Teen Challenge - 50th Anniversary

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Celebrating 50 Years of Miracles

conference > David Meece

Some people would say that having more than 30 Top Ten hits with many reaching number 1 in various Christian Music charts; still filling auditoriums after almost 30 years and 13 albums under your belt would show the world that you've made it. Not so for Christian Music veteran David Meece, who despite his amazing successes, simply describes himself as 'a work in progress'. "Anyone who is an artist is always working to develop more whe ther it is musically, artistically or spiritually," David explains. "God is constantly using every aspect of life to change us into what He wants us to be. Whether it is through good times or difficulties, God uses it all to shape us." And difficulties are one thing that David has had his fair share of.

Being the son of two professional musicians should have been an easy environment to develop and grow as an artist. Instead, David found the piano his place of refuge and solace from his abusive, alcoholic father. In contrast, David's mother made a lengthy journey three times a week from their small hometown into Humble, Texas to provide David with the best classical teacher available. She sacrificed so that David could obtain excellent training as a classical pianist which allowed his extraordinary abilities to shine through. "The teacher would show me what to do and I found that I could just do it," David recalls. His remarkable abilities were noticed at the age of 10 when David toured as a concert pianist. At 14, he performed the Mozart Piano Concerto in F Major with the Houston Chamber Orchestra. By 15, he'd won a nationwide talent show resulting in a tour of England, Germany, France, Switzerland and Holland and at the age of 16 he was a soloist with the Houston Symphony Orchestra performing the challenging 45 minute Khachaturian Piano Concerto.

David Meece found that 'success does not mean happiness'. He won numerous awards as a young pianist, but remembers how they did not make him feel any different. Looking back, David now sees that awards are your measurement in the eyes of man but what brings true success is a high estimation in the eyes of God. Despite such acclaim David struggled with feelings of self-worth; the result of a childhood of abuse from his father. He recalls how one night, his drunken fa ther drove through his bedroom wall, put a gun to his head and told him he was worthless. These were among some of the last words his father spoke to him.

David won a scholarship to the prestigious Peabody Conservatory where he made a commitment to follow Jesus and it was there that he met his wife Debbie. "I wouldn't have made it without her," David said. "She has been the glue that has held me together through the tough times and since she came from a healthy background, God has used her to keep me from falling apart at the seams."

In 1976, he released his first album David which included some of the Rock Opera songs written in college. By his third album and after a lot of hard work David Meece became a successful, well known Christian artist writing beloved classics such as We Are the Reason, One Small Child and My Father's Chair. Throughout the 80's and into the mid 90's, he released close to one album a year and toured extensively. In 1995, a major takeover of Christian music labels by three mainstream corporations meant that David's record label dissolved practically overnight. Like many other artists at the time, David found himself with no outlet for his recordings.

This difficult period in David's life was accentuated by illness, but he bounced back onto the Christian Music Scene in 2003 with his album There I Go Again produced by Aluminum records. Since then David has kept busy and has had continued touring internationally with frequent concerts in Australia and New Zealand.

David's music is so fervently followed in Australia that there was a call for a special compilation album. In response, Legacy was released in 2005 to feature many favourite Meece tunes.

David Meece has kept true to his classical roots while winning over new generations worldwide. He stays constantly aware of the culture around him to be effective in his music, updating and keeping relevant to the audience. "Believers need to be on the move if they are going to be effective witnesses," David recently stated, "God is moving but never changing."

Also the process of song writing has changed over the years for David. In the early years he recalls that he wrote very visually, describing his thoughts. He would get an idea or a 'sparkle', finish the song and 'there it was.' But as he's matured, David has become much more meticulous, knowing that every accent and word matters. He is careful about what he writes making sure that no parts are unclear.

"It is impossible to choose a favourite among my songs," David explained, "as each one is like a child to me, taking on a unique personality. Each song has a time and place that will minister to the moment's need." However, The Things You Never Gave Me has a special significance to him. In this song, he comes to the understanding that God sometimes says 'no' and closes doors in order to set you up for greater blessings.

David and Debbie are the proud parents of their son, Chris who is a phenomenal drummer in Nashville and daughter Kelly who married Nick Rogers in 2006 and continuing to pursue her dreams in music, dance and stage. Debbie teaches strings and piano privately and performs in the Harpeth String Trio with her viola.

David's history of growing up with an abusive, alcoholic father has given him a love for the ministry of Teen Challenge. David has been involved with the Arizona chapter since the mid 80's, as guest artist for their Summer Benefit Concerts, writing songs for the students and producing arrangements on their behalf. In 1999, David Meece's headquarters for his ministry was provided by the Teen Challenge of Arizona Corporate Office in Tucson.

David Meece has a clear message: Totally surrender to God in trust and obedience.

His desire is to impart comfort, challenge and conviction to his listeners. When he has shared his gift of song, many thousands have come to know God's healing touch.

Like his biblical mentor, David-the psalmist king, David Meece seeks after the heart of God and invites others to come and do the same. "I'm convinced that there has been a tremendous urgency placed upon my life by the Holy Spirit, an urgency to get the Gospel out to as many people as possible," he said. "I believe God wants me to go and share the Gospel everywhere, anywhere people will have me. I've never had this calling on my life so strongly before, but I'm convinced of it right now. I'm convinced Jesus is coming back very soon."

Read more about the ministry of David Meece at www.davidmeece.com.