Even before he got into high school, senior Eli Hommel had become a part of a band at Mt. Pleasant Chrisitan Church, performing with his guitar.

“I joined the band in my 8th grade year of school, mainly because my grandpa played the guitar and he loved playing for other people,” Hommel said. “I always looked up to him, and I wanted to share my ability and gift with other people.”

While he joined due to his grandpa’s inspiration, he has enjoyed different aspects of being in the band itself.

“My favorite part about it all is the community that it brings together, just being able to play my instrument with other people, to share that gift, and to bring the joy that I have to other people through that music,” Hommel said.

Although, this hobby of his did not come without its challenges and obstacles of its own for himself to encounter early on.

“I’d say now that I have been doing it for a while, there are not as many mistakes anymore. But, at the start I would typically have a feeling of stage fright. However, I’ve been able to overcome all of that,” Hommel said. “As far as playing the music, it’s pretty simple once you’ve done it for a few years, but the main thing was being able to play in front of other people.”

While performing, he says he feels a connection to God and Jesus through the passion that his music expresses.

“I’m a very Christian man, and so just being able to have that connection with who I believe is God and Jesus Christ, and being able to build that relationship and connect with Him through my music is very empowering to me,” Hommel said. “I also like how it empowers other people to do the same thing as well.”

Overall, he says that this has had a major impact on his life in a positive way.

“It has to be one of the most impactful things that I’ve ever done. I plan to study worship ministry in college. I’m even going to a Christian university called Indiana Wesleyan,” Hommel said. “After college I’m wanting to potentially work at a church and get into the worship ministry.”