family, a good church, or a ministry oriented Christian band, is to try to break the unit up or render it incompetent in its purpose. Either way, he'll have done what he set out to do, and the ministry is what ends up hurting."

"I agree with that," Rick says. "There are times I think we all could just about kill each other. It's just so critical in times like that to talk about what's happening, and to pray about it. There's just too much to sacrifice."

Sacrifice. Just what part does sacrifice play in a band like Whitecross? "Sacrifice happens all the time," states Scott. "Each of us in the band are surrendering something up for the sake of something else more important. For some of us it's kids and families. For others of us it's possibly a better income we could earn in doing something other than working in a band. I often ask myself, "Is it really worth it all?" Man, I'm only in it to have kids saved. I really wish I could somehow get kids and youth pastors out there to use White-cross as a tool. Whitecross is only a tool in the hands of God, and our purpose as such a tool is to get people saved. I've seen so much good happen through the ministry of Whitecross, but there's so much more we as a band can do! I want to see the ministry part of this band really explode wide open. I want to see more and more concrete experiences at our concerts: miracles, and healing of peoples' physical and spiritual needs. God can use miracles to win the lost and open their eyes, and because God's the same yesterday, today, and forever, I feel there's much in store yet for the overall ministry of this band."