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Rock Group Is Steadfast For The Lord

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By MICHELLE BEARDEN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 12, 2008

They're not exactly rock-band material, at least by all appearances.

Three adults, whose ages total 125 years. Seven kids altogether. Full-time jobs in the real world for two of them.

Yet they meet in a cramped house-turned-office in Land 'O Lakes every Tuesday night to crank up the amps and make music.

"My kids wouldn't admit it, but they think it's kinda cool," says a laughing Patina Ripkey, 43. The New Tampa resident is mom to a 15-year-old son and 20-year-old daughter.

They call themselves Steadfast190. Besides Ripkey, there's Jeff Leonard, also 43, and a father of two, and Debbie Harrell, 39, the mother of three girls. The group's name comes from being "constant and unwavering" in their Christian faith. The 190 represents the combined ages of Abraham and Sarah, the Old Testament couple who were 100 and 90, respectively, when they had their first child, Isaac.

"It's about having that persistent faith," Ripkey says. "Sometimes I want God to reveal everything to me all at one time. But he doesn't always work that way. He can do it a little at a time, so you take those steps and keep faithfully following him."

They met at St. James United Methodist Church in New Tampa, where Ripkey used to serve as worship director. For a time, it was enough to sing in the church choir. But last year, they felt compelled to move their music beyond the church walls and turn it into something that would have a more substantive impact.

So in October, they recorded "It's Time," their first CD. A few months later, they started performing at public venues.

The Tampa Bay area is teeming with musicians. What makes them different?

These rockers consider their music a ministry. They intend to change the community, then the country and maybe the world, in a movement that rallies fellow Christians to become social activists. They've named the movement after their signature song, urging Christians that "It's Time" to heed Christ's words and be leaders.

Many recording artists hone their craft to earn a living or a chance at stardom. But for Steadfast190, it's not about the entertainment or the acclaim. These three musicians believe that if they don't use their musical platform to inspire and inform, then they aren't doing the job they're supposed to be doing.

"Our mission is centered around Isaiah 58, that tells us to feed the hungry and help those in trouble," says Harrell, a certified public accountant who works for an insurance restoration company with her husband. "But we only can do so much. What if everyone in the church pulled together and began living out the word? If the church was a rebuilder of walls and a restorer of homes, how much could we accomplish?"

In mid-June, Harrell read on these pages about River of Grace, a ministry for the homeless near downtown Tampa that flunked a fire inspection. The church, which feeds and houses dozens of men every day, began racking up huge fees for an off-duty firefighter to be stationed on the premises so it could continue to operate.

Harrell knew the mission was legitimate. St. James is one of its principal supporters. And she and her band mates could help. They performed a benefit concert for River of Grace so it could get back to focusing on its mission.

The group helped raise more than $4,000 at the June 29 event. River of Grace was able to pay for the fire code improvements, with money left over to invest back into its ministry.

Next up: Steadfast190 has signed on as volunteer leaders for CareFest, a weeklong community service project sponsored by Somebody Cares Tampa Bay. The program dispenses more than 3,000 volunteers in 16 cities to take on practical projects such as house repairs and landscaping in neighborhoods where people need help. The trio will help kick off the week with an energizing concert for volunteers Sept. 20 at Lowry Park Zoo.

Their music - all original, and mainly soft rock, in the vein of Christian groups such as Casting Crowns and Avalon - is meant to be a catalyst, both through lyrics and beat.

"I feel as if we're instruments of God. He's given us gifts, and it's something we love to do," says Leonard, who works for the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA. "And we're using it to do something rewarding. This is a calling and a commitment."

The band members carry calling cards with the "It's Time" logo printed on the front. They leave them around town to provoke conversation and curiosity. Those who come across the card are invited to visit steadfast190.com, hear some of their music and join the movement.

"If you have a candle by itself, it will light a room. But if you join that candle with another, and another and another, think of how much impact it will have. Think of how much light it will bring," Ripkey says.

"There's no stopping us because we won't quit."

STEADFAST190 CONCERT

WHEN: 4 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: Temple Terrace Presbyterian Church, 420 Bullard Parkway, Temple Terrace

ADMISSION: Free; an offering will be taken

INFORMATION: (813) 924-0893

Stop by a Steadfast190 rehearsal in Michelle Bearden's "Keeping the Faith" segment Sunday at 9 a.m. on WFLA-TV. She can be reached at (813) 259-7613 or mbearden@tampatrib.com.

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