January 8, 2026 • 27 mins
In the foothills of Appalachia, Jordan Smith, a young boy from Harlan, Kentucky, found his voice in the hymns of a small country church. Years later, that voice would capture the nation’s heart when Jordan Smith won NBC’s The Voice in 2015. In our conversation, Jordan reflects on how hymns shaped his journey and how prayer and Scripture continue to anchor him through every season of life.
Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Tyler White, also known as DJ TyWy. Growing up on the spectrum, Tyler discovered the power of music to break through social struggles, from singing in talent shows to dancing at school events. Today, he DJs across Florida, including Autism Speaks Walks, using his platform to inspire others on the spectrum. In our conversation, Tyler reflects on perseverance, faith, and how music has shaped his journey and dreams.
Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned:
Past interview: Johnny and Donnie Van Zant
Upcoming interview: Dale Sutherland
Jesus Listens: Prayers for Every Season
*Tyler White would like to thank Clay Bradley, President of BMI, his manager Brent Daughrity, the board of directors for the CMA, and his attorney J. Reid Hunter for introducing him to the platforms for writing and recording in Nashville. He’d also like to thank Drew Trosclair, Jeff Garrison, Jackson Nance, and Cameron Bedell for helping him write and produce the songs.
Interview Quotes:
“Hymns are songs that are meant to be memorized and sung together. They’re songs that bring people together, they are songs that are centered around the message of the gospel. They highlight the truth of Scripture. They also bring people together and allow people to experience that truth together.” - Jordan Smith
“When you have a group of people coming together to sing these uplifting messages, to sing these messages of hope, and to sing these messages of the gospel, I think something just comes alive in you, and there’s something profound about it.” - Jordan Smith
“I found myself in moments where worry was stealing the joy of what God was doing in my life. Worry was taking away the happiness that I should feel in doing what God created me to do. I had to learn how to cultivate a consistent prayer life with God in order to remain at peace in every situation. I continually had to come back, sometimes even every single day, to give Him the same worries and fears and trade them and exchange them for His love and His peace.” - Jordan Smith
“I think the beautiful thing about faith and about a relationship with God is that it’s universal and it does bring unity and it does connect us together, but it’s also so extremely personal.” - Jordan Smith
“Christian faith is built on Christ as the found
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Life audio.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Find inspiration as close as your phone. Download the Jesus
Calling app and get started today for free. Look for
the Jesus Calling app in both the Apple and Google
Play stores.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
I have to be extremely intentional about keeping up my
prayer life because I've found when I begin to lose
focus on my relationship with God, I'm an unhappier person.
I'm not as kind as I should be. My words
start to become unkind, I start to worry more, I
(00:46):
start to give in to stress and anxiety. I start
making questionable decisions, and so I have to be extremely
intentional to remain prayerful each day.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Welcome to the Jesus Calling Podcast. In the foothills of
apple Atcha, Jordan Smith, a young boy from Harlan, Kentucky,
found his voice in the hymns of a small country church.
Years later, that voice would capture the nation's heart when
Jordan Smith won and be sees the voice in twenty fifteen.
In our conversation, Jordan reflects on how hymns shaped his
journey and how prayer and scripture continue to anchor him
(01:21):
through every season of life. Later in the episode, we'll
hear from Tyler White, also known as DJ ty Why,
who many may recognize from the Netflix series Love.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
On the Spectrum.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Growing up on the Spectrum, Tyler discovered the power of
music to overcome social challenges, from singing and talent shows
to dancing at school events. Today, he djys across Florida,
including autism speaks walks, using his platform to inspire others
on the Spectrum. In our conversation, Tyler reflects on perseverance, faith,
(01:52):
and how music continues to shape his journey and dreams.
Let's begin with Jordan's story.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Hi friends, my name is Jordan Smith and I am
a Christian singer, songwriter, recording artist. You may know me
from season nine of The Voice. I actually won the
Voice way back in twenty fifteen, and I'm here today
just to talk about a little bit of my journey
(02:26):
of faith, to talk about my love of music and
of Hiss, and to share with you my story and
my relationship with Jesus. I grew up in a little
town called Harlan, Kentucky, nestled in the foothills of the
(02:47):
Appalachian Mountains, and it's actually one of the poorer areas
of the country. But what we lack in money and
big buildings, we more than make up for in culture
and in people, and so I come from a real
(03:07):
sort of salt of the earth family and community who
would give you the shirts off their backs. They are
just incredible people who are hardworking and they have incredibly
strong values when it comes to faith and family. And
so that really growing up shaped who I am as
(03:30):
a person, and it served as a really strong foundation
for my faith as I got older. I always was
very involved in my church. I went to a little
country church where many of the members were my family members,
and my parents were heavily involved in the music and
(03:50):
often led song services. My aunt was actually the pastor,
so we were just a very tight knit community of believers.
And that is where I first discovered my love for
music and also for ministry. And so growing up I
knew that I loved music and I wanted to be
(04:13):
able to make music for my entire life. And it
wasn't until I got a little older and I got
into high school and I really started to take music
seriously that I really began to discover just how important
music was to me, just how passionate I was about music,
and really the options and the opportunities that were out
(04:35):
there for me to be able to pursue music as
more than just a hobby, but as a career and
even now as a lifestyle. You know, during that time
growing up, I can remember so many moments where I
would sit in a worship service and I would hear
a song that would speak to me and speak to
(04:59):
my heart. And it's really funny because most often it
would be one of my parents that was singing that song,
and so I really had a strong relationship with them,
and they really poured into me spiritually through not only
our time as a family, but through their ministry in
our church. And there was one song that my mom
specifically would sing and I would just be moved to
(05:21):
tears every time I heard it. Even as a kid
in middle school. There was a song called that I
Could Still Go Free. This chorus says that I could
still go free. What kind of man would reach down
his hand and do this for me? Unworthy to live
and not fit to kill? That a man on the
(05:41):
cross put me in his will and said that I
could still go free. And just hearing my mom singing
that song even now, I kind of have a little
bit of chills on my body. Talking about it, because
I could hear her voice singing it so clearly, and
she was so passionate about the message of that song.
(06:01):
And it really is one of the first pieces of
music in a church service that impacted me. And I
still some days get that song in the back of
my mind and I'm just filled with gratitude to the
Lord for his sacrifice for each of us. I'm sure
my mom will love to hear that, But that was
(06:22):
sort of the beginning for me of understanding just how
profoundly music can impact us and how directly it can
connect us to God. The term him itself refers to
a song that is simply a song of praise or
(06:43):
a worship to God. Hymns themselves have been around since
ancient history. Christian hymns have been around for many many years.
There are example of hymns in the Bible. Many of
the psalms that David wrote are considered hymns, and hymns
are songs that are meant to be memorized and sung together.
(07:07):
There are songs that bring people together, and as I mentioned,
there's songs that are centered around the message of the Gospel.
And so when you consider a song in him. There
are many modern hymns that I would consider just as
impactful and powerful as hymns that have been around for
(07:29):
hundreds of years, because they highlight the truth of Scripture,
but they also bring people together and allow people to
experience that truth together. There is something so profound about
a hymn that brings people together. It sort of aligns
(07:53):
people into one mind and one accord that Scripture talks about.
It sort of brings unity among people that are together.
And I think that's because, you know, hymns originated as
a way for congregations to sing together, but also to
learn about theology and learn about the gospel. People weren't
(08:16):
always able to read, that were attending church, many of
them were not educated enough to fully understand Scripture for themselves,
and so hymns became a way for people to memorize
the stories of Scripture, to memorize the concepts of the
Gospel set to music that may struggle to understand it otherwise.
(08:40):
And so when you have a group of people coming
together to sing these uplifting messages, to sing these messages
of hope, and to sing these messages of the Gospel,
I think something just comes alive in you, and there's
something profound about it. My belief in the power of
hymns is a big reason why I chose to record
(09:06):
a hymn's album. My album is called The People's Hymnal
and this has been a dream project of mine for
many years. I've partnered with Gaither Music and I finally
had the opportunity to create an album of songs that
have meant so much to me throughout my faith journey
in my life. These are hymns that I can remember
(09:27):
growing up singing in that little country church in Harlan, Kentucky.
These are songs I can remember my parents and my
grandparents singing, and some of them are songs that we
all as a culture collectively have been inspired by and
then touched by. So I wanted to create an album
of these kind of songs because I wanted to be
(09:47):
able to share them with the next generation. I wanted
to participate in the passing on of these traditions of
this heritage of hymn music. And it ended up being
one of the most fulfilling and rewarding projects that I've
done so far. Why am I saying make me.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
Hold again?
Speaker 1 (10:21):
Why not? As we worked on this project. As we
sang through these songs, they inspired us and they brought
new life to us. And I hope that as people
(10:42):
listen to it, they experience the same thing. You're going
to recognize the words, you're going to recognize the titles.
But when you hit play on these songs, they're definitely
gonna feel fresh to you. And I hope that in
the same way that they sound new, I hope the
messages come alive in a new way in your heart.
(11:07):
You know, you come from singing in front of America
and your songs start charting, and all of a sudden,
you wake up one morning and you're number one on iTunes,
ahead of Adele's Hello, and the offers are rolling in
and people are pulling you in all these different directions.
And there's a lot of pressure and a lot of
worry that comes with that. And there were a lot
of times where anxiety began to creep up in my
(11:31):
chest and wanted to make me feel fearful about the future,
fearful about making the right decisions or the wrong decisions.
I had to be really careful because I found myself
in moments where worry was stealing the joy of what
God was doing in my life. Worry was taking away
the happiness that I should feel in doing what God
(11:54):
created me to do. And I wasn't feeling fulfilled in
all of those moments because I was concerned about how
I was going to in the next project, or how
I was going to continue to accomplish and receive. And
so I had to really rely on Number one, my
(12:17):
support system around me. I have an incredible wife who
is a woman of great faith, and she has really
kept me grounded throughout the last decade and throughout all
of my career. But really the most important thing was prayer.
I had to learn how to cultivate a consistent prayer
life with God in order to remain at peace in
(12:44):
every situation. And I continually had to come back, sometimes
even every single day, to give Him the same worries
and fears and trade them and exchange them for his
love and his peace. I have to be extremely intentional
about keeping up my prayer life because I've found when
(13:08):
I begin to lose focus on my relationship with God,
I'm an unhappier person. I'm not as kind as I
should be. My words start to become untimed, I start
to worry more, I start to give in to stress
and anxiety, I start making questionable decisions, and so I
(13:31):
have to be extremely intentional to remain prayerful each day.
And I heard someone say recently it was a great
reminder for me. When you can't hear God, read him.
And so even though there are days where it feels
like maybe my prayers only hit the ceiling, or maybe
(13:51):
I'm not feeling very spiritual that day, and you know
I'm having trouble connecting with God, I open my Word
every single day and I read His words to me.
And I think that it is a power full thing
to be able to go to Scripture and understand that
it's living and breathing, and that it's been Holy spirit
(14:14):
inspired and that we can always find something we need
in there. So I always read my Bible. I always
spend time in prayer with the Lord. I have always
remained tightly connected to my local church. Right now, my
wife and I serve as worship pastors and our church,
(14:38):
and it's been the greatest joy to be able to
be a part of a congregation of people that know
you and love you and support you. I think the
beautiful thing about faith and about relationship with God is
(15:00):
that it's universal and it does bring unity and it
does connect us together, but it's also so extremely personal.
We can each read the same scripture and through it
God can speak to us all in different ways, or
he can bring out and highlight different parts of it
that may speak to each of us differently. And so
(15:23):
you know, for me, as an artist and a creative,
I get the very unique and wonderful opportunity to explore
that and to share that. And I think it's important
that each of us understand how unique we are to
the Father, how unique we are to God, that as
each of us his children, and that He's going to
(15:47):
speak to us all in different ways and value us
all just the same, but once a unique and intimate
relationship with each of us. And so you know, maybe
if you find yourself struggling like I struggle, sometimes do
a little research and pick up a good devotional and
then find a spiritual mentor find someone that you can
(16:08):
connect with who may know a little bit more about
scripture than you, or who maybe you can come alongside
with and who also might need prayer or might need
advice sometimes and support each other. You know, Christian faith
is built on Christ as the foundation, but it's sustained
by Christian community, and we need each other to get
(16:34):
through this thing. This is Jesus listens for November fourth,
my strong deliver As I face the circumstances of this day,
I need to lean on you. Everyone leans on something
physical strengths, intelligence, beauty, wealth, achievements, family, friends. All of
(16:59):
these are gifts from you, and I want to enjoy
your blessings. Gratefully learned that depending on any of these
things is risky. Every single one of them could let
me down. When I'm facing challenging circumstances and I'm feeling weak,
I tend to obsess about how I'm going to make
(17:19):
it through the day. This wastes a lot of time
and energy. Even worse, it distracts me from my relationship
with you. Whenever this happens, Please open my eyes so
I can find you in the midst of my circumstances.
Enable me to see you standing nearby with your strong
(17:42):
arms extended to me, offering me your help. Instead of
pretending that I have it all together or that I'm
stronger than I really am, I can lean hard on
you as I do. You bear my burdens and show
me how to deal with my difficulties. I rejoice in
you my strength, and I sing praises to you, my
(18:05):
loving God, in your splendid name, Jesus Amen.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
To learn more about Jordan Smith, visit Thereal Jordansmith dot
com and be sure to check out his new album,
The People's Hymnal. Wherever you get music, stay tuned to
Tyler White's story after a brief message, These uncertain times
bring anxiety and fear, but Jesus Listens Prayers for Every
(18:33):
Season gives you daily prayers of comfort with seasonally inspired illustrations.
This beautiful book includes prayers that speak to your situation,
whether it's a time of stress or strength. Look for
Jesus Listens Prayers for Every Season wherever you buy books.
Our next guest is Tyler White, also known as DJ
(18:59):
ty Why. Growing up on the Spectrum, Tyler discovered the
power of music to break through social struggles, from singing
in talent shows to dancing at school events. Today, he
DJ's across Florida, including autism speaks, walks, using his platform
to inspire others on the spectrum.
Speaker 4 (19:17):
Hey Hey, Hey, everybody, this is Tyler White. From Love
on the Spectrum aka DJ Ty White. I'm a dj
MC singer, songwriter and announcer. And also I'm the one
that's in love with Madison Marillah.
Speaker 1 (19:31):
Yeah Baby.
Speaker 4 (19:36):
When I was very little, I was very shy standoffish,
but about to my preteen years I really learned how
to just push myself to overcome that. By eleven years old,
I was playing drums in the high school man playing percussion.
Then about twelve to thirteen, I started singing in public
and started going to school dances, which helped me socialize
(19:58):
and stuff. And singing helped me overcome that hurdle of
being shy. And now I just love being out in
the public, the public eyem doing all these things. And
then of course autism speaks. Seeing many people when I
do these autism speaks walks and stuff, they tell me
about their story and their kids on the spectrum that's
(20:20):
very special to me. And I'm originally from Plant City, Florida.
My family and I moved to Shirley, Arkansas, and I
was a kid. That's where I grew up, and then
about six years ago we moved back to Plant City.
When I was ten years old, I had dreams of
being a radio DJ and an MC, and so far
that's came to fruition. I'm the MC for Special Smiles
Day concerts at the Florida Strawberry Festival, I MC at cmafest.
(20:43):
I also have MC'd at the Tampa Bay Rodeo, and
I amc a concert in Houston for ninety three Q
and they're going to have me at the Rodeo in
Houston in March. And also I had dreams when I
first sang the National Plantham at high school basketball games,
to sing it at NASCAR races or big sporting events,
and I've done that for the Tampa Bay Rays and
(21:05):
the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. When I was fifteen, I never
would have imagined I'd also be going to Nashville to
doing some singing and songwriting and singing at the Opry.
But that's came true too, And for all that, I
just give God glory for it. Autism Speaks has really
opened a lot of doors for me. I mean I
started out just doing Orlando in Tampa. Then I started
(21:26):
doing all across the state of Florida. Last year, they
had me DJ at the Gala in Atlanta. The Georgia Gala,
and then that also opened the door for me to
be the MC at the Strawberry Festival and now here
being on the level on the spectrum, and being MC
at cmafest as well. It's a big, big event that
celebrates country music and the fans. I remember I did
(21:47):
an interview with the radio station in Seattle. I got
an email from Dealing Well and someone I'm a big
fan of because he does a lot of great country
music content about the history of the songs and stuff,
and he had invited me to be on his podcast. Well,
little did I know, they saw the video of me
singing to Madison Deeper than the Holler by Randy Travis,
and they set it up for me to do the
podcast at the Opry. Randy Travis was gonna walk out
(22:11):
and surprise me on the podcast, but Dan, the manager
of the Opry, said, how about we get him to
sing deeper than the Holler? So I get over there.
This is after CMA Fest. I got to meet Dylan
at CMA Fest and he was telling me this way
until you see what's in sore. So I go backstage,
we do the podcast. Then Dan, the manager of the
Grand Ol' Opry. He walks out and says, would you
(22:32):
like to sing deeper than the hollow at the Operty?
And now I'm like yes, So I did it, And
I gotta tell you dream come true. That was so amazing.
I was about to walk off the stage and I
did not even hear Mike Terry, the announcer, say, and
now ladies and gentlemen, or Randy Travis. So the corner
of my I see him walking out. I almost passed
(22:53):
it out. That was so awesome. I was so starstruck.
Randy Travis has been in my top five favorite country singers,
and man, that was a thrill, a thrill I'll never forget.
It took me seven tries to pass my learner's permit test.
It wasn't because I didn't study, but they do trick
questions on that test, and I was having a hard
(23:15):
time understanding it. I would often joke, it's so hard
the world's smartest psychiatrist couldn't pass. But I really pushed
myself to pass the test because I've always wanted to
drive ever since I was a little kick ause I've
always had interest with NASCAR and cars, especially anything that's
a Chevy. So I kept pushing myself. The fourth try
(23:36):
was very upset. I was angry because I came close
and still couldn't pass, but I was determined to pass it.
I believe the Lord was gonna help me. And then
on the seventh try, I got my learners permit, passed
the driving part on the first shot, and now I drive.
I can only drive through Plant City right now, but
my dad and I he's helping me help drive to
(24:00):
other places as well, and that's something I'm still working at.
I believe I'm gonna be able to get through it.
With hard work, perseverance, determination, pausitive attitude, and faith in God,
you can overcome any obstacle and to do anything you
say in your mind too. I say that because really
that's how I've learned how to overcome things. I think
everybody needs Jesus. I mean, with my life growing up
(24:22):
on the spectrum, I always say my autism is what's
helped me draw closer to Jesus. And I think it's
very important. You know, no matter what you go through
to always put Jesus first and He'll help you. And
every time I get to be on stage, whether that's
djaying in seeing or sin I always ask God to
(24:42):
use me in the way he'd have for me to be,
and always make sure that I'm using this to glorify
Him as well as inspire others on the spectrum as well.
This is from Jesus Listens, December the twentieth, Gracious God,
The Bible promises that those who wait for you will
gain new strength. I love to spend time waiting in
(25:05):
your press. Even though multitasking and staying busy I have
become the norm. Waiting with you is an active faith,
trusting that prayer really does make a difference. So I
come to you with my awareness burdens, being kindily real
with you. While I arrest in your presence and tell
you about my concerns, you lift heavy burdens for my
(25:25):
aching shoulders. I'm grateful that you are able to do
immeasurably more than all I ask for. Imagine as I
arise from these quiet moments with you, I'd delight in
hearing you whisper I am with you, and I rejoice
in the new strength gain through spending time with you
in your energizing name Jesus Amen.
Speaker 2 (25:46):
To learn more about Tyler White, you can find him
on Instagram. At Instagram dot com. Slash Tyler White underscore
love on the Spectrum. If you'd like to hear more
stories about the music that anchors us, check out our
interview with Johnny and Donnie van Zandt. Next time on
(26:08):
the Jesus Calling podcast, we'll hear from retired Washington DC
Police sergeant and pastor Dale Sutherland, who opens up about
the dangers he faced each and every day and how
has faith inspired a ministry to bring hope to families
in crisis.
Speaker 3 (26:23):
Good shot at Ben rob Ben threatened a lot of
times with plans, some pretty bad people planning to kill me.
But now if I got stray some here.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
Thanks for listening to the Jesus Calling Stories of Faith
podcast on the Life Audio Network. Every week we'll bring
you stories from people who share their journeys of faith
and how prayer and a relationship with God transformed their lives.
Be sure to follow us on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, or
wherever you listen to podcasts, and leave us a review
(26:59):
so others can be inspired weekly by these stories of faith. Finally,
you can find encouragement resources and more on the Jesus
Calling website at Jesuscalling dot com
Life audio.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Find inspiration as close as your phone. Download the Jesus
Calling app and get started today for free. Look for
the Jesus Calling app in both the Apple and Google
Play stores.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
I have to be extremely intentional about keeping up my
prayer life because I've found when I begin to lose
focus on my relationship with God, I'm an unhappier person.
I'm not as kind as I should be. My words
start to become unkind, I start to worry more, I
(00:46):
start to give in to stress and anxiety. I start
making questionable decisions, and so I have to be extremely
intentional to remain prayerful each day.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Welcome to the Jesus Calling Podcast. In the foothills of
apple Atcha, Jordan Smith, a young boy from Harlan, Kentucky,
found his voice in the hymns of a small country church.
Years later, that voice would capture the nation's heart when
Jordan Smith won and be sees the voice in twenty fifteen.
In our conversation, Jordan reflects on how hymns shaped his
journey and how prayer and scripture continue to anchor him
(01:21):
through every season of life. Later in the episode, we'll
hear from Tyler White, also known as DJ ty Why,
who many may recognize from the Netflix series Love.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
On the Spectrum.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Growing up on the Spectrum, Tyler discovered the power of
music to overcome social challenges, from singing and talent shows
to dancing at school events. Today, he djys across Florida,
including autism speaks walks, using his platform to inspire others
on the Spectrum. In our conversation, Tyler reflects on perseverance, faith,
(01:52):
and how music continues to shape his journey and dreams.
Let's begin with Jordan's story.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Hi friends, my name is Jordan Smith and I am
a Christian singer, songwriter, recording artist. You may know me
from season nine of The Voice. I actually won the
Voice way back in twenty fifteen, and I'm here today
just to talk about a little bit of my journey
(02:26):
of faith, to talk about my love of music and
of Hiss, and to share with you my story and
my relationship with Jesus. I grew up in a little
town called Harlan, Kentucky, nestled in the foothills of the
(02:47):
Appalachian Mountains, and it's actually one of the poorer areas
of the country. But what we lack in money and
big buildings, we more than make up for in culture
and in people, and so I come from a real
(03:07):
sort of salt of the earth family and community who
would give you the shirts off their backs. They are
just incredible people who are hardworking and they have incredibly
strong values when it comes to faith and family. And
so that really growing up shaped who I am as
(03:30):
a person, and it served as a really strong foundation
for my faith as I got older. I always was
very involved in my church. I went to a little
country church where many of the members were my family members,
and my parents were heavily involved in the music and
(03:50):
often led song services. My aunt was actually the pastor,
so we were just a very tight knit community of believers.
And that is where I first discovered my love for
music and also for ministry. And so growing up I
knew that I loved music and I wanted to be
(04:13):
able to make music for my entire life. And it
wasn't until I got a little older and I got
into high school and I really started to take music
seriously that I really began to discover just how important
music was to me, just how passionate I was about music,
and really the options and the opportunities that were out
(04:35):
there for me to be able to pursue music as
more than just a hobby, but as a career and
even now as a lifestyle. You know, during that time
growing up, I can remember so many moments where I
would sit in a worship service and I would hear
a song that would speak to me and speak to
(04:59):
my heart. And it's really funny because most often it
would be one of my parents that was singing that song,
and so I really had a strong relationship with them,
and they really poured into me spiritually through not only
our time as a family, but through their ministry in
our church. And there was one song that my mom
specifically would sing and I would just be moved to
(05:21):
tears every time I heard it. Even as a kid
in middle school. There was a song called that I
Could Still Go Free. This chorus says that I could
still go free. What kind of man would reach down
his hand and do this for me? Unworthy to live
and not fit to kill? That a man on the
(05:41):
cross put me in his will and said that I
could still go free. And just hearing my mom singing
that song even now, I kind of have a little
bit of chills on my body. Talking about it, because
I could hear her voice singing it so clearly, and
she was so passionate about the message of that song.
(06:01):
And it really is one of the first pieces of
music in a church service that impacted me. And I
still some days get that song in the back of
my mind and I'm just filled with gratitude to the
Lord for his sacrifice for each of us. I'm sure
my mom will love to hear that, But that was
(06:22):
sort of the beginning for me of understanding just how
profoundly music can impact us and how directly it can
connect us to God. The term him itself refers to
a song that is simply a song of praise or
(06:43):
a worship to God. Hymns themselves have been around since
ancient history. Christian hymns have been around for many many years.
There are example of hymns in the Bible. Many of
the psalms that David wrote are considered hymns, and hymns
are songs that are meant to be memorized and sung together.
(07:07):
There are songs that bring people together, and as I mentioned,
there's songs that are centered around the message of the Gospel.
And so when you consider a song in him. There
are many modern hymns that I would consider just as
impactful and powerful as hymns that have been around for
(07:29):
hundreds of years, because they highlight the truth of Scripture,
but they also bring people together and allow people to
experience that truth together. There is something so profound about
a hymn that brings people together. It sort of aligns
(07:53):
people into one mind and one accord that Scripture talks about.
It sort of brings unity among people that are together.
And I think that's because, you know, hymns originated as
a way for congregations to sing together, but also to
learn about theology and learn about the gospel. People weren't
(08:16):
always able to read, that were attending church, many of
them were not educated enough to fully understand Scripture for themselves,
and so hymns became a way for people to memorize
the stories of Scripture, to memorize the concepts of the
Gospel set to music that may struggle to understand it otherwise.
(08:40):
And so when you have a group of people coming
together to sing these uplifting messages, to sing these messages
of hope, and to sing these messages of the Gospel,
I think something just comes alive in you, and there's
something profound about it. My belief in the power of
hymns is a big reason why I chose to record
(09:06):
a hymn's album. My album is called The People's Hymnal
and this has been a dream project of mine for
many years. I've partnered with Gaither Music and I finally
had the opportunity to create an album of songs that
have meant so much to me throughout my faith journey
in my life. These are hymns that I can remember
(09:27):
growing up singing in that little country church in Harlan, Kentucky.
These are songs I can remember my parents and my
grandparents singing, and some of them are songs that we
all as a culture collectively have been inspired by and
then touched by. So I wanted to create an album
of these kind of songs because I wanted to be
(09:47):
able to share them with the next generation. I wanted
to participate in the passing on of these traditions of
this heritage of hymn music. And it ended up being
one of the most fulfilling and rewarding projects that I've
done so far. Why am I saying make me.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
Hold again?
Speaker 1 (10:21):
Why not? As we worked on this project. As we
sang through these songs, they inspired us and they brought
new life to us. And I hope that as people
(10:42):
listen to it, they experience the same thing. You're going
to recognize the words, you're going to recognize the titles.
But when you hit play on these songs, they're definitely
gonna feel fresh to you. And I hope that in
the same way that they sound new, I hope the
messages come alive in a new way in your heart.
(11:07):
You know, you come from singing in front of America
and your songs start charting, and all of a sudden,
you wake up one morning and you're number one on iTunes,
ahead of Adele's Hello, and the offers are rolling in
and people are pulling you in all these different directions.
And there's a lot of pressure and a lot of
worry that comes with that. And there were a lot
of times where anxiety began to creep up in my
(11:31):
chest and wanted to make me feel fearful about the future,
fearful about making the right decisions or the wrong decisions.
I had to be really careful because I found myself
in moments where worry was stealing the joy of what
God was doing in my life. Worry was taking away
the happiness that I should feel in doing what God
(11:54):
created me to do. And I wasn't feeling fulfilled in
all of those moments because I was concerned about how
I was going to in the next project, or how
I was going to continue to accomplish and receive. And
so I had to really rely on Number one, my
(12:17):
support system around me. I have an incredible wife who
is a woman of great faith, and she has really
kept me grounded throughout the last decade and throughout all
of my career. But really the most important thing was prayer.
I had to learn how to cultivate a consistent prayer
life with God in order to remain at peace in
(12:44):
every situation. And I continually had to come back, sometimes
even every single day, to give Him the same worries
and fears and trade them and exchange them for his
love and his peace. I have to be extremely intentional
about keeping up my prayer life because I've found when
(13:08):
I begin to lose focus on my relationship with God,
I'm an unhappier person. I'm not as kind as I
should be. My words start to become untimed, I start
to worry more, I start to give in to stress
and anxiety, I start making questionable decisions, and so I
(13:31):
have to be extremely intentional to remain prayerful each day.
And I heard someone say recently it was a great
reminder for me. When you can't hear God, read him.
And so even though there are days where it feels
like maybe my prayers only hit the ceiling, or maybe
(13:51):
I'm not feeling very spiritual that day, and you know
I'm having trouble connecting with God, I open my Word
every single day and I read His words to me.
And I think that it is a power full thing
to be able to go to Scripture and understand that
it's living and breathing, and that it's been Holy spirit
(14:14):
inspired and that we can always find something we need
in there. So I always read my Bible. I always
spend time in prayer with the Lord. I have always
remained tightly connected to my local church. Right now, my
wife and I serve as worship pastors and our church,
(14:38):
and it's been the greatest joy to be able to
be a part of a congregation of people that know
you and love you and support you. I think the
beautiful thing about faith and about relationship with God is
(15:00):
that it's universal and it does bring unity and it
does connect us together, but it's also so extremely personal.
We can each read the same scripture and through it
God can speak to us all in different ways, or
he can bring out and highlight different parts of it
that may speak to each of us differently. And so
(15:23):
you know, for me, as an artist and a creative,
I get the very unique and wonderful opportunity to explore
that and to share that. And I think it's important
that each of us understand how unique we are to
the Father, how unique we are to God, that as
each of us his children, and that He's going to
(15:47):
speak to us all in different ways and value us
all just the same, but once a unique and intimate
relationship with each of us. And so you know, maybe
if you find yourself struggling like I struggle, sometimes do
a little research and pick up a good devotional and
then find a spiritual mentor find someone that you can
(16:08):
connect with who may know a little bit more about
scripture than you, or who maybe you can come alongside
with and who also might need prayer or might need
advice sometimes and support each other. You know, Christian faith
is built on Christ as the foundation, but it's sustained
by Christian community, and we need each other to get
(16:34):
through this thing. This is Jesus listens for November fourth,
my strong deliver As I face the circumstances of this day,
I need to lean on you. Everyone leans on something
physical strengths, intelligence, beauty, wealth, achievements, family, friends. All of
(16:59):
these are gifts from you, and I want to enjoy
your blessings. Gratefully learned that depending on any of these
things is risky. Every single one of them could let
me down. When I'm facing challenging circumstances and I'm feeling weak,
I tend to obsess about how I'm going to make
(17:19):
it through the day. This wastes a lot of time
and energy. Even worse, it distracts me from my relationship
with you. Whenever this happens, Please open my eyes so
I can find you in the midst of my circumstances.
Enable me to see you standing nearby with your strong
(17:42):
arms extended to me, offering me your help. Instead of
pretending that I have it all together or that I'm
stronger than I really am, I can lean hard on
you as I do. You bear my burdens and show
me how to deal with my difficulties. I rejoice in
you my strength, and I sing praises to you, my
(18:05):
loving God, in your splendid name, Jesus Amen.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
To learn more about Jordan Smith, visit Thereal Jordansmith dot
com and be sure to check out his new album,
The People's Hymnal. Wherever you get music, stay tuned to
Tyler White's story after a brief message, These uncertain times
bring anxiety and fear, but Jesus Listens Prayers for Every
(18:33):
Season gives you daily prayers of comfort with seasonally inspired illustrations.
This beautiful book includes prayers that speak to your situation,
whether it's a time of stress or strength. Look for
Jesus Listens Prayers for Every Season wherever you buy books.
Our next guest is Tyler White, also known as DJ
(18:59):
ty Why. Growing up on the Spectrum, Tyler discovered the
power of music to break through social struggles, from singing
in talent shows to dancing at school events. Today, he
DJ's across Florida, including autism speaks, walks, using his platform
to inspire others on the spectrum.
Speaker 4 (19:17):
Hey Hey, Hey, everybody, this is Tyler White. From Love
on the Spectrum aka DJ Ty White. I'm a dj
MC singer, songwriter and announcer. And also I'm the one
that's in love with Madison Marillah.
Speaker 1 (19:31):
Yeah Baby.
Speaker 4 (19:36):
When I was very little, I was very shy standoffish,
but about to my preteen years I really learned how
to just push myself to overcome that. By eleven years old,
I was playing drums in the high school man playing percussion.
Then about twelve to thirteen, I started singing in public
and started going to school dances, which helped me socialize
(19:58):
and stuff. And singing helped me overcome that hurdle of
being shy. And now I just love being out in
the public, the public eyem doing all these things. And
then of course autism speaks. Seeing many people when I
do these autism speaks walks and stuff, they tell me
about their story and their kids on the spectrum that's
(20:20):
very special to me. And I'm originally from Plant City, Florida.
My family and I moved to Shirley, Arkansas, and I
was a kid. That's where I grew up, and then
about six years ago we moved back to Plant City.
When I was ten years old, I had dreams of
being a radio DJ and an MC, and so far
that's came to fruition. I'm the MC for Special Smiles
Day concerts at the Florida Strawberry Festival, I MC at cmafest.
(20:43):
I also have MC'd at the Tampa Bay Rodeo, and
I amc a concert in Houston for ninety three Q
and they're going to have me at the Rodeo in
Houston in March. And also I had dreams when I
first sang the National Plantham at high school basketball games,
to sing it at NASCAR races or big sporting events,
and I've done that for the Tampa Bay Rays and
(21:05):
the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. When I was fifteen, I never
would have imagined I'd also be going to Nashville to
doing some singing and songwriting and singing at the Opry.
But that's came true too, And for all that, I
just give God glory for it. Autism Speaks has really
opened a lot of doors for me. I mean I
started out just doing Orlando in Tampa. Then I started
(21:26):
doing all across the state of Florida. Last year, they
had me DJ at the Gala in Atlanta. The Georgia Gala,
and then that also opened the door for me to
be the MC at the Strawberry Festival and now here
being on the level on the spectrum, and being MC
at cmafest as well. It's a big, big event that
celebrates country music and the fans. I remember I did
(21:47):
an interview with the radio station in Seattle. I got
an email from Dealing Well and someone I'm a big
fan of because he does a lot of great country
music content about the history of the songs and stuff,
and he had invited me to be on his podcast. Well,
little did I know, they saw the video of me
singing to Madison Deeper than the Holler by Randy Travis,
and they set it up for me to do the
podcast at the Opry. Randy Travis was gonna walk out
(22:11):
and surprise me on the podcast, but Dan, the manager
of the Opry, said, how about we get him to
sing deeper than the Holler? So I get over there.
This is after CMA Fest. I got to meet Dylan
at CMA Fest and he was telling me this way
until you see what's in sore. So I go backstage,
we do the podcast. Then Dan, the manager of the
Grand Ol' Opry. He walks out and says, would you
(22:32):
like to sing deeper than the hollow at the Operty?
And now I'm like yes, So I did it, And
I gotta tell you dream come true. That was so amazing.
I was about to walk off the stage and I
did not even hear Mike Terry, the announcer, say, and
now ladies and gentlemen, or Randy Travis. So the corner
of my I see him walking out. I almost passed
(22:53):
it out. That was so awesome. I was so starstruck.
Randy Travis has been in my top five favorite country singers,
and man, that was a thrill, a thrill I'll never forget.
It took me seven tries to pass my learner's permit test.
It wasn't because I didn't study, but they do trick
questions on that test, and I was having a hard
(23:15):
time understanding it. I would often joke, it's so hard
the world's smartest psychiatrist couldn't pass. But I really pushed
myself to pass the test because I've always wanted to
drive ever since I was a little kick ause I've
always had interest with NASCAR and cars, especially anything that's
a Chevy. So I kept pushing myself. The fourth try
(23:36):
was very upset. I was angry because I came close
and still couldn't pass, but I was determined to pass it.
I believe the Lord was gonna help me. And then
on the seventh try, I got my learners permit, passed
the driving part on the first shot, and now I drive.
I can only drive through Plant City right now, but
my dad and I he's helping me help drive to
(24:00):
other places as well, and that's something I'm still working at.
I believe I'm gonna be able to get through it.
With hard work, perseverance, determination, pausitive attitude, and faith in God,
you can overcome any obstacle and to do anything you
say in your mind too. I say that because really
that's how I've learned how to overcome things. I think
everybody needs Jesus. I mean, with my life growing up
(24:22):
on the spectrum, I always say my autism is what's
helped me draw closer to Jesus. And I think it's
very important. You know, no matter what you go through
to always put Jesus first and He'll help you. And
every time I get to be on stage, whether that's
djaying in seeing or sin I always ask God to
(24:42):
use me in the way he'd have for me to be,
and always make sure that I'm using this to glorify
Him as well as inspire others on the spectrum as well.
This is from Jesus Listens, December the twentieth, Gracious God,
The Bible promises that those who wait for you will
gain new strength. I love to spend time waiting in
(25:05):
your press. Even though multitasking and staying busy I have
become the norm. Waiting with you is an active faith,
trusting that prayer really does make a difference. So I
come to you with my awareness burdens, being kindily real
with you. While I arrest in your presence and tell
you about my concerns, you lift heavy burdens for my
(25:25):
aching shoulders. I'm grateful that you are able to do
immeasurably more than all I ask for. Imagine as I
arise from these quiet moments with you, I'd delight in
hearing you whisper I am with you, and I rejoice
in the new strength gain through spending time with you
in your energizing name Jesus Amen.
Speaker 2 (25:46):
To learn more about Tyler White, you can find him
on Instagram. At Instagram dot com. Slash Tyler White underscore
love on the Spectrum. If you'd like to hear more
stories about the music that anchors us, check out our
interview with Johnny and Donnie van Zandt. Next time on
(26:08):
the Jesus Calling podcast, we'll hear from retired Washington DC
Police sergeant and pastor Dale Sutherland, who opens up about
the dangers he faced each and every day and how
has faith inspired a ministry to bring hope to families
in crisis.
Speaker 3 (26:23):
Good shot at Ben rob Ben threatened a lot of
times with plans, some pretty bad people planning to kill me.
But now if I got stray some here.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
Thanks for listening to the Jesus Calling Stories of Faith
podcast on the Life Audio Network. Every week we'll bring
you stories from people who share their journeys of faith
and how prayer and a relationship with God transformed their lives.
Be sure to follow us on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, or
wherever you listen to podcasts, and leave us a review
(26:59):
so others can be inspired weekly by these stories of faith. Finally,
you can find encouragement resources and more on the Jesus
Calling website at Jesuscalling dot com
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