Michael Tait, frontman for the Christian rock/pop group Newsboys and one-third of the iconic Christian rap/rock/pop group DC Talk, shared during an interview with CBN News’ Billy Hallowell that it was a message about hell that prompted him to give his life to Jesus.
One of nine children and the son of a pastor, Tait grew up in the church. However, he shared that he didn’t accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior until he was a senior in high school.
A preacher, Jerry Johnston, at Tait’s private Christian school brought a message on a topic that Tait said many preachers don’t “preach about much anymore. He preached on the subject of hell. And how real hell is, how beautiful heaven is, and how you can’t get saved on the back of your dad or your mom.”
Tait added that the preacher said, “It’s not osmosis. It’s a thing we have to be one-on-one with God.”
RELATED: Newsboys Lead Singer Michael Tait Discusses Deconstruction, Racism and Taking a Stand
Tait recounted that the message got him “fired up that day” and he went forward for prayer and accepted Christ as his Savior.
The Grammy Award-winning singer added that since that day, he’s tried to live a life according to the Scriptures, though he admitted there are times he’s failed.
“But God has been so faithful to this boy, so faithful to me when I had been grossly unfaithful more than once, but he keeps bringing me back to the cross,” Tait said.
“God speaks to me through my voice,” Tait shared. “How I feel when I sing or what I sing, it comes back at me like a boomerang. God goes, ‘I love you, boy. Stay the course. It’s okay. I will never leave you nor forsake you. Confess your sin. Right your wrongs and keep walking forward.’”
RELATED: ‘The Jesus Music’ Explains the History of Christian Music, Church Resistance, and Why DC Talk Split
Constantly being in the public’s eye, especially within the church, can be “daunting” at times, Tait told Hallowell. “It gets tough sometimes. But as much is given, much is required. I will never shun that.”
