A Simple Yes: Max Pieper's Story of Serving

Sometimes God’s biggest work in our lives begins with a simple “yes.” That’s exactly how His work began in Max Pieper.

Now a sophomore at the University of Idaho, Max first stepped into serving as a seventh grader after accepting an invitation to join the production team at Real Life. What felt like a small decision at the time created space for God to grow him. Over time, God began using his gifts to bless both the church and the surrounding community.

Looking back, Max laughs at how it all started.

“It was very funny, because seventh grade Max was slightly impatient and wanted something to do during the ceremony. And so I got into running lights with the audio visual team.”

Over the years, Max has served in several behind-the-scenes roles. From lighting to camera operation, and now directing cameras for the livestream, his willingness has helped make Sunday services accessible to more than 100 people joining online each week.

“When I'm on Camera 3 up there on stage and you can hear the whole congregation singing, you're like, ‘this is what the kingdom of God is, and this is glorifying how awesome and great our God is.’”

Through serving in unseen ways, Max has witnessed God move powerfully through simple willingness. As he continually showed up to serve, he grew relationally with the people on the production team and with the multi-generational congregation from both services.

For Max, those moments of serving became reminders that God is always at work.

“God is always at work in you in every single second, whether you're filming a baptism, whether you're just hanging out. God just moves in power when you're willing to be intentional with other people in his name.”

What began as a way to stay engaged during service slowly became a place of spiritual growth and deeper awareness of God’s work in Max’s life.

Max shared: “It's been incredible for me, watching how I've grown, and just being able to hear Him. Like, when you get those tug on heartstrings feelings, just knowing, okay, God said go.”

As Max poured into Real Life, the church poured back into him. Through Sunday services and ServeFest, the church’s annual community service event, Max saw the needs of people both inside and outside the church. As his skills continued to grow, new opportunities for service followed, including youth ministry.

The production skills Max learned through years of faithful service behind the scenes became a blessing to the youth group. This eventually led to serving on the kid’s worship team and in the classroom.

Max’s testimony is a beautiful example of obedience with the gifts God blesses His children with. As Max surrendered to Jesus, Jesus used him as a part of His mission to reach the world.

Max put it this way:

“God has a purpose and a place for every single one of his people, and often it's not gonna look like what you think you're good at. I had zero anything skills when I first started learning audio visual, never filmed a thing in my life,” Max said. “If you have a heart for God's kingdom and God's people, you will see him, He’ll use you.”

Max’s story is a reminder that sometimes the biggest things God does in our lives begin with a simple step of obedience.

If you’re ready to take that step, you can sign up to serve here.