The Inner Views of Rodney Griffin

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

I Corinthians 15:58

(KJV)

One of the main ways God is working to keep His children encouraged in these last days

is through the ministry of song.

As the enemy tries his utmost to discourage and make us feel defeated, 

we can turn to a comforting, old hymn or a more recently-written song that God has inspired someone to write, and we can feel the darkness leave our spirits, as we realize, once again,

that God is in control, we are His children, and we have nothing to fear.

If you have been even a casual follower of Southern Gospel music over the course of the past several years, you are bound to have heard an anointed song penned by the man being interviewed today.

Some examples of songs you may have heard are...

"My Name Is Lazarus",

"Faces",

"He Is To Me",

"Just One More Soul",

"Preacher, Tell Me Like It Is",

(all recorded by Greater Vision),

"I Know I'm Going There",

"He Locked The Gates",

(both recorded by The Kingdom Heirs),

"I'll Do The Miracle"

(recorded by Ivan Parker),
and

"Don't Let The Sandals Fool You"

(Recorded by The Triumphant Quartet)...

just to name a few.

Only eternity will be able to reveal how many lives his songs and music ministry have touched,

and we are beyond grateful to be able to share his interview with you today.

The

of 

follower of Jesus, Husband, Daddy, and Baritone for Greater Vision, who also enjoys writing songs,

Rodney Griffin.

Cheryl:  Could you tell us about your childhood and background? Were you raised in a Christian home? What role did songs and music play in your childhood?

Rodney:  My Dad was an alcoholic when I was born. He was saved when I was young, and then he surrendered to preach. So I’m a PK. My parents took me to see the Goodmans, The Downings, and, regularly, The Cathedrals and Kingsmen. That’s when I fell in love with this music.

Cheryl:  How old were you when you became a Christian? What life events led up to your decision to follow Jesus? How has surrendering your heart to Him affected your life?

Rodney:  I was 12 when I was saved…Sunday Night service during the invitation after Dad preached. We were having baptism that night anyway, so Mom walked across the church lawn to our house and got me some clothes to be baptized in that night. The greatest day ever! Jesus is my Lord and Guide. He tells me how to live and He helps me to make the right decisions. Any wrong decisions have come from me not paying close attention to Him.

Cheryl:  Who do you consider to be your strongest spiritual mentor? Was there a particular person who prayed for you during childhood and through the years, who has had the most powerful influence upon you, spiritually?

Rodney:  My Dad is the most Godly man I know. He has set a wonderful example for me to follow.

Cheryl:  Who keeps you spiritually encouraged today? Are there particular heroes of the faith whose presence in your life keeps you pressing on for God, in spite of all that comes to discourage you?

Rodney:  My wife, Regina, and two girls, Reagan (18) & Riley (15) are my inspiration. They are very active in our church in Mt. Vernon, KY. Those in our church are very encouraging. I enjoy when I get to attend on Wednesday nights and rare Sunday nights.

Cheryl:  When did you write your first song? What inspired you? How did God make it clear to you that songwriting was to be such an important part of His plan for your life? Us.songselect.com shows that you have written or co-written 384 songs that have been recorded. How does this number represent the total number of songs you have written?

Rodney:  I wrote my first song in 1989…I was 23 years old. That’s kind of a late bloomer compared to my songwriting friends. I was a college graduate working at Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, VA. During my breaks, at my desk, these melodies would pop into my head. I wrote down the lyrics that they matched up with. I’ve written over 400 songs now…a few of my early ones are not worthy to be demoed or pitched to a group for potential recording. They are not particularly interesting…that’s what I’ve learned that it takes for a song to be recordable. I’ve written them one at a time, and they have added up. I never set out to be known for writing…I was just doing what came natural. We all have something we can offer the Kingdom of God if we’ll just dedicate that gift to Him.

Cheryl:  Is there a particular place you like to go to get alone with God and write? What are some things that lend fresh inspiration and motivate you to write?

Rodney:  I enjoy writing while I’m driving. I have a 2 1/2 hour commute to the bus in Tennessee every week. Sometimes, that is good writing time. I stay in my Bible and try to get enough rest. If I’m tired, I’m not creative at all. When I’m rested, writing comes naturally.

Cheryl:  How did Greater Vision come to be? How was the name chosen, and how long have you been a part of the group?

Rodney:  Gerald Wolfe & Mark Trammell formed the group in December of 1990. Gerald had written a song entitled, “Greater Vision” that was the basis for the group name. I came into the group after it was 3 years old…so I’ve been here over 22 years. Hard to believe!

Cheryl:  One of our favorite songs of yours is, “Preacher, Tell Me Like It Is”. It just really resonates the burden upon our hearts in these perilous times. What inspired you to write this particular song?

Rodney:  I was out in my yard working one day, when I had the thought that so many well known preachers today are not particularly known for preaching against sin. They kind of assume everyone’s okay out there and that God loves us…so we’re all good. The problem with that theology is that we have to realize we are sinners in order to transact with the Savior. I love to hear preachers who aren’t afraid to brag on their flock…and then step on their toes, in love, when needed.

Cheryl:  As we face the dark days prophesied about in God’s Word, what do you consider to be the biggest hindrances to our staying close to God and remaining faithful to Him in this era of time? What can we, as Christians, do to most effectively make a difference in our world? What advice would you offer to those who may be weary in well doing and who may be exhausted from standing firm against evil in the cultural battles of our day?

Rodney:  One of my favorite evangelists through the years, Bill Stafford, who is now retired, always preached that the blessings of God are what lead us astray. Yep…same thing that caused the children of Israel to leave God. We get spoiled in our easy lives and quit depending on Him. That’s the danger in these, last days. We must be plugged in to a local church where we are using our gifts for Him and hearing His Word preached. We get weary when we try to do His work in our own strength. The best thing to do is to throw our hands up in praise and live out Proverbs 3:5-6. Trusting is hard, but rewarding.

Cheryl:  How do you, personally, stay encouraged, as we look around and it appears that evil is winning the war? Are there particular Scriptures, books, hymns, or other resources that you have come to rely upon to give you courage and keep you enthused and motivated to keep fighting the good fight of faith?

Rodney:  I try to read my Bible through every year. It’s not difficult when you follow a day by day plan. I also read Oswald Chambers’ "My Utmost For His Highest" every day, as well as Glyn Evans’ “Daily With The King”. I also actively pray for lost people.

Cheryl:  How can we support the ministry of Greater Vision and purchase your products?

Rodney:  You can find us at www.greatervisionmusic.com. Sign up for our newsletter, and Gerald will let you know when we are coming to your area. We’d love to see you at a concert!

Cheryl:  How can we pray for you, personally, at this season of life? Are there specific needs we can help you lift to the Father?

Rodney:  Yes, you can pray for our safety. We travel 85,000 miles each year on the bus. 😳

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In order for a songwriter to be able to successfully articulate the Gospel through song, they must first be a partaker of that Gospel and be a living testimony to its life-changing, transforming power.

For one to effectively influence and convince the listener, the words must ring with the truth

that the writer has written what they know and have experienced first-hand.

The songs Rodney has written convey an authenticity that proves he lives out the lyrics he composes

and that he is a direct recipient of the grace and redemption he so passionately sings and writes about.

God blessed us to meet Rodney in April of 2010 when Zach was nine years old.

Rodney Griffin and Zach

In spite of his success,

the things we noticed most about him, both during this interview and when we met him in person,

are his humility, gentle kindness, and down-to-earth friendliness and approachability,

all characteristic and true evidence of the meek Spirit of Jesus Christ dwelling within.

A HUGE thank you, Rodney, for taking the time to answer our questions.

We cannot count the times that we have been blessed, encouraged, spiritually challenged,
and motivated to keep pressing on for God, as we have listened to one of the songs God inspired you to write.
Your music has blessed our lives in so many ways,
and we trust God to abundantly bless you, in return.

Dear friends, please keep Rodney, his family, and the ministry of Greater Vision in your prayers,

as they travel and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in song.

And, if you can, please take the time to listen to a few of our favorite songs written by Rodney.
I promise you will be encouraged and blessed!



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I can't begin to tell you how many times I have listened to this next song.
But, no matter how many times I hear it, it never fails to bless my soul,
fill me with hope, and cause me to cry tears of joy, as I praise our amazing God!
I hope you will listen closely to these powerful words.



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Praise God, there is NO problem too big for our awesome God to solve!
Keep encouraged, dear friends!

To read previous

 click the links below.

The Inner Views of Joshua Becker

 The Inner Views of Lisa Newton

The Inner Views of Dr. Alveda King

The Inner Views of Jen Avellaneda

The Inner Views of Tonya Shellnutt

The Inner Views of Karen Del Tatto

The Inner Views of Evelyn Rennich

The Inner Views of Bob Sellers

The Inner Views of Kelly Bowling

The Inner Views of The Benham Brothers
The Inner Views of Beth Willis Miller