Having been born in 1994 and raised in the hills of East Tennessee in a small town called Oneida , I grew up with Southern Gospel Music. My great-grandmother’s family, ( The Pennington Family), had traveled in the 1950’s spreading God’s word through song. My grandmother was a church organist and I would sit on the bench with her and watch as she worked with choirs. I guess my love of gospel music was inevitable. I would ride in the car listening to the Gaither Homecoming CDs. as a little boy singing along with them.
I was saved when I was ten years old. A little later, I sang my first solo in church. This was the beginning of my musical journey. At the age of 16, I won a youth gospel music contest sponsored by Praise 96.3 radio in Knoxville. I began singing in churches in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Georgia. I appeared on the” Music City Gospel Review” in Nashville, sang for the Tennessee State Board of Education conference at Opryland , and this October 15th and 21st will be my fifth year appearing at the National Southern Gospel and Harvest Festival at Dollywood. “Divine Direction” and “Continual Praise” are the names of the two CDs I have recorded. The song “ Pilgrims in Progress” which is on my second CD, “Continual Praise”, charted in Christian Voice .at # 96 and rose to # 39. It also came in on Singing News at # 80.
I graduated from Oneida High School in 2013. I attended University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, KY. where I was a Member of the Cumberland Chorale. I have also attended Roane State Community College. I am currently serving my home church, Bethlehem Baptist Church, as Director of Adult and Youth Choirs.
My salvation experience changed my life both in this world and eternally. God gifted me with a talent that I want to use for His glory. He has blessed me with so many opportunities to use that talent, especially opening the door allowing me to sing at the Gaither Vocal Band Concert in Decatur, Alabama March 12, 2015. To God be the Glory !
My salvation experience changed my life both in this world and eternally after death. I was saved by the Grace of God when I was ten years old. I have been raised in church my whole life. When I was ten, I was convicted by the Lord at vacation bible school during one of its services. It wasn’t until the night of that VBS service, while lying in bed, that I accepted Jesus into my heart and he saved my soul. I can remember crying that night in bed because I knew I had sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and without his saving grace I was bound for Hell. After being saved, my entire life was changed ,and I was made new. Being saved gives me the assurance that I will have eternal life in Heaven with my Lord, Jesus Christ, and will never suffer or die. Salvation keeps me from fear, worry, suffering, wickedness, and death. My salvation is everything to me. Jesus died to take away our sins and without him we would die and go to Hell. By accepting Jesus, I have been healed both spiritually and physically. When you are a child of God, he will protect you and be with you through all your days. He will provide.
My Christian walk guides me and carries me through my everyday life. Being a Christian allows me to make the world a better place by not sinning. Being able to go to God in prayer and have prayers answered, makes life much more enjoyable and worth living. My Christian commitment allows me to not worry or fear. God is our perfect peace and our provider. Being a Christian allows me to make changes in people’s lives. By witnessing to the lost, you can lead them to Christ that they would also have eternal life. I am a choir director at my church of about 200 people. I also am a southern gospel soloist. I have sung at Dollywood, The Tennessee School Board Assoc., and churches throughout East Tn. and Eastern Ky. God gave me the talent to sing. By using this talent I can lead people to Christ and minister. Leading people to Christ is my greatest objective and joy. In all my Christian leadership, I give God all the glory and praise!