Stuff ups and God

Since War Cry last caught up with Stan, he’s starred in his first movie (Mt Zion), judged The X Factor, released a new album that debuted at number three on the charts, did a World Tour of New Zealand, and even opened for Beyonce. That’s quite the list for a 23-year-old who admits he stuffs up a lot.

For everything good in my life I’ve got to give glory to God,’ says Stan. ‘And everything else in my life, well, that’s just me—the flesh.

‘Everyday life gets tiring and gets hard. I stuff up. Not just a little bit, I stuff up heaps. But somehow God keeps using me. I don’t know, he must like stuffed-up people.’

As I’m interviewing Stan, I think to myself that that last sentence of his would make the ideal summary to the whole story of the Bible. It’s the perfect answer to any question about God, theology or church: Why did the Son of God come to Earth and die on a cross? I don’t know; God must like stuffed-up people. Why is the Bible full of stories about people messing up? I don’t know; God must like stuffed-up people. Why does God want to make his home in our hearts? I don’t know; God must like stuffed-up people.

Anyway, amidst all the glitz and glam of Stan’s life as an entertainer, he manages to keep his feet firmly cemented to terra firma. Even when interviewing him you don’t feel like you’re talking to New Zealand’s highest profile male artist. Stan could be your mate from youth group or Tuesday night touch. And it’s not hard to see that the reason he is so grounded is that, as he says, Stan credits the successes in his life to God and also admits his failings while understanding that God has those covered as well.

Show me you’re real, God

Stan first got a sense of God’s ability to deal with the good and the bad seven years ago. ‘I was about 16 when I had my first taste of God,’ says Stan, ‘but it wasn’t until I was 18 that I gave my heart to the Lord.

‘My youth pastor—who is one of my good friends, the person in my life who got me to where I am today—said, “Come to this youth camp.” I didn’t want to go. I didn’t want to be around Christians or anything. But I said to God, “This is your last chance to get me now and show me that you’re real.” And he did.

‘From then on, it’s been the best and hardest decision I’ve ever made.’

One of the motivations for Stan doing what he does on stage, on TV and in the movies, is a desire to inspire others. So I ask him, if time travel was possible, how would he go about inspiring his former self when he was 13 or 14, before he met Jesus.  ‘I don’t know. There’s a lot I’d love to say to myself … warn him?’ he says tentatively.

‘But at the same time,’ continues Stan more boldly, ‘everything I’ve been through has been character building. If I didn’t go through what I went through as a kid and as a teenager I wouldn’t be the man I am today.’

Getting behind the Army

God is able to turn bad stories into incredibly good ones. It’s one of the reasons why Stan loves working with stuffed-up people. And it was when Stan recognised that this is what The Salvation Army is all about that he decided to put his face behind what the Army is doing.

It started in Australia where his song ‘Take It Easy’ became the theme tune for the Red Shield Appeal. And now he’s doing the same thing back here in New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga.

‘Everyone knows who the Salvos are, but not really how much they actually do for the community,’ explains Stan. ‘I started to get to know them and had so much fun. I think the best thing for me was learning more about The Salvation Army, what they stand for, what they’re about, and how they began. They were a radical bunch back in the day.

‘I love it. They’re awesome as. They’re ruthless. They deal with some trippy stuff, eh? They’re strong people and selfless as.

‘[When The Salvation Army started] they were known as the radical bunch who went against tradition and conservativeness. They got the whole thing of pulling their sleeves up and not being afraid to get dirty and really get in amongst all the need, not just sending them money.

‘They’re helping people detox, they’re helping them recover, they’re helping people heal, they’re finding people at the lowest and helping them back up again.’

Stan’s youth pastor played that similar role for him when he was 18. He rolled up his sleeves and journeyed with Stan to see an upbringing that Stan compares to Once Were Warriors transformed into a life that God is using to touch millions.

‘[When I agreed to help The Salvation Army] they said that I’m a voice of the generation today, so hopefully we can collaborate and get more people of my generation to be a part of it,’ says Stan.

By Hayden Sherman

Stan on his X Factor experience:
It was a lot of fun and really challenging. But it was really awesome to have input into somebody and help them develop and find themselves as an artist. It was awesome to encourage the local talent, which I love to do.

Stan on becoming an actor (in Mt Zion):
Oh man, I had so much fun on that film! It was a challenge because I’m not an actor and I had to do something that I’m not used to. I had to get over myself really quickly to do justice to the role. It was like learning how to sing in front of people all over again and getting over the nerves.

Stan on playing the support act for Beyonce:
That was the highlight of my life! I have a lot of responsibilities and things I want to do, but then there’s that dream—she was that dream. She’s incredible. I just love everything, the way she runs her business. She’s a beast.

Stan on his future plans:
A lot of stuff has already been booked in and planned, but I just take every day as it comes. I get a sore head thinking of all this stuff [laughing].

Stan’s Travel Guide to New Zealand After a 23-show tour of Aotearoa, Stan should be quite the expert on where to go and what to do, so we put some questions to him in case you’re planning your own summer road trip:   Favourite town: Queenstown, everything about it, the view.   Eating: Fergburger in Queenstown.   Scenery: The whole drive of the South Island.   Fave Road Trip Tunes: Rihanna.   Car games: Always played cards.   Ideal town to retire in: My home, Mount Maunganui, for sure!