John Orton, Director of Worship and Youth
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John Orton is an actual product of Bethany Baptist Church. He grew up attending Bethany ever since he was born, and came up through all the Sunday school, Awana, VBS, and Youth Group programs that Bethany did/does still offer. After High School, John attended Bethel University in Minnesota for 2 years before returning home to Chicago. Once back in Chicago, he began working full-time, while also finding a passion for Youth Ministry as well as developing a love for Music. A self-taught Drummer, John felt God calling him to step out in Faith at Bethany when they were at a crossroads with their Worship Band. After much prayer and council, John applied for the Worship Director position, and soon after was hired on for the position.
John is an avid believer of Redemption. Halfway through his college experience, he found himself straying from God. He ended up finding solace through Alcohol and parties, and soon this lead to him leaving college. He felt his life quickly begin to fall apart piece by piece. Finally, after a tragic death of someone very close to him, he began to really cry out to God. And what he found was that God had never left him. If nothing else, John wants people to realize that God is seeking each and every person out. No matter how far one strays, it’s never too far, and John believes that he is a testament to that.
By God’s grace, he has been able to bring a “God at the center” mindset to a growing Worship Band, and credits all the members of that Worship Team for not only receiving this visions, but also attaining to those beliefs. He loves seeing the Church grow, both inside the physical building but also empowering people throughout their weeks and daily walk with Christ using music and, and then taking that into the world. He is also an avid believer in discipleship, especially the discipleship of young people. Working in youth ministry outside of the worship band, he has been able to teach drumming and music classes to youth groups, as well as lead youth ministry programs on mission trips or even just weekly youth group meetings.
Outside of Music, John is a massive sports fan. Growing up playing baseball and volleyball, he now competes in many different sporting programs around the Chicago area. He also loves eating and finds that the frequent potlucks that Bethany holds to be a truly fantastic time for all who love to eat and build friendships. Aside from all those things, John cherishes the people that God has put in his life. Throughout all seasons, he has had people who love and support him no matter what.
God calls people all shapes and sizes to carry Christ’s banner. In John’s case, for example, he has massive tattoos and piercings that people would deem weird for a call into ministry. But those things do not matter to Christ. He loves you no matter what you look like, or sound like, or how you function. All he cares about is your heart. What is Christ calling you to do, and will you answer?
FAVES
Verse: 1 Corinthians 15:55 “Where, O death, is your victory, Where, O death, is you sting?”
Community Restaurant: Lou Malnati’s
Hobbies: Love Movies and video games. Music of course! And Basketball, Volleyball, Football and most importantly Baseball. GO CUBS
Music: One Republic, Hillsong United. Beatles, Twenty One Pilots, NEEDTOBREATHE.
John Orton is an actual product of Bethany Baptist Church. He grew up attending Bethany ever since he was born, and came up through all the Sunday school, Awana, VBS, and Youth Group programs that Bethany did/does still offer. After High School, John attended Bethel University in Minnesota for 2 years before returning home to Chicago. Once back in Chicago, he began working full-time, while also finding a passion for Youth Ministry as well as developing a love for Music. A self-taught Drummer, John felt God calling him to step out in Faith at Bethany when they were at a crossroads with their Worship Band. After much prayer and council, John applied for the Worship Director position, and soon after was hired on for the position.
John is an avid believer of Redemption. Halfway through his college experience, he found himself straying from God. He ended up finding solace through Alcohol and parties, and soon this lead to him leaving college. He felt his life quickly begin to fall apart piece by piece. Finally, after a tragic death of someone very close to him, he began to really cry out to God. And what he found was that God had never left him. If nothing else, John wants people to realize that God is seeking each and every person out. No matter how far one strays, it’s never too far, and John believes that he is a testament to that.
By God’s grace, he has been able to bring a “God at the center” mindset to a growing Worship Band, and credits all the members of that Worship Team for not only receiving this visions, but also attaining to those beliefs. He loves seeing the Church grow, both inside the physical building but also empowering people throughout their weeks and daily walk with Christ using music and, and then taking that into the world. He is also an avid believer in discipleship, especially the discipleship of young people. Working in youth ministry outside of the worship band, he has been able to teach drumming and music classes to youth groups, as well as lead youth ministry programs on mission trips or even just weekly youth group meetings.
Outside of Music, John is a massive sports fan. Growing up playing baseball and volleyball, he now competes in many different sporting programs around the Chicago area. He also loves eating and finds that the frequent potlucks that Bethany holds to be a truly fantastic time for all who love to eat and build friendships. Aside from all those things, John cherishes the people that God has put in his life. Throughout all seasons, he has had people who love and support him no matter what.
God calls people all shapes and sizes to carry Christ’s banner. In John’s case, for example, he has massive tattoos and piercings that people would deem weird for a call into ministry. But those things do not matter to Christ. He loves you no matter what you look like, or sound like, or how you function. All he cares about is your heart. What is Christ calling you to do, and will you answer?
FAVES
Verse: 1 Corinthians 15:55 “Where, O death, is your victory, Where, O death, is you sting?”
Community Restaurant: Lou Malnati’s
Hobbies: Love Movies and video games. Music of course! And Basketball, Volleyball, Football and most importantly Baseball. GO CUBS
Music: One Republic, Hillsong United. Beatles, Twenty One Pilots, NEEDTOBREATHE.
