RYFO Network -A community that cares for the unique physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of touring musicians.By partnering with individuals, companies, and organizations across the country, we are able to offer musicians a diverse range of services as they are away from their ordinary systems of support, all at no additional cost to the artist!

I love the fact that they are going against any kind of traditional means of support, and that they have stepped out in faith, to take care of the needs of the artists.  I stumbled upon this organization about a year ago, through someone mentioning them via Twitter.  I signed up to become a member on their website, not really knowing much about it at the time.  I LOVE music.  I thought this would be a great way to support the bands.

Once you have signed up, you can actually “adopt a band” and start receiving their prayer requests and their current needs that they may have.  Having these guys share their hearts, and their struggles, and their needs, wasn’t really something I was expecting.  Honestly I’m not sure what I really thought RYFO was, or what they were doing, but for someone you don’t know to send out a prayer request and let you know what they are struggling with, really changed everything for me.

I’ll be very honest when I thought that bands were living it up out on the road, and that it was just one big party.  My apologies to anyone who is in a band.  I had no idea what kind of struggles you go through.  I’m not sure anyone does really.  Most people probably never think about it.

I love being able to catch a glimpse of the many ways that God works, and the means by which He chooses to do it.  Most people would never think about such a need.  This was convincing proof to me through a struggle I was dealing with personally last year, that God provides a way for every need.  Last summer I got to witness God come through in a miraculous way by providing financial support for a fund-raising project to raise $10,000 to support their vision for RYFO 2.0 that would change how bands are ministered to.  In the last remaining hours of their fund-raiser they met a goal that 3 days prior to, seemed impossible unless God intervened.  God stepped in, and people stepped up and RYFO was able to reach their goal in the last hour.

RYFO exists only to support the needs of the artists.  This is not a network for obsessed fans to stalk their favorite bands.  This is a serious network for those to prayerfully consider supporting the artists.  You can adopt bands, and follow their prayer requests, see what their needs are, and support the bands financially.   If you sign up and receive their prayer requests, I urge you to take that responsibility very seriously and devote some time praying for their needs.  This network and the bands they support could not exist without it.

They also have a host home service to provide a place for bands on the road to crash for the night, grab something to eat, shower,  and have several other basic needs met.  There is a very lengthy and in depth process to become a host home, and they take this service very seriously.

Being the Domino means being willing to be used by God for His purposes to touch the lives of others.  RYFO is doing this every day by changing the way the bands are ministered to.  They have a very specific vision for what God has called them to do.  Please be in prayer for this ministry as they reach out to the bands that minister to us.

Interview with Nick Greenwood: Director/Founder of RYFO

In your bio on your website you state that We are a community of individuals, companies, and organizations that partner together to offer touring musicians a diverse range of services as they are away from their ordinary systems of support, all at no additional cost to the artist! How did this idea get started?

More and more each day I see how Ryfo’s ministry approach is directly tied to how God has wired me.  Now don’t get me wrong.  I don’t take one once of credit for the incredible work God does through our ministry, and the lengths for which it has traveled to in such a short time.  But I am so often intrigued by it’s flavor.  I grew up organizing neighborhood hockey games and late-night capture the flag events for the kids in my hometown.  As God captured my heart by the blood of Jesus, that instinct to connect and organize people shifted.  I was compelled to use my efforts and inclinations to reach others for Christ.  Instead of designating the most flexible kid in the neighborhood to be the goalie of the yellow team, we provide individuals and groups across the country the directed opportunity to have a much-needed place in the lives of touring artists, based on their unique giftings and callings.

It’s the Church being the church for those outside it’s walls.  I also experienced the need first hand as I was fortunate enough to experience two tours myself.  Being on the road away from your ordinary systems of support and accountability is like walking up to a temptations and pitfalls buffet.  Take your pick.  Most likely, you are hungry for something, and you are gonna munch, because it’s there and it’s that easy.  Even those that are strong usually wind up tired and hungry eventually.  I felt it, and I watched friends fall hard to it.

Most people never think twice about what a band on the road has to go through on a day to day basis.  They usually don’t, but you did.  Were you in a band?  How did you take this from an idea to a reality?

Though I played in several bands, we never toured outside of our region.  While in Bible school and after, I prayed a lot, held a few groups meetings with industry folk in Nashville, went on two band tours as a clothing company rep, knocked on a lot of doors, prayed some more, asked a lot of questions, and began developing a team.  We organized simple ways for people around the country to engage via a website built off of the Google Maps API.  Not an easy journey, but one filled with doubt, fear, growth, and risk…by God’s grace alone.

How many bands are signed up with RYFO?

Ryfo is individual based…different than other traditional music sites.  We serve individuals in bands first, and consequently serve the band as an entity.  That being said, we have over 700+ touring artists registered, making up over 400 bands.  Christians and non-Christians.

When most people think of bands, they think of all of the glamour, fame and fortune, but in reality it’s a lot more difficult for bands who are out on the road.  What are some of the biggest struggles that they face?

Loneliness, being home-sick, isolation, temptation night after night, becoming lethargic in their walk with the Lord, boredom, pride, integrity, lack of accountability, the list goes on and on…

What are the 1530’s?

Romans 15:30 says, “Join with me in my struggle by praying to God for me, do this because of the love you have for me given to you by the Holy Spirit. (NLT)”  Paul pleads with the Church to participate in his ministry, by praying.  It’s simple.  So, we created a platform for fans to adopt artists so they can participate in the artist’s ministries, by praying for their posted needs, and bringing care-packs to their shows.  Not only do these fans serve the Believers, they take their roles a step further by praying for the unbelieving bands they adopt through our system as well.

Tell us about becoming a host home?  What is the process someone has to go through in order to become a host home?

Our host homes are held to a code of sacrificial service.  It is very important to us that Ryfo Host Homes are able to be places of rest and refreshment, void of super fans.  Our best homes are people very much removed from the music scene, gifted with hospitality.  They don’t want autographs, free tickets to shows, or other free stuff.  They do what they do because they understand how affective loving someone through hospitality can be to furthering someone’s relationship with Jesus.

You have to be willing to lay down your carefully-protected kingdom to further His Kingdom.  Practically speaking, we ask for references, have applicants fill out a lengthy application about their home’s amenities, explain their faith, send in pictures of the home, and conclude with an over the phone interview with our Host Home Coordinator.  We seem to be ever-engaging in the process of educating the Church to understand the relationship artists need them to have with them and visa versa, reconciling the vast expanse that exists between the local church and the touring artist community.  They should be partners that understand one-another.  And they don’t currently.

Do you ever wonder about celebrity stalkers?

It’s very clear that Ryfo does not tolerate celebrity stalkers.  Anyone guilty of this is instantly reported and removed.  In this day and age, there are plenty of ways to communicate with people you admire…Ryfo does not accommodate for those motives.  It has never been a problem for us.

What are some of the services you offer to the bands?  How does someone go about getting listed to help?

Some of our partner ministries include: Free chiropractors, artist counselors, hairstylists, host homes, discount tires, mechanics, and more.  To offer your service to the Ryfo artist community, contact: info@ryfo.org

Tell us about the RYFO team!

The Ryfo volunteer admin team is made up of three staff members and an intern, in addition to myself.  To be full-time with Ryfo, one must raise missionary support as I do.  Several of the volunteers are considering the transition to becoming full-time/support-dependent.  We all meet for a weekly staff meeting that has become much like a small group environment.  We enjoy it and each other very much!  We are gifted uniquely, which makes for a really dynamic meeting.  We have five board members that oversee our ministry. 

What are some of the biggest challenges that you face at RYFO?

Being a para-church ministry that does not have a model of revenue generation, we are regularly engaged in fundraising.  Though we count that as a blessing, it can become tiresome.  We believe that our ministry is a mission to those in need, and thus no service fee is charged.  We hope to see the Ryfo community develop a conviction that what we are is an extension of the Church, not a service, and in turn see it supported financially by the community.  We certainly don’t lack vision, but possibly the communication skills to accurately and regularly educate the community to understand what Ryfo truly is.  We are a community of people, some of which are artists, and those artists need a community that cares.

What is RYFO 2.0?  What does it do?

RYFO 2.0 is a (soon-to-launch) web-software platform we are developing in order to build better bridges of collaboration, community and care with partner ministries and individuals around the country, and eventually the world.  On June 1, 2011, RYFO 2.0 Beta Lite will go live to the public.  Host Homes can better manage their Host Home profiles, able to update new pics and info as well as indicate on a calendaring system when they are available or booked.  Fans and artists can track their adopted bands around the country and know when they are passing through.  Venues can register as a Ryfo Recognized Venue, agreeing to some never-before-seen venue guidelines, accountability and expectations that artists appreciate.  A few mobile apps and a whole lot more…..

What does it mean for you personally to be the domino?

A ministry is worthless if your motivation isn’t to reflect God’s glory, and make Him famous.  There are too many already out there doing good for good sake, forcing God to reach in and redeem their efforts if He wants what is due to Him.  Good for good sake only makes you look good, and rarely moves people closer to truly knowing the Lord.

Thank you so much Nick for your interview, and for sharing your heart with us about RYFO and the vision God has given for your ministry!

Please take time to visit RYFO, sign up, adopt a band, pray for them.   Check out the many ways you can financially support the RYFO Network.

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