INTERVIEW: Joe Pace, One Man, Two Ministers - Part II
Mix together leadership and discipline, fold in a generous portion
of keyboard and writing talent, an immeasurable love for worshipping God
and a dash of business expertise. Then, bake for ten years or until
fiery darts come out snuffed when inserted in the middle. Once cooled to
room temperature, layer with the Holy Spirit to your own taste. A recipe
this personalized could only have been conceived and prepared by the
hands of God to yield choir director, worship leader and producer,
Minister Joseph Pace, II, which He has served to all who hunger and
thirst after righteousness for the last decade.
Through schedule interruptions I was able to interview the
Director of the Grammy and Stellar award-holding Colorado Mass Choir (C
Mass) extensively in two parts and have combined the breadth of our
conversations. It was a stop and go visit down memory lane as I delved
into the essence of Alabama-born artist and he divulged the experiences
that have brought him to this milestone period.
Mona Austin: Joe, congratulations on "Mighty Long Way".
Joe Pace: It was a long time coming.
MA. “Mighty Long Way” is the culmination of your 10 year ministerial
journey. What has been the most fulfilling part of the journey?
JP: I think finally stepping into when you really get it, when you
figure out what you’re supposed to do and you feel you’re operating in
your call. Because a lot of the time it’s hit and miss. . .so, when you
finally get to that point when this is where you’re supposed to be and
you get the opportunity to flow in that, that’s such a blessing and so
rewarding.
MA: Do you feel that you’re living in your purpose right now?
JP: Not in its entirety, but I feel I’m walking in my call with purpose
and focus.
MA: What has been the most challenging aspect of your career?
JP: I think the industry can be challenging. With C Mass it happened so
quickly, I don’t know that I was prepared. . .lot of things, no one was
giving you money for. ..lot of tearful days, lonely days.
MA: Sounds like birthing.
JP: Indeed it is.
MA: “Mighty Long Way” is a monumental project--how would you rate it in
comparison to all of your work?
JP: It’s a little different to rate and compare because I went through
so much in making it happen. So I don’t think I’ve fully been able to
step back and appreciate everything that’s been involved with it. Like
any project there are things that I wished I had done that I didn’t do
that could be better. I do think overall it’s a good representation of
who I am and the DVD will flesh that out even more as you see it unfold
visually. . .it’s a representation of the ministry and the call that is
me which is what we wanted to do. . .combine C Mass and the praise and
worship stuff that people aren’t as familiar with. The album gave us an
opportunity to pull that all together under one covering. . .and I’m
proud of that.
MA: Do you have favorites from your musical collections?
JP: C Mass is always near and dear and always will be. The closest to me
would be “Speak Life” because it’s the most personal.
MA: You kind of get a sense, vis a vis the sound, of the atmosphere
changing. When I hear “Speak Life,” I know that the atmosphere in that
place changed when that song was ministered.
JP: It was moment that was frozen in time. . .We had K& K Mime
ministering the song simultaneously. For me it’s almost the pinnacle
moment.
MA: Tell me about the night. Everything you did leading up to that
point came to fruition. What was that night like for you?
JP: Crazy.
MA: How so?
JP: Everything that could happen did. There were so many logistics and
like a construction project, when you’re in it when the overruns begin
to happen, when you’re in it, there’s nothing you can do. . .Usually I
have a template that I follow and this was just throwing out every
template and took on a life of its own. . .you just have to say God take
it, it’s yours. It’s almost like and our-of body experience People had
to tell me this happened and this happen. . .it was certainly an
historic moment for me spiritually, professionally. I learned a lot
about myself as a minister. . .
MA: Do you think it was a “God-thing” that some of these things
happened, maybe to get your attention?
JP: Oh it certainly was. A lot of times (we use it in church often) --
how sometimes a lot of things happen because the enemy is coming against
it and when the enemy comes, that means you gotta work harder and that’s
when youKNOW you’re doing what you’re supposed to be doing. But, do
you have the wisdom to know when perhaps the opposite is true. Maybe
some of the things are happening like God is trying to show you—you
idiot, go over here!
MA: What do you think God was trying to tell you?
JP: Oh, some of those lesson, Mona, I’m still learning. Some things
about location, timing, maybe giving myself a little more time. . .all
of those were powerful lessons.
MA: You turned out some good work.
MA: You turned out some good work. When you think back over the last
ten years, I think you said the project, Just speak Life was the most
significant one. Elaborate on that.
JP: Well . . .“Speak Life” was the most personal project that I’ve ever
done and probably the most, what I would say, complete project from
start to finish that I have done. The theme was complete, the message
was complete, the steps we took; the progression throughout the entire
project. Their wasn’t any fat. Oh, and often when projects are done
your kind of like “that’s good, that’s great…and that one’s is good”.
That particular project for me didn’t have that and everything in there
was personal and poignant. It pertains to my life and what I also
perceived God was speaking and saying perhaps through me to so many
others who were dealing with those same scenarios. And, it was for me
the ultimate album of encouragement and hope and faith. So, that for me
still to this day has been a powerful moment for me in terms of my call
in terms of the local church and what I am called to do there. The last
project we did, “The Sunday Morning Service”, was certainly the pinnacle
for that. It was certainly one of those moments where you clearly heard
God and clearly heard what God said do. He gave the concept. He gave
the material for the concept. “I want you to write songs that the
church can do in every part of the Sunday morning service. Give them a
new offering song and a communion song and an altar call song.” I knew
without a shadow of a doubt that it was exactly what I was supposed to
do. That certainly, up front, from a professional call standpoint, is
why we’re going to make it a series and we are going to be doing more of
those.
MA: You’ve had some major accomplishments (Grammy and Stellar award
wins) in your career. What will be the pinnacle of success for you?
JP: My call is to the local church and when I can impact people where
they live. . .when the songs are facilitating worship in the church. .
.to me that’s success.
MA: How would you like people to remember you when this life is over?
JP: That he had a heart of worship, heart for God, for ministry. Left a
legacy of worship for the local church opened up opportunities for
others to reach their dreams and potential. . .He was real and true to
the call.
Joe Pace is the father of one fifteen year old son, Joe Pace III.
His latest release on Integrity Gospel, “Mighty Long Way” is in stores
nationwide. He is in the process of developing new talent under his own
entity, Pace Production. Stay locked to EUR Gospel for the scoop!
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