This is the story of a dream, devastating loss, a season when the song disappeared from my heart, and the restoring grace of Jesus Christ.
As a young boy, I would put on my dad's Southern Gospel quartet records and try to sing all the parts. Being the son of a pastor gave me opportunities to sing special music in the small churches he pastored. Later, when my father entered evangelistic ministry, our whole family traveled and sang at revivals, conventions, camp meetings, and concerts.
Only eight months after Sheila and I were married, we went to my parents' house for my brother Tom's eighteenth birthday. Later that day, a drunk driver traveling over 90 miles per hour ran a red light and struck my parents' car broadside.
At the hospital, we were told that my father had passed away, my mother was not expected to survive the night, and my sister was receiving treatment. Sixteen days later, my mother went home to Heaven.
After the funerals, my younger sister and youngest brother moved in with Sheila and me. We had been married only eight months, and suddenly we were caring for two kids.
After losing my parents, I lost the song in my heart. I lost the joy that a Christian knows when serving Jesus. I was broken—not bitter, but broken. I decided my dream of singing was over.
About a year later, a little church nearby called and asked me to provide music for a revival. I finally gave in and went. The evangelist at that revival happened to be the District Superintendent. Afterward, churches all over the district began calling and asking me to come sing. God had a plan.
The God I serve is a healing Savior. He can pick up the pieces of a broken heart and put them back together again.
After my parents' deaths, our friend Bruce Hawthorn asked me to work for the Christian Brotherhood Newsletter. Bruce eventually put together a quartet from several of us who could sing.
That quartet traveled for several years, often coast to coast, representing Christian Brotherhood and the Barberton Rescue Mission. We sang in restaurants, rest areas, corporate offices, national parks, and anywhere people would listen.
I continued solo and quartet ministry until around 1999, when some of the guys moved away. I kept traveling with Bruce until he retired, and then my solo ministry began in earnest.
For many years, I typically sang around 150 concerts a year. Around that same time, I met Sheldon Mencer and Steve Cheney. We eventually formed Mencer, White & Cheney, recorded two CDs, and still do select dates together.
In 1993, Sheila and I learned we were expecting our first child. After Brittany was born, the doctors told us they believed she had Down syndrome. I was devastated, disappointed, worried, and fearful. I wanted the typical, beautiful, "normal" little girl. God had another plan.
Over the years, Brittany has taught us more than I could ever put into words. She participated in dance, played baseball for more than twenty years, and has overcome challenges that would discourage many people.
Two years later, our son Austin was born. Today, Austin is married to Alana, and they have three children: Zane Michael White, Sawyer Rose White, and their youngest, Oakley Mae White.
My greatest desire is to please Him in everything I do. I want to reach people for Him and encourage Christians to keep on. I want broken people who hear my song to know that Jesus can pick up the broken pieces of their hearts and mold them and make them in His image.
Because of His grace and restoration, I can sing and lift my song to Him.
This is the story of a dream, devastating loss, a season when the song disappeared from my heart, and the restoring grace of Jesus Christ.
As a young boy, I would put on my dad's Southern Gospel quartet records and try to sing all the parts. Being the son of a pastor gave me opportunities to sing special music in the small churches he pastored.
Later, when my father entered evangelistic ministry, our whole family traveled and sang at revivals, conventions, camp meetings and concerts. All four boys and one daughter participated.
It was a huge blessing to live out that dream as a young boy and teenager.
Only eight months after Sheila and I were married, we went to my parents' house for my brother Tom's eighteenth birthday. It had been a fun day — a cookout, a food fight and time with family.
Later that day, a drunk driver traveling over 90 miles per hour ran a red light and struck my parents' car broadside.
At the hospital, we were taken into a family room and told that my father had passed away, my mother was not expected to survive the night, and my sister was receiving treatment in the emergency room.
My mother survived surgery and held on much longer than doctors expected. For days, we stayed at the hospital as they watched and waited.
Sixteen days after the accident, my mother went home to Heaven.
Only a few weeks apart, we held funerals for both of my parents. People came from all over — pastors, government officials, people my parents had helped financially, people they had counseled, and people who simply knew they were loved by them.
After the funerals, my younger sister and youngest brother moved in with Sheila and me. We had been married only eight months, and suddenly we were caring for two kids.
After losing my parents, I lost the song in my heart. I lost the joy that a Christian knows when serving Jesus.
I was broken — not bitter, but broken.
I decided my dream of singing was over. I would still be a Christian and go to church, but I was done singing.
For about a year, that is exactly what I did. I went to church, sat in my seat, and did nothing. I was miserable.
Then a little church nearby called and asked me to provide music for a revival. I told them I did not do that anymore. They kept asking.
Eventually, I gave in and went.
The evangelist at that revival happened to be the District Superintendent. Afterward, churches all over the district began calling and asking me to come sing.
God had a plan.
The God I serve is a healing Savior. He can pick up the pieces of a broken heart and put them back together again.
Today, I sing and lift praise to glorify Him for all He has done for me.
He is a restoring Savior.
After my parents' deaths, our friend Bruce Hawthorn asked me to work for the Christian Brotherhood Newsletter.
Bruce had heard me sing with my parents and eventually began having me sing for events at the office.
When he discovered several of the guys could sing, he put together a quartet.
That quartet traveled for several years, often coast to coast, representing Christian Brotherhood and the Barberton Rescue Mission.
One of the unique things we did was travel on motorcycles when we could, with the bus following with sound equipment and supplies.
Bruce also challenged us to sing everywhere — restaurants, rest areas, corporate offices, national parks, and just about anywhere people would listen.
I continued both solo and quartet ministry until around 1999, when some of the guys moved away and the quartet could no longer continue.
I kept traveling with Bruce until he retired, and then my solo ministry began in earnest.
For many years, I typically sang around 150 concerts a year.
Around that same time, I met Sheldon Mencer and Steve Cheney.
We eventually formed Mencer, White & Cheney, recorded two CDs, and still do select dates together.
Through every season, God kept opening doors and reminding me that a song offered to Him can reach people in places you would never expect.
In 1993, the year after my parents' accident, Sheila and I learned we were expecting our first child.
We were excited and hoped this new life might help heal some of the hurt we had experienced.
After Brittany was born, the doctors told us they believed our daughter had Down syndrome.
I was devastated, disappointed, worried and fearful.
I wanted the typical, beautiful, "normal" little girl.
God had another plan.
Over the years, Brittany has taught us more than I could ever put into words.
She participated in dance, played baseball for more than twenty years, and has overcome challenges that would discourage many people.
Two years later, our son Austin was born. He has been a tremendous blessing to our family and has always looked out for his sister.
Today, Austin is married to Alana, and they have three children: Zane Michael White, Sawyer Rose White, and their youngest, Oakley Mae White.
Many changes have come through the years — some good and some bad — but I have seen the Lord working through me and using me to reach others for Him.
My greatest desire is to please Him in everything I do.
I want to reach people for Him and encourage Christians to keep on.
I want broken people who hear my song to know that Jesus can pick up the broken pieces of their hearts and mold them and make them in His image.
Because of His grace and restoration, I can sing and lift my song to Him.
Jonathan personally handles booking inquiries and would be glad to talk with you about your service, concert, camp, revival, fundraiser or special event.