|
|
 I
was born in Cleveland, Oklahoma, and
moved to Bristow when I was in the
seventh grade. Ever since I was just a
little boy I've enjoyed singing. I
remember when a friend of mine put on a
record of the gospel group, "The
Blackwood Brothers." I knew in my heart
that I wanted to sing just like them.
After my school days, I went on to
Bethany College and eventually started a
singing group, touring and singing in
youth revivals during the summer. Then
an important call came from Earl
Weatherford of the Weatherford Quartet.
He was looking for a new lead singer and
hoped that I would be interested, which
I was. I took the job and sang with the Weatherfords until being drafted into
the Army.
Following the Army, I found myself back
in Tulsa where I began to work as a disc
jockey at KFMJ radio station. As an
announcer, I used to dream of one day
owning my own station. I told the
engineer there about my dream. He said
it would be "impossible" due to the lack
of radio frequencies in Tulsa. I would
later learn to check things out for
myself, but for then I gave up on my
dream...until many years later.
In the meantime, I turned my attention
to singing once again, this time as a
country music artist. After some
unsuccessful attempts at recording
popular country tunes, written and
recorded by others, I began to write my
own country songs which landed me on the
prestigious Capitol Records label. But
even that didn't give me the success
that I so much desired.
 I
eventually realized that God had
different plans for my singing and
writing career, His plans. I already
knew that the Bible said, "I wish above
all things that you prosper and be in
good health." Yet I didn't feel I was
prospering like I should; something had
to be wrong. I began to study the Bible
like I never had before. I knew that God
had a plan for my life and if I was
going to find out what it was, I was
going to have to search His Word for
direction. That direction was finally
revealed as I began to write about a new
kind of love. Words and tunes began to
flow from my pen by the inspiration of
God -- songs like "There's a Whole Lot
of People Going Home," "Garment of
Praise," and "Oasis of Love."
Eventually, I was asked to sing t hese
songs at a Kenneth Hagin Campmeeting,
which opened many other doors and
opportunities. I began to travel and
sing all around the world and have had
my songs recorded by such popular names
as Governor Jimmie Davis, Richard
Roberts, Kenneth Copeland, a former Miss
America, and many others.
When doors began to open, one of those
was the opportunity to acquire a new
frequency for an FM radio station in
Tulsa, a former "impossibility." In
1986, we signed-on KNYD radio, heard at
90.5fm in Tulsa, and then a few years
later came others. These full-power
stations, together with our translator
sites across the United States make up
what we call "The Oasis Network."
 Along
with the blessings of a radio network, I
am also the Pastor of
Walnut Grove
Church in Broken Arrow. I have a loving
and devoted wife named Sharon and three
grown children, David Warren, Julia and
Shelly.
I can only go by my own experiences, but
I can tell you that the Word of God
works. It is the key to our success in
life. Sometimes people spend their whole
lives trying to find out what their true
purpose is for living, an impossible
task without God. Learn to seek Him and
His direction and you, too, will have a
new song to sing!
|
|
|
|
