Ex-heavy-metal guitarist Brian \u201cHead\u201d Welch was baptized in the Jordan river, just weeks after quitting his band, drug habits and rock-and-roll lifestyle for religion.<\/p>\n
Welch, a founding member of the multi-platinum metal band Korn, joined some 20 other white-robed Christian pilgrims from a Bakersfield, California, church who were immersed by their pastor, Ron Vietti, in the cool, gray waters near the shore.<\/p>\n
Despite saying he was there to be \u201cdunked in the water,\u201d Welch said the ritual baptism had washed away his anger. \u201cYou know when you get angry and it builds up? I felt like hurting someone before, now I feel like hugging people,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Wearing a silver cross necklace and earring, Welch, with \u201cMatthew 11:28,\u201d tattooed prominently across his neck in reference to a Bible verse stood out from his fellow pilgrims.<\/p>\n
Pastor Vietti said Welch, who also has \u201cJesus\u201d tattooed across his knuckles, is already attracting a new group of young people to the message of Christianity.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause music is such a big thing in the world, Brian has natural avenue for sending a message. In recent weeks people have committed their lives to God because they’re so inspired by his story… They think there’s fire in him,\u201d Vietti said.<\/p>\n
Welch is one of thousands of pilgrims baptized annually in the revered river. According to Biblical tradition, John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. Baptism is a Christian sacrament marked by ritual use of water to admit and purify a new Christian.<\/p>\n
After 13 years with the band – and the rock-and-roll lifestyle – Welch said he has become increasingly depressed and drug-addicted in recent years. \u201cEverything that people think a rock band sees and goes through, multiply that by 10,\u201d Welch said. \u201cThe drugs and everything you can imagine, I’ve got to get rid of it, man. It wasn’t me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Welch said he has finally ended a dependency on methamphetamines and other drugs. He said he had been ready to give up on life after several addiction treatment programs did not help him, until turning his life to God allowed him to quit.<\/p>\n
Welch said he has been angry for more than two years and that it has negatively affected everyone close to him. \u201cMy managers at Korn, I’ve been tormenting them for the last couple of months,\u201d he explained. \u201cThey thought I was mad at them but I’m not. It’s something inside me spiritually that needs to be fixed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Welch said he plans to release music and help kids. \u201cMy songs are God saying things to me, him talking to people. He’s going to use me to heal people and people are going to be drawn to it, just watch, they will be.\u201d<\/p>\n
Korn’s self-titled 1994 debut was heralded for its haunting, edgy songs. Music critics and fans attributed much of Korn’s unique sound to Welch and fellow guitarist James \u201cMunky\u201d Shaffer. During the 1990’s, the group climbed to the top ten of almost every alternative\/rock station in the U.S. and Europe.<\/p>\n
_______________________<\/p>\n
Version used in sermon:<\/p>\n
Most of you are not familiar with Brian \u201cHead\u201d Welch. He played guitar in a band called Korn. They sold literally millions of records and were considered among the top ten bands in Europe and the U.S. in the 90’s.<\/p>\n
Both fans and critics adored this band – I guess you have to be into heavy metal music to appreciate them. But I can appreciate what happened to Brian.<\/p>\n
Brian Welch lived the storybook life of a rock star. \u201cEverything that people think a rock band sees and goes through, multiply that by 10,\u201d Welch said. Lots of women. Lots of drugs, especially methamphetamine. Brian became drug-addicted. He tried treatment programs but they all failed. He became more and more depressed and wanted to die.<\/p>\n
He had a lot of anger too. Brian said, \u201cYou know when you get angry and it builds up? I felt like hurting someone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, Brian Welch figured out what his problem was. He realized there was something wrong inside him spiritually. He started going to church and studying the Bible. His favorite Bible verse was Matthew 11:28 – \u201cCome to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.\u201d Brian liked that verse so much he tattooed the reference on his neck.<\/p>\n
And he gave his life to Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n
This month [March 2005], Brian and 20 others from his California church put on white robes and stepped into the Jordan River. The one in Israel. He confessed his faith in Jesus and was baptized by immersion.<\/p>\n
It is a great thing to leave the darkness and enter the morning light. Have you?<\/p>\n
#29213<\/p>\n
*<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Ex-heavy-metal guitarist Brian \u201cHead\u201d Welch was baptized in the Jordan river, just weeks after quitting his band, drug habits and rock-and-roll lifestyle for religion. Welch, a founding member of the multi-platinum metal band Korn, joined some 20 other white-robed Christian pilgrims from a Bakersfield, California, church who were immersed by their pastor, Ron Vietti, in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1036,93,508,391,1332,4505],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.churchedge.com\/illustrations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5100"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.churchedge.com\/illustrations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.churchedge.com\/illustrations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.churchedge.com\/illustrations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.churchedge.com\/illustrations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5100"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.churchedge.com\/illustrations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5100\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.churchedge.com\/illustrations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5100"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.churchedge.com\/illustrations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5100"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.churchedge.com\/illustrations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5100"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}