Music is hook for Cedar Rapids trumpeter’s ministry

CEDAR RAPIDS - Dan Long's not a busker, but he often performs in city parks around Cedar Rapids.

On Tuesday afternoon, he was sitting at a picnic table in Greene Square Park, performing a trumpet solo of 'Bringing in the Sheaves.”

'I'm not here to perform,” Long said while catching his breath and sorting through sheet music held to his music stand with clothes pins. 'I want to sound good, but I'm not here to entertain.”

That's because he's 'out here for Jesus,” Long explained. 'Praise God.”

And he's serious about his ministry. When a bicyclist rolls up to check out the music, Long asks him if he knows Jesus.

'Short guy, long hair, white robe and big nose,” the curious cyclist jokes.

'Have you been born again?” Long asks, ignoring the humor as he hands the cyclist a gospel tract and invites him to the Bible study he leads Saturday and Sunday mornings at Mercy Medical Center.

Long, who said he was born again in 1972 - 'Praise God” - took up the trumpet more than 10 years ago.

'We perform like the old Salvation Army,” Long said. 'We” includes Steve Armentrout, who also distributes literature to people attracted by the music. The tracts include 'The Blood” from the Fellowship Tract League and 'The Dangers of Marijuana: A Warning!” from the Old Paths Tract Society.

Long and Armentrout also can be seen along First Avenue with signs proclaiming their gospel message. Long said he often plays in neighborhood parks to meet people and offer his ministry.