BOYNTON BEACH, FL (January 30, 2003) - Painting, puppetry and pastoral ministry have all played prominent roles in the life of Covenant minister Jim Black of Hope Community Church in Boynton Beach.

Now, performing original music seems to be the direction of the next stage of Black's life. Black recently completed a CD 'Til Then that is scheduled to debut early this year. Black has presented numerous area concerts using music as a ministry tool.

Black paints houses to supplement his income - he is a co-pastor at Hope Community Covenant with Doug Oliver - just as he has done for years in order to pay for schooling and to supplement other ministry efforts. Brother, Jon, now a youth pastor in Lafayette, Indiana, was a partner in a summer painting business during college. The pair worked year-round while attending North Park Theological Seminary (NPTS) in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He hopes the CD will allow him additional opportunities to brush up on his musical skills, although he expects his paintbrush will continue to get plenty of work in the coming years.

"I kind of gave up that dream of using music a couple of years ago, but this has been a gift of grace to get to do music again," Black said. "I feel like I need to do it and see where it goes. The songs have come out of ministry - trying to daily follow Jesus in that context. And I think there's a place for music from people who have had those ministry experiences. I was just giving out the CD's locally, but now I feel this is something I need to pursue."

Black grew up in Jamestown, New York, and played in local bands, although he didn't seriously consider music until he attended North Park University (then College) for one year. When Black was 19, he tried out and was accepted for a Covenant-sponsored music ministry called Covenant Heartsong, which was being started in Chicago by Rick Carlson during the winter of 1979. Black served three years with Heartsong, traveling in vans across North America, honing his skills as a singer, songwriter, puppeteer and guitar player. Black's music continued to be used as various Heartsong groups ministered at Covenant churches and institutions for nearly 11 years.

After Black left the group in 1982, he finished his college education at Trinity College in Deerfield, earning a New Testament/Youth Ministry degree. He and his wife, Laurie (a nurse), traveled to Houston in 1985 and worked with Carlson and others for a church-planting ministry called Bandwagon Ministries involving four local Covenant churches. Black also participated in Quigley's Village, a Christian video puppet series that teaches Biblical values and became popular in Christian circles. In 1989, Black began studies at NPTS, graduating in 1992 with a Master of Divinity degree. He has been ministering at Hope Community Covenant since that time.

With painting, ministry and family (he and Laurie have two children), Black has not had much time for music, but he has continued to write songs about his ministry experiences in Florida and elsewhere. His recent work gained the attention of a friend who had a connection with Nashville-based producer Michael Foster. Foster listened to CDs of Black's work and liked what he heard. In fact, he offered to rework Black's CD with a little help from his friends - and with an extensive music background, he had plenty.

Foster has produced music for Little Richard, B.J. Thomas, Dobie Gray and blues singer Etta James, among others. Records of his songs have reached 14 million in sales. Foster used backup musicians for well-known artists Billy Joel and Tricia Yearwood to create instrumental tracks for the 11-song CD. Black then added vocals and guitar tracks and Foster finished production on the CD earlier this fall.

"I don't do this very often, but from talking to Jim on the phone, something just touched me - he's totally unpretentious," said Foster. "He sent me his material and it's really good. He's a good writer and singer and I thought this could bless a lot of people."

"Many of the lyrics of the new CD describe the struggles of truly following Jesus," Black explains In one song, "Face to Face," Black takes the words of I Corinthians 13 to remind believers that God will help us someday see the big picture of His handiwork. Black composed a worship song, "I Will Follow You," about a Covenanter, Judy Howard Peterson, who walked across North America to experience Jesus Christ in a more personal way. (To read Judy's story published online in June 2000, visit Judy Howard Peterson.

Black also remembers the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and God's sovereignty over evil and even death itself in the song, All the Difference. "I'm having fun seeing where this is going," said Black.