April 29, 2025 • 25 mins
Benny Di Chiara, frontman of the Christian rock band Empowered, brings raw authenticity and spiritual fire to this powerful conversation about redemption, healing, and perseverance through life's most challenging battles.
The journey begins with Benny's harrowing account of surviving a traumatic brain injury in 2016 that left him with a double skull fracture, frontal lobe damage, and internal bleeding. Through months of grueling recovery where he slept 20 hours daily and lost 35 pounds, Benny experienced a supernatural encounter—God speaking audibly in his living room, promising "huge and great plans" and gifting him lyrics for what would become their song based on Jeremiah 29:11.
Despite permanent loss of smell and taste, Benny embodies what he calls "taking the win"—recognizing God's partial victories instead of focusing on unanswered prayers. This perspective has carried him through creating three albums post-injury and fuels Empowered's upcoming release "SALT" (Safety, Anointed, Legitimate, Timing), scheduled to drop mid-June.
What makes this conversation particularly compelling is Benny's transparent admission that his family currently faces intense spiritual warfare. Rather than sugar-coating his Christian journey, he reveals the emotional and physical exhaustion these battles bring while maintaining his spiritual fervor. "Spiritually, I am on fire, and do not contest me," he declares, challenging believers to move beyond Sunday-only faith into daily communion with Jesus.
For musicians and creatives, Benny offers unflinching wisdom: "If you are a Christian artist, be ALL of that." He rejects the divided loyalty of trying to serve both mainstream acceptance and gospel truth, instead embracing Empowered's calling to explicitly point people to Jesus through their music and personal ministry after shows.
Whether you're facing health challenges, spiritual attacks, or simply searching for authentic faith, Benny's testimony reminds us that God's restoration is available—not just in eternity, but in the here and now when we "press in" to Jesus and surrender to His perfect timing and purpose.
For more information contact us at
rtrdestiny@gmail.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Road to Redemption, a show sharing
powerful life testimonies,giving hope to those on their
own road to redemption.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Hey, welcome to Road to Redemption.
I'm Drew guest hosting today,and with me in the studio is
Benny Deshira of the Christianrock band Empowered.
Benny, welcome back.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Thanks, drew, good to see you again, man.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Good to see you too.
We are excited about what Godis doing in the music world.
Well, just in the world ingeneral, yeah, there's like lots
of changes, lots of thingshappening and you're in the
music industry.
We had you on the show someyears back I think it was 2019
on Road to Redemption.
You have an incredibletestimony and we recorded that,
(00:42):
so anyone wants to hear thatstory Benny's Road to Redemption
.
It's archived and you canactually hear it on the 700 Club
.
They interviewed you, but we'vegot a Road to Redemption
episode at rtrdestinycom.
Give us a little recap maybesomebody who's not familiar with
(01:03):
your band or familiar with youand then we can talk about
what's going on now.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Yeah, thanks, man, so long ago, it seems like, but
you blink your eyes and it was ablip.
Much like life, right?
Yeah, so you go through thatand I'm nine years removed from
the traumatic brain injury thatwe talked about.
Yet I've done three recordssince Since then.
Since then, since then, nosmell still, no taste still.
(01:27):
But, thank you, jesus, we'retalking today, amen, and you've
got to learn how to take the win.
I think a lot of times, asChristians, we have to learn how
to take the win.
Oh, but I don't think God'sanswering my.
I don't think he's answering myprayer.
What is wrong with you?
You got a partial victory.
It is a victory in Jesus.
(01:50):
Nonetheless, take the win,because God doesn't sometimes
listen.
If you want a 10-story building, sometimes God doesn't give it
to you.
He's like, hey, let's do alittle foundation work first.
Oh, let's do a slab work first.
Hmm, hmm, oh, let's do a slab.
Okay, wait, I know what we'regoing to do now.
Let's start putting up somebeams and everything and start
(02:13):
building something.
And here's the deal.
Whatever building you wind upwith is going to be immensely,
spiritually gigantic, regardlessof the height of it.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
I think about that scripture.
You know, unless the Lordbuilds the house, that's right.
Labor in vain.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
That's right, and you know, and I think in today's
world, it's what it's 2025, man.
So I think that in marketingbecause I've had an ad agency
for years and years in marketingthere's a thing called the JND,
the just noticeable difference,right?
So you buy a bag of potatochips, lays, because you can't
just eat one, and you get in andit's a nice bag, and then you
(03:01):
get in the truck and you drivein some place and you open that
thing up and then, once all thatair escapes, you look in the
bag and how full is it?
Um, it half right, it's halfright, and so it.
But it's that just noticeabledifference about how they
prepare that package thatdeceives you to think there's
(03:21):
more in the bag.
Well, satan is no idiot.
He has personally met God.
The father personally met himbefore he decided that he thinks
he needed to be the one greaterright Of everybody.
Who knows the scripture.
Satan knows itan tempted jesusin the desert using scripture.
(03:47):
Yeah, so for those of us whofeel that satan doesn't know
what he's doing, he knowseverything that he's doing, but
there is a name and that name isjesus.
Amen, and if something's comingagainst you, jesus, jesus,
jesus, jesus, jesus, jesus,jesus, jesus, and they have to
flee at the name of Jesus right,and so, in recovery from a
(04:11):
traumatic thing, like I did,jesus, jesus, jesus, jesus,
jesus.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Again.
If you want to hear Benny'sroad to redemption and the
complete story of his traumaticbrain injury, you can go to
rtrdestinycom.
But if you could tell people alittle bit about that and how
long.
And now you've made threerecords and God's doing
something great.
God is on the move?
Speaker 3 (04:34):
Yeah, he is definitely on the move, and so
2016,.
I'm up late watching politicalstuff, right?
Because I was trying to findout who was the least crazy
person to vote for and I voteJesus people.
Just so y'all know, I have anaffiliation of a party.
I do not always vote that way.
(04:55):
If you are in an opposing partyand you line up biblically with
me, you're in the 90thpercentile.
I'm voting against my own party, I'm voting for you because you
get it.
So there's that.
So I'm watching all this, right.
And I fell asleep on a sofa.
Woke up the next day, my alarmwent off.
It was in the bedroom with mywife, Donna, and she comes out
(05:15):
of the door.
I remember standing up, seeingher extend the phone to me, and
I have a 20 minute hole in mymemory and I still have a 20
minute.
I don't remember a thing.
I think it's God's protectionof what happened to me.
So, basically, when I got to myhardwood floors, my wife went
to hand me my phone.
I was horizontal.
I dropped immediately to thefloor.
(05:37):
There was no catching oranything.
Struck the back of my head ontothe hardwood floors.
Struck the back of my head ontothe hardwood floors.
Double fracture at the base ofmy skull, frontal lobe crush on
the left side, internal brainbleed Wow.
And so we get to the hospital.
I'm in there.
I see you.
They've got me on anti-seizuremedicines, this, that everything
(06:00):
.
I'm in there for like threedays.
They release me home.
They say the brain's going toshut itself down.
That's how you're going to heal.
Month one 20 hours a day sleepWow.
Every three hours Donna wouldwake me up.
She became a full-time nurseand it was like meds and insure
because I wasn't eating and apower rate.
(06:22):
I lost something like 35 poundsin a month Wow, Not my
suggested way to lose weight.
And then the second month Istarted coming out of it.
Third month, I really startedcoming out of it.
Toward the end of the secondmonth, god audibly spoke in my
living room and said basicallyit's a long story.
I might cut it short Basically,audibly, benny, I have huge and
(06:45):
great plans for you coming outof this thing.
So on our record, three Days,jeremiah 29, 11 is a song on
there.
It's my favorite Bible promiseand he audibly gave me the
lyrics for that song.
So in the beginning of thatsong we're kind of singing to
you, telling you, and thensomewhere around verse two it
flips and he's speaking directly.
(07:06):
It's incredible.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Yeah, yeah, amazing, yeah, um, and we love your music
.
If you just tuned in, we'revisiting with Benny Deshira of
the band Empowered, so tell usabout what's happening now.
What's going on now?
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Yeah, so.
So so God is doing a thing.
I don't enjoy the fact thatpeople who are in any type of
position of being known andbelieve me, I'm not worldwide
known.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
You might be.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
We've got some traction going right now, and
there's this thing about beingan open book.
Right, the Bible is a book, butif it stays shut, you ain't
gonna learn anything.
So my open book moment is overthe past several months, my
family has been under demonicattack.
Not evil attack, demonic attack.
There are things going onwithin my family that oh, yeah,
(07:59):
right, and I want to go bc lifesicilian and go take care of
business, right?
No, that's not the way.
It is not the way.
And God, you know, as I'mthinking about it and I'm
praying, you know, and I'mpressed into God and I'm like
what is this thing?
And this is as we're preparingto do, this new record, yeah,
and God says vengeance is mine.
I've got that.
(08:20):
You need to reflect me in everyway that you respond to that,
lest your testimony bediminished.
Drew, what a heavy I'm sittingthere.
I'm in awe at what.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
I'm hearing there's attacks coming to your family
because you're doing good things.
Well, that's why there aregreat things happening and the
Lord is moving.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
That's why Satan does not want to see.
So here's the thing, and thisis where I'm living right now.
I told my wife recently I waslike emotionally and physically
I'm exhausted, I'm worn becauseof all these things.
Spiritually, I am on fire, anddo not contest me.
(09:11):
Spiritually I'm in the word.
I'm surrounded by people whoare in the word.
I'm like one of the last twoprophets in Revelation.
I will vomit fire on you rightnow if you come at me with some
anti-biblical stuff and rightnow, that just noticeable
difference we talked about withthe chips.
Satan's using that right now,even within the modern day
church, and with all that likeguess what.
It's not really like that.
(09:33):
It's okay if you do this, butnot all the way into that, for
example, right, and so it's aslippery slope.
It's like it's a slow fade intowhat's going on with people,
with their life in general,right, and right now Satan has
done a fantastic job of evenhaving the modern day church.
(09:53):
I think wimpified is a goodanswer or whatever.
It just is sort of like, well,it's okay.
You know, I went to churchSunday.
Well, guess what?
Folks Church on Sunday, isn'tit Church Sunday, through Sunday
, is it?
Well, how do you have churchSunday through Sunday?
Well, if you're not speaking toGod directly the hotline going
(10:14):
to Jesus on a daily basis you'regoing to fall, you're going to
stumble, and so for me, he dailybasis.
You're going to fall, you'regoing to stumble, and so for me,
he is just tuned to with thisnew record.
It's called Salt that's thename of the new record that's
coming out and I think we'regoing to release it mid-June.
(10:35):
So Salt and I had a pastor inKentucky prophesy over us.
This is where the name of therecord came from.
So the S is for safety.
Jesus knows what you're doingwhen you're doing it for him.
You therefore are under thesafety and protection of Jesus
Christ.
How many times, as a Christian,do we forget?
Speaker 2 (10:49):
that I love Psalm 91.
Yeah, how many times he whodwells in the secret place of
the Most High shall abide underthe shadow of the Almighty.
That's it, and we are coveredunder that.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
The A was anointed right and he said the pastor's
like you're anointed man andjust you're, either you can.
Here's the thing as a Christian, you can tell fake anointment
from genuine anointing.
Notice what I said differentAnointment anointing God gives
(11:21):
you an anointing God, gives youan anointing man, gives you
anointment right.
And so there's that.
Then the L was legit and he'slike legitimate.
You do not remove his name fromyour lyrics.
Everybody who listens to yourmusic knows what it is you're
singing about.
We are not trying to be thenext Christian rock band that
(11:42):
can go take over the secularmusic world, but we are trying
to be the Christian rock bandthat, if someone who listens to
secular music hears what we'resinging about because it's God
given that their life getschanged Be legitimate in what
you're doing.
And the T is timing.
And this prophecy that came tous through this pastor was like
you've been operating underGod's timing.
(12:04):
He wants you to know that yourtime is coming due, so be
prepared for opportunities thathe puts in front of you as
Christians and you don't have tobe an artist, but as Christians
he's going to put opportunityin front of you.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
That's something I pray.
I'm like God.
Let your perfect will be donetoday and in your perfect timing
.
Let me remain under thatshelter and lead and guide my
steps.
So that's right.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
And so here's the thing If he shows you something,
he says I'd like you to move onthis, then do four things
M-O-V-E and move, because if youtake that, what you know God
gave you in your spirit not inyour mind the devil's got
control of that.
Get out of your head and intoyour heart.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
You were saying the devil's got control of that.
I don't believe he.
We take captive every thoughtwe can, we can, but the you know
we can.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
But the devil will use your mind to, so that's what
you meant by.
He's got the devil will useyour mind to make you justify a
thing Like maybe God's notsaying that to me?
Well, guess what You've justreplaced yourself?
Speaker 2 (13:15):
I don't believe he has control of that.
No, no, no, no.
But he definitely can influence, but you?
Speaker 3 (13:20):
influence your thoughts, control of your
thoughts right.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
It's up to us to take captive.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
Mentally in your mind is worldly In your heart, is
eternal.
God speaks to the heart right,and that's what I mean to
clarify that so there's that.
So as long as we're followingthat spiritual, eternal burning
of a message that the HolySpirit gives us in our heart, in
our spirit, not our head,gotcha we will not step into and
(13:46):
go.
Well, drew, guess what?
I don't think really this iswhat God meant, because now
we've replaced him with ourself.
In other words, I know betterthan what God's telling me to do
, Instead of just moving on whathe told you to do.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
Right, mom always used to say lean not unto your
own understanding.
That's where that verse comesfrom.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
Yeah, that's where that verse comes from.
So what is that verse saying?
Get out of your head.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Yeah, get into your heart.
Amen In your heart, my brothertaught me that too In your heart
and your spirit, spirit, amen.
It's not.
It's not hard, and you know,trying to do it on our own and
muster up the strength thatJesus said he would.
He has to go away, but he'sgoing to send a helper, and the
helper is the Holy spirit, thepower to be a witness.
Speaker 3 (14:29):
That's right, and you're trying to do it on your
own.
You struggle with it, you getfrustrated with it, and why is
that?
It's because you are moving outof his purpose and not in it.
Yeah, and not in, and itdoesn't get that.
So, so when we're on stage, youknow, when we're on stage, we
just we did a Christmas show.
It was awesome, big audienceparticipation, it was awesome.
(14:52):
So at the end of the show and Isay this mostly at the end of
all of our shows I'm like hey,thank you for allowing us to be
on the stage here for you,whatever, but our final come to
our bigger stage.
Our bigger stage is over hereat our merch table.
You don't have to buy a thingfrom us, but if you have a
(15:16):
prayer, if there's something youneed to unload.
If there's something you need totalk about, we want to be here
for you for that, because it'sgoing to be scriptural and it's
going to be biblical and it'snot going to be about being this
big, famous thing.
It's not that we're trying topoint people to Jesus so they
have an opportunity for eternallife.
Yeah, lest they miss it.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
Yeah, and you know somebody who.
Oh well, that music's kind ofhard.
It's not the music I listen to.
To each his own, it's apreference thing, but I love
your music.
I love seeing where God started, you guys, and now where God is
taking you.
You're a producer, mikey Howard.
Yeah, with the band SeventhTime Down.
Seventh Time Down Love.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
Journey Music is his production.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
Great job, he's listening.
Speaker 3 (15:57):
God's got him wired and that's the big thing too.
I mean, we're not heavy metalat all yeah, we're not that.
But there's influences from allsorts of experiences and bands
we've listened to in the past orwhatever.
Yeah, that kind of is ear candyfor people.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
And you're talking about promoting Jesus and
directing people to Jesus likethat.
Oh, I want to listen to more ofthat.
And then you listen to yourlyrics and people find out about
Jesus and have a good timewhile they're doing like
enjoying themselves.
There's nothing wrong and Ijust pray a special blessing and
anointing on Empowered and thatGod would continue to put a new
(16:36):
song in your heart.
If there's anything else youwant to say or there's somebody
listening who maybe feels like Idon't know.
I see all these so manymusicians and everybody has
their own guitar in front of acamera and there's 1 million
video posts and please watchmine.
In a world of look at me, lookat me.
What do you have to say to anartist or just anybody who feels
(16:59):
like they have some songs theywant to write and they see what
empowered and what you've gonethrough?
God's done a miracle in yourlife and I know he can do that
for somebody else.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
Especially for an artist.
If you're a Christian artist,this is not me, this is the Holy
Spirit speaking through me.
God, just put this on my heartIf you are a Christian artist,
be that.
Don't just be that.
Be all of that, or we couldjust be a wedding band and go
make money on a weekend.
You cannot serve two masters.
(17:31):
You're either all in or you'reall.
When we get to heaven, there'sthis thing called the judgment
throne.
We're either going to be all inor we're going to be out.
My prayer is that anybody whohears this Drew, is not out.
Our whole purpose is to pointpeople to the John 14, 6 folks
(17:54):
In red.
I'm the way, the truth and thelife.
No one enters into the kingdomof God but through me.
If this was a Willy Wonka movie, that's the golden ticket.
It's Jesus.
It's the death we just got outof Easter.
It's the death and resurrectionof Jesus that gets us into
heaven.
If we believe on that, that'swhere we're going, and my prayer
(18:16):
for everybody is that you getthat verse rooted so deeply in
your soul that you cannot.
Even the rocks will cry out.
Even the rocks will cry out.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
Benny, there may be somebody out there saying I
don't know how to pray, that Iwant to come to know Jesus.
I love to ask Jesus into myheart.
Yeah, would you pray with?
Speaker 3 (18:41):
us?
Oh, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (18:42):
We're coming to the end of the show and if you just
tuned in, it's Benny Deshirawith Empowered the band he's got
a miracle story.
Check out his story onrtrdestinycom.
We interviewed him back in 2019.
But yeah, would you just?
Would you pray?
I?
Speaker 3 (18:58):
would, I would.
But, yeah, would you just?
Would you pray?
I would, I would.
Father God, we come to youtoday.
I thank you for this time withDrew and the station and our
discussion, father, that justpoints people to you.
(19:25):
Lord God, if you're struggling,father, for anybody out there
who is struggling on how to cometo you, all they have to do is
ask Just find a quiet place Ifyou're driving that's my
favorite prayer closet and justask him into your heart.
Just, jesus, I believe, per thescriptures, that you died and
gave up your life for me.
Father, you went to hell todefeat hell for us, rose again
(19:46):
three days later and ascendedinto heaven.
And we believe on that, lordGod.
And whatever is going on in ourlife, father, because we
believe that we have anavailability to you and through
you into the kingdom of heaven,eternal life is going to be so
huge as compared to what we'regoing through here, father, but
(20:07):
we're here on this earth rightnow and we press into you, Lord
God, no matter what ourcircumstances are.
You could be going throughdivorce, people are going
through divorce, addictions ofany kind, struggles, pain,
medical issues, sorrow.
Father God, your name isgreater than all those things.
(20:31):
You are the great physician,father God.
We just pray, lord, that yourhand, your healing hand, reaches
out and touches every singleperson listening to this.
Thank you, jesus.
That whatever they're goingthrough, father God, you have
got it covered, lord God.
And in response they say amenand thank you Lord, and they
(20:51):
follow you and they press intoyou, father, and our prayer is
that people press into you sothat they gain this kingdom
glimpse prior to even being inthe kingdom, so that they're
prepared to meet you on thatglorious day when you ask us
into your kingdom, to the greatbanquet, that it is Thank you,
jesus, as the bride of Christ,lord God, and we just thank you
(21:14):
for that, in Jesus' name.
Speaker 2 (21:16):
In Jesus' name, Amen, Benny.
Thank you for talking brother.
Thank you for that, In Jesus'name.
In Jesus' name, Amen Benny.
Thank you for talking brother.
Thank you for praying Excitedabout what God has in store for
Empowered, your new recordcoming out and it's called Salt
Salt and that's coming outpretty soon, or well, June.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
In.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
June, so we're quick to it, man.
I like the sneak peek that youlet us hear.
If somebody wants to find outmore about Empowered, where do
they go?
Speaker 3 (21:40):
Thanks for that.
The website for us is rockinR-O-C-K-I-N, the number four
jesuscom rockinforjesuscom.
I've led a men's Bible studyactually for many years too, and
I've got a blog page on thereand some of the studies I've
done and they're short quickies,but there's a blog tab on there
(22:01):
too.
So if you want to get a littlebit more insight as to what
God's dialing down, that's whatthat is.
But then all of our upcomingshow dates and everything are on
there and all that kind ofstuff.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
Alright.
Well, if you ever need a bassplayer, you know.
Yeah, I'm saying I got some ofmy basses left.
It would be awesome.
I appreciate you, benny.
Speaker 3 (22:22):
Same here, you are a blessing and I know that god's
much love for you, what god'sput us together and be able to
talk and visit with this and andit's it's way deeper than just
the discussion over a couple ofmicrophones and that's right,
and we go way back.
Speaker 2 (22:34):
Benny was friends with 91.1, the radio station.
Even back, way back, was 2019around there.
Speaker 3 (22:43):
That was our first record 2019.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
That's right, that's what I was going to say.
We were the first to play yoursong on the radio, didn't that?
Speaker 3 (22:52):
cool.
Yeah, listen to the children.
That was the first radio cut,so it all started here.
Folks, it must have been adestiny.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
Nice.
Speaker 3 (23:01):
You like what I did.
You want a destiny Tie that inI like that.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
Well, you're listening to Destiny Radio and
this is Road to Redemption.
We took a quick pit stop.
It's the artist interviewseries.
You know we always say on Roadto Redemption find a
Christ-centered church, get intothe church and get into the
Word.
A Bible app, the paper's righthere in front of us.
Read the Word every day and askthe Holy Spirit what scriptures
(23:27):
to turn to.
You'll be amazed.
It's amazing.
And then, thirdly, a smallgroup to do life with others.
Don't do life alone, don'tisolate yourself, and I speak
from experience.
It hasn't been a good time whenI've tried to isolate myself,
but when I reach out to family,the body of Christ and friends,
that that's the way to do itlife together and not alone.
(23:48):
And we appreciate you listeningto Road to Redemption and we
have a whole archive ofinterviews and God's goodness,
god's amazing miracle power.
If he did this for Benny, hecan do it for you.
Amen, he can do it for me.
He can resolve situations.
There's restoration, there'shealing.
If your heart is broken, he canmend your heart.
(24:10):
So don't give up.
Don't give up.
It's not over.
Let's keep going.
And that fire that God put inyou, ask God to help you know
what that is and cultivate it,and then let's just man our post
, like Steve always says.
You know, let's just remainfaithful in what God has given
us to do.
Press in, yeah Right.
Speaker 3 (24:31):
Press in.
Speaker 2 (24:32):
I appreciate you, benny, I love you, brother.
Speaker 3 (24:34):
Same here man.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
Love you too.
Speaker 3 (24:34):
Been a good time yeah , we do.
Speaker 1 (24:37):
You've been listening to Road to Redemption, sharing
powerful life testimonies,giving hope to those on their
own road to redemption.
If you have any comments orquestions, we would love to
connect with you.
You can reach out to us atdestinyradiolive.
Thank you for listening andwe'll see you next week on Road
to Redemption.
Welcome to Road to Redemption, a show sharing
powerful life testimonies,giving hope to those on their
own road to redemption.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Hey, welcome to Road to Redemption.
I'm Drew guest hosting today,and with me in the studio is
Benny Deshira of the Christianrock band Empowered.
Benny, welcome back.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Thanks, drew, good to see you again, man.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Good to see you too.
We are excited about what Godis doing in the music world.
Well, just in the world ingeneral, yeah, there's like lots
of changes, lots of thingshappening and you're in the
music industry.
We had you on the show someyears back I think it was 2019
on Road to Redemption.
You have an incredibletestimony and we recorded that,
(00:42):
so anyone wants to hear thatstory Benny's Road to Redemption
.
It's archived and you canactually hear it on the 700 Club
.
They interviewed you, but we'vegot a Road to Redemption
episode at rtrdestinycom.
Give us a little recap maybesomebody who's not familiar with
(01:03):
your band or familiar with youand then we can talk about
what's going on now.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Yeah, thanks, man, so long ago, it seems like, but
you blink your eyes and it was ablip.
Much like life, right?
Yeah, so you go through thatand I'm nine years removed from
the traumatic brain injury thatwe talked about.
Yet I've done three recordssince Since then.
Since then, since then, nosmell still, no taste still.
(01:27):
But, thank you, jesus, we'retalking today, amen, and you've
got to learn how to take the win.
I think a lot of times, asChristians, we have to learn how
to take the win.
Oh, but I don't think God'sanswering my.
I don't think he's answering myprayer.
What is wrong with you?
You got a partial victory.
It is a victory in Jesus.
(01:50):
Nonetheless, take the win,because God doesn't sometimes
listen.
If you want a 10-story building, sometimes God doesn't give it
to you.
He's like, hey, let's do alittle foundation work first.
Oh, let's do a slab work first.
Hmm, hmm, oh, let's do a slab.
Okay, wait, I know what we'regoing to do now.
Let's start putting up somebeams and everything and start
(02:13):
building something.
And here's the deal.
Whatever building you wind upwith is going to be immensely,
spiritually gigantic, regardlessof the height of it.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
I think about that scripture.
You know, unless the Lordbuilds the house, that's right.
Labor in vain.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
That's right, and you know, and I think in today's
world, it's what it's 2025, man.
So I think that in marketingbecause I've had an ad agency
for years and years in marketingthere's a thing called the JND,
the just noticeable difference,right?
So you buy a bag of potatochips, lays, because you can't
just eat one, and you get in andit's a nice bag, and then you
(03:01):
get in the truck and you drivein some place and you open that
thing up and then, once all thatair escapes, you look in the
bag and how full is it?
Um, it half right, it's halfright, and so it.
But it's that just noticeabledifference about how they
prepare that package thatdeceives you to think there's
(03:21):
more in the bag.
Well, satan is no idiot.
He has personally met God.
The father personally met himbefore he decided that he thinks
he needed to be the one greaterright Of everybody.
Who knows the scripture.
Satan knows itan tempted jesusin the desert using scripture.
(03:47):
Yeah, so for those of us whofeel that satan doesn't know
what he's doing, he knowseverything that he's doing, but
there is a name and that name isjesus.
Amen, and if something's comingagainst you, jesus, jesus,
jesus, jesus, jesus, jesus,jesus, jesus, and they have to
flee at the name of Jesus right,and so, in recovery from a
(04:11):
traumatic thing, like I did,jesus, jesus, jesus, jesus,
jesus.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Again.
If you want to hear Benny'sroad to redemption and the
complete story of his traumaticbrain injury, you can go to
rtrdestinycom.
But if you could tell people alittle bit about that and how
long.
And now you've made threerecords and God's doing
something great.
God is on the move?
Speaker 3 (04:34):
Yeah, he is definitely on the move, and so
2016,.
I'm up late watching politicalstuff, right?
Because I was trying to findout who was the least crazy
person to vote for and I voteJesus people.
Just so y'all know, I have anaffiliation of a party.
I do not always vote that way.
(04:55):
If you are in an opposing partyand you line up biblically with
me, you're in the 90thpercentile.
I'm voting against my own party, I'm voting for you because you
get it.
So there's that.
So I'm watching all this, right.
And I fell asleep on a sofa.
Woke up the next day, my alarmwent off.
It was in the bedroom with mywife, Donna, and she comes out
(05:15):
of the door.
I remember standing up, seeingher extend the phone to me, and
I have a 20 minute hole in mymemory and I still have a 20
minute.
I don't remember a thing.
I think it's God's protectionof what happened to me.
So, basically, when I got to myhardwood floors, my wife went
to hand me my phone.
I was horizontal.
I dropped immediately to thefloor.
(05:37):
There was no catching oranything.
Struck the back of my head ontothe hardwood floors.
Struck the back of my head ontothe hardwood floors.
Double fracture at the base ofmy skull, frontal lobe crush on
the left side, internal brainbleed Wow.
And so we get to the hospital.
I'm in there.
I see you.
They've got me on anti-seizuremedicines, this, that everything
(06:00):
.
I'm in there for like threedays.
They release me home.
They say the brain's going toshut itself down.
That's how you're going to heal.
Month one 20 hours a day sleepWow.
Every three hours Donna wouldwake me up.
She became a full-time nurseand it was like meds and insure
because I wasn't eating and apower rate.
(06:22):
I lost something like 35 poundsin a month Wow, Not my
suggested way to lose weight.
And then the second month Istarted coming out of it.
Third month, I really startedcoming out of it.
Toward the end of the secondmonth, god audibly spoke in my
living room and said basicallyit's a long story.
I might cut it short Basically,audibly, benny, I have huge and
(06:45):
great plans for you coming outof this thing.
So on our record, three Days,jeremiah 29, 11 is a song on
there.
It's my favorite Bible promiseand he audibly gave me the
lyrics for that song.
So in the beginning of thatsong we're kind of singing to
you, telling you, and thensomewhere around verse two it
flips and he's speaking directly.
(07:06):
It's incredible.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Yeah, yeah, amazing, yeah, um, and we love your music
.
If you just tuned in, we'revisiting with Benny Deshira of
the band Empowered, so tell usabout what's happening now.
What's going on now?
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Yeah, so.
So so God is doing a thing.
I don't enjoy the fact thatpeople who are in any type of
position of being known andbelieve me, I'm not worldwide
known.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
You might be.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
We've got some traction going right now, and
there's this thing about beingan open book.
Right, the Bible is a book, butif it stays shut, you ain't
gonna learn anything.
So my open book moment is overthe past several months, my
family has been under demonicattack.
Not evil attack, demonic attack.
There are things going onwithin my family that oh, yeah,
(07:59):
right, and I want to go bc lifesicilian and go take care of
business, right?
No, that's not the way.
It is not the way.
And God, you know, as I'mthinking about it and I'm
praying, you know, and I'mpressed into God and I'm like
what is this thing?
And this is as we're preparingto do, this new record, yeah,
and God says vengeance is mine.
I've got that.
(08:20):
You need to reflect me in everyway that you respond to that,
lest your testimony bediminished.
Drew, what a heavy I'm sittingthere.
I'm in awe at what.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
I'm hearing there's attacks coming to your family
because you're doing good things.
Well, that's why there aregreat things happening and the
Lord is moving.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
That's why Satan does not want to see.
So here's the thing, and thisis where I'm living right now.
I told my wife recently I waslike emotionally and physically
I'm exhausted, I'm worn becauseof all these things.
Spiritually, I am on fire, anddo not contest me.
(09:11):
Spiritually I'm in the word.
I'm surrounded by people whoare in the word.
I'm like one of the last twoprophets in Revelation.
I will vomit fire on you rightnow if you come at me with some
anti-biblical stuff and rightnow, that just noticeable
difference we talked about withthe chips.
Satan's using that right now,even within the modern day
church, and with all that likeguess what.
It's not really like that.
(09:33):
It's okay if you do this, butnot all the way into that, for
example, right, and so it's aslippery slope.
It's like it's a slow fade intowhat's going on with people,
with their life in general,right, and right now Satan has
done a fantastic job of evenhaving the modern day church.
(09:53):
I think wimpified is a goodanswer or whatever.
It just is sort of like, well,it's okay.
You know, I went to churchSunday.
Well, guess what?
Folks Church on Sunday, isn'tit Church Sunday, through Sunday
, is it?
Well, how do you have churchSunday through Sunday?
Well, if you're not speaking toGod directly the hotline going
(10:14):
to Jesus on a daily basis you'regoing to fall, you're going to
stumble, and so for me, he dailybasis.
You're going to fall, you'regoing to stumble, and so for me,
he is just tuned to with thisnew record.
It's called Salt that's thename of the new record that's
coming out and I think we'regoing to release it mid-June.
(10:35):
So Salt and I had a pastor inKentucky prophesy over us.
This is where the name of therecord came from.
So the S is for safety.
Jesus knows what you're doingwhen you're doing it for him.
You therefore are under thesafety and protection of Jesus
Christ.
How many times, as a Christian,do we forget?
Speaker 2 (10:49):
that I love Psalm 91.
Yeah, how many times he whodwells in the secret place of
the Most High shall abide underthe shadow of the Almighty.
That's it, and we are coveredunder that.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
The A was anointed right and he said the pastor's
like you're anointed man andjust you're, either you can.
Here's the thing as a Christian, you can tell fake anointment
from genuine anointing.
Notice what I said differentAnointment anointing God gives
(11:21):
you an anointing God, gives youan anointing man, gives you
anointment right.
And so there's that.
Then the L was legit and he'slike legitimate.
You do not remove his name fromyour lyrics.
Everybody who listens to yourmusic knows what it is you're
singing about.
We are not trying to be thenext Christian rock band that
(11:42):
can go take over the secularmusic world, but we are trying
to be the Christian rock bandthat, if someone who listens to
secular music hears what we'resinging about because it's God
given that their life getschanged Be legitimate in what
you're doing.
And the T is timing.
And this prophecy that came tous through this pastor was like
you've been operating underGod's timing.
(12:04):
He wants you to know that yourtime is coming due, so be
prepared for opportunities thathe puts in front of you as
Christians and you don't have tobe an artist, but as Christians
he's going to put opportunityin front of you.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
That's something I pray.
I'm like God.
Let your perfect will be donetoday and in your perfect timing
.
Let me remain under thatshelter and lead and guide my
steps.
So that's right.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
And so here's the thing If he shows you something,
he says I'd like you to move onthis, then do four things
M-O-V-E and move, because if youtake that, what you know God
gave you in your spirit not inyour mind the devil's got
control of that.
Get out of your head and intoyour heart.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
You were saying the devil's got control of that.
I don't believe he.
We take captive every thoughtwe can, we can, but the you know
we can.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
But the devil will use your mind to, so that's what
you meant by.
He's got the devil will useyour mind to make you justify a
thing Like maybe God's notsaying that to me?
Well, guess what You've justreplaced yourself?
Speaker 2 (13:15):
I don't believe he has control of that.
No, no, no, no.
But he definitely can influence, but you?
Speaker 3 (13:20):
influence your thoughts, control of your
thoughts right.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
It's up to us to take captive.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
Mentally in your mind is worldly In your heart, is
eternal.
God speaks to the heart right,and that's what I mean to
clarify that so there's that.
So as long as we're followingthat spiritual, eternal burning
of a message that the HolySpirit gives us in our heart, in
our spirit, not our head,gotcha we will not step into and
(13:46):
go.
Well, drew, guess what?
I don't think really this iswhat God meant, because now
we've replaced him with ourself.
In other words, I know betterthan what God's telling me to do
, Instead of just moving on whathe told you to do.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
Right, mom always used to say lean not unto your
own understanding.
That's where that verse comesfrom.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
Yeah, that's where that verse comes from.
So what is that verse saying?
Get out of your head.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Yeah, get into your heart.
Amen In your heart, my brothertaught me that too In your heart
and your spirit, spirit, amen.
It's not.
It's not hard, and you know,trying to do it on our own and
muster up the strength thatJesus said he would.
He has to go away, but he'sgoing to send a helper, and the
helper is the Holy spirit, thepower to be a witness.
Speaker 3 (14:29):
That's right, and you're trying to do it on your
own.
You struggle with it, you getfrustrated with it, and why is
that?
It's because you are moving outof his purpose and not in it.
Yeah, and not in, and itdoesn't get that.
So, so when we're on stage, youknow, when we're on stage, we
just we did a Christmas show.
It was awesome, big audienceparticipation, it was awesome.
(14:52):
So at the end of the show and Isay this mostly at the end of
all of our shows I'm like hey,thank you for allowing us to be
on the stage here for you,whatever, but our final come to
our bigger stage.
Our bigger stage is over hereat our merch table.
You don't have to buy a thingfrom us, but if you have a
(15:16):
prayer, if there's something youneed to unload.
If there's something you need totalk about, we want to be here
for you for that, because it'sgoing to be scriptural and it's
going to be biblical and it'snot going to be about being this
big, famous thing.
It's not that we're trying topoint people to Jesus so they
have an opportunity for eternallife.
Yeah, lest they miss it.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
Yeah, and you know somebody who.
Oh well, that music's kind ofhard.
It's not the music I listen to.
To each his own, it's apreference thing, but I love
your music.
I love seeing where God started, you guys, and now where God is
taking you.
You're a producer, mikey Howard.
Yeah, with the band SeventhTime Down.
Seventh Time Down Love.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
Journey Music is his production.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
Great job, he's listening.
Speaker 3 (15:57):
God's got him wired and that's the big thing too.
I mean, we're not heavy metalat all yeah, we're not that.
But there's influences from allsorts of experiences and bands
we've listened to in the past orwhatever.
Yeah, that kind of is ear candyfor people.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
And you're talking about promoting Jesus and
directing people to Jesus likethat.
Oh, I want to listen to more ofthat.
And then you listen to yourlyrics and people find out about
Jesus and have a good timewhile they're doing like
enjoying themselves.
There's nothing wrong and Ijust pray a special blessing and
anointing on Empowered and thatGod would continue to put a new
(16:36):
song in your heart.
If there's anything else youwant to say or there's somebody
listening who maybe feels like Idon't know.
I see all these so manymusicians and everybody has
their own guitar in front of acamera and there's 1 million
video posts and please watchmine.
In a world of look at me, lookat me.
What do you have to say to anartist or just anybody who feels
(16:59):
like they have some songs theywant to write and they see what
empowered and what you've gonethrough?
God's done a miracle in yourlife and I know he can do that
for somebody else.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
Especially for an artist.
If you're a Christian artist,this is not me, this is the Holy
Spirit speaking through me.
God, just put this on my heartIf you are a Christian artist,
be that.
Don't just be that.
Be all of that, or we couldjust be a wedding band and go
make money on a weekend.
You cannot serve two masters.
(17:31):
You're either all in or you'reall.
When we get to heaven, there'sthis thing called the judgment
throne.
We're either going to be all inor we're going to be out.
My prayer is that anybody whohears this Drew, is not out.
Our whole purpose is to pointpeople to the John 14, 6 folks
(17:54):
In red.
I'm the way, the truth and thelife.
No one enters into the kingdomof God but through me.
If this was a Willy Wonka movie, that's the golden ticket.
It's Jesus.
It's the death we just got outof Easter.
It's the death and resurrectionof Jesus that gets us into
heaven.
If we believe on that, that'swhere we're going, and my prayer
(18:16):
for everybody is that you getthat verse rooted so deeply in
your soul that you cannot.
Even the rocks will cry out.
Even the rocks will cry out.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
Benny, there may be somebody out there saying I
don't know how to pray, that Iwant to come to know Jesus.
I love to ask Jesus into myheart.
Yeah, would you pray with?
Speaker 3 (18:41):
us?
Oh, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (18:42):
We're coming to the end of the show and if you just
tuned in, it's Benny Deshirawith Empowered the band he's got
a miracle story.
Check out his story onrtrdestinycom.
We interviewed him back in 2019.
But yeah, would you just?
Would you pray?
I?
Speaker 3 (18:58):
would, I would.
But, yeah, would you just?
Would you pray?
I would, I would.
Father God, we come to youtoday.
I thank you for this time withDrew and the station and our
discussion, father, that justpoints people to you.
(19:25):
Lord God, if you're struggling,father, for anybody out there
who is struggling on how to cometo you, all they have to do is
ask Just find a quiet place Ifyou're driving that's my
favorite prayer closet and justask him into your heart.
Just, jesus, I believe, per thescriptures, that you died and
gave up your life for me.
Father, you went to hell todefeat hell for us, rose again
(19:46):
three days later and ascendedinto heaven.
And we believe on that, lordGod.
And whatever is going on in ourlife, father, because we
believe that we have anavailability to you and through
you into the kingdom of heaven,eternal life is going to be so
huge as compared to what we'regoing through here, father, but
(20:07):
we're here on this earth rightnow and we press into you, Lord
God, no matter what ourcircumstances are.
You could be going throughdivorce, people are going
through divorce, addictions ofany kind, struggles, pain,
medical issues, sorrow.
Father God, your name isgreater than all those things.
(20:31):
You are the great physician,father God.
We just pray, lord, that yourhand, your healing hand, reaches
out and touches every singleperson listening to this.
Thank you, jesus.
That whatever they're goingthrough, father God, you have
got it covered, lord God.
And in response they say amenand thank you Lord, and they
(20:51):
follow you and they press intoyou, father, and our prayer is
that people press into you sothat they gain this kingdom
glimpse prior to even being inthe kingdom, so that they're
prepared to meet you on thatglorious day when you ask us
into your kingdom, to the greatbanquet, that it is Thank you,
jesus, as the bride of Christ,lord God, and we just thank you
(21:14):
for that, in Jesus' name.
Speaker 2 (21:16):
In Jesus' name, Amen, Benny.
Thank you for talking brother.
Thank you for that, In Jesus'name.
In Jesus' name, Amen Benny.
Thank you for talking brother.
Thank you for praying Excitedabout what God has in store for
Empowered, your new recordcoming out and it's called Salt
Salt and that's coming outpretty soon, or well, June.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
In.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
June, so we're quick to it, man.
I like the sneak peek that youlet us hear.
If somebody wants to find outmore about Empowered, where do
they go?
Speaker 3 (21:40):
Thanks for that.
The website for us is rockinR-O-C-K-I-N, the number four
jesuscom rockinforjesuscom.
I've led a men's Bible studyactually for many years too, and
I've got a blog page on thereand some of the studies I've
done and they're short quickies,but there's a blog tab on there
(22:01):
too.
So if you want to get a littlebit more insight as to what
God's dialing down, that's whatthat is.
But then all of our upcomingshow dates and everything are on
there and all that kind ofstuff.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
Alright.
Well, if you ever need a bassplayer, you know.
Yeah, I'm saying I got some ofmy basses left.
It would be awesome.
I appreciate you, benny.
Speaker 3 (22:22):
Same here, you are a blessing and I know that god's
much love for you, what god'sput us together and be able to
talk and visit with this and andit's it's way deeper than just
the discussion over a couple ofmicrophones and that's right,
and we go way back.
Speaker 2 (22:34):
Benny was friends with 91.1, the radio station.
Even back, way back, was 2019around there.
Speaker 3 (22:43):
That was our first record 2019.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
That's right, that's what I was going to say.
We were the first to play yoursong on the radio, didn't that?
Speaker 3 (22:52):
cool.
Yeah, listen to the children.
That was the first radio cut,so it all started here.
Folks, it must have been adestiny.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
Nice.
Speaker 3 (23:01):
You like what I did.
You want a destiny Tie that inI like that.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
Well, you're listening to Destiny Radio and
this is Road to Redemption.
We took a quick pit stop.
It's the artist interviewseries.
You know we always say on Roadto Redemption find a
Christ-centered church, get intothe church and get into the
Word.
A Bible app, the paper's righthere in front of us.
Read the Word every day and askthe Holy Spirit what scriptures
(23:27):
to turn to.
You'll be amazed.
It's amazing.
And then, thirdly, a smallgroup to do life with others.
Don't do life alone, don'tisolate yourself, and I speak
from experience.
It hasn't been a good time whenI've tried to isolate myself,
but when I reach out to family,the body of Christ and friends,
that that's the way to do itlife together and not alone.
(23:48):
And we appreciate you listeningto Road to Redemption and we
have a whole archive ofinterviews and God's goodness,
god's amazing miracle power.
If he did this for Benny, hecan do it for you.
Amen, he can do it for me.
He can resolve situations.
There's restoration, there'shealing.
If your heart is broken, he canmend your heart.
(24:10):
So don't give up.
Don't give up.
It's not over.
Let's keep going.
And that fire that God put inyou, ask God to help you know
what that is and cultivate it,and then let's just man our post
, like Steve always says.
You know, let's just remainfaithful in what God has given
us to do.
Press in, yeah Right.
Speaker 3 (24:31):
Press in.
Speaker 2 (24:32):
I appreciate you, benny, I love you, brother.
Speaker 3 (24:34):
Same here man.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
Love you too.
Speaker 3 (24:34):
Been a good time yeah , we do.
Speaker 1 (24:37):
You've been listening to Road to Redemption, sharing
powerful life testimonies,giving hope to those on their
own road to redemption.
If you have any comments orquestions, we would love to
connect with you.
You can reach out to us atdestinyradiolive.
Thank you for listening andwe'll see you next week on Road
to Redemption.
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Ruthie's Table 4
For more than 30 years The River Cafe in London, has been the home-from-home of artists, architects, designers, actors, collectors, writers, activists, and politicians. Michael Caine, Glenn Close, JJ Abrams, Steve McQueen, Victoria and David Beckham, and Lily Allen, are just some of the people who love to call The River Cafe home. On River Cafe Table 4, Rogers sits down with her customers—who have become friends—to talk about food memories. Table 4 explores how food impacts every aspect of our lives. “Foods is politics, food is cultural, food is how you express love, food is about your heritage, it defines who you and who you want to be,” says Rogers. Each week, Rogers invites her guest to reminisce about family suppers and first dates, what they cook, how they eat when performing, the restaurants they choose, and what food they seek when they need comfort. And to punctuate each episode of Table 4, guests such as Ralph Fiennes, Emily Blunt, and Alfonso Cuarón, read their favourite recipe from one of the best-selling River Cafe cookbooks. Table 4 itself, is situated near The River Cafe’s open kitchen, close to the bright pink wood-fired oven and next to the glossy yellow pass, where Ruthie oversees the restaurant. You are invited to take a seat at this intimate table and join the conversation. For more information, recipes, and ingredients, go to https://shoptherivercafe.co.uk/ Web: https://rivercafe.co.uk/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/therivercafelondon/ Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/therivercafelondon/ For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iheartradio app, apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
Dateline NBC
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