Serving the Voices Blog

Stacy’s role with RYFO

Stacy is RYFO’s Host Home Relations Coordinator. She’s the first point of contact for our 100+ host homes across the U.S. She is responsible for the applications, interviews and onboarding.

What attracts Stacy to RYFO

The main reason Stacy was attracted to RYFO is that she has seen the heartbreak and pain that people in the music industry go through, and she believes that there is hope for every person. She knows that God has given her the gift to love people through their difficult stuff.

Stacy’s hope for RYFO

Stacy hopes that through RYFO lives will be transformed by God’s incredible love!

About Stacy’s family

Stacy and her husband, Paxton, live in Los Angeles, CA; and she works for Foursquare Church as their Benefits Administrator. She and her husband met in the summer of 2012 and were married, October 2013. Stacy enjoys the science between art and music, and has a passion for those who make it.

Rebecca’s role with RYFO

Rebecca is the Communications & Organizational Partnership Director for RYFO. She manages the social media and web aspects of the organization, as well as, works to find like-minded businesses to partner with RYFO to grow our mission and reach.

How Rebecca became involved with RYFO

Rebecca first learned about RYFO from Nick Greenwood at Cornerstone Festival in 2009. Nick was running around with a clipboard explaining RYFO and getting people to sign up for more information. At the time, Rebecca and her husband had already been hosting bands, but lived in a very small apartment. A few years later, they moved into a house and became a RYFO host home. About a year ago, the opportunity came available for Rebecca to join the RYFO staff.

Rebecca’s hope for RYFO

Rebecca hopes RYFO can reach all musicians, both secular and faith based, with radical hospitality.

Artists and bands face a lifestyle that wears them to the bone, but many feel called to share themselves and their art with the world.  That process of sharing is vital, and through art and music lives are touched, minds are changed, and hearts are opened.  It is RYFO’s task to protect and care for those who give themselves over to that process, that choose to live with close to nothing and share themselves far from their homes and families.  RYFO does this by meeting their most basic needs first, then hopefully are allowed to help artists grow in other areas of their lives.  She hopes that RYFO will continue to expand and draw in people with unique gifts of caring and equipping to see that idea realized fully for the music community.

About Rebecca’s family

Rebecca & her husband, Ian live in Austin, TX. Rebecca enjoys photography, cooking and art. She also owns a the jewelry design company, Rebecca Harvey Designs. Ian works in student ministry at their church and is currently in a band that uses RYFO. Together they have three dogs; Thrash, Emo and Indie. They are also in the process of adopting. They both have a heart for hospitality, and enjoy having people in their home.

Taylor’s role with RYFO

Taylor is RYFO’s Artist Coordinator. He serves as the connection between the artists and our organization. He reviews and approves all artist applications and welcomes bands into the network.

What attracts Taylor to RYFO

Taylor experienced life as a touring musician, both first hand and indirectly through many other bands in the music industry. While on the road, most relationships centered around fandom of the music industry. Despite being around people 24/7, he rarely had the opportunity to engage with people looking out for him as a person; they were more interested in him as an artist. He was attracted to RYFO when he saw that the organization existed to serve touring musicians not out of fandom, but out of the love God has called us to show each other within the music community.

Taylor’s hope for RYFO

Taylor hopes RYFO is able to offer genuine love and support for touring musicians that is rarely given from the fan or business perspective. Additionally, many Christian and non-Christian artists are disconnected from the church and community while on the road and can have a negative impact both physically, mentally, and spiritually. He hopes that artists are able to find a community of support within RYFO that will care for the artist like family and provide that support while on the road.

About Taylor’s family

Taylor & his wife, Mandy are from Virginia, but now call San Antonio, TX  home. Taylor grew up in Virginia Beach in the 90’s surf/skate punk music scene. He played in bands and was a promoter at several local venues. Mandy grew up in southwest Virginia and they met in college at James Madison University. After graduating college, they began full-time jobs in the sports industry, but Taylor still had a strong passion for music. While he was no longer playing/touring, he was able to connect with RYFO in 2011. While Taylor and Mandy don’t share the same type of passion for music, they both love to host and serve others. Taylor and Mandy are one of RYFO’s host homes. Mandy enjoys caring for the bands that come through their home, and Taylor enjoys staying connected to the music industry.

Simeon’s role with RYFO

Simeon Lohrmann is the Executive Director of RYFO.  He oversees all of the projects, goals and is tasked with expanding the programs RYFO offers; while working to ensure the health and vitality of the core staff team.

How Simeon became involved with RYFO

Simeon’s story with RYFO started in the fall of 2006. He moved from his hometown of Baltimore, MD to Orange County, CA to help founder, Nick Greenwood, launch RYFO. He was attracted by the vision because he had seen the faith struggles of some of his close musician friends who had become popular in the music scene. Once in California, Simeon spent some time growing his personal career, but after nearly 4 years God directed him back to the original reason for moving, RYFO. It became clear that his purpose was to bridge the gap between the Church and the musician community.

In 2010 Simeon officially started volunteering with RYFO, and became Nick’s go-to for operational needs. After 3 years of volunteering and working full-time; God led Nick in another direction, and Simeon left his job to step into the RYFO role full time.

Simeon’s hope for RYFO

Simeon’s hope is for a transformation in the musician community. He wants to see artists discover their true identify, and wants to see them equipped to bring Kingdom influence through their art. He’s hopeful to see musicians who are far from God, or those who have been marginalized by the church, being discipled to make disciples.

About Simeon’s family

Simeon & his wife, Johanna, along with their two kids – Judah (2) and Adalynn (4 months) live in Phoenix, Arizona. Simeon enjoys playing, writing music and playing soccer. Johanna likes yoga and crafting. Together they love investing in the lives of young adults. As a family they love to travel and host friends or family in their home.

Johanna owns Five Stone Furnishings. She uses the business to connect her love for restoring furniture with her passion for restoring lives. The proceeds of the pieces she sells helps to fund the abolitionist work being done by the nonprofit organization, Exodus Cry.