Michael English - The Prodigal Comes Home: My Story of Failure and Gods Story of Redemption

None of us are beyond the need or the reach of Gods grace. Michael Englishs story is a profound and timely celebration of this great truth. Indeed, Gods name is Redeemer... he restores broken things and broken people. This is the heart of the gospel. I sat with Michael and looked into his eyes the day after his public exposure, and I sat with Michael recently and looked again into his eyes. Darkness has given way to lightThe Light of the World. Michael is a changed and changing man, and there is only one explanation: Jesus has come to make all things new. Read this book and reconsider how dangerous it is to write off anyone.

Scotty Smith, Founding pastor, Christ Community Church, Franklin, Tennessee

It saddens me when the church finds more pleasure in gossiping about our fallen brothers and sisters than in celebrating their restoration to wholeness. We should all celebrate that Michael English is healed, restored, and renewed by the crossa cross that is for you and for me, for forgiveness, and for the mending of broken vessels.

Michael W Smith, Musician

Michaels life is a beautiful picture of Gods forgiveness and restoration. He is a new creation. The old has passed away and all things are newand Michael has an amazing story to tell.

Mark Hall, Lead singer, Casting Crowns

Before the prodigal came home, Lukes Gospel says he first came to himself. Years ago Michael faced the same dilemma many young, mega-talented people face: because of his natural gifts he, unfortunately, came to us before he had come to himself. The results were predictable and horribly painful. As his friend and pastor, Ive spent the last thirteen years watching him slowly and truly come to himself. Now as he makes his way back from the far country and home to ministry, I pray we will receive him as well and wisely as the Father has. Indeed, he has taken the long way home. His journey has taught him a lot. It has much to teach us.

Stan Mitchell, Pastor, GracePointe Church, Brentwood, Tennessee

I am one of the biggest Michael English fans there is. When my father passed away, it was Michaels music that got me through. I believe with all of my heart that God has given Michael the opportunity to continue ministering to the hurting. Through His trials and victories, Michael celebrates the God of second chances, and believe me, that is the God that all of us need to intimately know.

Bart Marshall Millard, Lead singer, Mercy Me

What a wonderful story of restoration and redemptionthe kind of work that God wants to do in all of us, if we will but let him. Thanks, Michael, for openly and honestly telling about your life, your struggles, your successes, your failures and, ultimately, your faith and hope in a God who redeems. The change He has brought about in you is nothing short of amazing.... Welcome home!\

Neal Joseph, Executive Pastor, Fellowship Bible Church,
Brentwood, Tennessee, and former President of Warner Alliance

The pain, suffering, and alienation Michael has experienced by his own doing and at the hands of others would all amount to nothing except for the fact that in Christ alone God has rescued Michael from the vicious downward spiral of addiction and depression and has restored him in order that his life would be a testimony of Gods life-transforming grace.

Frank Reich, Former quarterback, Buffalo Bills

Michael English writes that singing is his worship, and I believe that every time I hear him sing. His book is also a song of worship. Its a song of hope. Its a call to each one of us to hold onto God and to never give up, because God never lets go and He never gives up on us. Michaels book is a reminder that God will meet us wherever we arein fact He will run to meet usand His love will always guide us home. Now thats something to sing about!

Mark Miller, Lead singer, Sawyer Brown

+ the prodigal comes home +

+ the prodigal comes home +

My Story of Failure and
Gods Story of Redemption

Michael English
With Lynn Vincent

THE PRODIGAL COMES HOME
2007 Michael English

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a registered trademark of Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Thomas Nelson, Inc. titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fund-raising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail SpecialMarkets@ThomasNelson.com.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV). 1973, 1978, 1984. International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

Other Scripture references are from The King James Version of the Bible (KJV)

Although this is a work of nonfiction, some of the names have been changed.

Editorial Staff: Greg Daniel, acquisition editor, and Thom Chittom, managing editor
Cover Design: Gilbert & Carlson
Page Design: Kay Meadows

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

English, Michael.
The prodigal comes home / Michael English, with Lynn Vincent.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-0-8499-0173-7 (hard cover)
ISBN 978-1-5955-5129-0 (trade paper)
1. English, Michael. 2. Contemporary Christian musiciansUnited StatesBiography. I. Vincent, Lynn. II. Title.

ML420.E64A3 2007
782.25092dc22
[B]

2006101023

Printed in the United States of America

09 10 11 12 13 QW 10 9 8 7 6 5

I would like to dedicate this book to my wife Marcie, and my children Megan, Bella, and my son-in-law Keith. You are the reason why I was able to complete this book. Without you, there wouldnt have been a happy ending. Jesus, thank you for second chances.

contents

by Bill Gaither

I have lived and worked in the world of artistry for about fifty years now, and if there is one thing I have learned about artists it is this: most artists do not come in neat little packages. The giftedness that launches an artist into the spotlight is often the very thing that brings the most torment into their lives. Original artistrytrue geniusis a gift of God. It is not saved for the perfect. It is also most certainly not saved for the self-confident. But the coach and teacher inside me always wants to salvage that gift when I see it in someone.

Michael English is one such artista body made of flesh with a supernatural gift. He came to us in 1989, and I was drawn by the passion in his voice as I listened to a tape of him singing. This was not the first time I had seen raw talent like this, and I knew there was great potential inside this young man. When I met him face to face, I was taken with his humble, quiet spirit. I felt very strongly that this was an artist the world needed to hear.

When Michael started singing with the Gaither Vocal Band, audiences connected with him immediately and he became the voice around which our sound was centered. His powerful delivery and commanding presence were truly remarkable. Off-stage I began to see chinks in his armor. But anytime I needed to address concerns I had, Michael was never defensive. He was open to correction and, I believe, appreciated it.

One concern I had was the result of a chemical imbalance that Michael battled which caused severe anxiety attacks. When these attacks came on, I knew this was way over my head so I encouraged him to find professional help. One night in Arizona, after one of these attacks had reached a level at which he could not function, I sat beside his bed all night and watched him struggle. I was concerned that he would not make it through the night. Yet as he struggled, I saw a young man who felt responsible for the predicament he had left me in. He said he was afraid he had let me down.