{ Dusty Brown, Bass Guitar }

 

 I was one of those kids whose parents made them go to church every Sunday. I was hitting the pews with my hot wheels or drawing all over the bulletins. If I wasn’t happy I was squealing as I was drug out the back.  I never paid much attention in church as a youth because it was just something I was made to do.

 

Time went by and as the years went to rolling on I found myself sitting at an Easter Play at Cartersville Church of God. I never had a clue up to that point that my life was about to be changed forever. I gave my life to Christ that night. Thirteen years old and never had a clue what it was all about until then. I remember being scared to death and wondering why everyone there wasn’t standing on that alter with me. How could anyone go another day without asking God into their hearts?

 

More time passes, my parents stop going to church, and my fire dwindles. Going through the transfer from middle school to high school and learning what popularity is all about. That was a rough time in my life. I was one of the nobodies. I didn’t fit in with any crowd. I was just kind of there. By this time I had forgotten that fire that God had instilled in my life, wavering a little further every day. I started getting bitter toward everyone. I couldn’t see a light at the end of the tunnel, mainly because I didn’t care enough to look for it. I got myself into some bad situations that only God could have been the one to deliver me from. Only today I know why.

 

 

 

There I was sitting at the bottom of this pit I had dug for myself. Again, scared to death, I had no clue what to do next. One Friday a good friend of my family invited me to go to a youth rally. She even offered to come pick me up. I hesitated, but decided to go. Her determination is the only reason I am in the position I am in today. She will probably never realize how much she helped me just for being there. Taking that little initiative to come get me and talk with me about God. I found myself again. I still had a lot of learning to do, but I was determined to do it with Christ.

 

I joined the youth group there and recommitted my life to the Lord. There I met my wife, and picked up the bass for the first time. I will never forget the day I heard this Christian band named DC Talk. JESUS FREAK!!! I could not believe my ears. I had only known red back hymnal until then. What was this? All I remember was I wanted to be a part of it. One of our youth leaders had a bright red jazz bass and told me to take it and learn. So I did. I spent every Wednesday on stage with our youth band.

 

I finally got through high school and started realizing that I needed to move on from the youth group as well. I got a job, and I started playing bass with a couple bands here and there, but ultimately love was on my mind. I was 19 when Kim and I were engaged to be married. A year later I found myself on that alter again devoting my life to our marriage. She is truly a blessing in my life.

 

After our marriage some buddies called me wanting to get a little jam session going. Our little jam session slowly turned into a little band simply named Seven. We were a Christian rock band that played several places in North Georgia. I thought just being up there with those guys, rockin in Christ name was really doing the part, but there was still a void. After a year or so had passed I found out my wife was expecting. That was a huge eye opener for me. I suddenly felt this huge obligation to spend all of my time with her. I didn’t want my new baby to not know her daddy. I quit playing bass for what I thought was for good. I sold most of my equipment and never touched an instrument for about three years.

 

During that time I started noticing myself slowly slide away from God again. I found myself looking for excuses to get away from God. Therein lied what I now know to be impossible. You cannot get away from God, no matter how hard you try. He instilled dreams and visions into my head. I remember one morning waking up and telling Kim that I didn’t know when or how, but I was going to be doing some traveling playing bass for a band. The dreams just kept coming.

 

One day out of the blue my phone rang. “Hello?” Some guy named Chad was calling me to see if I was interested in playing bass for his little Christian Band. “Nope, sorry you got the wrong guy” and I hang up the phone. WHAM!!! I think God slapped me in the face as I hit the end call button. All the dreams and revelations hit me at once. Apparently I must have looked disfigured or something because Kim was like “What’s Wrong? Who called?” “Some guy wanting me to play bass for his band.” “Well” she asked. “I told him no, but I think I need to call him back.” So I did.

 

Little did I know the ministry I was to become a part of. Sure I had been in a couple Christian bands, but never anything like this. Day Seven is more of a brotherhood in Christ that plays music than a band. Never had I known guys that seek daily for what God had in store for them. It is just hard to explain in words. I was scared at first because I knew I was in no shape to be with these guys. When they go on stage their there for a purpose, and I knew if I was to join them I had to get my life where it needed to be. I joined the band in February of 2008, and that night I re-rededicated my life to Christ and his calling on it. I have never been more fulfilled than knowing I am in his will. We have struggled and fought the principalities, but we know how it all ends. We are fighting for the good side in this battle.

 

I would like to thank: Cindy Edwards for being there for a lost teenager, Kim my wonderful and understanding wife, Payton and Morgan my two angels, and God for not giving up on me and showing me the way.

 

"If we walk with Him closely today, we will be in the center of His will tomorrow." – Henry Blackaby