I mave been a musician since I was eleven years old when I was given my first guitar.

As I was growing up, I became a fan of rock and heavy metal and by my late teens was starting to get "pretty good " on the old guitar.

My dream was to become an "axe hero", up on stage blasting out some awsome guitar solo and being the object of peoples adoration.

Even though I knew that the chances of me making it in the music industry were pretty slim, I held on to this dream as an excape from the mundane life that I was living.

When I became a Christian at the age of 25, The Lord clearly showed me that I needed to turn away from the idolatory of the music scene so I abandoned the whole thing, got rid of my albums and just kept a guitar which i would use to make up a few tunes once in a while.

I became involved in a local church and was asked to accompany the worship. I was happy to do this as service to the Lord. I was not putting myself before God because rythm guitar was not a strong point of mine. My pride was lead solos.

A few years later I was involved with a church that had an annointed music ministry. The focus of which was the gospel choir.

I did not jump to become involved at that point but was content with helping with the equiptment and such.

After a year or so, the bass player left and the Lord was telling me that I should take up the role of bassist in the choir.

I kept his word to me secret and one day the choir was approached by the BBC to participate in a "songs of praise special" which was to be conducted at Goodison Park, home to Everton football club.
The musical director invited to me to become involved in the project.

Even though I knew that my skills as a bassist where pretty weak, I saw this as a confirmation of what the Lord had said to me so I accepted and we set about reherasing for the concert.

When the day came, Goodison was packed to the rooftops with church members from all over the north west of England. There were 34,000 spectators in the park and the TV coverage was watched by millions.

It was a hugely enjoyable time for me. I was serving the Lord with the best of my ability, not showing off with my talent and skill.

The show was a great success and the thing which amazed me was that God had fulfilled the dreams of my youth, not for my glory, but for His.

I continued with the choir for a further two years after that. We ministered to hundreds of thousands, even millions through further newtork coverage.

Through my act of submitting my music to God, I can now enjoy it as something which was created by Him, for us.

Secular music, by nature, will not glorify God, but we can, and must bring all things (including music) into submission to the holy spirit.

God bless,

Pete