Why One Bright Musician Faces a Gloomy Future

John and Vicki Purifoy seem perpetually young. When I first met John, he was a graduate student at the University of Texas at Austin majoring in piano performance. But as is true of many young married couples, finances were a problem. When the opportunity became available for him to work as an editor for Word Music, he jumped at it.

It was delightful to watch the Purifoys become a part of the Waco community. Vicki quickly became involved in civic and cultural activities, and both John and Vicki were involved in the church music programs. They sang in the adult choir, Vicki directed the children’s choir, and John and I spent every Sunday afternoon rehearsing the college choir.

At the same time, Word Music burgeoned under his leadership. John developed relationships with composers—the lifeblood of any music publisher—and excellent relationships with our suppliers. He became adroit at understanding copyright law. This was a great time for Word Music.

Two children came along; Waco is a wonderful place to rear a family. Michael and Drew are very normal boys—great kids!

One morning John handed me an envelope containing a letter of resignation. I was heartsick. He was not unhappy at Word, and the horizon for this talented young man was bright indeed. But the Purifoys, both gifted musicians, felt the Lord leading them into a music publishing venture that would allow them to specialize in music meeting the needs of smaller choirs. They spent a great deal of time seeking God’s leading.

Today there is a new music publisher known as Purifoy Publishing. It required building relationships with bankers, real estate people, and others. John and Vicki are committed up to their eyeballs to the bank.

About four weeks after John’s tiny company gave birth to its very first choir octavo, I was invited to play for a morning service at a church in Houston. To my utter dismay, I found a photocopy of John’s first piece on the music rack of the piano. My initial reaction was a kind of, “Well, join the club, John” (chuckle). Immediately, however, I had a feeling of frustration and anger because these people were stealing from one of my finest friends. And the guy is struggling to keep his head above water. He’d be far better off unemployed, for virtually every cent goes back to the banker who is striving to help him.

It is almost comical how serious the church is about the truths found in God’s Word, and yet when it comes to stealing, many churches do so with the total understanding that it is in violation of the law—yes, even God’s law. It has been determined that Christian music publishers are being robbed of from anywhere between 30 and 50 percent of the money due them.

The soul of man craves music; the Christian life should be filled with song. God’s Word speaks of it over and over, and the Psalms are probably the finest example. It seems short-sighted to flagrantly rob the people who are making new music available for Christians to enjoy and minister.

Pastor, minister of music, you can put an immediate halt to the stealing that goes on in your church library if you will only live the Christian life in this area of your service.

John and Vicki Purifoy only seem perpetually young. With the way choir directors are stealing their music, they are aging far too quickly.

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