The arts are our gifts from God. Often, we dismiss music, dance, acting, writing, painting, and other forms of art as frivolous or extra, assuming that other areas of our lives need our attention first. If we have any leftover time, we can spend it on our frivolities. But what if the arts were necessary for thriving? For healing? What if, by taking the time to create, to feel, to dive into a story that is not our own, we were able to mend our hearts?
Juquan Vickers was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, in a family that was very active in church. He was also very involved, singing and ushering from a young age. Around age 14, Vickers realized that he had never given his heart to the Lord. He explains that knowing about God and walking with the Lord, allowing Him to be a personal savior, are two very different things. Also as a young teen, Vickers became interested in playing the keyboard. He says he wasn’t very good in the natural. However, God had big plans to use music in Vickers’ life. One evening at church, his cousin’s wife took hold of his hands and anointed them with oil. She prayed that the Lord would take over his abilities and allow the Spirit to move and play through him. Vickers shares that her prayer over his hands changed his life and his abilities. From that day forward, Vickers’ musical and worship talents have been growing; he is a respected, talented worship leader today.
Alongside music, the local theater is a place filled with childhood memories for Vickers. The theater has always been an outlet where he could pour out his grief, his joy, and any other emotions he has felt in his almost thirty years of life.
Vickers as The Tin Man in “The Wiz”
Not long after he was cast as the Tin Man in a local production of “The Wiz,” Vickers tells that he entered one of the hardest seasons of his life: his beloved grandmother was diagnosed with a fatal heart condition. As her heart grew weaker, Vickers would practice his songs daily at his grandmother’s bedside, singing of the Tin Man’s desire to acquire a heart.
Vickers with His Beloved Grandmother
After her passing, Vickers shares that he went into a dark place mentally, fighting with anxiety and depression. His struggles were so profound and consuming that he was sometimes unable to drive. Vickers describes how his vision clouded, his hands went numb, and his heart felt as though it was pounding out of his chest.
It was in this time of darkness and confusion that Vickers began to speak life over himself. Just as he had rehearsed and performed lines in a play throughout his life, he spoke the Word with boldness, reminding himself that “God will never leave us or forsake us.” And from Philippians 4:8: “…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Vickers also recalls thinking about the importance of putting on the helmet of salvation daily. The helmet assures us of our salvation, eternal security, and protects our minds from unhealthy, negative thoughts.
In 2020, Vickers would have the biggest life change to date when he met Jessica.
Juquan and Jessica Vickers
The two connected online, and on their first date, they went to see a Toy Story movie and stayed up late talking for hours. Vickers and Jessica knew theirs was a lifetime match pretty quickly, and they were married just six months later in October, in the middle of the global Covid-19 pandemic. Jessica, an Occupational Therapist by trade, was already a worship leader at the church she was attending, but she readily agreed to join Vickers at Harvest Life.
Jessica and Juquan Vickers Are a Powerful Worship Team
They love to worship together, even recording a worship album to be released soon.
The Vickers Recording Their Upcoming Worship Album, “Unapologetic Worship”
The two have also recorded a song called “Busy” about how life can be chaotic, but they “wouldn’t want to be busy with anyone else but you.” You can see their music video here: https://youtu.be/dG4_rACp3cg?si=KWLViibY_M_IpRZx
In recent years, Vickers gained a friend and mentor as he sought out Pastor Dave Raegan from Harvest Life Church in Jacksonville, whom he had known from afar for many years. The two men met up for coffee, where Vickers shared his testimony and how he felt the Lord wanted to use him. Pastor Dave appreciated Vickers’ openness and shared his own heart. Before long, the two had created a close-knit friendship, and Vickers was asked to step in to help with the worship team at Harvest Life. He and Jessica also help out with the youth group.
Vickers Baptizing One of the Youth
Today, Vickers is entering his fourth year as the Performing Arts Director at the Foundation Academy in Jacksonville, Florida. He is a graduate of Florida State College at Jacksonville, with a degree in music with a focus on performance. Vickers works with Kindergarten through 12th grade students, putting on a yearly performance for each elementary, middle, and high school. He is excited to jump back into the theater this fall, knowing the students will love it as much as he does. He shares: “God gave us theater, music, the arts, for expressing thoughts and emotions. I share that testimony often with my students. You don’t have to take on those heavy feelings. Release them through music, poetry, or dance.”
Juquan Vickers’ life is immersed in art, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. He wants others to know first about the healing and restorative power of a relationship with Jesus Christ, and secondly, how the arts aren’t frivolous, but a necessity. Vickers shares: “I know how much art has touched me, brought me out through such darkness. I hope people who read this article will learn about themselves and how to view and process the world through the lens of art.” The arts are, after all, our gifts from God.
The Vickers with Their Miniature Dachshund, Callie
