CHRIST ALONE || look and see what the Lord has done.
Here’s a mini documentary of all God has done at waygo over the last 6 months. The death to life transformation happening on a weekly basis is nothing short of miraculous. Only God could pull off a story like this and what an honor it is to be a part of it. To God be all the glory. Christ alone can get the credit. Christ alone is worthy of all our praise. In Christ alone is our hope, joy, strength and purpose found. Thank you Lord for all you’ve done. We know you’re just getting started. The best is yet to come.
HUGE THANK YOU TO @gicker for a video as breathtaking as this. Your talent, heart to serve these students and eagerness to share all God is doing has blown us away. Thank you.
I am devastated and still can’t believe Ben is no longer with us.
All he knew how to do was lead, serve and encourage. He called me higher regularly, he said things I didn’t want to hear but needed to. He had an enormous amount of character and integrity, and was the very definition of consistent. But even with those attributes he knew he could still take off his hat when needed to show an immense level of vulnerability.
He embodied what it means to be a Kingdom man.
If you knew him you couldn’t help but want to live up to the standard he set. He effortlessly called you to it.
Ben historically always told me when hard times came my way, that those were “opportunities to showcase the God we serve”. He would say he would be excited for what was to come.
There is an image engraved in my brain of Ben looking me in the eyes in the endearing way that he’d do, saying these things, followed by “and Gicker just as much as you pour out love, uno reverse, don’t forget to turn it around and receive it yourself”.
Just this past Saturday, In my most recent post you can see Ben baptizing men in the basement of his home. I brought my camera to capture this moment and in beautiful Ben fashion he texted me about the video I put together. I’m sharing what he sent because it is the best example that I have to portray the way this man constantly encouraged me.
When we weren’t talking about how to grow closer to Jesus, we would talk about anything and everything, then it would always lead to our families, our Monday night men’s group and our mutual love for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Ben, thank you for being my friend my brother. I know our Savior better because of you.
The comfort that I feel amidst this sadness is unexplainable because I know Ben Bowman heard the words “well done, my good and faithful servant” as he walked through the doors of the place He was always prepared to go.
I ask anyone who reads this please be praying for his family, his sweet wife Madison and his beautiful baby girl Margot. I hope that you both always feel a constant invisible weight of love and support until you are with Ben again.
Putting this reel together got me thinking of a handful of nuggets that I’ve learned over the years.
If you’re a dreamer, music video director or if you’re doom scrolling. I wrote this for you.
1. The music industry loves a two letter word. You are going to be told “no” a lot… but that’s okay, sometimes it stings and sometimes hindsight is 20/20 and you’re happy about it.
2. “No” that word can be your worst enemy and your best friend. You need to learn to say it too. Say it to the things that you do not want to do, sounds simple, but it’s a skill that takes a while.
3. I can’t stress this one enough, hype up your friends (& your competitors) celebrate their wins, don’t compare yourself, get inspired by them.
4. Taking the dreamer route is not “safe” but it is the best challenge you could ever give yourself. You have no one to blame but “you” when things go right and wrong. Even when times are slow. What you put in is what you get. Allow that to motivate you.
5. Treat the people that are working with/for you like a million bucks, in the filmmaking world that means everyone on your crew is just as important as your client. Just be kind. Always. Plus your PA (production assistant) is probably more talented than you are.
6. Likes don’t matter and algorithms are stupid. Just post your work. If anything, you can use your Instagram as a scrapbook to monitor your growth.
7. Remember why you started. Remember “young” you, especially in times when you feel like quitting. That kid would look at you like you’re a hero. It’s because you are a hero. Do it for him or her.
8. Stay humble.
9. Go to the gym.
10. This is the most important one to me, it’s my faith. Ask Jesus for the intersection of talent, passion, and purpose over everything that you do. Leaning on the Lord is the only way I have managed to be living in Nashville for 8 years now. If you don’t know Him, He wants to know you.
All this to say.. I’m rooting for you and if we haven’t worked together yet, let’s change that.
Special thanks to everyone that I’ve created with and to everyone who has supported me over the years.
ps - @aaronhibell you’re a legend.
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#nashville #filmmaking #countrymusic
I am currently on my third trip with @teamfrankafrica and the one thing that never changes each and every time I’ve been here over the past year is how God constantly reveals Himself to me through the people on this side of the planet, specifically the children.
These little humans at any given Team Frank school, all they want to do when I’m with them is dish out unconditional love. It’s a life lesson that I think everyone could learn or be reminded of by them. These pictures and videos do not even do it justice. Their joy, gratitude, and innocence is almost indescribable.
The battle cry of my heart for anyone who will listen is to just get involved. Whether it’s finding a local or international nonprofit, serving at your church, or simply finding a need and starting to fill it yourself. Full send it. People need you. If you have gifts and talents, use them for the betterment of others, then just buckle your seatbelt and watch how that decision radically changes your life. Trust me it will.
I’m so thankful to all of the TFA friends and family that I’ve made on this experience. Kimmy, Zoe, and Garrett, I am honored to be telling your story in this documentary. There’s still so much work to do on this project before reaching the finish line, but I couldn’t be more excited to see where this leads.
& @bronson.duke I am so thankful for your help on this my brother.
Thank you Jesus for another day.
Isaiah 6:8
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I’m back in South Africa capturing more footage for a documentary I’ve been working on and it’s already so incredibly eye opening in ways that I can’t even put into words.
Simply put, the way that the Lord has been speaking through these children and these communities.. it’s changing me in real time. The joy and gratitude they have is just so intoxicating.
It’s a little past 2am over here, I can’t sleep and just had to capture the feeling. We have another week and a half to go and I’m excited to see what each new day brings.
Thank you to everyone who’s been praying for safety and for this trip to be fruitful. I’m watching those prayers get answered in real time.
And thank You Jesus for @teamfrankafrica
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Back in November I made a decision to see what one year of sobriety looks like. It’s something I’ve tried before, 4 1/2 months in 2021, 5 months in 2024 and now, I’m almost 6 months in for 2025. 163 days today baby.
Every time I’ve attempted this in the past, I’d ask myself after going back to partying: “What did you miss?” Because yeah, I’d have fun.. a lot of fun, until I wasn’t. I’d get carried away, spend too much money and then spend days trying to reconnect the dots. “What did I do & why did I do that?” The hangxiety would often lead to regret and sometimes depression. It just felt like a constant cycle of temporary happiness, a cycle that I wanted to break.
So I said yes to trying again. But this time, I didn’t do it alone.
The second slide in this post is a screenshot from the Heart Half Empty Music Video of Nick, Jack, Paul, Max, and myself laying hands on Bronson. I told all of these men about wanting to take a year off last fall, then the next thing I knew.. they were all down, we were all down to do it together.
The idea of getting off the sauce with friends is something I have never considered in my life. It is genuinely game changing and the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done, that and just giving it all to Jesus.
But that second slide was a real prayer, spoken over everyone who watches this music video. For lives to be affected. For people to find the courage to do the hard thing and for this story to start a conversation.
I know that my heart would not have been in the right place to tell this kind of story if I wasn’t on this journey. It just would not have happened, so this music video will forever serve as a reminder to chase after the wild ideas. Because one thing leads to another & that prayer.. has been answered.
What is the wild idea that you have? Take it from me… chase after it and don’t do it alone.
To @iamchasematthew , @laurenalaina & the incredible cast and crew, literally everyone who made this possible, you all know who you are, thank you for your yes and thank you for using your gifts the way that you do.
Praise God.
Here’s some BTS and a clip from Lauren’s Podcast that floored me.
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Directed a project for @waychurchtn for their Easter Service and I’m really, really proud of how this turned out. So many incredible people gave their time, energy and creativity to bring this to life. The message behind it is geared toward the reality so many people face day after day, trying to fill the void while chasing meaning.
I want you to know, though, that if that’s you, you don’t have to run anymore all you have to do is surrender. Give your dreams, anxiety, relationships, your past, your present and your future to the Lord, pursue Him and then you’ll realize He has always been pursuing you. You don’t have to do this life alone.
You are unbelievably loved.
& speaking of not being alone, if you’re looking for friends, Way Church has one of the greatest communities I’ve ever been apart of and a pastor that boldly preaches the word of God week after week, the messages are filled with hope, conviction and applicable actions you can take to step into the person that you were born and called to be. I’m telling you, there’s something special going on and you have a home at Way Church if you’re searching.
@noahherrin thank you for your heart brother and thank you for this opportunity. & @matthewvietzke you’re a legend man. Deep diving on this with you was too much fun.
“My Father Has It”
Director – Josh Gicker
Creative Director / Editor – @matthewvietzke
Script – @noahherrin
Producer – @stephaniehsiau
DP – @dylanrucker_dop
Gaffer – @jasonwain
PA – @wyattxharms
Sound Design / Mix – @coltonjackson_12
Colorist – @0eirik
