Startin' All Over Again...
Born Again on 27th March 2001 - the new life of Bob Pearce as a Christian.
During 2002 Bob 'retired until further notice' from the blues circuit, during this time he would only play at church meetings and only sing gospel, praise and worship songs. Then, 3 years later he went back into the studio with a specially selected group of musicians to record his first album in seven years - the result was "Unchained" (Fuzzy Pig Records FPCD 009).
Knowing that God had given him the gift to sing and play, Bob began to promote the cd by playing a few local dates - only now, his material consists mostly of gospel - or, as someone once put it - Holy blues! Some of the old songs remain in the set and it's not unlikely that you'll hear some soul ballads and a bit of rock 'n' roll, but don't be too surprised if a couple of worship songs suddenly appear.
  
MY TESTIMONY : Bob Pearce
Most of my early life, especially my career in music is pretty well documented - from the early 1960's through to the late '90's - somewhere, someone has written something and I'm aware of quite a few photographs taken throughout this time too. But, as the song goes....."that was then, this is now".
During a few dates in Switzerland 2001, I was sitting in my hotel room waiting for 'showtime' and, as there was nothing much on T.V. I took a Bible from the drawer of the bedside cabinet (thank God for the Gideons) and began to flick through it's pages. The last time I'd looked at a Bible was in my schooldays when religeous instruction was one of our weekly lessons, at that time we read it like a novel, start at the beginning and read it all the way to the end.
As I flicked the pages, they fell open in the book of Acts and my eyes were drawn to a verse of scripture - 'I foresaw the Lord always before my face....' (Acts 2 v 25-28) for some strange reason, I felt as if these words were speaking to me so I copied them down and put them in my wallet. Over the next few days I read them again and again.
My wife had become a Christian a year or so before and I would take her to her church meetings and then go back to bring her home, although she'd invited me a few times, I declined the offers.
However, she'd changed in some way, she was still the woman I loved but now there was something different about her and I wanted what she had - even though I had no idea at the time what that was.
A while later she invited me to Southampton Guidhall to see a preacher, well, you can guess my reply!! That was until she told me he was from Louisiana and a cajun......
'yep, I'll have some of that'... because much of the music I liked was from around that area, I really don't know what I was expecting to see or hear, but I was going to this one.
We took our seats and I watched in amazement as more and more people filled the hall, even after all the seats were taken - still they came!!! I can't remember one word of what the man said, I was just totally gobsmacked that a preacher could pack this place solid and yet most of the pop groups of the day could not.
I attended a few evening services with her after this, but I've got to be honest, it all seemed a bit weird with people waving their arms in the air and dancing around....not like the churches I'd been to (during my time in the boy scouts many years before or at weddings and funerals) which were much more sedate.
Not long after I'd returned from Switzerland my wife told me that her church was holding a Tuesday evening meeting with a guest speaker - comedian Bobby Ball.
Another church event I actually wanted to be at. The place was so packed, that regular members of the congregation were asked if they'd be good enough to move into a back room and watch the proceedings being relayed onto T.V. screens!
Bobby Ball is a brilliant comedian and had everyone laughing within minutes - and throughout his testimony. At the end of his alloted time, he gave an alter call....basically, he invited everyone to bow their heads and follow him in a prayer - to ask for forgiveness of sins and for Jesus to be Lord of their lives. Then, those who raised their hands, to confirm that they'd said it, were led into another room to meet the pastors and other 'church people'.
Well, I'd said the prayer before at some of the other meetings and I'd said it on this occassion too, but I didn't put my hand up because I figured the others only did it to meet Bobby Ball. Now I was about seven or eight rows back and still, like many others, had my head bowed....and I was thinking to myself that I would, quite probably at some time in the future walk forward - but not tonight. 'Yes, I'm sure it's gonna happen, but not tonight, they just wanna meet Bobby Ball'..........the next thing I know - I'm stood at the front with the pastor shaking my hand and directing me to that other room!!! How I'd got to be stood in front of him is still a mystery to me, 'cause I don't recall my feet moving, but there I was - God is truely amazing.
After the meeting we made our way back to the car and as I started the engine, I turned to my wife and asked "Is that it then?". With a big smile on her face she said "Yes, that's it". That was Tuesday 27th March 2001 and I was baptised on 19th August that same year.
During the summer of 2002 I heard from God - He told me I was to quit playing. As this is all I'd done as a job for about forty years, I wondered what I'd do next. As Christmas time approached (the time I was suppose to stop) I thought it a good idea to try and make a deal with God.......'You can do all things, so what if I take the gigs and You put a stop to those You don't want me to do'.........I thought that was pretty fair. As it happened, two or three dates that I'd accepted were either cancelled or the venue closed, or for whatever reason - and since I'd heard nothing, I figured we had a deal.
In the summer of 2003 I heard from Him again, just one word - "Well?". That next Christmas I did as I was asked. I still played and sang but only in church or at church type functions. I read the Bible more and was, as they say, on fire for Jesus.....(I still am)....I wanted to tell everybody about how good this 'new life' was (and still do). As for work, well I knew God would provide in some way, and He did just that. Looking at the job section in the local paper, two vacancies appeared to stand out, both part time positions - you've probably already guessed the outcome, I was employed by both!!!
Almost three years to the day, I knew I was being told to record a new album and then to play in the kind of venues I used to play in. Wanting to be obedient and with the help of some really good musician friends, I made the album "Unchained". All this was fine, but I was quite happy and content where I was, I'd had no calls regarding gigs for the last three years and since I'd stopped smoking, had no desire to be back in such smokey atmospheres.
The phone began ringing (God really does have a great sence of humour!) The first date was to be in June......and during a conversation with a fellow Christian I said....'you know I'll do whatever He wants me to do, but I'm not looking forward to all that smoke again'. His reply was 'Surely God's sorted that out for you has'nt He?'
That just happened to be when it became illegal to smoke in a public building. God is good, Hallelujah.
There are so many things I could tell you, about what The Lord has done for me, about how He's turned my life around, filled me with His Holy Spirit and how I'm blessed each and every day. Asking Jesus to be Lord of my life - to lead and guide me, was the best thing I've ever done.
If you would like to know Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, may I invite you to pray the following prayer.................
Dear Lord Jesus, I believe You are the Son of the living God and that You suffered and died on the cross so that my sins might be forgiven, that You rose from the dead and ascended into heaven to appear before the Father for my sake. I open my heart and confess my sins to You Lord Jesus, fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me to live a new life which is pleasing to You. I thankyou for Your mercy, forgiveness and the free gift of salvation. In Jesus name, Amen.
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