.Origins
After I gave my life to God, I studied the bible, and God helped me get out of jail after only 1 year, mostly due to my lack of a criminal record, and the fact that I was out of my mind on dope when I comitted the crimes. Anyway, I began writing songs about God and salvation, and worship songs.
I struggled with living right for about a year. Then someone told me about the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and I began to pray and study the scriptures about this "2nd blessing". I received the Holy Spirit and about 3 months later received the gift of speaking, or praying, in tongues. This powerful experience gave me the edge to live a Holy life despite my illustrious past.
I played in Christian bands, in my church's worship ministry and for various church functions. I play the violin, piano and guitar. I wrote over 300 songs in my first 4 years of being a Christian. Now I aim more for quality than quantity!
Jesus led me to my beautiful wife Mary after 10 years of celibacy in 1987, and we were married Feb. 13th, 1988. We traveled and ministered as God led us, and I did carpentry to support us and our new daughter Heidi. God also blessed us with a son Joshua in 1991.
In 1993 The Lord instructed me to sell our house trailer and buy a motorhome. Then we drove around America singing wherever there was people open to listening. Actually I sang my songs and Mary watched the kids, because just between us (whispered: She can't sing on key!). Just between us of course; she's a great girl otherwise!
We found a VERY FEW churches open to us, mostly because they had "guest ministers" set up on a schedule 2 months in advance. There were some great experiences however and we learned a lot.
After a few months as we made our way back home, the Lord began to speak to me about music, ministry, business, CCM music, radio, the whole system of producing music as it is, and as He wanted it to be. The 2 scenarios were, well let's just say, different.
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Let me say that I don't judge anyone who IS a big shot "christian" musician; that's God's job; He can use Balaam's donkey if He needs to. I was just seeking for His best as opposed to the popular or profitable way to go.
God, however, does things His way, and it always works wonderfully if it's His way. He began to show me how He would do it if He were running things. Then He reminded me in the Lord's Prayer how he said "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven". So I began to realise it is our job to pray and work on this earth to make cooperate with Him in making things change for the better.
Next He took me into the library and had me study music business, computers, the internet, digital recording and MIDI. He showed me out of His Word how it SHOULD be done. He gave me the vision of Christian Artist Network, and I have been triyng to speak the vision into Christian musicians' hearts wherever I meet them.
The problem is that many christian musicians are so conformed to this world, and have made so little progress as disciples in commitment to God, that they reject the notion that God wants them to help other musicians fulfil their ministry. They only want to make themselves into "christian" pop (rock, country, etc.) music stars.
So I spend a lot of time preaching repentance and trying to make disciples out of folks, so they can see God's plan for their lives and follow it realizing that God isn't interested in making you a "star", He's interested in lost souls, and He promised that those who lead many to Christ will "shine like a star" in the Kingdom of their Father.
If you are a Christian, and you have a musical talent, pray for leading, and study the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. Contact us and we will be glad to help you fulfil your destiny as a child of God.
