A lot of leaders wait for a dramatic calling moment, then miss the quiet invitations God puts right in front of them. JD sits down with Chuck Perez, a longtime Christian musician and pastor, to talk about what happens when you stop waiting for perfect clarity and start moving in faithful obedience. Chuck shares his journey from growing up in a strict church environment to experiencing a real, personal faith at 18, and how that transformation reshaped everything from his message to his ministry mindset.

We get into Chuck’s unexpected path through the Christian music industry, touring, record deals, and the simple leadership lesson that kept showing up: just say yes. But the conversation goes deeper than career stories. Chuck explains the difference between gift and call, why worship leading pulled him toward shepherding people, and what he learned from planting churches with too much zeal and not enough structure. If you’ve ever wrestled with ministry burnout, discouragement, or feeling like you’re “doing all the right things” but missing the point, you’ll hear yourself in this.

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Songs by Chuck Perez

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