Songwriter, Rebecca J. Peck tells the story behind her song "Jesus Can Change Your Life" as made popular by The Mylon Hayes Family ...
"Though I've written hundreds of songs, and each one is special to me in its own way, there are some that really stand out to me, simply because of the way they were birthed in my heart.
"Many years ago, my husband Tom and I were at the National Quartet Convention in Louisville. One evening as things were winding down, we were hungry and decided to make a late night ‘run for the border' to Taco Bell. We invited Mylon Hayes, his wife Wendy, and their kids (who were just tiny then) to join us.
"Mylon is my first cousin, and as so often happens in families when it comes time to pay, you start the old, ‘this one's on me,' ‘NO, this one's on ME' thing. As we were standing there arguing over whose generosity would win, the young man behind the counter said, ‘I'll tell you what, if it comes to under $20, I'll pay.' We were shocked, and I thought he was kidding. But he wasn't kidding, and though we all protested, he pulled money out of his wallet and put it in the drawer.
"My husband Tom often does something when we are out in public that he calls his ‘10 second witness.' When you come in contact with people just in passing, there isn't always a lot of time to carry on a conversation with them about the Lord. So, to plant a seed in a brief moment, he will say, ‘Do you know who Jesus is?' Then no matter what their answer is, he will respond with, ‘I just want you to know that He changed my life, and He can change yours too.' There are a wide variety of answers he has received over the years, but this young man, who looked no older than 18, said, ‘I'm just too far gone.' At this point, Mylon tried to reassure him that wasn't true, but we couldn't linger in conversation because this was all taking place at the cash register. Later, while we were eating, we saw him slip off during his break to have a conversation with an older man who seemed like he wouldn't have his best interest in mind.
"After we got home from NQC, the song began to flow. Now, all these years later, Mylon and his family have embarked on a brand new ministry that is flourishing, and they recorded it. God is good!
"Just think of the many people who might be just where that young man was. Broken, desperate, alone, lost without Christ, thinking that they are "too far gone." We have an amazing privilege and responsibility to minister together to folks just like that, and my prayer is that this song will be a tool that God uses to reach hearts with the Gospel.
"I often think about that young man and wonder where he is. Maybe he will hear this song on the radio somewhere and the words will ring true in his heart."
Rebecca J. Peck
