John James Shares Newsboys Fall and Redemption

John James experienced both the highs and lows of a successful career in Christian music as a member of the Newsboys. He opens a window into that world in his new book, “Newsboy: My Story of Hope and Second Chances.”

James, a native of Australia, recently appeared on CBN to talk openly about his past, including the double life that led to his undoing and the legacy of the band he helped start in a garage in 1985. At the height of the Newsboys’ early success, James’ own life was falling apart. He was caught up in the instant-messaging craze of the 1990s that led him into several compromising conversations, which quickly devolved into internet-based emotional affairs rife with sexual dialogue.

After his exit from the Newsboys, James’ life continued to unravel. His first marriage dissolved, illicit drugs became an escape and a deep depression took over. Now remarried and dedicated to missionary work, he said it was “authentic repentance” that restored him, healing him from his drug addiction, breaking the cycle of shame over his past sexual sins and lifting the heavy weight of depression that had crippled him.

“It wasn’t because of anything I could do, but it was the mercy and grace of God that he constantly and lovingly drew me back to the foot of the cross in repentance,” he said. “That was more than just a prayer I said, allowing the Holy Spirit to address the brokenness and the sin in my life.”

His experience has given him a deep perspective into the current scandals swirling around the Newsboys. That includes last year’s admission of Michael Tait to a decades-long addiction to drugs and sexual harassment of men.

“It breaks my heart to see the legacy end this way,” he said. “My heart goes out to the people who were wounded, the victims, the people who were betrayed, just absolutely tragic,” James said. “My prayer for everyone involved with the Newsboys tragedy is that, somehow, God would weave a redemptive story out of it. I don’t know how long, but one day, we would look back and think, ‘Man, that was the worst thing that ever happened. But man, what a testimony, God, of forgiveness, of repentance, of mercy, of grace, of healing that you brought out of that.’”

–Alan Goforth

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