Root Road has been partnered up with a non-profit called Spring2Life for nearly two years. Spring2Life is a program that frees men from various addictions like illegal drugs and alcohol with the aid of the Gospel. It’s an effective program that has seen some amazing growth and still growing! Spring2Life now has several properties where they house, provide education, give ministry, and more to provide a lifestyle free from addiction to all the men who go through the program.

Root Road just played a show on March 31 in Murfreesboro at Spring2Life’s newly purchased property on St Clair Street. It was a great time of music, fellowship, and celebration of students who finished the program and are now free from addiction and have a fresh new start in life. All of the men gave heart felt testimonies of how they were at an all-time low in their life, had marriages about to fail, and family members hurt by their actions from being under the influence. However, through Christ and their perseverance through the program, they all made it through on top with relationships being saved and on the mend. It’s great that we serve a merciful God!

If you are interested in donating or recommending this program to a friend or family member, please visit this website: http://www.spring2life.net/Home.html

Like Christmas, it seems that Easter gets buried under commercialism and candy. Not that waking up to a basket full of chocolate is a bad thing, however, we need to give credit to the One it’s due. In short, Easter as Christians celebrate it, is about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. There are other related events associated with Easter like Lent, Holy Week, Good Friday, and more which are part of the reflection process and spiritual dedication.  However I thought to myself, how is the church as a whole presenting this season to the world around it? Are we showing Easter as a special day to dress nice and play the music a little louder? Or are we commemorating with great reverence the victory that we have in Christ on that day? Then I looked back at myself and asked, “Am I communicating the things that God wants me to communicate?” And just as importantly, “I am subconsciously taking the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for granted?” It is not just Easter and the other events that surround it, it is our lifestyle. It is not what church we go to or how the service puts on a celebration, it’s what we take home from church.  Are we coming together to listen to big name speakers and famous performers? Or are we trying to hear the voice of God speak to us in our hearts and get a closer connection to our Savior Jesus Christ. And are we just keeping this knowledge to ourselves, or are we sharing it with our friends, family, and neighbors? These scriptures come to mind:

2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (NIV) – ²⁰ We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. ²¹ God made him who had no sin to be sin^[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

This sums up everything nicely. Let’s not just live for God, but also be ambassadors of the love of Jesus Christ, for the only way most people in your life will see God is through you!

~Anthony

Other verses:

Matthew 28:19 (NIV) – Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

1 Timothy 2:1-3 (NIV) – I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— ² for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ³ This is good, and pleases God our Savior, ⁴ who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

The band is preparing to take their show on the road! It has always been a dream to go places, and now the group is one step closer to it’s goals. This trailer is able to hitch on the back of the group’s white Chevy van, so now they can bring their all their equipment with them if they need to without having to take multiple vehicles. Big thanks goes out to those who made this purchase happen. Next stop….Tour Bus!

Through Christian Songwriters and Musicians International (CSMI), Root Road had the opportunity to perform for the 2012 NRB Conference held at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville on February 20. This conference is the biggest of its kind in the United States, and if you were there you would believe it.

While waiting for their time to perform, the guys had some time to walk around the hotel, meet great people, and make some amazing connections. One of the cool people that Root Road met was the famous David Mann and his wife Tamela. You would know this couple for sure if you have watched any of the Tyler Perry’s productions like Meet The Browns, Madea’s Family Reunion, Dairy of a Mad Black Woman, and more. They both told the guys they enjoyed their music after the show, which was very encouraging!

Click here to watch the video with David Mann and behind the scenes at the NRB Conference.

You may remember that Root Road had been invited to perform for the international TV show “Bobby Jones Presents” hosted by none other than Grammy Award-Winner Dr. Bobby Jones! Well, the guys yet again were honored to be invited for another show under the banner of the good Doctor, but this time in their current residence of Murfreesboro. The show was called “The Doctor’s Choice” and the stage was set at the Bluesboro bar downtown in the city square.

The guys played to a full house, along with several other artists including Shelly Massey, Darryl Chaney & Christ Fellowship Chorale, Everett Drake, Da Chozen Brothaz, The Bingham Sisters, and Dex & Divine Purpose. William Richardson (who performed with The Imperials) also joined in with several of the artist, accompanying them on the piano. The whole event was hosted by Mr. Murfressboro himself, Janard Cross, who dazzled the crowd with his personality, style, and voice. The event was so entertaining and packed with Talent, most people came early and stayed late! Root Road had another opportunity to take pictures with and talk to Bobby Jones, who encouraged them to keep it up and that it is only a matter of time until Rood Road makes it big.

Root Road also received their first award as a group from the event. They were given a honorary certificate of being part of this significant event. The guys humbly accepted this surprise award.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

I was very curious to find out how Martin Luther King JR Day came to be recognized a national holiday, so I did a little research. I don’t know why I never thought to see how much work went into holiday. However, I always knew how important Civil Rights movement was and the sacrifice many people had to go through to ensure that all Americans would be treated equally.

Did you know that Martin Luther King JR day was signed in as a federal holiday by Ronald Regan in 1986 which was 18 years after King’s assassination? Did you know that this holiday was not observed by all 50 states until the year 2000? Why did it take so long for the nation to observe this holiday of such a great man who represented such a great cause?

Well, only two other people have U.S. holidays named after them. Christopher Columbus has Columbus Day and we also observe George Washington’s birthday which is sometimes referred to as President’s Day. The problem with recognizing another national holiday accredited to King was primarily the cost of having another paid holiday and some law makers didn’t feel that King was important enough to have a holiday named after him, especially since he didn’t hold an office.

Because of the lack of Federal support, the King Center turned to the public community. With the support of Stevie Wonder they collected 6 million signatures in petition to recognize Martin Luther King JR Day as a holiday at the Rally for Peace Press Conference in 1981. This was the largest petition in favor of any issue in U.S. history. That spawned the bill being introduced to Congress in 1983 and it passed overwhelmingly in 1986.

I challenge you now to learn one new thing about the Civil Rights movement. We need to remember the lives and the noble deeds of the people who made our country a much better place to live. To forget would be ungrateful and I am glad that we have Martin Luther King JR Day not just to remember King, but also one of the greatest movements in history!

On September 30, Root Road played 3 songs at a writer’s night house party hosted by Lara Landon in Nashville, TN. This event happens on Fridays and provides a friendly atmosphere for Christian artists of all backgrounds to share their talent with a captive audience of both spectators and other artists. Their was no shortage of talent that night, however, there was a shortage of space due to the large attendance. It was a full house…literally! Songs were sung, poems where read, and many snacks were consumed. Although the last performer ended near 10 pm, the fellowship, prayers, and songs flowed through the rest of the night. It was a refreshing experience for all to be able to be surrounded by such an collection of both talented and sincere people.

Click Here to watch Root Road play their original “Masterpiece” that night, or go to our YouTube Channel.