I thought maybe it was time I shared with everyone how God used a Southern Rock band from Jacksonville, Florida to lead a punk kid to Christ. That punk kid, by the way, was me. I was raised in Birmingham, Alabama. My father was a homocide detective seargent for the Birmingham Police Department during the sixties when the race riots were raging in the streets and Mayor Bull Conner turned the fire hoses on so many African Americans. Fortunately, my father wasn't involved with all of the racial unrest because, being a detective, he didn't "walk a beat." He remained with the police department through the seventies, and retired in 1983. My mother was a hard worker who managed a cafeteria and owned a local deli.
Although they were good people, my parents did not attend church, and at the time, were not Christians. I rarely attended church, and was raised to be simply uninterested in God. My girlfriend at the time, Cindy (who is now my wife), would drag me to her church every now and then. I would go on Sunday nights when there were only a few people in attendance because I didn't want to be around church people. Honestly, I hated it, but I liked Cindy - so I went.
In 1979, while riding in the car with my friend, Bobby Streip and his sister (who was driving), we were listening to some music and hanging out. Bobby's sister put in a tape of a band named Lynyrd Skynyrd. I didn't know who they were, but when I heard the first thundering riff of their song "Saturday Night Special," and those triple lead guitars screaming through 120 watt Peavey amps I knew I was listening to something that stirred my soul. I was only in 9th grade, but this was a spiritual moment for me - and in that moment I was transformed. My life would be different - just because of this music! I had found my "god." And his name was Lynyrd Skynyrd.
I joined the church of Skynyrd and was baptized as a follower when I bought the "Nuthin' Fancy" album and immersed myself in the depth of the music. I became a fully devoted follower and disciple of Skynyrd when I began to lead the lifestyle the band was leading. I bought an electric guitar and tried to learn some of the songs, but failed miserably, so I learned how to drink whiskey and act tough (even though I was 5'9" and 129 pounds). I got into a lot of trouble, did some stupid things, and hurt some good friends - all because I saw myself as "tough" and "mean." Honestly, I was too big for my britches.
I graduated from high school in May of 1983, and joined the navy because I wanted to leave everything behind and conquer the world. In November of that year I left for the navy and bootcamp in Orlando, Florida. After bootcamp, I put in for my orders and asked to be sent to either, Hawai'i, Spain, or Bermuda. Instead of paradise, the navy sent me to Jacksonville, Florida (the home of Lynyrd Skynyrd). I was ordered to the Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department for four years of shore duty. In other words, I was going to become very familiar with Jacksonville over the next four years. My navy career was actually very positive. The military helped to mature me in some ways, and I was awarded several times as sailor of the month, quarter, and even year for Naval Air Station, Jacksonville.
Since I was going to be in Jacksonville for my four years, I decided to move off base and into an apartment. The apartment I found was located in Orange Park - directly across the street from the cemetary where Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines (members of Lynyrd Skynyrd) were buried. Their plane had crashed in 1977 in a swamp in Mississippi killing several members of the band and ending their reign as the kings of Southern Rock. In fact, when I looked out my bedroom window, I could see their graves. I now lived in the same town where my "god" was from and I could see his grave every day. I continued to soak up everything Skynyrd and live the lifestyle of a Southern Rock band.
In April of 1985, my friend, Jeff White (a Christian), told me about a band that would be playing at Orange Park High School on Friday the 26th. He explained that the band was called "Vision," but that there were four members of Lynyrd Skynyrd in it and wanted to know if I could go. (Could I go? To actually see members of Skynyrd? Of course I could go!) I handed him $2 for my ticket, and excitedly prepared myself to finally meet my "god."
The night of the concert, I dressed in my best Skynyrd outfit - Freebird t-shirt, black wristbands (it was the '80's, okay?), boots, and my best jeans. I rode my motorcycle to the show and met Jeff out front. As we entered the auditorium (lunchroom), I noticed a guy holding a Bible intensely talking to another guy who was not holding a Bible. I thought to myself, "Man, why can't these Bible thumpers leave us alone and let us enjoy the show?" Little did I know that God's hand had been orchestrating this moment since that day in 1979 when I first heard Skynyrd on that tape deck riding in the car with Bobby Streip and his sister.
We took our seats, the lights in the auditorium darkened and the band took the stage. I was so excited about finally seeing Skynyrd I almost couldn't contain myself. To my right stood Leon Wilkerson on bass guitar, and Gary Rossington on lead guitar. To my left was Billy Powell on piano and keyboards. And behind the lead singer was Artimus Pyle, the drummer. It was really them - members of Lynyrd Skynyrd - and I was in the same room with these guys.
The music started, but they didn't play any Skynyrd tunes. That was okay, just being there was heaven for me. But about three songs into the set, the band stopped and the lead singer stepped forward and began talking about God, church and religion. The band would play a song or two, then he would talk about Jesus. I began to get the picture. This was a Christian band. I admit, I was somewhat disappointed by this turn of events and even thought about leaving, but it was Skynyrd (for the most part) so I decided to stay.
By the end of the show, the lead singer had talked about Jesus in ways I had never heard before. He talked about how God accepted me, and loved me unconditionally. He explained how Jesus was my advocate in heaven, pleading my case, and how he took the punishment for my sins. In the end, the lead singer asked anyone in the audience who wanted to know Jesus to come down to the stage so they could pray. As people moved to the stage, the band members would stop playing and go to the people at the front and pray with them.
I can't explain adequately in words what happened next, but in my spirit, I felt compelled to go to the front. As I did, Billy Powell, the piano player for Lynyrd Skynyrd (my god), met me at the stage. He asked my name, and I told him. He introduced himself and said that we were going to pray. I held his hands (the same hands that played Freebird!), and the lead singer led all of us in a prayer. As the prayer ended, I not only felt - but saw -the Holy Spirit enter me. It felt as if someone had poured a bucket of icewater over me. At that moment, my life was changed! I didn't know how, but I knew I was different. God had used Lynyrd Skynyrd to bring this punk kid to faith in Jesus Christ. That was Friday, April 26, 1985. Today, some 24 years later, I still don't understand why would God do that for me, but I sure am thankful he did! Since that day, all I have honestly wanted to do is give my life back to God.
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