Carlos Encarnacion / Interview / July, 2006 on BlackGospel.com

Interview with Carlos Encarnacion
July 2006, BlackGospel.com (By Christopher Heron)

There is so much more to being a masterful musician than arranging a set of haunting chords on a piano or scoring a series of beautiful beats on a snare drum. A professional minstrel isn’t simply concerned with orchestrating a powerful presentation; a musician for the Lord is ultimately concerned with expressing praise and adoration towards the Savior, while ministering to souls through his instrument. Just ask Carlos Encarnacion. His gift for musicianship is one he steadfastly holds accountable to God. It’s a divine calling he answered since he was a child. And it’s a calling to ministry he’s committed his life to upholding.

Carlos Encarnacion has accepted his ordination by offering his God-given talent to a litany of A-list artists in Gospel music, over the years. But, Carlos always understood that the greatest honor came with remaining humble, diligent and faithful to serving God with his musicianship.

As a result, HOTGOSPELCHOPS.COM was birthed out of an earnest desire to teach, mentor and inspire other musicians into ministering when playing an organ, piano, drum or guitar. BLACKGOSPEL.COM spoke with Minister Encarnacion about his evolution as a musician, his thoughts on musicians who play on a variety of stages and how HOTGOSPELCHOPS.COM can raise your gift to another level.

Christopher Heron: Carlos, let’s begin with your love for music and playing instruments. How old were you when you first fell in love with instruments? And how was your love for instrumentation first cultivated and nurtured as a child and teenager in New York?

Carlos Encarnacion: My love for music began when I was 8 yrs old. My father was a percussionist and was the inspiration behind me falling in love with music. My father was Hispanic and always played Salsa, Meringue, Jazz and R&B. He would play his congas with a group of other percussionists in the streets of The Bronx, New York City. They would play all day and night and I was their biggest fan. My mother then found Christ and not long after I found him as well. We joined a church called Tabernacle of Prayer in Jamaica Queens, New York. There, I was introduced to my calling. The Minister of Music, Elder Leon Bonner, along with his assistant, Bernard Jones, were the two that pushed me to play the organ and drums. I grew up under their leadership for years and was shown how to truly minister in a service, not just play an instrument.

CH: Your passion and gift for music has opened up many opportunities for you to work with a host of artists? Could you share with us some of the artists you’ve worked with over the years? And what are some of the valuable lessons you’ve picked up from these artists as a musician and music minister?

CE: I have worked with Vickie Winans, James Hall, Donnie McClurkin, Natalie Wilson & SOP Chorale, Craig Hayes, along with many others. I however must say that my valuable lessons have come from the common everyday musicians that labored with me every service and conference. No, they are not the artist you see on TV or hear on the radio all the time, but they are true artist. I have learned so much from them because I was able to see the real side of them. I got to see what it took to get that anointing to play.

They know more than chords, beats, and lyrics. They know the word and their purpose on this journey. I learned to be humble, know your place, and let God be glorified in your playing and not yourself. To be effective you must know the word of God, have a prayer life, never esteem yourself higher than anyone else, be a band player not a one man show, know how to use the instruments to minister and not do a performance. These are not lessons I learned from celebrities. I learned it from my everyday peers in the gospel.

CH: There are musicians who play exclusively in churches. There are also musicians who have the fortune of playing for artists. And then, there are musicians who have emerged to become acclaimed instrumental artists. Is there a difference in the way a musician should approach their gift in each instance?

CE: Yes there is. These gifts were given for a reason, to glorify the Lord. Once we begin to taint these gifts with things that are not pleasing to Him, we have strayed from the plan of God. Once we take our music and lace it with lyrics and sounds that are not Holy according to God’s Word, we as musicians have failed. Our music was not designed to promote ungodly living. I have no problem with jazz, love songs, Hip Hop according to what is right by the word. I am a musician that plays in the church only. I am trying to win musicians back to Christ. I don't knock these musicians, I just pray for their soul.

CH: Your years of experience inspired you to launch HOTGOSPELCHOPS.COM. What are some of the important lessons you wanted to share with other musicians. And how do you manage to drive home those critical music lessons through your DVD series?

CE: Put God first in everything you do. Study your craft, be humble, know your purpose and every opportunity you have to play is an opportunity to minister. In each of our DVD series, we not only give musical instruction, but we also speak of the spiritual responsibilities tied into the ministry aspect of playing.

CH: In conclusion, what would you like each music minister, each talented musician, each aspiring artist to know about the relationship between playing an instrument and ministry?

CE: Ministry puts you in a different bracket. It makes you accountable to God. You are subject to the Holy Ghost and must be sensitive to his voice and when he wants to move. A talented musician can move the crowd, but cannot persuade salvation thru his/her playing. You cannot be effective if you don't have a true relationship with the Father. Rom 11:29 says, "For gifts and calling of God are without repentance." What I am driving at is not just being another talented musician, but an anointed musician. God is looking for vessels that will step up and usher in his presence all across the world. Our ultimate goal is to win more souls to Christ. John 12:32 says "And if I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men unto me.”

For more information on the services and ministry of Carlos Encarnacion, visit www.hotgospelchops.com. To contact him for seminars and workshops, special engagements or public appearances, call 803-517-9872 or email carlos@hotgospelchops.com.