The first Radical Life Support interview with former band member Spencer Thury who was with Teen Rescue for three years during the early years. He first saw Rick at a Sunshine Festival. While worshipping with 13,000 people, he heard God say, “be a pastor.” He told God he wasn’t a shirt and tie type of guy standing behind a pulpit; but God responded saying He had enough of those and needed something completely different. The next day he saw Rick on stage again, dressed with unmatching clothes, playing air guitar, and acting crazy. And God told him, that is a pastor and Spencer said that he could do that.
His first meeting with Rick was at a Burger King and they discussed doing drama pieces from skits Spencer had wrote. God put two misfits together who didn’t belong in a traditional church setting. The day Rick found out Spencer was musical was on a drive to a youth retreat. Spencer got out his harmonica and was driving the car with his knee. Rick then asked him to play the harmonica at the youth retreat while Rick played some rock tunes.
Spencer played saxophone, harmonica, ukulele, guitar, piano, and keyboard with Teen Rescue. Rick gives credit alone to Spencer for being the only band member to do jumps, cartwheels, backflips, and splits on stage. He was basically a back up singer and hype man and the kids loved him.
Spencer wrote many songs and would play them solo on the ukulele at the beginning as the first warm up act and then he would introduce the band. Eventually the band started the tourists playing the song, “We Don’t Belong Here.”
One thing Spencer appreciated about the Teen Rescue band was he remembers that the band wasn’t always super close friends with each other because they had diverse interests and they traveled in a van without a radio. So, when they arrived at a school, they would spread out and search of kids similar to each of their own interests. When the concert was ready, kids for all walks of life and different interests would come together and there was a crowd to hear the group play.
Spencer remembers one time when he was so thirsty and they stopped and a guy in a truck filled with water bottles walked over and asked if he wanted a drink. He also remembers God telling him to build a case for his guitar because he was going to need it, so he did and then Rick called him up to go with him to Toronto for a youth retreat and the case was ready ahead of time to bring on the plane.
Since Spencer is a lefty, he remembers trading in three guitars he had plus $40 to get a lefty guitar. He didn’t think the guitar was worth much but found out later that it was his dream guitar that he always wanted and he still has it today 30 years later. God cares for His children and He provides good gifts.
Spencer recalls one story about an angry kid who didn’t want to speak to Spencer but only to Rick so he got in line for his autograph. Spencer knew in his hear that something crazy spiritual was about to happen so he started praying. As it became the kids turn, Rick asked him why he hated his dad so much. Before you knew it, Rick had his arm around the kid leading him to ask Jesus into his heart.
Spencer remembers at his first gig with Teen Rescue at Aberdeen, South Dakota, a kid was following him around and he ended up leading him through the If You Could Ask God Three Questions track. He took a step for faith and asked the kid if he wanted to give his life to the Lord and he did.
After Spencer’s time with Teen Rescue, he went on to be a pastor just as God told him he would be at the Sunshine Festival. Crazy means to be extremely enthusiastic. En theo is a part of the word enthusiastic and it means In God. Walk in the spirit, be passionate, and crazily trust in the Lord and it will all work out. Let others see God in you. Do something for the Lord, don’t do nothing. Be crazy and do something.
