Anthony Hugh Harrison
My story
The late 1980's a series of controversies and deceptions in my local church directly harmed my family and drove me to stop attending services altogether. "my life went on.. with out God"
“I spent many years on the road as professional musician,(this lead to a pretty empty life in the absence of God). I lost my love for music, and I had become pretty depressed...I finally broke down and began to pray... a lot! and God showed up in some crazy ways! For the first time I actually read the bible all the way thru twice! There are many many good books that help people that are struggling with there faith but none have the or had the impact on me that just simply reading the bible had..
When I came to church for the second time I was met in love, grace, and truth, I came in just a musician just wanting to offer my gifts, and a funny thing happened God quickly awoke my passion for music! I felt a love I had not experienced before coming to Gateway, and there began my relationship with Grammy nominated and Emmy and Dove award winning JJ Plasencio (Gateway CC's music director). JJ recognized my gift for songwriting and asked me to co write and produce a CD with him. One year later was birthed Rumor of glory's "the story" and "the glory" a 2 CD set that explores and walks thru a man journey back to the Father.. I never thought God would use me this way..that was only the beginning He continues to use me in amazing ways, and my passion for making music continues to grow, currently I am working a new worship CD and He continues to be faithful..
I am a product of someone who stepped out acted as Jesus would have, he showed me love and grace, and introduced me to a different God that I had known before. He guided my steps as I began to use my gifts and my art to glorify God. There are many questions that people have about God, church, and faith that get brushed off. I think God is big enough to handle them, we just need to be his vessels. That's what I want to do for others. not just in church but in community.. Jesus said in Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." The key word here for me is "go" , I want to get outside the walls of the church and meet folks where they are, love them where they are, invite them to church, get them in the same type of loving community that experienced and still do. A place where folks feel safe, not condemned by who they are but hopeful about how who God wants them to be.. . I want them to know there is something better