On February 6, 1989, something wonderful happened! Jesus Christ became Michael Comb's personal Savior, and Michael Combs became a born-again child of God. Jesus put a new song in Michael's heart. What terrific news that is for those of us who love him and enjoy his music. It is this personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ that shines through Michael's testimony, music and personality. His love for Jesus reflects to all, and anybody who meets him can't help but notice that Michael is enjoying every step of his journey with his Savior and Friend.

Michael Combs' style is unique, as is everything else about him. He has an acute love for the Lamb of God, which bubbles over into everything he says and does.

Michael Combs was introduced to Jesus Christ at a young age. He praises God for the influence that his parents had on him. "God has blessed me with two Godly parents who have al ways been great examples (in word and deed) of how to live faithful lives for God and for each other. My mother shares a great love for singing and music with me and she taught me many of the old hymns as a child. She encouraged me even at an early age to use the talent that God had given me for His Glory. As a child, I sang in church and one of my favorite songs to sing back then was an old Hand Williams gospel song called 'Wealth Won't Save Your Soul.'"

Michael realizes that the most important lesson he learned from his parents was faithfulness. "Be faithful to your friends. Be faithful to your spouse and most importantly, be faithful to Almighty God for He has surely been faithful to us." Michael's encouragement throughout life stems not only from his parents, but also from his wonderful wife, Denise, who is a tremendous blessing to him. Michael is not alone in his stand for the "Living Lamb of God." She, too, has given her heart to the Lord Jesus Christ, and He has used her in great ways to spiritually support Michael Combs. You can find her at Michael Comb's concerts. It really is not difficult to spot her. She is the beautiful lady with such a sweet smile and Godly spirit who is al ways willing to help in whichever way she can. Because she is always encouraging Michael as he chooses to sing for the Lord, we like to refer to her as Michael's cheerleader. However, he refers to her as "bird". He says that this name is short for humming bird, which she was named for the sweet spirit that she reflects through her life and her humming. He teases that one day this name may become even shorter: He may call her "B".

Nevertheless, their love for each other and for the Lord Jesus Christ is strong and is reflected in their life and in their love for their children. Praise', be to God that He gave Michael a wife as described in Proverbs 31 who stands behind Michael and encourages him to keep singing for Jesus even when he is faced with the trials of this world.

Michael and Denise met in Jacksonville, Florida, where they were both employed by Bell South. Michael recalls the start of his journey with Denise: "Even though we were both basically 'good people', we were both lost. We were both attending church, and one day, at work, I invited Denise to go to church with me. She accepted and we began to date for about a year. I proposed to Denise on her birthday, November 23rd, and we planned to get married on Valentine's Day, February 14. Later that same month, I got sick and was hospitalized for 45 days. I was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver and was told it could be treated for years before we would even have to start thinking about a liver transplant. On March 5, Denise and I were married in Jacksonville, Florida at The Little Brown Chapel. Since then, we have both become born again Christians and both of our children too! Oh, and by the way...I've got a new liver now too! Ain't God good!!"

Not only did God bless Michael with a beautiful wife and a new liver, but also with two children. Their son, Eddie, is 24 and single, and their daughter, Laura is 23 and married with 2 children, Logan (5) and Abbey (4). Michael is a proud grandpa. "They are the cutest, most loving kids in the world! Denise and I have been on the road singing and witnessing for Jesus for the last 7 years full-time, so any time we can spend with our family is precious."

Michael and Denise strive to reflect Jesus through their lives to their children and grand children. The message they wish to convey to them is: "That Jesus is the answer! No matter what, just live for Him and He will never fail you. They have seen first hand how God has saved me and changed me and how I've depended on Him for many things and He has never let me down." Michael and Denise live in Todd, NC close to where Denise spent part of her childhood. Eddie and Laura both live in Jacksonville, FL. Eddie does some part-time distributing for Michael Combs Ministries and works full-time for CSX Corp. Laura is a Registered Nurse.

Although Michael has been blessed with his parents, brothers, wife, children grandchildren, pets, and liver transplant, h( would readily admit that his greatest blessing has been his salvation through Jesus Christ Michael Combs describes his salvation experience like this: "You see, I was one of those lost church members for the major pave of my life! I thought that because I believed in Jesus and knew much about the Bible; and hat even been baptized that one day I would go to heaven." Satan is a deceiver and had tried to convince Michael that everything was okay between Michael and God. For a while Satan's lies were working. Michael states. "Even later in my life when I was really living ungodly and was totally rebelling against God, I still kept listening to Satan's lie." However, praise be to God, one night, February 6, 1989, the Lord led Michael and his family to Westside Baptist Church in Jacksonville, FL, where Dr. Johnny Hunt was faithfully preaching God's Word. It was then God, who is the Truth, revealed the truth to Michael and began working in his heart. Michael realized then that not everything was "okay" between him and God. God convicted him of his sin and revealed to him that he needed to repent to God and give his heart and life to Jesus. Michael then asked Jesus to become his personal Savior. This born-again child of God likes to recall his personal experience that day by referring to the two hounds of Heaven who hunted him down: one being Grace and the other, Mercy. Without the grace and mercy of God in Michael Comb's life, we could not enjoy the great music that Michael sings so powerfully.

Denise was saved at Westside Baptist Church February 7, 1990, one year and one day after Michael. "Denise was (and still is) one of the sweetest and most moral people you would ever want to meet, but the Lord revealed to her also that being 'good' wasn't good enough! She had to be born again, and she was (and is). She is a Godly woman with a massive dose of Lambitis! Ha! Ha!"

Shortly after Michael and Denise trusted Christ as their Savior, God called them into full-time music evangelism, much to their amazement. "Before I became a Christian and started singing for the Lord, I worked for Bell South. At the time I worked there, it was called Southern Bell. I was a Service Representative in the business offices. Many folks ask me if I sang before I got saved and I did not. I mean I sang around the house and in the shower and occasionally for a few people, but nothing like I do now. The truth is, I didn't decide to one day just start singing for the Lord. He put me into it! Ha! Ha! I just got saved; the Lord started inspiring me to write songs about God's love and mercy, what it means to be saved, and to encourage other Christians (as well as myself)."

The decision to go out singing full-time was not an easy decision to make. "I was fearful (I confess) early in my Christian walk to have the faith to trust God to take care of my family. I was working at a good job, with good benefits, (insurance for myself and my family) and I was making good money. I was afraid to let go of those things and allow God to be our provider. However, after I did, the Lord proved to me over and over again that He would not only supply our needs, but He's allowed us to have a few things we could really do without. He is so good. I had a liver transplant back in 1991 also and I was afraid I would not be able to obtain insurance through another provider if I left my job with Bell South. God has provided my family and me with even better insurance than what we had. Michael enjoys singing for the Lord, and this is evident every time he takes the stage. Through the powerful way he proclaims the message within his music, one would never think he was at all shy, but he admits, "Basically I'm a shy, person... I always get a little nervous just before I'm due to sing, but always pray that God will use me and empower me with His Holy Spirit to do that which He has called me to do. Once I get up there and start, He just takes over, calms me, and fills my heart and mind with the things of God and the messages that He has given me to share through the music and whatever words He places on my heart to share. Without the Lord's help, I don't know that I could do what I do and be as effective. It is Him working through me each night and it is an awesome time of praise and celebration for me as well as others. I enjoy the singing of course. I enjoy testifying before others of how God has worked in my life and Ministry also, but the biggest blessing comes from watching others give their hearts to Jesus! That's where it's at! That's what really 'cranks by tractor'! The Lord has blessed our ministry over the years with a great harvest of souls. In the last few years, for example, we have seen an average of 1500+ souls won to the Kingdom of God! There's nothing that could bless me more than that. It is so rewarding and satisfying to know (and see) that God is working through your ministry to have that kind of impact on this world!"

God not only powerfully uses Michael Combs in singing, but He also shines through Michael's guitar and piano playing. Whether singing, playing the guitar, or playing the piano, Michael faithfully shares God's message in song, holding strong to his faith and belief that all he needs is found in Almighty God. With his recording, "Not For Sale," Michael Combs continues to reflect his faith in Christ while climbing through the ranks of Southern Gospel. When asked about his motivation to write "Not For Sale," Michael said, "I have seen a lot of things in the last few years that I've been a Gospel Music Evangelist and even now I see things that disappoint me in some ministries. The Devil has made casualties of a lot of promising preachers and/or Evangelists and/or Singers. Temptations are great and he is working constantly to try to do the same old thing he's always done ... try to rob God of the Glory He is due and destroy the testimonies of as many Saints as possible in the process. I too have been tempted in a lot of various different ways. Not long ago a man from California offered me a lot of money to change my "style" and sing Country Music (with a positive message, of course). Thank God, I've been able, by the Grace of Almighty God, to withstand the Devil and continue to sing for the Glory of God. After the California incident, the Lord gave me the inspiration and the go ahead to write the song. Some folks have misinterpreted the song and think that I'm down on AmWay or Country Singers. They missed the message! The message of the song is 'don't sellout on God to pursue those things and those things alone.' If God has blessed you with a ministry to preach or to sing for the King of Kings, why in this world would you want to do anything else? I understand that folks do 'other things' to supplement their income and make ends meet and that's fine ... but they have not abandoned God's calling completely to do those things."

The message within "Not For Sale" has significantly impacted many lives, as all of his songs have. Michael strives to be an encouragement to all that he meets. Michael also exhorts the believer in Christ to "not become a 'slave' to pride. Care less what others think of you and your stand for the Lord. They may laugh. They may call you a 'Jesus Freak.' Remember not to concern yourself with what others may say, but rather where you will spend eternity and is God pleased with YOU."

Michael's only regret is that he did not give his heart to Jesus until he was 31 years old. "My biggest regret to this day is all those years I wasted living in (and for) the world. I'm grateful today for my Salvation and for all the opportunities He's given me to share my faith with others. I just wish I would have done it sooner. The life I had in the world was really no life at all. Jesus is Life!! (I may have said that earlier, but some things are worth repeating! Ha! Ha!)"

Michael wants fans to know that he loves each one of them dearly, and appreciates all of their kind words of encouragement, their loyalty to his ministry and, most of all, their prayers. "Thanks to their prayers and God's grace and goodness, I have been doing extremely well. I have had no liver rejection problems and it appears that God has taken away the diabetes problem that developed about a year ago also!! Praise the Lord! We are staying very busy out singing and witnessing and writing songs and God continues to inspire me with new 'messages' in song. (I wish I could share some of those with you but you'll just have to wait!! Ha! Ha!) Pray that God will continue to bless Denise and I both with good health and strength and stamina to keep up this hectic pace. Pray that God will also keep us close and clean (as my Pastor says) so that His anointing will remain strong upon us and this ministry. Pray that The Lord will continue to lead us by His Holy Spirit in my writing, singing, witnessing and most of all in our daily walk with Him that we will be pleasing to Him and bring much Glory to His Son the Lord Jesus!"

The excitement of Michael Combs Ministries is catching quickly. Due to overwhelming popularity, he recently signed on with the Beckie Simmons Agency to handle all of his bookings. We strongly suggest you take the opportunity to see him in concert and see for yourself how wonderfully God can use somebody who gives his all to Him.

From My Pastor

I write with great excitement to introduce to you the ministry of Michael Combs. How wonderful it is from time to time when God raises up a man with a fresh touch from Heaven. A man that is hearing from God to write Christ-honoring music, and then to be gifted by our Heavenly Father to sing that music from his heart with the evident token of the hand of God upon his life.

I recommend the ministry of Michael Combs to you in great hopes that you will allow your people to experience what we have every time he has stood in the First Baptist Church of Woodstock to sing. If I can give any further information, please do not hesitate to call me! Blessings!

Sincerely His,

Johnny M. Hunt

Personal

Michael has a wife, Denise,a married daughter, Laura, a son in college, Eddie, a grandson, Logan, and a granddaughter, Abbey.

Michael has been full-time in the ministry since 1992. He was employed at Southern Bell Telephone when the Lord called him into the ministry. God has really blessed!

Michael really loves the ministry. He loves the church. He loves the pastors. He loves the people. He loves seeing lost people saved and Christians encouraged. Most of all he loves the Lord.