About

10 years since we had seen each other.

11 years since I had seen that incredible place.

3 amazing summers.

5 crazy musicians.

1 camp.

The unwanted story of the most unofficial camp band the world will never know…

FILL WICKHAM & THE STEP DOWNS.

It was May of 2022. My mom and I were eating lunch on our way up north to get away for a few days after my Dad’s funeral. Before losing cell service I get a message from Logan. It went something like this… “Dude do you still hit things?” My response, “of course! I try to do more than just hit things these days.” (shameless plug for a worship album that no one cared about and sending links to my projects so I can feel better about my failing music career.) “Cool bro! I’ll check these out. Hey want to come play drums at cedarmore?” Me to my Mom, “OH MY GOSH. WHAT. JUST WHAT. OH MY GOSH MOM YOU WERE RIGHT.” We’ll pause here…

Logan and I met in 2012 at Jonathan Creek. It was my first worship leader gig outside of leading for my college ministry at my church and looking back, I can’t believe I got it. I was so young and awkward in front of a microphone and weird and was way better at drums than singing and playing keys. I think they had hoped I would deliver the same quality I did on drums the previous two summers, WELP. Not what happened. But had I not gotten this opportunity, Logan and I would’ve never met. Even though it took us a decade to talk again.

My mom had said from the day I got home from D6 (Crossings internship I did from 2010-2011) that I was not done with them. Somehow, some way, I’d cross paths with Crossings again. I always told her she was crazy and it wouldn’t happen. In 2018 when I was a youth pastor, I had looked into bringing my group to Cedarmore, but it didn’t work out. So I went 4 more years assuming I’d never see that beautiful place again. And then…

“When do you leave for camp?” My mom knew right away. Moms are amazing. MY MOM IS AMAZING! I gave her the details and she told me I was dumb if I didn’t try to get the time off work. I was slightly nervous to ask for time off given I had just taken a couple weeks off after my Dad passed away, but I told my manager the details and he didn’t hesitate to give me the time off. I WAS FINALLY HEADED BACK TO CROSSINGS!

Kid’s camp 2022 was where Logan and I finally reunited. I met Chuck and Tucker for the first 2 sessions, then Josh came from Nashville (Josh is so ripped and seriously knows everything about music and did I mentioned he’s ripped?) for the last 2 sessions. We had a fantastic time leading worship, driving the golf cart like responsible citizens, talking all about the good and bad in music (secular and ccm/worship) and most importantly talking about Jesus and having deep conversations about faith and the Bible. I was not shy to admit I was going through a lot, but God used those dudes and that camp (the campers, the staff, the camp pastors, legitimately the simple beauty of the property and all its outdoor goodness) to break me in a way I knew I needed for awhile but didn’t want. There’s something about hearing 600+ kids sing “Living Hope” at the top of their lungs that will move you. There’s something about meeting a staffer in Kentucky who lives 40 minutes from you back in Michigan and becoming friends. There’s something about watching young adults give up their whole summer to basically work 15+ hours a day in the hot sun, be tired in every sense of the word, yet totally loving it and loving each other and loving God. There’s just something about what God is doing at Crossings and it’s humbling and absolutely an amazing honor to have been back for 3 summers playing drums in…

FILL WICKHAM & THE STEP DOWNS.

Oh, you want to know about the name? Well, there’s a lot we could unpack. (there’s not actually…)

FILL WICKHAM- Logan loves a certain worship leader with a similar name. don’t overthink it.

THE STEP DOWNS- I mean, there’s obviously more talented people you could hire. But we look good (especially Josh, dude is ripped!) and we tune…a step down.

And that’s about it. We are 5 dudes (one camp dad, Chuck is only kinda old) who love Jesus, love camp, love the gifts we’ve been given with music, and love that we get to play even the tiniest part in kids hearing the gospel and responding through worship at Crossings.

I have no idea how many years we will be doing this, but I do know that when summer ends, I check my messages every day waiting to get one from Logan with dates for the next summer. We LOVE what we do and LOVE Crossings. We are honored and humbled to be a part of creating experiences to proclaim the gospel.

I am so thankful for what God has done, is doing, and will do through the ministry at Crossings. It impacted me when I was 19/20 as a summer staffer and intern and it impacted me again coming back in my 30s playing drums in Fill Wickham & the Step Downs. You know, that camp band with the pig logo.

So there ya go. 5 dudes, a camp, and the wildest name for a camp band ever. The unwanted story of the most unofficial camp band the world will ever know.