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Ever since Levi Bagge was very young, he has had a passion for music that he couldn’t hold in. He sang around the house so when he was about 5 years old, his parents bought him a child’s guitar. His mother taught piano lessons for 20 years from their home, so Levi and his younger brother were brought up with a strong musical background. Although encouraging of his son’s desire to pursue music as a career, his parents were concerned about the culture sometimes associated with it.

“We didn’t want him to get into trouble,” said Doug Bagge, Levi’s father. “I wasn’t worried about him getting into music as much as I was worried about him getting into the lifestyle that some musicians get into and that would be drug use and abuse.” Having been brought up in a Christian home with a strong faith, Levi never caused his parents any concern with his music career. Levi gave his life to Jesus Christ when he was 21 and soon after started a band called Calling Simon.

Levi met his wife, Tiffany, at a Christian college group. “I wanted to meet him, because I thought he was attractive. So I was going to join [the worship team Levi was singing in], just so I could meet him, even though I can’t sing,” said Tiffany. “We ended up meeting through the college group and it was really bad. We did not get along at all. I thought he was a little bit arrogant, and he thought I was a snob. It didn’t go well in our first meeting.”

They met up a couple years later and started dating, but it wasn’t easy, according to Tiffany. The two pushed through and got married. The indie band was together and toured for about 10 years all over the United States. Tiffany went with the band and helped to sell merchandise wherever they went. Levi and Tiffany felt that God wanted them to tour and share their music with other people and they described the experience to be fun and great.

The drummer for Calling Simon was Levi’s brother who had to go to Iraq and fight in the war during their first national tour. While the band was in Idaho, his brother was involved in an IED explosion and loss both of his legs. The band and family weren’t sure what happened to him at first. They thought he might be dead. The band had to continue for the next 18 days all the way down to Arizona.

“It really rocked our world in a negative way,” said Levi. “But also in a positive way. God really showed us that if we’re going to do this, we want to do it for a purpose.” Levi and Tiffany were prepared to sell their house and everything they owned to continue with the traveling lifestyle if that was where they felt God was leading them, however, they ended up back in Eugene.

Touring the states was an exciting time for Levi and his wife, but it wasn’t conducive for a strong marriage. The band disbanded and Levi started to consult churches on how to start worship teams all along the I-5 corridor. Several churches appreciated Levi’s work and leadership so well that they were offering him jobs to stay. He tried to refuse them, but after the First Baptist Church of Eugene asked a couple times, Levi decided to give it a try. He’s been working there as a Pastor and Contemporary Worship Leader for the past three years.

“I came on part-time and consulted, and I think six months after that I was basically licensed as a Pastor,” said Levi. “I have been overseeing the music side of what we call ‘contemporary worship.’” Levi explained that the term “worship” in the music industry is used as a genre, but it’s a lifestyle. “The reality is my job is that I help people connect music to inspire them to live lives of worship.” First Baptist Church of Eugene worship leader, Jimmy Kellar has been working closely with Levi for the past three years. “I like that he’s fun. He’s always fun. He looks at the positive,” said Jimmy. Levi and Jimmy work together with about 50 volunteers in the church. About half of them are on the worship team on stage, and the other half is involved in the media and tech department. Even though Levi is technically Jimmy’s boss, he doesn’t have a problem giving Jimmy the stage when it’s his turn to lead worship. “He wants me to do my best and he wants to encourage me with my ideas and he’s totally Okay with stepping out of the spotlight and being a support. I really appreciate that,” said Jimmy.

Levi also helps out with the IT and AV Media teams at First Baptist Church. In his experience, many leaders in large churches tend to pick up extra responsibilities outside of their titles. Some days Levi has to tend to these other responsibilities instead of focusing on the music, but other days he records and writes music in the studio. Levi has even written music for a movie called Camp Harlow. He was approached by a guy who was doing a movie and had heard Levi’s solo album. The guy loved the album and asked Levi to write for his movie. Levi was excited and jumped at the opportunity. He worked with Ian Eskelin, a producer in Nashville, to create the songs. Near the end of production, Levi was privileged with editing parts of the movie himself, a first for him.

Levi and Tiffany have a son named Gavin and are excited to be parents. They’re waiting to see where God will lead them, but for the time being, they’re happy working in the church, living a comfortable life and worshipping God.