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From Rock Star to Preacher: A Personal Interview with Pastor Jeff Pollard
By Sarah Ashwood | May 8, 2008
From 1978 to 1982 Jeff Pollard was the lead vocalist and lead guitar player for the up and coming Louisiana rock band, Louisiana’s LeRoux. Then, a dramatic conversion experience during 1981 forever altered the course of his career—and life. He is now one of the elders of Mount Zion Bible Church in Pensacola, FL. Along with fellow-elder Steven Frakes, he oversees Chapel Library, a worldwide literature ministry. He agreed to grant a personal interview for Civilized Revolt. The following are my questions, and his answers.
1. You gave up a seemingly bright future as lead singer for Louisiana’s LeRoux to become a street missionary, a Bible teacher, a minister to prison inmates, and finally a pastor. You are now an elder of Mount Zion Bible Church with six world and nationwide ministries. That’s a pretty big career change. Can you explain what enabled—or, rather, inspired—this dramatic turnabout?
Thank you for asking, Sarah. That is actually a long and complex story. I will try to give you a good short version. I started listening to rock music in the early Sixties. As a frustrated adolescent who never felt like he could satisfy his father’s expectations, I just gave up trying to please him and decided to please myself. That, of course, is immaturity and self-centeredness, which is what rock music is about. For fifteen years, I immersed myself in numerous kinds of music—blues, rock, hard rock, jazz, country, rhythm and blues, soul and funk, reggae—you name it. Well, on second thought, I don’t think I was ever into polkas. Anyway, I lived and breathed to play my guitar and sing. That gave me my identity. That was my life.
Complicating the story was the fact that in the fifth grade, I walked an aisle in a Southern Baptist church and made a “decision.” I prayed a “sinner’s prayer” with the pastor and was baptized. From that point on, I thought I was a Christian. I sang in the choir, which unfortunately introduced me to the praise of men. The idea of music and identity for me really began there. Rock and roll just became the later expression of my musical identity.
I wholeheartedly gave myself to my career and eventually landed a songwriter’s contract, then a record deal. The band toured about 260 days a year, and we travelled all over the country with some of the biggest bands of the day.
However, during 1980-81, the Lord Jesus began to deal with me. While I had fancied myself a Christian for years, I was really nothing but a religious worldling. The Lord put three men in my way: Conrad Murrell, John Sproule, and David Martyn Lloyd-Jones. Each of these men spoke of Christ in ways that I had never understood before. Conrad personally ministered to my wife Myra and to me. Dr Sproule preached on Christ, the High Priest, in a church I was then attending. I had never understood Christ that way. He later introduced me to the writings of theologians such R. L. Dabney, Louis Berkhof, and W. G. T. Shedd. However, Dr Lloyd-Jones’ book of sermons on Romans 6 really dismantled my false notions of “decisionism” and easy-believism. In his writings, I began to see Biblical, Christ-centered Christianity.
In the midst of serious conflict in my life, the Lord brought these men at different intervals to demolish my false, insufficient views of Christ and the Gospel. In His kindness and mercy, the Lord Jesus really began to deal with me, particularly through Conrad’s ministry and Lloyd-Jones’ writings. In time, I realized that while believing myself a Christian, I was nothing but a self-centered, self-righteous lover of the world. What the Lord began to show me was that my music was really an idol. Christ was not the object of my love; music was.
In this, the Lord Jesus brought me to see my sinfulness, especially my idolatry. He made me see that His righteousness was my only hope of salvation. The Holy Spirit brought Colossians 3:4 to bear on my heart. “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” It was the “Christ, who is our life” part that kept hammering me. I knew in my heart of hearts that Christ was not my “life.” Rock music was my life. Standing on a stage and have thousands of people applaud me was my life. The Lord Jesus brought me to see my self-centeredness, the depths of my own wickedness—He made me see my heart as it really was. The word repentance simply would not leave my mind. I sought the Lord with all my heart, reading the Scriptures for hours and hours at a time, praying fervently. I finally realized that my so-called Christianity had been a sham. I was as lost as a pagan, while thinking I was on the way to heaven. What sad delusion decisionism is.
Most of this took place during 1981-82, if my memory serves me well. In 1982, I did my last concert with the band. I came home and started trying to figure out what it meant to be 1) a Christian, 2) a husband, and 3) a father. By God’s grace, I am still working on all three.
After I left the band, I worked at Christian bookstore for a few years and began teaching Bible studies. I then began witnessing to the sub-culture on the streets near LSU for several years, and then I spent nine or ten years in prison ministry. During that time, Providence Baptist Church in Ball, LA, called me as pastor. I was at Providence when I began corresponding with Brother Shelton. In 2002, MZBC called me to the eldership. The Lord took Brother Shelton home January 16, 2003, and Steven and I have been laboring together since.
That is pretty much the short version. There were a number of complex and perplexing providences through that time. But what I’ve said is enough to give someone the basics of Christ’s gracious dealings with me.
I suppose I could have just said, “I did all the sinning and Christ did all the saving.” I thought, however, you wanted a bit more than that.
2. These days, rather than taking center stage, you and Steven Frakes are elders of Mount Zion Bible Church and overseers of six ministries. Do you regret your current life now when you reflect on your former one? In other words, if you had it to do all over again—would you?
I’m not sure how to answer that really. Do I regret my current life? Absolutely not. These are the most wonderful days of my life. Christ is life. Christ is my life. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Apart from Christ, existence is just a self-centered rush to the grave and judgment. Nothing but life in Christ is life.
God is sovereign. He rules over every aspect of life. He gave me my parents, my life as a lost man, and in His time, He graciously brought me to Himself. I can certainly say that I wish I had never been in the rock music business. I wish I had never sinned as I did. I wish I had never been the self-centered fool that I was. But I would still be the same fool and on my way to hell if Christ had not intervened. Are you asking if I miss the music business? Are you asking if I wish I were back in it? If that’s the question, that’s like asking me if I’d like to take a headlong dive into a cesspool.
I’m satisfied with Christ and what He has done. I delight in serving Him with my beloved wife. My only regrets are my innumerable sins. Thankfully, Christ has washed them all away in His precious blood.
3. Can you relate a bit of Mount Zion’s history, Mount Zion Bible Institute, and Chapel Library, and how they are run?
L. R. Shelton, Jr, founded MZBC in 1978. He was born in 1923 in New Orleans, Louisiana. His father, L. R. Shelton, Sr, was a well-known preacher there, often heard on the radio. During the 60s, Lee Roy, Jr, drank deeply from the Holy Scriptures and then from the writings of Spurgeon, Pink, and Lloyd-Jones. It’s interesting that he and I shared a fervent love for the same writers. Anyway, Lee Roy became the assistant pastor of his father’s church; but in 1970, he moved to Litchfield, Minnesota, to establish a church, a bookstore, and a gospel outreach ministry. During his nine years there, a vision for reaching the nations of the world with the Gospel burned in his heart. The Lord opened the door for him to come to Pensacola and establish the church and its ministries. He began in 1972, what would become a worldwide, Christ-centered literature ministry with a mere 200 on the mailing list. Two friends sponsored a radio outreach in 1974, which grew to 257 stations across the country. Desiring to get Christ-centered, grace exalting literature into people’s hands free of charge, he began publishing sermons copied on a mimeograph machine, praying that if the Lord would provide the funds, he would give the literature away.
The Lord Jesus has blessed these efforts and MZBC now has six ministries: 1) Chapel Library, which reprints about 800 titles by writers and preachers from the past, such as Charles Spurgeon, A. W. Pink, J. C. Ryle, Horatius Bonar, the Puritans, and many others. We distribute these tracts, booklets, and paperbacks free of charge. 2) We print two quarterly magazines: 1. Pink’s Studies in the Scriptures 2. The Free Grace Broadcaster, which is a quarterly magazine that I edit. Subscriptions to both of these are free of charge in the US. 3) MZ Bible Institute. My fellow elder Steven Frakes is the head of the Bible Institute, which offers free Bible courses. 4) a Prison Ministry. We reach into more than 3000 prisons and jails with our literature and Bible institute courses. 5) Chapel Library Audio, which offers more than 6500 recorded sermons by preachers such as A. N. Martin, John Piper, John MacArthur, and numerous others. Finally, 6) our web site www.mountzion.org
MZBC has grown to a local church of approximately 40 members with a regular attendance of 50-70 people. Our doctrinal positional is most accurately expressed by the London Baptist Confession of 1677, a.k.a., the “1689.” Anyone that is interested can find out all about us at the web site. There you can download many of our publications or read them online. Order information is available there as well.
Brother Shelton was a great man of prayer and faith. He was strongly influenced by George Mueller. He never wanted to ask anyone for financial support and believed that if God had indeed given him the vision for this ministry that God Himself would support it. We carry on in that vision today. We do not ask for donations; we do not share our mailing list with anyone; we do not send out promotional mailings. The backbone of this ministry is our morning prayer meeting in which we bring the needs of the ministry before the Lord. He has answered our prayers for 30 years now. God’s people support us by prayer and giving as the Lord leads.
5. Are there any special needs at Mount Zion of which the Lord’s people should be made aware?
We always have needs. The Lord keeps us looking to Him for everything. I suppose I would mention first the prison ministry. The prisons have always been a huge part of our Gospel work. However, in the last year, we have seen an unusual and significant drop in correspondence from the prisons. Many of the chaplains do not like the doctrines of grace and apparently have stopped ordering the literature. Some prisons now funnel everything through the chaplains, instead of directly to the prisoners. So the theological inclinations of the chaplains can make a huge difference on what comes into the jails. We want to see our distribution to the prisons increase, not decrease.
We have been praying for international distributors for the past three years. We believe that God’s method is the local church, not parachurch organizations. So we have been able to help churches and establish distributors through them in many nations. In 2007, the Lord opened the door to send Gospel literature into 64 countries. But the needs are great. So we are trying to find sound, Christ-centered, grace exalting pastors, local churches, and missionaries to work with in distributing the material worldwide. In fact, we’re praying that the Lord will raise up distributors for every nation in the world.
More than anything else, we need the prayers of God’s people that we might stay faithful, both doctrinally and in our lives. MZ has done a great deal of work in doctrinal, ecclesiological, and family reform. We want to be good stewards of the precious ministries Christ has given us. So I do ask those who read this to pray for MZ and Chapel Library.
6. Are there any plans for future changes at Mount Zion that you would care to share with us?
Well, as far as changes go, we have no desire to change our vision. We want to print and record the best Christ-centered, grace exalting literature and audio that we can and give it away. The only changes will probably be just finding the best ways to do that technologically. MZ and Chapel Library want to send the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. The Lord has given us a wonderful, self-sacrificing, hard-working staff; and it is a privilege to labor with them for Christ. Our desire is to exalt the Lord Jesus, edify His people, and call the lost to repent and believe on the resurrected Lord of Glory. By unceasing prayer, we make our desires known to the Lord, and He opens and closes the doors. We are always praying about how to expand our horizons and streamline our production. For instance, we hope to have a meeting with some friends regarding technological directions for the future. And we have been praying about a new web site. Let’s see, what else? We need to transfer 6500 cassettes to MP3s. I could go on, but I suppose I’ll end my thoughts here.
There is always something happening at MZ. Always. Our hearts desire is simply to magnify the name of Jesus Christ and advance His Kingdom in every nation on earth with the vision He has given us.
Thanks so much for your time and efforts on this interview, Jeff.
Well, I haven’t done but one interview in over twenty years. I generally avoid them like the plague, but I was happy to share these things with you, Sarah. Thanks for asking. All the glory belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Topics: Columns, Volume 3, Issue 8 |
May 10th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Though I have heard it all before, it was a blessing to hear it again. I am thankful for the ministry of MZ and to be a recipient of the wonderful sermons to help me grow in grace. Keep up the good work. Looking unto Jesus Heb 12:2 Jacky
May 19th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
I really was encouraged by this article. My brother is an aspiring rock star. Unfortunately, his band seems to be growing more and more popular, while he gets further and further from God. It is so good to be reminded that God is Soveriegn, He is gracious and He is still in the business of changing lives and saving souls.
March 5th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
I knew Jeff during some of those days of struggle. I was on the staff of a church Jeff attended. I usually asked him to sing in church when he was in town. I enjoyed our talks.
Church music was undergoing some major changes. I remember thinking how effective Jeff would be if he turned his talent toward Jesus. He did just that, and as they say, the rest is history.
March 24th, 2009 at 12:21 am
I was a huge fan of Pollard’s back in the 70s, and I still am. I’m pleased that he followed his beliefs and did the right thing for him and his family. May God watch over them, I wish them all the best.
I am a former Christian from Baton Rouge. I have gone the opposite way from Pollard, now being a working-dog musician in Nashville, and a non-church goer (tho I did a gig in the Presbyterian Church yesterday…), but I think that God reaches all of those who reach for him. God has me and I hope he has you.
shw
May 5th, 2009 at 1:02 am
Jeff, I am a huge fan of yours AS A MUSICIAN. You were a great inspiration to me. I think you have the music thing totally wrong. First of all, music has been a part of church worship since the beginning of time. To refer to music or the music business as sinful is absurd. You had WAY more influence as a musician than you will ever have as a preacher. I saw you in concert several times in the late 70’s and early 80’s. You were wonderful with your singing and your guitar work. To now refer to all that as sinful makes me sad. Not only are you denigrating your own accomplishments, you are denigrating those of all musicians that were inspired by you. I think religion has ruined you. Sorry but if your beliefs cause you to reject the one thing you were great at, you don’t need religion. We all die the same way and go to the same place. Worrying about the next life while wasting this one is the biggest sin of all.
July 10th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
As a former music journalist, I opined at the time-and still believe- Jeff Pollard had a special talent, a rare talent. Sad for me to say “had” because he felt he had to shed it to pursue a life of faith as he sees it.
I simply want to state that music reaches the depths of people in ways that words cannot. Though not a Christian at the time, Jeff’s song “Roll Away The Stone” made me weep and brought many people to consider their path and to confirm others in theirs. Music is a ladder with which we use to ascend to higher levels. It’s been an integral part of worship since the beginning.
I can easily accept that Jeff had to move in a new direction, but cannot fathom why he didn’t pursue some level of career with Christian music- even with the explanations he gave above. How many thousands more people might he have touched and reached using his God-given talent and charisma as a performer. Is it self-centered if you are truly serving God?
Finally, I’m reminded of a quote by Leo Buscaglia:
“Our talents are the gift that God gives to us… What we make of our talents is our gift back to God.” I wish Jeff every blessing, yet I still wonder what might have been if he had decided to ascend to even greater heights with the talent for music that he was given.
August 22nd, 2009 at 8:17 pm
Jeff, I would like to remind you of something.
***You led Kerry Livgren of Kansas to the Lord in 1979.***
You successfully convinced him the The Bible was the REAL “supernatural book,” and that it showed that Jesus is who he says he is. And then Kerry Livgren led Dave Hope to the Lord. Please explain to me how this was “sinful.”
There are many, many rock stars from Pat Boone and Cliff Richard on up that love the Lord, are great family men, and are making a positive difference in the lives of the people around them. Although I do admire you for homeschooling your kids, I’m very saddened that you seem to have chosen rules over relationship and extremes over balance. I wish you the best, though, and will be researching the music of LeRoux further as I go (loved your work on Kerry Livgren’s “Seeds of Change”, by the way).
November 23rd, 2009 at 11:52 am
Hello,
I happened to read your comment referring to Jeff Pollard, “You had way more influence as a musician than you will ever have as a preacher”.
My husband and I just returned from a Biblical seminar where Jeff was speaker. He spoke with such a great passion for God’s holiness and God’s amazing grace to sinners who repent. We were blessed and encouraged and so were all in attendance.
The biggest sin of all is not wasting your talent as you say Jeff did but rather rejecting Jesus as Lord and Savior. The Lord, in His mercy, showed Jeff this truth and now he speaks for his Savior. Only God’s amazing grace can bring such a change to a man’s heart. We know because He did the same for us some 30 years ago. Thank you and may God be pleased to show the same Savior to you.
December 26th, 2009 at 11:47 pm
I am a little behind, as it was only today that I saw this article and the comment of Chuck Hughes. However, I am compelled to answer, as I was also an avid fan of Jeff’s and the notorious song, “New Orleans Ladies,” which I love today as much as I did then. Chuck, as a Christian and a musician, I understand what Jeff means when he says he is regretful of his past lifestyle. I don’t interpret his comments to mean that he condemns the music itself. I believe he is saddened by the sinful lifestyles in which many rock stars, including himself, often become engaged. It is no secret that in the rock music culture, many people fall prey to its seductions of illicit sex, drugs and other forms of deviant behavior. You are correct when you say that music is a major part of worship; I believe that we are commanded by God to incorporate it into our praise services. While Christians can and often do participate in the secular music scene, a person who is truly dedicated to Christ will often find conflit when trying to do both. I truly appreciate the tremendous talent found in rock music, and it is my opinion that some of the greatest performers can be found in that genre. However, many musical geniuses are also serving Christ with their talents, and there are incredible musicians coming on the scene in many of our churches. There is no need to feel sorry for Jeff, as I know of no Christian who has ever regretted his decision to follow Christ. Perhaps it is the secular world for whom you should be sorry, for having lost such a musical asset. I am sorry for you that you do not know the saving grace of Jesus Christ and that you believe we all go to the same place when we die. While that is not true, we are all given the same opportunities for salvation. For those of us who have accepted Christ as our Savior, I believe we will one day sing with some of the greatest talents ever known, as we celebrate eternity in heaven.
February 4th, 2010 at 3:52 am
Jeff, I worked across the way in the mall from your mom in Lafayette back in the day. She was very proud of you both as a son and a musician. I had my own personal struggle with the zero sum presentation of secular versus christian music and the arenas thereof. At best, where we go is a matter of personal faith and choice, not the opinions of others. The Lord is our judge in the final analysis. The only thing that I awoke to discover one day was that in the secular world, my adversaries were, for the most part, visible and outspoken, while in the ecclesiastical world, I couldn’t tell sometimes who came to hurt and who came to heal. This was a big influence on my remaining in “the world” both as a Christian and a musician. We know that the world is full of self-affirming cults and various “parrot” cultures. Christians are not exempt from this type of behaviour and to an outsider, this earmark of cloisterism is taken as weakness, not strength.
What would be extremely interesting is if the Spirit actually led you back into the secular for a season or so, and how open you would be to a prompting of that nature. In addition, just as they did with Amy Grant when she had her first secular hit, how many of your brothers and sisters would affirm you in an endeavor of a secular nature or conveniently write you off as backslidden.
All that said, what some people don’t factor in is FAMILY, which overshadows almost everything we do. I used to marvel at the number of unmarried, twice divorced, and sworn single musicians in my artistic company. I have a feeling that this is your comfort in all of this odyssey. It is one of the most visible triumphs of enduring love in spite of our frailties and shortcomings.
Here’s to you, your wife, your children, and your music - in that order.
Play on, man!
March 1st, 2010 at 9:20 am
Jeff:
Everytime I saw you backstage (in the LeRoux days), you were reading the Scriptures. Moreover, you took the time to debate a few spiritual issues with me, someone you did not know. If you were to take a moment and peruse how many individuals in the music arena benefitted from your example, perhaps the verse in Romans will come alive in a new way. All things work together for good ………..
Thanks Jeff,
Glen Gleason
Lead guitarist
First Baptist Ruston