We moved a lot growing up.  By the time I was in middle school, we had lived in five cities in four different states.  Maybe that’s why I’m especially grateful for the long lasting friends God has provided in life. 

Trace Rorie (or as I like to call him, ‘three’) is one of those long lasting friends.  We’ve been playing music together for something like 7 years.  Mixed in with all those memories is a particularly stirring vocal rendition of Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful” on the shores of Northern Ireland that you’ll have to ask him about.  When we were living next door to each other in the dorm at school, I don’t think either of us guessed we’d get to work together the way we do now.     

When Trace sings a Switchfoot song, you think the song was written for him.  But then he sings Rascal Flatts and the same thought comes to mind.  He’s a supremely gifted instrumentalist, too.  Trace on a stage is like a fish in water.  I’d be jealous if it weren’t for the fact that he scores slightly higher than me on the metrosexual worship leader test. 

However, if you go to GCC or watch our videos on the website, you already know all of that.  I want you to understand that music is just the tip of the iceberg with him.  

Trace has a big enough sense of humor to make everyday life a lot more fun for the whole team.  You’ll know he’s up to something by the sly grin on his face.  He’s quick-witted and devious in the best sense.  Hand in hand with that is the fact that he’s an intense encourager.  Some people speak in generalities in an attempt to be nice; Trace looks people in the eye and speaks directly and insightfully into their lives in ways that mark them.  At the risk of being entirely too sappy, I can tell you he has been the wind in my sails time and time again.  I trust him like I trust very few people.   

He met a girl named Stephanie while at Bethel, and the rest, as they say, is history.  She’s one of the rock stars on our student ministry team.  I’m bitter because she was one of the pillars on the MERGE team, serving as a volunteer, before DC got wise and snatched her up for a staff position.     

Trace thinks God deserves our very best.  He works harder to prepare music for our weekends than anyone I know.  He’s legendary for running efficient rehearsals.  (I think he brandishes the sword seen above to motivate the team.)  He’s sincere in his work and loyal to his friends and gifted beyond belief, and I’m really grateful I get to work with a guy like him who feels like a brother.  Absolutely a rock star.