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Pastor Looks Back on 19 Years as ApX Fan
Mon., Jan. 22. 2018 9:39am EST
January 2018 must be "Letters from Baptist Pastors in North Carolina to Encourage ApologetiX" month. The same day we included a letter from a Baptist pastor in Millers Creek NC in last week's newsletter, we received this letter from a Baptist pastor in Timberlake NC (145 miles east of Millers Creek) in the mail. And it's a doozy!Dear ApologetiX,
I was saved in Feb. of 1998. I was 18 years old and about six months removed from graduating high school. I was heavily into music, mostly classic rock. While I enjoyed the great 90's Christian bands like DC Talk, Audio Adrenaline, Third Day, and the Newboys, I struggled with the rest of my music collection. Some of them were fine (Collective Soul, Creed, etc.), but it was hard to reconcile a wonderful worship service at church followed up with Metallica's "The God That Failed."
In 1999, a random geocities (remember geocities?) website that reviewed two CCM CDs a week reviewed Jesus Christ Morningstar. He described you as a Christian "Weird Al" (whom I still love) and a must for fans of classic rock. Then, just like today, I wrote you a letter and sent you a check. I fell in love with that CD and with your band. I also shared it with all my friends. As I did with pretty much all your CDs from Ticked all the way to Wise Up and Rock.
I would play your CDs at work (in my cube farm days), and it was always amusing to watch people singing along to your songs and then going "wait, what are you listening to?" And I would use it as an opportunity to witness to my coworkers.
I got to you guys in concert in 2007 in Durham NC. I loved the show. I got to meet several of you, and you were all great. J. even gave me a free CD album case (which I still have) after I mentioned that I had been listening since Jesus Christ Morningstar.
I'm now 38, I have four kids, I am a stay-at-home dad/part-time pastor at Antioch Baptist Church in Timberlake NC. I don't get to listen to music like I used to for a variety of reasons, but after reading your email I felt compelled to write this letter of, I hope, encouragement, and give a small financial gift to help support your ministry.
Your music helped me when I was new to the faith and still is a good laugh/encouragement when it pops up on my old click-wheel iPod (which, surprisingly, is still going strong!). God be with you in your ministry wherever it might take you. Hope to see you guys in the RDU area of NC sometime in the future.
As I have a tendency to ramble and lose my points, I would like to offer the following summary:
1) I love you guys
2) You have been a blessing to me for almost 20 years.
3) Phil. 1:3-6
God bless!
Rev. Glen Newsome Jr.
Associate Pastor
Antioch Baptist Church
Timberlake NC What a blessing! Praise the Lord! And thank you, Rev. Glen!
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