Tell us a little bit about Jonathan White. Where were you born? What were you like as a kid? Were you ever normal?
I was born in Sewickley PA. I was the PERFECT child!!! I just wish all kids were as good as I was!!! HA! I was a prankster. At church camp my brothers and I would always get in trouble but most of the time, it was for things we hadn't done... just because we hadn't thought of it yet!!! So I guess you could say I was fairly normal.
When did you realize that you were going to be a singer and especially a Gospel singer?
I always dreamed of being a Christian singer, but the first time I realized that I could do it was when I was about 6 years old. I was singing "Look For Me At Jesus Feet," written by Squire Parsons. I went up and hit some note that my mom and dad just sort of went gaa gaa over and that's when I realized that God had given me a gift.
You are an amazing singer as a soloist, but you have also traveled with a group, namely Mencer, White, and Cheney. What are the drawbacks of singing in a solo ministry and the drawbacks of singing in a group?
One of the good things about singing with a group is the fellowship you have with the others and also, if your having a bad night vocally, you can lean on the others as well, on the same token, one of the bad things about being with a group is there are 3-4 different opinions for everything. I think it is easier for me to share from my heart when I sing solo versus singing with a group. However, I like it both ways.
You have a child with special needs. Tell us a little about how that effects the way you minister.
Having Brittany in our lives has made it both a challenge and a wonderful blessing. With any child there are great times and there are trying times. It just seems that with a special needs child, everything is magnified. During my concerts, I sing to Brittany when she is able to be with me and that just melts everyones hearts. It has also opened many doors for us to help others that aren't really sure how to cope with having a child with Downs. I also have a 3 song CD that I send to Hospitals that request it that shares the song I wrote for Brittany as well as "Sometimes Miracles Hide" and "God Has Got A Plan For Me."
You have had a very powerful song on the charts in "The Passion of the Christ". What are some of hte results and experiences of singing this song.
Singing "The Passion Of The Christ" has made my experience with Him so much more meaningful. To realize that I am singing about His willingness to take our sins and die for us and that we are His passion, wow, it's really hard to explain. God is using the song to minister to people everywhere. Steve Cheney and Dan Adkins really wrote something there.
As a soloist, do you have to take any special thought in the songs you pick out for performing and recording?
Not really, I record songs that are meaningful to me. Sometimes the song that I think is really going to minister to people doesn't seem to affect them at all and then others that I'm not real sure about just blow them away and touch so many people. I guess God moves in His own way.
What's the greatest one on one ministry experience you've ever had?
I sing out in Colorado every year and there was a man and his wife that came to every concert and meeting I sang at, and we would talk but I didn't know if he was a christian or not. I found out that he wasn't and he asked me to really pray for him. I did and I would write to find out how he was and if he had accepted Christ yet or not. Then one day I got the call that he had given his life to the Lord and I was so excited that I had been a part of this one salvation. Not long after that, he found out that he had terminal cancer, he died about a year later. To know that I had a hand in one person making THE decision, I just can't believe that God can use someone so insignifigant as Jonathan White to help someone find there way to Him
If you knew that you would only have one more song to sing, ever, what would that song be and why?
"I Bowed On My Knees and Cried Holy." That song has never gotten old for me and to know that He is waiting on me to start the party, well there's not another thing that I can think of more exciting than bowing at His feet and just basking in His warmth and love.
Share any thought that you might want to get across.
My greatest hope and prayer is that someone will meet Christ through my ministry and that Christians will be encouraged when they see what God has done in my life. We serve an awesome and wonderful Saviour.
http://www.jonathanwhitemusic.com
Author: AGM
| Author's Website: http://absolutelygospel.com/
Written: 05/15/2006
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Category: Feature Articles
Comments: 4
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Jon,
Great interview. Jon is not only a great singer and minister, he is a great friend and one of the most "real" Christians I know.
Jon White is the real deal. He walks the walk and talks the talk. I am blessed to have him as a friend.
met Jonathan White at the NQC last year and had a nice chat about music styles. Purchased the group's latest project, and it is one of my favorites. Jonathan's work on Mercy River gives me a charge each time I hear it.
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