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Honky Tonk Nights to Christian Lights The Unforgettable Journey of a Music Promoter’s Transformation John A. Wilson, Jr. 2024 © John A. Wilson, Jr. All rights reserved. Published 2024. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system now known or yet to be invented, without written permission from the publisher, except in cases of brief quotations in critical articles and reviews. BIBLE SCRIPTURES Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT), Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America Spirit Media and our logos are trademarks of Spirit Media SpiritMedia.US www.spiritmedia.us 8045 Arco Corporate Dr STE 130 Raleigh, NC 27617 1 - Category Paperback ISBN:- Hardback ISBN:- Audiobook ISBN:- eBook ISBN:- Library of Congress Control Number: INTRODUCTION T oday is the day I’ve been eagerly anticipating, and the excitement is electrifying. I’m sitting on a speaker—side stage—looking out on the largest crowd for any event I’ve ever organized. This moment is hitting me deep. I’m filled with every imaginable emotion. I can’t help but marvel at how someone like me, a small-town nobody, managed to bring together something of this magnitude! The dream I’ve carried since I first thought about becoming a concert promoter is becoming a reality right before my eyes in the form of this massive music festival! The dream, transformed into a vision through an encounter with Jesus, is now real! It’s here! I’m looking out on a huge sea of nearly 43,000 people, each one passionately singing along with the band. Their voices and movement call to mind undulating waves in the ocean, where each individual in the crowd contributes a distinct set of emotions, creating a dynamic and collective energy that transcends the usual musical experience. The energy is so intense, it feels as though a vibrant, spiritual force has enveloped the field, infusing everyone with an almost sacred vitality. It’s not just about the music; it’s about everyone present, sharing in this moment together. Tears flow freely as I absorb the overwhelming sense of awe, grappling with the profound realization that God has chosen to use me to bring about this experience. The journey leading up to this wasn’t easy, and it’s precisely the challenges overcome that make this moment exceptionally special. The challenges, risks, and leaps of faith taken on my journey to this place and time were undeniably tough, but what I’m seeing before me is making every difficulty and every trial along the way feel absolutely worthwhile. Before this day would end, hundreds would embrace Jesus as their Lord and Savior, many would come to the baptismal waters, and many would attest to having experienced healing. Honky Tonk Nights to Christian Lights by John A. Wilson, Jr. 3 INTRODUCTION ____ Thank you for picking up this book and coming along for this journey with me. In the pages that follow, you’ll find highs and lows on the way to spiritual maturity and resilience. I hope my words will touch your heart and offer inspiration to your spirit. Shared stories have the power to connect us and remind us we are not alone in our struggles. Before we jump into my story, I want to share some Bible passages with you. These set the stage for what is to come. Just as a seed grows into a plant that bears more seeds, every story of redemption reaches its full potential when shared with others. My story, and your story, is important and has the power to inspire and lift those with whom we share them. Do not let fear hold you back from sharing the transformative work God has done in your life. The enemy may try to silence you, but do not let him keep you from letting others know how God has turned your broken pieces into a beautiful masterpiece. Even though this book is short, it has taken me three years to get it down on paper. I had to learn to embrace the power of my story and to recognize the call I had to share it with you and the world. In Psalm 66:16, we read: “Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me” (NLT). And in Mark 5:19 is this: “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you” (NLT). And in 2 Corinthians 11:30: “If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness” (NLT). Paul’s example of sharing his story as a servant of Jesus in 2 Corinthians 11:23-33 serves as an inspiration for us to share our own testimonies with others. If you feel called to share your story but are unsure where to begin, start by reflecting on these three statements: “This is who I was. This is what Jesus did for me. This is who I am now.” Ask God to reveal to you the person who needs to hear your story and be open to sharing your journey of faith with them. So, without further ado, allow me to share my redemption journey with you. 4 FOREWORD W hat can I say about John Wilson? I’d known the man for thirty years, so when he and his wife, Beth, showed up to softball, it was life as normal. What I wasn’t ready for was what would happen over the following few weeks. It started with some choice words when he’d drop a pop fly, but it turned into a revival that has swept across the region. John has always been unapologetically John, so that meant, before Christ, he wasn’t going to change who he was around Christians. Therefore, you never knew what John was going to say. People, though, just loved on him, and on Beth, his wife. John 13:35 says the world will recognize we are true followers of Jesus by the way we love others despite their actions. I would say, without a doubt, the way people loved John and Beth is what drew the two to a place of repentance. John had been coming to Sunday night softball, an outreach of the church, for several weeks but, one Sunday morning, he showed up in worship. That turned into every Sunday morning, and that turned into his entire family coming to church. Over time, John came to the place where he knew he had to truly abandon his former life and surrender to Jesus. Shortly thereafter, Beth came to the altar to do the same. It was a place of genuine repentance; tears filled their eyes, and grace filled their hearts. It was glorious! In one conversation, John told me about concerts he put on, and I asked him: “Why not do a Christian show?” He hadn’t given too much thought to that idea, but a bit later, he asked if we would host and help cover some of the cost if we brought in a Christian artist. BOOM! Seventh Day Slumber came to the little town of Stockton, Missouri. On the night of that first concert, 23 teens came to the altar to accept Christ as their Lord and Savior, freed from struggles with suicide, freed from sin, given a forever hope. Miracles. John was a wreck and knew his life would never be the same. John abandoned his own will, picked up the cross. and began to carry it. Show after show, night after night, event after event, Honky Tonk Nights to Christian Lights by John A. Wilson, Jr. 5 FOREWORD he was on a mission to “Make Jesus Famous.” What was birthed was one of the greatest experiences in which I’ve had a part: Light The Way. I’ve watched John and Beth grow and mature over the years. We’ve had some great and hard conversations about ministry. I couldn’t be more proud of the ministry John and Beth are leading and the way they love the world around them right where they are. They have, indeed, become beacons of light in a dark world. John, I am beyond proud of you; keep up the great work of loving your family, serving God, and making Jesus “famous” on earth. Beau Norman Pastor, Church of the Harvest 6 AN APPRECIATION T here are people whom God brings into our lives for kingdom purposes. Such was true for John Wilson and me. Two people, each with different gifts and talents, whose destinies were knit together by God to combine music and Christian service in what is known today as Light the Way Ministry. It was the spring of 2017 when God put John in my path. He was a brand new, born-again believer. He came to my church seeking volunteers and donors to help him with a plan to produce a Christian music festival in his hometown. The suggestion came from his Pastor, Beau Norman, the man who had led him to Jesus. Pastor Beau would soon become my pastor also, as God began weaving our three hearts together for kingdom ministry. It seems we can’t tell our individual life stories without including one another and the impact that we’ve had on each other’s lives for the purposes of God. On our first encounter, I introduced myself to him and asked: “Who is leading your Prayer Tent? I’m a prayer warrior, I love to pray for people, and I’d love to be a part of your Prayer Team!” He stared at me with a puzzled look on his face and replied: “Lady, I have no idea what a Prayer Tent is. I don’t even know what you’re talking about, I’m just trying to put on a music festival.” I said: “But, you need to have a Prayer Tent, so we can pray for people! Pick me to lead the Prayer Tent, and I’ll bring a team of prayer warriors, Bibles, tracts, and everything else we need for people to get saved, healed, delivered, and set free in Jesus’ name!” I met him at his office the next week. We talked; he shared his vision. God spoke to my heart that day impressing upon me that He had put us together so my husband Stanley and I could become John’s spiritual mother and father, called to mentor him on his faith walk, called to be his spiritual covering over the ministry. In the years that followed, we watched God grow Light the Way, but more importantly, my husband Honky Tonk Nights to Christian Lights by John A. Wilson, Jr. 7 AN APPRECIATION and I watched John grow in his faith and in his relationship with the Lord. Soon his wife, Beth, and their children followed in his footsteps as they too gave their hearts and lives to Jesus. We were there to be a part of them getting baptized as well. Paul said in 3 John 1:4, “I have no greater joy than this, to know that my [spiritual] children are living [their lives] in the truth” (AMP). That’s exactly how I feel about our John Boy. (The nickname my husband and I affectionately call John.) Over the nearly 60 events on which John and I have worked together— throughout my seven years with the ministry, I’ve been a witness to John’s drive and determination to push the ministry to the next level, always wanting to grow and get better with everything he does for Light the Way. From where we began—with a few dollars in our bank account and a tiny shoebox of an office with crooked walls and uneven floors that had us propping books under our desks and chairs just to do our work—to seeing thousands of people give their hearts to Jesus, it’s all been a miraculous work of God. To God be the Glory! John has overcome a lot in his life to get where he is today. I know his story firsthand; I’ve watched it unfold before my eyes; I’ve seen the transformation God has made in him. As his Spiritual Mama, I couldn’t be more proud of him for the work he has done and continues to do for the Lord. John Boy, what did Mama always tell you to do? “WRITE IT DOWN!” And now you have. Congratulations on writing your book! Good job son, you get a cookie! Love you, Mama Donna Donna Lind: Light the Way Ministry Board President, Assistant Festival Director and Prayer Team Director; Founder of Healing Hope Ministry; Prayer & Care Pastor for The Hill Church Bolivar; Author; Speaker; Christian Counselor; retired Light the Way Ministry Pastor, Secretary and Treasurer; and Mama to John Boy. www.donnalind.com 8 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction Foreword An Appreciation Chapter 1: The Journey Begins Chapter 2: Longing and Belonging Chapter 3: Bartending and a Concert Chapter 4: My First Gig! Chapter 5: Going Against My Better Judgment Chapter 6: A Voice I Think I’d Heard Before Chapter 7: The Dream Chapter 8: It was the Field!! Chapter 9: Getting Out of the Way Chapter 10: A Promise Made to God Conclusion Honky Tonk Nights to Christian Lights by John A. Wilson, Jr. 9 CHAPTER 1 THE JOURNEY BEGINS 10 M y journey began in the place I called home: Stockton, Missouri. In that small town, I got myself entangled in a web of trouble with the local authorities, making choices that—in hindsight—I now see as unwise. I was indulging in drugs and alcohol and evidencing a rebellious streak that defined the early chapters of my life. My childhood and youth, from ages seven to seventeen, was far from ideal. Raised in a poor home, I knew little in the way of material wealth or comfort. My household consisted of my stepmother, my half-sister, my step-sister, and my biological father. My Dad, a truck driver, was rarely at home. Sometimes, I would accompany him on the open road and, over the years, I often found myself daydreaming about the future, harboring the belief that one day I would become a truck driver like my father. Isolated and hungry for a different life, my only entertainment was a trusty radio that played music, music that provided a comforting escape from the starkness of my circumstances. Music possessed a unique and remarkable ability to provide me with comfort and solace, effectively easing my feelings of loneliness. It was as if the music had an innate power to connect with my emotions, offering a sense of companionship and understanding during times when I felt most isolated. I spent countless hours immersed in the world of radio, listening especially to Delilah on iHeart. I can still hear her soothing voice in my head coming alongside the perfectly-timed songs that brought me comfort. When I think back to my teenage years, one particular picture stands out in my mind: the view from my basement window. You see, my room was in the lower level, a cave-like, dark, dank place, with an almost oppressive chill that instilled the feeling of being in a desolate place. I couldn't help but feel a pang of longing whenever I glanced outside. Through that one small window in that space, I would catch glimpses of the neighbor kids with, what seemed to be, their carefree spirits and playful energy. Oh, how I yearned to be out there with them, escaping the confines of my basement hole, joining them in their adventures. But my strict stepmother wouldn’t let me go out, and my father was often away on the road, so he wasn’t around much to intervene. In these years, my only hours outside were spent at school or at church. Honky Tonk Nights to Christian Lights by John A. Wilson, Jr. 11 CHAPTER 1 From ages 12 to 17, I was involved with a congregation, the Stockton Assembly of God Church. I played drums with the worship team and joined the youth group. My participation came about largely due to the influence of the worship leader, Scott. Scott quickly became a father-like figure to me as I was growing up. He saw the dysfunction in my house and the restrictions that prevented me from doing many of the normal things a teenager would typically be able to do. Scott took me to church and other places, and often communicated with my father and stepmother. He made it appear he agreed with the punishments my parents would impose so they would be more inclined to let me work with him. He owned a carpet store 20 miles away from my house, and it was through him that I learned about business. Scott also taught me how to drive, how to do math, how to budget, and—since he owned a carpet store—how to lay carpet. He was married (his wife, Cindy, was also on the worship team), and they had two kids, one was a son the same age as me. With Scott’s encouragement, I ended up joining the worship team. I received my very first Bible, a high school graduation gift, from Randall Hayward, pastor of this church. Stepping back a year, I should note that I didn’t get the gift of a bike till I was 16. I can still feel the excitement that was mine as it was presented to me. It was a milestone marker signaling newfound independence, freedom. But, my joy was short-lived, as I found myself grounded, sent to my room on that very same day. It felt like an agonizing tease, knowing my new bike was waiting just outside but also knowing I was being denied the thrill of riding it. Those moments when I finally had the chance to take my bike for a spin, up and down our very short driveway, were pure exhilaration. It was a small space, but to me, it felt like the open road, a canvas for my budding sense of adventure. With each wobbly start and determined push of the pedals, I felt a surge of self-determination propelling me forward. Learning how to ride that bike became more than just about a skill; it was a testament to my perseverance and resilience and the development within me of a strong work ethic. 12 THE JOURNEY BEGINS Despite the difficulties I faced, I emerged with a resilience and determination that instilled in me a fearlessness when it came to hard work. At the age of 17, when I was in my junior year of high school, the misery in my home became too much, and I decided to strike out on my own. With a heavy heart, I gathered up all my belongings and hastily packed them into two trash bags. In that moment, I made the courageous choice to leave behind the only home I had ever known, leaving behind the past, leaving behind that dark basement room, and embracing an uncertain future. From that point forward, I vowed never to look back, embarking on a journey of self-discovery and forging my own path. The weight of responsibility pressed heavily upon my shoulders, and I was compelled to secure a full-time job just to make ends meet. I managed to persevere and even earned my high school diploma. Even so, I couldn't escape the shadow of my upbringing. I could say that drugs and alcohol defined my life, but in reality, it was the constant search for a sense of belonging that truly consumed me. For as long as I can remember, I've always had an intense desire to be the main focus of attention. It felt like my very existence relied on being the center of everyone's gaze, and I would do whatever it took to achieve that recognition. I was unwavering in my relentless pursuit of the spotlight. In fact, during my junior and senior years of high school, I had the unique experience of living on my own and renting my own house. My place quickly became known as the go-to party destination for my peers. I recall a time when I threw a bash that ended up attracting the attention of the police and resulted in a frightening encounter where a gun was pointed. Yes, it was one of the largest parties I had ever thrown. There were nearly a hundred people in attendance, most of whom I wouldn't even consider close friends. They were primarily drawn to the event for the availability of alcohol. This party stretched into the early morning hours before I decided it was time to bring it to a close. Unfortunately, not everyone agreed with that idea. Barely an hour after my attempt to shut things down, there was an audacious break-in attempt at my house. The target? A keg of beer that I had securely chained to the pipes of my bathtub. The intruders forcefully entered through a window, completely ripping out the air conditioner unit. Honky Tonk Nights to Christian Lights by John A. Wilson, Jr. 13 CHAPTER 1 In a state of panic, I dialed 911, and soon enough, the police arrived with guns drawn, pointing towards a bush where one of my supposed "friends" was hiding. As I reflect on the events of that night, I realize my own intoxication clouded my judgment. I chose not to pursue legal action against those involved. The night eventually came to a close, leaving me with a mixture of fear and a valuable lesson learned. It became evident that not everyone who attended the party was a true friend but rather individuals who were solely interested in exploiting the availability of free drinks. Looking back, I can see that my relentless pursuit of attention, and my choice to host extravagant parties, was driven by a deep desire to fit in and find a sense of belonging. I believed that, by being the center of attention, I would finally feel accepted and valued by those around me. However, what happened at that particular party served to impress upon me that true friendship and genuine connections cannot be built solely on superficial motives or the pursuit of popularity. It was a valuable lesson that taught me the importance of surrounding myself with people who genuinely care about me rather than seeking validation through attention-seeking behaviors. As a consequence of what occurred at that party, the landlord evicted me. I was now homeless and needed a new place to live. Even in my present situation, the idea of returning to my parent's home was unimaginable, completely out of the question. The idea of being trapped in that dark, gloomy basement room and not having freedom was something I was not willing to consider. So, I started looking for a real friend who might let me stay at his or her place until I could get back on track. Fortunately, I had a friend named Jared who came to my rescue. Jared was still living with his parents, but his home was welcoming and supportive. At last, I found a place where I could experience a sense of stability. Despite there being more good days than bad, I couldn't shake the feeling of being a third wheel in my friend's home with his family. It wasn't their fault; they never made me feel left out or unwanted. It was just a lingering sense of not quite belonging, a constant reminder that I was different. I watched as his parents shared inside jokes and laughed together; their bond seemingly unbreakable. They had known each other for years, 14 THE JOURNEY BEGINS building a life together long before I came along. I was the newcomer, the addition to their already-established household. This family had a connection I wasn’t really used to seeing. They shared secrets, confided in each other, and had a camaraderie that I longed to share. They always did things together, experiencing the ups and downs of life side by side. I, on the other hand, always felt like the odd one out. I was the troubled one. I was the black sheep. It wasn't that they intentionally excluded me; they tried their best to include me in their activities and conversations. But I always felt like I was on the outside looking in. I couldn't fully relate to their memories or understand their shared experiences. I was a piece trying to fit into a puzzle that was already complete. I often found myself retreating into my own world, seeking solace in my own company. I immersed myself in late-night parties, music, and hobbies that allowed me to escape the feeling of being the odd one out. Over time, I learned to accept that being a third wheel didn't make me any less loved or valued. It was simply a part of my unique journey within this family. I realized my role was different, and that was okay. I had my own strengths and my own perspectives to offer. While the feeling of being a third wheel never completely disappeared, it became less of a concern for me. I learned to cherish the moments of connection and love that we shared rather than the moments I felt apart. I realized family isn't just about blood ties or commonly-held histories; it's about the love and support given to each other, in spite of differences. So, even though I still felt like an outsider at times, I knew—deep down—that I was an integral part of my “adopted” family. I may have been different, but I was loved unconditionally, faults and all. And that was enough to make me feel like I belonged. Nevertheless, I was a nuisance for Jared and his family. I would come and go as I pleased, partying to the extreme and occasionally bringing guests to Jared's house, which undoubtedly raised issues for his family. I came to realize it was time for me to make a change and to stop causing pain. I remain grateful for the lessons I learned while with them: the Honky Tonk Nights to Christian Lights by John A. Wilson, Jr. 15 CHAPTER 1 value of working diligently and responsibly; the value found in loving one another. 16