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WARNING: Toddler Suffers 2nd-Degree Burns After Mom Fills Kiddie Pool Up With Garden Hose

“We got a ton of tweets back from people saying ‘I never thought about that,’ and that’s why we do it.”

School Forces Student to Take Jesus Out of Graduation Speech, Plan Gloriously Backfires When She Drops This Line

“I’ve always been a rule follower. When they said not to chew gum, I didn’t chew gum. When they said not to use your cellphone, I didn’t use my cellphone. But today, in the spirit of defying expectations, and for perhaps the last time at this podium, I say..."

“The Spirit Led Me to Pray for Her”: Woman Snaps Powerful Pic of Chick-fil-A Worker Praying Over Customer

“I work at a place where if I’m led to pray for someone, I’m able to do that and I’ll do it right on the spot. People need prayer, encouragement, and love. That’s what we try to do here.”

Granger Smith Announces He’s Leaving Country Music to Focus on Ministry

Country singer Granger Smith is leaving the country music industry to pursue ministry. Smith made the announcement yesterday on his social media, where he said he could not reconcile glorifying himself onstage with Jesus’ command that his followers deny themselves.

“I have been so nervous to make this video just because of the implications of what it means for my life and my family, but…I’m making this post to announce that this summer is my last ever tour,” said Smith. “I have felt a strong desire to pursue ministry, and this doesn’t mean I’m going to start a church or a crusade or a revival. This means that me and my family are going to serve our local church.”

 

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He continued, “We’re going to pour into that church as members and have my pastors and elders pour into me and disciple me and teach me as I sit under their wise teaching. And then Lord-willing, one day they can affirm me into the next steps of what that might look like to glorify God best from my platform.”

Granger Smith: I Just Want To Glorify God

Granger Smith has released 11 studio albums, one live album and two EPs. Several of his singles, including his 2016 hit, “Backroad Song,” have been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. He is married to Amber Smith, and they have a daughter (London) and two sons (Lincoln and Maverick). Their son, River, died in a tragic drowning accident in 2019 at age three.

Smith said he has been pursuing an M.A (which takes a “ton of time”) at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and it is for that reason he has “appeared maybe distant, especially to music, lately.”

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The singer also said he has a book coming out Aug. 1, which is about the period in his life after he and his wife lost their son River and what God did “in a radical way of opening my eyes.” Smith’s book is titled, “Like a River: Finding the Faith and Strength to Move Forward after Loss and Heartache.” The book’s description says:

The days, weeks, and months that followed River’s death sent Granger on a dark and painful journey. Every time he closed his eyes, he replayed the horrific event in his mind, and every time he opened his computer, he was bombarded by the critique and criticism of people who blamed him for the accident.

Despite his best effort to get back on stage with a smile and song, it was all a façade. On the inside he was dying. Fortunately, that’s not how his story ended. And now he is compelled to help people all around the world find strength, peace, and hope on the other side of tragedy.

In his video, Granger Smith called his book “the most important piece of media that I could ever release, that I ever have released.”

Jessica Lea
Jessica Lea
Jessica Lea is a writer for churchleaders.com. She has always had a passion for the written word and has been writing professionally for the past two years. She especially enjoys evaluating how various beliefs play out within culture. When Jessica isn't writing, she enjoys playing the piano, reading, and spending time with her friends and family.

WARNING: Toddler Suffers 2nd-Degree Burns After Mom Fills Kiddie Pool Up With Garden Hose

“We got a ton of tweets back from people saying ‘I never thought about that,’ and that’s why we do it.”

School Forces Student to Take Jesus Out of Graduation Speech, Plan Gloriously Backfires When She Drops This Line

“I’ve always been a rule follower. When they said not to chew gum, I didn’t chew gum. When they said not to use your cellphone, I didn’t use my cellphone. But today, in the spirit of defying expectations, and for perhaps the last time at this podium, I say..."

“The Spirit Led Me to Pray for Her”: Woman Snaps Powerful Pic of Chick-fil-A Worker Praying Over Customer

“I work at a place where if I’m led to pray for someone, I’m able to do that and I’ll do it right on the spot. People need prayer, encouragement, and love. That’s what we try to do here.”