John James awes Kenwick youth

by Charissa Mitting

April 8, 2008

THE former lead singer of international Christian band The Newsboys packed a Kenwick church to the rafters on April 4.

John James didn’t sing, but instead gave a challenging and humorous speech to 260 people between the ages of 10 and 30 at the local Real Life church.

 “I’m incredibly wrapt to be here!” James opened.

Over the next hour, the audience learnt that being an international rock star was not as glamorous as portrayed in the street press.

‘Bizarre experience being in a rock and roll band,’ Mr James said.

He then revealed that not being able to deal with instant fame cost him everything he’d held dear.

“Fame almost broke our marriage apart,” James revealed. “I become abusive, my wife took our daughter to Australia.”

 He then started talking about the alcoholism and drug use that had led to his attempted suicide.

“I became an alcoholic,” he said. ‘When I confided in the band, they told me to step down.

“I lost all sense of value and become a cocaine addict’.

James also believed the stress of having to step down drove him to the point of attempted suicide.

“Ridiculous level of stress, destroying me like cancer”, he explained.

James reckoned God stopped him from killing himself.

“If I’m going to boast, let me boast about the relevant message of Jesus Christ!” James proclaimed. “A message that gave me my life back, I met the God of the second chance.

“The God I know blows my mind!’

After James finished speaking, 70 youth from the audience expressed interest in wanting to know more about he and Jesus Christ.

Nicky Daguyo from Lesmurdie High said the talk was: “Just pretty awesome”.

Her comments were mirrored by Crystal Gray from Thornlie High, who called the talk, “awesome”.