Prodigal Magazine

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History
1. Give a brief history of the band

The band started in ‘99 with 3 guys and a vision to go and share the gospel with as many people as possible.  Our greatest tool back then was Google.com.  I would spend hours on Google searching different venues and churches that would have Christian bands. After thousands of emails we had about 150 opportunities and we ran with it.  We did that for three years and then wrote the song “Glory Defined” which kind of brought us to the attention of the Nashville scene.  We signed our first record deal in ‘03 and we began touring with almost everyone in the Christian music industry.  From Jeremy Camp to Casting Crowns, to Tobymac and everyone in between, we’ve been on the road nonstop since we signed. We’ve recorded four records and the cool thing is that we are still just as resolved to continue sharing the gospel with the world as we were the day we started!
 

2. What are some musical influences including genres that you grew up on?

I started out as a young piano player.  My grandfather was in the southern gospel “business” for nearly 40 years traveling and singing wherever people would listen.  It was only natural that I was trained to play piano so that I could continue the tradition.  I was about twelve when my father, the heathen family member, introduced me to this band called Aerosmith that turned my world upside down.  It kind of blew my mind and suddenly all I wanted to do was play guitar and sing rock ‘n’ roll. I’m a huge fan of old school rock and if you listen you’ll hear it anytime I pick up a guitar…“Carry on my Wayward Son” always gets played!!!

3. What event took place where you made the decision that you would play music for a living?

I always hoped that I would, but sometimes it’s not as easy as a decision that you make.  I chose to “go for it” in a way that very few people would understand.  I booked the band 150 shows a year through Google, for crying out loud! Most people would tell you that is impossible, but I just believed and followed my heart.  There were a lot of times when I wanted to give up and go home, but I just kept pushing forward.  Honestly when “Glory Defined” hit radio the way that it did, I finally knew that this was something I could do for a living. Up until then it was just a dream.

 Conversion
1. Please share your brief testimony.

I think that arrogance was the best way to describe me before I came to a saving knowledge of Christ.  I got picked on so much when I was a kid that by the time I reached high school I made up my mind that I would be the most popular guy in school. I was kind of a basketball star in school with a father that was a state champion power lifter. Everything about my existence was driven by being the best.  When that is your goal, things get really messed up.  That arrogance carried over to everything that I did. When I was about fifteen I accepted Christ because I wanted to know peace and love in the middle of the turmoil in my life.  My relationship with Christ took a serious turn when I was in college and got assaulted.  In retrospect I can see that I was still living with that arrogance and that’s what got me into the trouble.  I was playing a ball game and literally woke up in an ambulance.  My face was almost completely shattered.  I spent six weeks letting it all heal and then had to go back and have my face rebroken and put back together… it wasn’t fun at all.  That was the moment that I decided to follow Christ—all or nothing.  I started the band and began sharing the gospel with real passion for the first time in my life.  I think that I just realized how short life can be and how close I came to not waking up. That’s a scary thought.

2. Share some brief experiences of what God has done through you after you’ve given your life tp Him.  

It’s been amazing to watch God move through the stories of my life.  I’ve received countless emails from different people who have heard my songs and have literally been transformed by the hope that they find in them.  It’s not unusual to get emails from kids who were on the brink of suicide and heard a song that changed their mind.  The story of my father’s redemption through my transformation in Christ has had a huge effect on people.  The first time that they ran the story on the 700 Club we had over 700 first time decisions for Christ.  It is humbling and amazing to see God do such awesome things through the stories of the toughest parts of my life. 
 

Christianity
1. What do you feel is a major problem among Christian men today?

I think that lack of biblical knowledge and wisdom from that knowledge is something that is definitely a problem.  I think that there are so many books about the Bible that we sometimes spend more time in those that in the Word… and that is a mistake.  Even I struggle with the same thing…taking time out to dig, to learn, and to listen to what God would teach us through the Word.  

2. What are your favorite passages of scripture?

I love the passage in John 15:5. It’s a constant reminder to me that I am a work in progress and that times of struggle are times of pruning so that I might bear more fruit than before. I also love the passage in Zephaniah 3:17 that speaks of God’s rejoicing over us with singing. That’s just super cool to remember that as we sing His praises He is singing over us.

3. What struggles have you faced as a band?

We have definitely struggled in relationships through the years… learning to listen and love through the joy and the pain of brotherhood.  We’ve been through a lot, but it has been an awesome experience and we are thankful for years that we’ve spent together.

 4. What are some goals for the future?

Obviously the goal is to continue sharing the gospel with as many people as possible in the future.  I think that we all want to spend time branching out into other avenues of ministry as well.  I’d love to do some more producing, and writing… and eventually maybe even write a book or two.  Also my wife and I are deeply involved with World Vision and we feel that it would be a huge blessing to be involved with them for many years to come.