We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Johnny Fuller. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Johnny below.
Johnny, appreciate you joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior at the age of 7. My dad and I went to a Billy Graham crusade in Oklahoma on October 23, 1983. That year, the very young Amy Grant provided the special music. When Dr. Graham extended the invitation, I told my dad that I wanted to go forward and give my life to Christ (I had felt a tugging on my heart during the invitation time at our home church for 2 or 3 Sundays before this). He followed me down the steps of that enormous place. The gentleman that I met with made sure that I understood what I was doing, and he gave me a packet to help me begin my spiritual journey. The following Sunday, I went forward at our church to make the decision public there. I was baptized the next week. Very shortly after I gave my life to Christ, I was at my grandmother’s house playing on her organ. I had never been exposed to instruments of any kind, but I started playing melodies of sacred songs that I had heard at her house. My grandmother urged my dad to have me start taking piano lessons. So my musical journey and spiritual journey began simultaneously.
In junior high, I became heavily involved in the choir program at First Baptist Church of Dallas. I enjoyed it, but I had gotten burned out on choir by the time I started high school. My parents insisted that I either be in choir or orchestra. So I went to the orchestra director, Eddie Fargason, and asked if I could play the piano for the orchestra. As would be expected, the position was filled. Eddie, in his wisdom, encouraged me to play percussion. My piano skills would help me with the mallet instruments. The principal percussionist, who had a degree from UNT in percussion performance, began teaching me how to proficiently play all of the percussion instruments (free of charge!). By the time I was in college, I was taking regular paying gigs as a percussionist.
The Lord called me to the ministry during my first year of college at Dallas Baptist University. I was a pre-med student at the time. I was not happy with the direction I was going. I had only chosen to go into the medical field because that was what my dad wanted me to do. I had excelled in all of my studies in high school. So there was not an area of study that stood out above the others. My grandmother had been a nurse, and my dad had been a medic in the Army. So it was natural for my dad to push me into the medical field.
I remember talking with my closest college friend, Scott McAninch, when I received the Lord’s call. God made it very clear that He wanted me to go into full-time ministry, and that it would be in the area of music. The thought of changing my major and starting a new path was terrifying, but I knew without a doubt that it was what I must do. My dad’s heart sank at the news. How would I ever support a family? Nevertheless, he trusted the Lord with this and supported me in my decision.
I made the transition in complete faith, having no idea what the Lord had in mind for me. Since my primary instrument was piano, I started a piano performance degree. During my second year as a piano performance major, Eddie hired me as his orchestra intern at FBC Dallas. Eddie was such an inspiration to me. It wasn’t long before the Lord laid it on my heart to be an orchestra director myself. Eddie encouraged me to change my concentration to composition (his Masters degree was in composition). A church orchestra director often times has to re-arrange (or arrange from scratch) music for the group of instruments that he/she has, and a composition degree is immensely helpful in developing this skill. Writing for instruments is also a great way to understand the capabilities, tessitura, etc. of the instruments, and an orchestra conductor must know these things. I was in my next to last level of piano performance when I transitioned to composition. I remember how I felt when I conducted my first composition recital. I had a full choir and orchestra. I was so comfortable on the podium. I felt like I was made for that. That moment was the strongest confirmation that I was on the right path. My conducting classes were such a joy. Conducting came natural for me. The music inside me poured out with ease through my baton. The Lord had put something inside me that could not be taught in classes.
After completing my Bachelor’s degree at DBU, I started a Masters degree at University of North Texas. That quickly came to a close when PCBC offered to pay for my Masters degree with the stipulation that I study at a seminary. So I began a conducting degree at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. About ¾ of the way through my degree, PCBC informed me that they would no longer be able to pay for my education. Apparently, the money that was being used was designated for something else. The unpaid bill for that semester was $2,000. Two weeks later, a check arrived in my mailbox for $2,000 with a note attached that read, “The Lord told me that you were supposed to have this.” I knew the gentleman and called him right away. I told him that he obviously knew about my situation, and I thanked him. He said that he had no idea of the situation, and he was so moved by this that he agreed to pay for the rest of my Masters degree. He added that it didn’t have to be at the seminary. I thought that it was odd for him to say this. Why wouldn’t I finish at the seminary? I was so close to completing my degree. I looked at my degree plan and noticed that I was in my final ministerial class. All that remained were classes like vocal pedagogy and class voice. So the Lord laid it on my heart to return to UNT. I had received all of the ministerial training that UNT couldn’t provide, and now it was time for me to gain the orchestral experience that the seminary couldn’t provide.
Before I share about what the Lord did at UNT, I must give some background into the New Life Symphony Orchestra. I had been working at the Garland Chamber of Commerce as a Business Development Specialist (which is a fancy way of saying that I sold chamber memberships). One of my appointments was with a small beauty salon. It was locked up when I arrived for the appointment. Moments later, an elderly African American woman drove up and welcomed me in. She was the owner of the salon. She sat down in a big chair and called me over to her. Her eyes widened, and she said that she could see the blessings of the Lord all over me. She said that I would have a ministry in the area of music that I couldn’t believe. She anointed my head and wrists with oil, and she wept and prayed over me. It was a different experience to say the least.
Two weeks later, I finished calling on all 4,000+ businesses in Garland. I had nothing to do but wait on the sales to come in. I was sitting at my desk, and the Lord gave me a vision for the New Life Symphony Orchestra. With little to no thought at all, I drew this logo on a piece of paper:
It contains a cello, an icthus and a cross. The Lord gave me the vision for a professional-level symphony, comprised of Christian instrumentalists, that would be used for His work. Performances of Classical masterworks would serve as the means for raising funds and for communicating His vision for the orchestra. With the help of 3 professional instrumentalists (who happened to be orchestra contractors), I scheduled a Saturday to have auditions. I sent out letters to my colleagues and to area churches. The response was so overwhelming that we filled 3 full Saturdays with auditions. We had over 60 instrumentalists for our first performance.
Initially, the symphony raised scholarships for deserving Christian instrumental artists. I had attended school free of charge, and I wanted to be part of providing scholarships for others like me. During the orchestra’s eighth season, the Lord gave me a new vision for the orchestra, “Mobilizing Christian instrumentalists to spread the Gospel and encourage believers throughout the world.” This came on the heels of a successful mission trip to St. Petersburg and Moscow, Russia.
Now back into UNT. I was re-accepted into the College of Music, but there were no openings in the orchestral conducting program. At that time, there were limited spots (1 Doctoral and 2 Masters). Someone had to leave in order for someone else to take their place. I told my UNT advisor that the Lord wanted me there. I asked if I could take other classes while I waited for a spot to open. Once a spot opened, I would simply audition for it and get in. The advisor chuckled and said that UNT would be happy to take my money. So I began taking the non-conducting courses. During the last semester that I would be allowed to take classes without officially being the conducting program, an opening arose. I had to submit a video of me conducting symphonic literature with a symphony orchestra. Since the Lord had provided the NLSO, I had a video to submit. Unbeknownst to me, my video was 1 of about 150+ videos submitted from around the world. From the 150+ people that submitted videos, 3 people were chosen to audition for the spot. I was 1 of the 3. The other 2 flew to the audition. The audition piece was Strauss’ “Don Juan,” and I was the last to conduct. Just before I went onto the stage, I realized how serious this audition was. If I didn’t win, it was over for me. My classes at the seminary had expired, and so I couldn’t return there. My classes at UNT would be wasted. In that moment I made a promise to the Lord that I would use my conducting for Him the rest of my life if He wanted to use me in that way, and I asked Him if He would be gracious enough to give me the spot. He did. I completed a Masters in Orchestral Conducting at UNT in 2006.
Throughout my ministry the Lord has taken me to many heights like the ones described, and He has taken me through deep, dark valleys. The valleys have marked me even more than the mountain tops. Nothing has marked me more than the death of my daughter, Ally. She died accidently and tragically on her 8 month birthday. It devastated me, but the Lord gave me His peace in the midst of this huge storm. I know that the Lord is sovereign, and that He has purpose in every moment of our lives. I trust Him completely. Isaiah 61:3, speaking of those who mourn, says that they will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor. This valley was for the display of His splendor. Through it the Lord gave me a soft heart for people, a greater awareness for the frailty of life and a deeper longing to see lost people come to Christ. I have greater anticipation for Heaven. The Lord has used Ally’s story to open the door for me to share the Gospel with hundreds of people. Hebrews 11:6 says that without faith, it is impossible to please God. I have faith that God is omniscient, and that Ally’s tragedy was no mystery to Him. I have faith that God is all-powerful. He could have prevented this if He wanted to, but it was part of His plan and for the sake of His glory. I have faith that all things work together for good to those who love God. God’s glory is more important to me than my comfort, my health, or even life itself. My response to Him in all things, good or bad, is praise.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I am the Founder and Music Director of New Life Symphony Orchestra. I program and direct our local Classical concerts, our annual Christmas at Children’s Medical Center of Dallas event and our semi-annual, international mission trips.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
When I started New Life Symphony Orchestra, the mission was to raise college scholarships for Christian instrumentalists. We plateaued once donors began to feel that it was easier to give directly to the university rather than pass funds through NLSO. So we changed our focus to something we could accomplish personally, missions. Now we mobilize Christian instrumentalists to spread the Gospel and encourage believers throughout the world.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
“The Green Letters: Principles of Spiritual Growth” by Miles J. Stanford “The Magic of Thinking Big” by David J Schwartz, PH.D.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.newlifesymphony.com
- Instagram: johnnyafuller
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/johnny.fuller.12
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/johnny-fuller-6211a439/
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/@newlifesymphony
- Other: NLSO Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057278335432