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Minister blends sax and Scripture to spread word of God
By LINDA M. LINONIS
linonis@vindy.com
YOUNGSTOWN
Video
The Rev. Ed Arrington has a song in his heart and believes God put it there. The new pastor of Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church, 351 W. Rayen Ave., said the Bible contains multiple references about praising the Lord through song. “I sing through my saxophone,” he said.
He does that at 10:30 a.m. Sundays during worship services when he plays his alto and soprano saxophones. The accomplished musician, who had a 30-year career as a music educator, said music is a natural part of his ministry. “I talk to God through music and I realize His presence,” the Rev. Mr. Arrington said. “His presence gives me the chills.”
Those who hear Mr. Arrington’s virtuosity on the saxophones will experience the same thrill. “I play in the spirit ... that takes you where your body can’t go. It’s a different level ... not on this planet,” he said.
Mr. Arrington credits his musical talent to God. “God has given us all gifts. ... Everyone has a gift. I want to use my gift to glorify God,” he said. The pastor said he believes “God likes good music” and knowing one is playing for God sets the bar higher. He has made gospel and praise recordings, interpreting “church songs” with a jazz flavor.
Mr. Arrington first took piano lessons. When he started the saxophone in sixth grade, he said he found his musical niche. “I knew I excelled at playing the saxophone,” he said.
While a student at Washington High School in Massillon, he was in the Mellow Tones. They played in Ohio, even performing as the opening act at a Sly and the Family Stone concert. The band earned such a reputation that members were asked to join the Ohio Players, a premiere rhythm and blues band of the 1960s and ’70s.
“My dad wouldn’t entertain the idea of me traveling so much,” Mr. Arrington recalled. He didn’t join the band but went on to earn degrees in music education and music performance.
Mr. Arrington said he believes music invigorates students and teaches them discipline. He said he realized on some days for some students, “music classes were the only classes kids got joy from.”
While teaching at Youngstown’s former South High School, his 28-member band was set to play during a game at Boardman High School, where the band numbered in the hundreds. “It was like David and Goliath,” he recalled. “I taught my students how to prepare for a performance. Practices don’t make you perfect but perfect practices do,” he said, adding the band got a standing ovation.
Though Mr. Arrington found satisfaction and harmony in his music education career, he acknowledged “there was something nagging” at him. “I think I knew all along I would do something in the church, but I didn’t want to be a preacher,” he said.
The minister said he saw the challenges of being a pastor firsthand with his parents, the late Rev. Eddie and Annie Arrington. “He was a preacher’s preacher,” Mr. Arrington said of his father. His brother, the Rev. Dr. Walter Arrington, is pastor of Peoples Baptist Church in Canton.
“It was like I was running in water. ... I was moving but not getting anywhere. I was mentally, physically and spiritually tired,” he said. “I felt like I was drowning.”
The saving grace was acknowledging his call to the ministry. “I talked to my dad, and it was like a weight was lifted off of my shoulders,” he said.
In 1993, he preached his trial sermon, “Hand Picked by God,” at Second Baptist Church in Warren, where he was ordained Oct. 5, 1997.
Mr. Arrington said he believes his sax playing “adds a unique element to the worship experience.” “Music is uplifting,” he said. “Songs that tell a story like ‘Amazing Grace’ and “Oh, How I Love Jesus’ enhance worship.” He added that congregational singing “brings them together in one accord.”
The pastor credited his love of gospel music to music legend Mahalia Jackson, whose beautiful voice inspired him. Mr. Arrington said he plans to use his music ministry to attract new members. The church already has started a mime ministry for youth.
Mr. Arrington said he also is developing an outreach program. “I’d like to reconnect with former students and Youngstown State students and offer them a church home,” he said.