Faith: Saving souls through the spirit of gospel music

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HE FRUIT of the righteous is a tree of life and he that winneth souls is wise."

- Proverbs 11:30

I've been blessed by God and this is my testimony.

I was born in the small town of Hallsboro, N.C., to a strong black woman named Estella (Shipman) Hyman. After I was 2, my father separated himself from a son that longed to be fathered, but God had a plan for my life.

Not only did my mother raise me, but my great-grandmother (Lillie B. Shaw) influenced my life like no other. She introduced me to Jesus Christ at a very young age. Every Sunday morning, I remember how my great-grandmother gathered the whole family for devotional time. One would read the Scripture(s), another would pray and someone else would sing hyms like "In The Cross" and "No Not One." I can still hear her singing those songs.

I would love for that to be my whole testimony, but that is just the beginning.

When my mother and I moved to Philadelphia, I was 5. Being introduced to so many new things in a new place at such a fast rate, my only regret is that I was exposed to the bad, as well as the good. Not only did I learn how to be responsible and earn a little money at a supermarket bagging groceries, I was also exposed to everything from drugs to pornography by those in the streets I considered to be my friends. I learned how to do everything I could get away with. It would take a loving and forgiving God to change my life from darkness to light, and deliver me from the sinful strongholds in my life.

After receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Savior at age 12, I began my new life and wanted to share this newfound joy with everyone who would listen.

At age 12, I sang my first solo in a church. That led me to a greater love and appreciation for gospel music that continues to this day. It has taken seven years, but I've finished my CD, titled "What Will It Take."

It took life's experiences and the anointing of God to catapult me to where I am today. It was my first wife, Minister Linda Shipman, who is now with the Lord, who prayed for my anointing to write songs to God's glory. Many times after I've ministered in song, people have approached me to say how much they were blessed.

There was this one particular service in which a young lady who was dressed in Muslim garb approached me to say that she was moved by the song she had just heard. She even stated that she was almost persuaded to become a Christian. This speaks volumes to me.

Gospel music can even break through religious barriers to convict the hearts of people. And when I hear from the parents of children who are as young as 5 singing songs that I've written, it says much more to me than anything that I can describe.

I've sung different genres of music, but none can compare to the life-changing effect of gospel music. No other music can inspire and provoke you to live a life for Christ. God has given me this gift to sing and it's my responsibility to use it for his glory. *

(Editor's note: For more information concerning Eric O. Shipman and his ministry visit www.myspace.com/ericoshipman, or, contact him at shipmane@ comcast.net)