Service Spotlight: Tim Dunbar
Service Spotlight is a regular feature by Carole Deck highlighting LCOB members and friends who find joy in serving.
“Your talent is God’s gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God.”
― Leo Buscaglia, American author
Tim Dunbar recognizes his musical talent is a gift from God. He takes seriously scriptures that encourage us to use our gifts as faithful stewards to serve others and glorify the Lord.
Every Sunday morning Tim directs musical worship by singing and playing an instrument with the Praise Team for the Contemporary Worship Service. A role the gifted musician fulfills with faith and enthusiasm.
Though a talented multi-instrumentalist, he remains humble about his skill as a pianist, keyboardist, drummer, and guitarist (bass, electric, acoustic).
His first musical venture was learning to play the drums at eight years old. But after two formal lessons, it was obvious self-instruction would be a better option. He learned to play drums by practicing with the soundtrack from the movie “Top Gun.” All the other instruments he plays were also self-taught.
In 2002, Tim started attending the contemporary worship service and liked the community atmosphere and praise music. It wasn’t long until he was invited to join the Praise Band, first as a drummer, later as pianist and guitarist. In 2003, he became a church member.
While a Sunday morning musician at church, in 2005 he also was keyboardist for a local band called “Too Many Empty” with performances around the county, Philadelphia, Delaware, and Greenwich Village. He cowrote music for the band. After two years, the band called it quits.
Playing with the church band influenced his choice to use music to serve God. He explained how being in a secular band puts the focus on the musician. Playing music for God directs attention towards God which Tim finds way more satisfying and fulfilling.
After volunteering with the LCOB Praise Team for 20 years, Tim was offered a part-time church staff position as Praise Director. His duties include music selection, audio leadership, recording soundtracks to accompany music, rehearsing with singers and musicians, and leading musical worship Sunday morning.
In addition to being a musician, Tim is a composer and songwriter. At the December 29, 2024, combined worship service, he premiered a song he wrote “Get Outta Here.” It tells the story of a believer who felt a heart tug to do more to serve God than just listen to sermons on Sunday.
At Pastor’s Misty’s Retirement Lunch program, Tim performed a musical guitar composition he wrote for Misty titled “Until Next Time.” With no lyrics, the melody and harmony communicated a heartfelt message to say goodbye.
Two additional Christian songs are in his composition catalog which haven’t had their premier yet. He’s contemplating publishing all of his music in the future. And he would love to add the violin to his consort of instruments.
All of Tim’s music is created in his Dunbar Home Studio. It consists of a computer, digital keyboard with audio software, studio monitors, condenser microphone, electronic kit, and more.
Tim doesn’t seek fame and fortune and gives God the praise for an opportunity to serve Him through music. “Serving God is what separates the listeners of Jesus from disciples of Jesus,” he said.
A graduate of Pennsylvania College of Technology, Williamsport, Tim’s career path was in Information Technology. This led to a position as Systems Network Analyst with LNP/WITF, a Pennon Company (formerly Lancaster Newspapers), for the past 25 years.
Tim lives with wife, Jessica, in Ephrata and they are parents of daughter Hope, 13, and son, Seth, 10.