1990 - Now as I recall, we (Foothills) were in the first building on Bradley by this time. Pastor Dave gave a message on how we’re saved by the word of our testimony a la Revelation 12:11 “And they overcame him (the accuser of the brethren) because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.” It was a really good message and made me think of something else I had heard. It was a statement that went kind of like this; “If they outlawed Christianity, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” It really makes you think of how others view you and if the fruit of the Spirit is evident in your life, doesn’t it? Dave’s message went on to talk about how we’re all going to have to give an accountingof our speech before the Throne of God some day. Matt 12:36 says this; “But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.” With all these things fresh in my mind, I came up with the idea for I WILLTESTIFY. The chord progression was kind of spacey, going from a minor chord to a major seventh. My wife at the time said it sounded like a funeral dirge- she was always so encouraging that one! Luckily I didn’t listen to her because so many people have told me how this song has blessed them. The Paul Lee Band recorded a version of the song with my permission and called it TESTIFY. This version can be heard on my COLLABORATIONS album at the #5 spot.
Sometime in 1989, I made a decision to step down as worship leader at Foothills. Mark Crafford and I both made the decision at the same time. Steve and Diane Dahlen took over for a time and eventually Hank got the job. I bowed out because the position was beginning to take more and more time and effort. Although I was pulling it off, I felt that I wasn’t giving the job as much excellence as it called for. It was strictly a volunteer position, and when faced with the choice of working longer hours to support my family or getting more involved in worship ministry, I felt I had to choose the first.This was a very pivotal decision point in my life. The choice I made pretty much ended my dream of being in full-time ministry. The fire inside me began to diminish and it became easier to compromise in the standards I set for myself. The church had always been my sounding board for new songs. As worship leader I would teach them to the congregation and it would become obvious if the song was anointed to facilitate worship or not. After stepping down, I continued to teach new songs to the home fellowship, but they never went any further than that. And now for the lyrics:
I WILL TESTIFY
Words and music by REGGIE MICHAUD © 1990
I will testify before Your throne, You have come to heal the broken lives
I will testify before Your throne, You have won and I have been reborn
You’re the pure and righteous Son, seated at Your Father’s side
Speaking out on behalf of those You love
And when all is said and done, and the judgments have been cast
I will glorify Your Name forevermore;
You have overcome (echo: You have overcome)
You have overcome (echo: You have overcome)
You have overcome (echo: You have overcome)
You have overcome (echo: You have overcome)
I will testify before the world, You have come and turned my life around
I will testify before the world, that old man is buried in the ground
You’re the pure and righteous Son, seated at Your Father’s side
Speaking out on behalf of those You love
And when all is said and done, and the judgments have been cast
I will glorify Your Name forevermore;
You have overcome (echo: You have overcome)
You have overcome (echo: You have overcome)
You have overcome (echo: You have overcome)
You have overcome (echo: You have overcome)