It was October, 1979. I was living in the Los Angeles area of southern California, and had a great life. My music career was going well. I was traveling, spending time with all the right people in Hollywood and doing everything possible to further my career as a musician and actor. One overcast morning in October, I received discouraging news that rocked my perfect life. As the news came, something in me snapped. Not even my continual pursuit of power and religion could help me. I jumped in my truck and pointed it to my favorite place in the mountains, prepared to drive over the edge. I raced down the road with the news I just heard replaying over and over in my mind. I was hurt and angry. I was ready for it to all be over. But there, not more than a mile from my house was the Catholic Church I had attended for many years growing up. Compelled by a supernatural force to go in, I pulled in the parking lot and parked my truck. I sat there for a while regained control of my emotions. Once my composure was restored I realized I was not at all anxious to see what the next life held for me, but I still needed some answers.
I got out of my truck and began walking towards the church. I thought that if I could just talk to a priest or a nun that everything would be better. I checked with the convent and the rectory, but no one was available. Desperate for some answers, I went into the church and for the first time in over a year I knelt down to pray. I looked up at that big ‘ol cross with Christ hanging on it and with every ounce of strength and every fiber of my being, I cried out to Him. “Jesus, I have heard about you all of my life in this very building. I don’t know if you are even real. If you are, please come into my life right now and drive out this poison in me.”
At that very instant a very large and startling earthquake hit! The chandeliers swayed and the stained glass windows rattled. Next my body began to tremble all over and I began to sob uncontrollably. While it seemed to continue for a long time I’m sure it was only a couple of minutes. As the earthquake subsided I sat back in the pew trying to regain control of myself. Then as if someone was opened the top of my head and began pouring in a warm liquid consisting of love, joy, and peace into me. It was an overwhelming feeling of completeness. I felt the warmth all the way to the ends of my fingers and toes. It was as though the love, joy and peace was pushing out every evil thing that had been tormenting me. Then as quickly as the scene began the trembling ceased, and I collapsed back into the pew.
After a few minutes, I knelt down again to pray and asked, “God… was that you?” (insert a big “seriously?” here) I then looked back up at the cross with Jesus on it. Superimposed over the cross I watched, what appeared to be, 2 movies playing simultaneously side by side. The movie on the left was showing what had been to that point the best year of my great and happy life. October 1977 to October 1978. At that time in my life, I was a Catholic man truly seeking the God I had learned about the best I knew how. The movie on the right was a movie of my life from October 1978 to that fateful day in 1979.
During this time, (1979) I had given up on God and everyone else in my life for a woman, a career, and other religions—the very quest that had landed me in my truck on the way to destruction. As I watched these two movies play out before my eyes, I heard the most wonderfully sweet, yet powerful, reassuring voice speak as though right behind me, “Now which do you choose?” Immediately I said, “God, I want you.” At that moment, my life and future were forever changed.
Following that supernatural life changing event, I continued to move forward with my music career playing both clubs and concerts. A year later, while performing a concert in the mountains of California, I heard that same voice a second time. This time He said, “I want you to quit music.” I was shocked and devastated. After all, music as that was all I knew. For two weeks I struggled big time! I would pray and tell the Lord surely you didn’t really mean that?? Well, after determining that He did mean it I made the decision to choose God above all else—even music.
I completed my final show with the band on a Saturday night and began my illustrious career as a carpet cleaner the following Monday. God so blessed my business that I only had to work 3 days per week and spend the rest of the time going to church, reading, studying and worshiping.
I faithfully listened to teaching tapes by John Wimber, founder and leader of Vineyard Christian Fellowship. My heart burned as I listened to the teachings of this man of God. One day I invited to attend the The Vineyard church in Anaheim, California, where John was pastor. The moment I walked in the door that same awesome voice spoke for a third time and said, “you’re home now.”
I sat in the back row for three years, quietly worshiping and learning. Then one night out of the blue I was asked me to fill in for the ailing drummer. I felt in my spirit that God said, “It is time!” I went and played that night and my life was changed again! From that night on I was “all in.”
It was during this time that I learned a great deal about worship and the healing power of God. I had the privilege of traveling around the world with John Wimber and the ministry team from Vineyard. I saw God do incredible things in people’s lives.
In 1987, I was asked to help arrange the music and play the drums on a new album for Vineyard. I gladly accepted, and a year later was asked to come on board full-time. I had the honor of creating the live worship series, Touching The Father’s Heart. During this time, I produced and participated in more than thirty-five recordings for the Vineyard Music Group.
Sensing the Lord was calling me to change direction, I relocated to Fort Worth , Texas , in 1992 and a year later founded Amber Rose Ministries , which has allowed me to produce exciting, live worship recordings as well as intimate worship albums that bring healing and life. I also organize and lead worship for healing conferences around the country featuring dynamic speakers such as Jack Taylor, Rick Joyner, Mike Bickle, Paul Cain and Jack Deere as well as many others.
But the story isn’t over yet! I am more excited than ever as I begin new Amber Rose music projects and conferences. God has once again proven Himself to be faithful and able to heal and deliver. I am excited about my most recent CDs, The Healing and No Fear. These are the first 2 of many in my new series entitled IT IS WRITTEN MUSIC.
Stay tuned … there’s much more to come!
Tom Davis
Learn more about Tom Davis:
About Tom Davis (Biography) »
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