We recently connected with January Lim and have shared our conversation below.

January, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

One of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on, is a magazine initiative I began through our church called “motif:Sketchbook.” So many times, creative expression has been segregated, spliced, and compartmentalized in a faith based organization. Motif has been a means to gather together unapologetic, diverse forms of art, in any stage of completion, from both within our spiritual community as well as outside of it. Through the handful of issues we’ve produced, I’ve seen so many authentic stories and shades of persondom being shared and heard. It’s been a redemptive and healing movement for anyone who has been a part of it.

January, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hi! My name is January (like the month) Lim, and I currently work full time as a Worship Arts Pastor at a church called Evergreen Baptist Church of LA. I also love freelancing as a musician, video editor, producer and actor on as many other creative projects as possible.

Growing up, I was classically trained on the violin, self taught myself how to play as many stringed instruments as possible, went to Boston University for an undergrad degree in Film & TV production, before moving to LA in 2008 to pursue acting. Oh the number and types of practice rooms and rehearsals I’ve been a part of! It’s been both a blessing and a curse to be a part of such diverse spectrum of artistic expression. That said, I am very proud of the way I’ve been able to lean in holistically to the fullness of who I am as a creative; when I was younger, I used to feel like I had to choose a specific path but nowadays, I roll with whatever projects I’m inspired to be a part of. I refuse to choose!

In particular, I’m proud of the work I do for the church — a not so popular space to be a part of these days. Thankfully, as a nearly 100 year old community, our church happens to be a very inclusive space for a wide array of demographics; from those incarcerated in the Japanese internment camps during WWII to those historically marginalized by the church such as our LGBTQ+ siblings, all are welcome. As the Worship Arts Pastor, I’ve also been able harness the existing rich culture to curate a dynamic space of authentic community. Our weekly Sunday AM gatherings are always evolving to reflect and respond to the events going on around us; there’s hardly a Sunday that feels canned or prescribed. I’ve truly loved and enjoyed getting to do life with those who are seeking a safe space to be vulnerable and to be genuinely themselves in.

Additionally, I’ve been able to collaborate with a wonderful team of creatives to produce music and editorial work that reflects the array of human emotion involved in our daily processing of the trauma of the past handful of years–lament, grief, joy, anticipation, and yearning, just to name a few. My favorite music EP I’ve ever produced is called “For the Weary.” These handful of tracks are meant to offer encouragement and comfort to those who are feeling tired and burdened by the heaviness around us. The title track, “Come With Me (For the Weary)” was a song that I wrote out of an intense longing deep within my own soul for comfort and relief; I believe it lands a place that many of us can relate to.

I’m also extremely proud of our magazine initiative, “motif:Sketchbook.” While there are numerous publications out there, I believe our little humble project has done wonderful work to help reconcile the creative/artist with a faith based organization. I think the enmity between art and the Church is quite tragic; the segregation between what is “spiritual” and what is “secular” is no longer relevant. This magazine aims to spotlight the creative process as one that propels, empowers, and engages with our inner beings in a way that brings our whole selves to the surface. I think the reader may sense that within our imperfect, still in process offering that every issue offers.

In all that I do, if not already apparent, it is the process (and not the end product) that matters to me the most. I’ve found that through collaboration with fellow musicians and artists that I’ve grown and expanded the most in my own craft and vision for future projects. I jokingly say that I’ll always be a starving artist — and it’s actually true! I just don’t see myself doing any of this for the money or the fame. Often times, I create something (anything!) because if I don’t, I feel a large part of me dying inside. If I had to name my “brand” or promote myself as one singular concept, it’d have to be my passionate love for creativity and my commitment to offering the best and most authentic self along the way. And I love doing it with others who feel the same.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I think the main thing I’d love for non-creatives to understand is that as artists, our creative projects/careers are not “extracurricular” or a fun “option” or alternate “choice.” It’s an all consuming, inescapable passion and calling. Our rhythms of discipline, training, output may all look different from a typical 9-5 but it’s equally taxing and sometimes, even more grueling as stability in finance and opportunity is in constant flux. It is a grind and it is difficult, and sometimes we hate ourselves for not being able to do anything else. Again, it’s not about the fame or the money. Truly. Often times, we aren’t starstruck or impressed because we know how ordinarily difficult the entire behind the scenes process is. The acting/film business is particularly, definitely, nowhere near as glamorous as it may seem.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

When I first decided to move to LA to pursue acting, I never thought I’d land working full time at the church. The move into clergy work happened because I realized I was investing equal amounts of time into ministry life as I was in my other creative pursuits. As I’d mentioned before, I used to believe that I could only choose one path: be an actor / pursue music / pastor a church / produce xyz. As I entered into my later 20s, I realized that choosing one path would actually be limiting my own identity as a creative and that no matter how “successful” I got in that one venue, I’d still not feel truly fulfilled. Through the support of my best friends, the ongoing mentorship of teachers and professors, I made it a point to constantly learn and pursue whatever avenue of art I was inspired by. That meant taking acting classes while taking seminary classes. That meant writing songs as I was on a plane to a conference to spend a weekend with youths at a church retreat. I saw this “artistic fusion” reaching its pique during the pandemic. As everything went virtual, I found myself using my musical skills, video editing and production skills, relational skills, and even writing and acting skills all come into play. It was a personally rewarding “aha” moment to see all my skillsets converge and how that shaped the trajectory of the way I viewed myself as a creative moving forward.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://issuu.com/motifsketchbook/docs/motif_mag_nov-2023_d3_singlepages_interactivedec20?fr=xKAE9_zU1NQ
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/january_lim
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/live/XIh4gph8iMo?si=S23YE6Wi7cNP7mwD
• Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1GvrSqFwd8DtgmEAls0utu?si=_m7B5286QUinPScVEO-t0A
  Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/evergreen-baptist-church-of-los-angeles/1558685952