|
by John Cody
Two members of Korn have publicly declared faith in Christ. After making his 2005
decision, guitarist Brian ‘Head’ Welch left the group. Bass player Reginald ‘Fieldy’ Arvizu came to Christ some months later; he is still a member of Korn.
When I spoke to Welch in 2007, it was clear he still cares for his former
bandmates. In spite of some painful memories, he’s thankful for the years they spent together. “It’s crazy how God works all things for the good, that’s all I’ve got to say.”
He cited Arvizu as an example. “A few months after I got saved, I called Fieldy’s dad, because he turned into a Christian when we were younger. When I was 20 or
something, he became a Christian – quit drinking and quit smoking. And he used to tell us that we were filled with
demons and stuff like that, and it scared us off a little bit.
“But once I became a Christian, I tracked him down and talked to him, and he
said: ‘Yeah man, I’ve mellowed out a lot, and I just want my son to be saved . . . He’s not saved yet, and I’ve been serving the Lord for years.’ And he said: ‘If he doesn’t get saved by the time I die, I’m gonna go right up to Jesus when I get to heaven and say ‘Why isn’t my son saved?’”
A month later, Welch said, Fieldy’s father passed away. “His dad died from an illness that just came up on him. And that night that he
died, Fieldy gave his life to Jesus.” Welch is still amazed at the turn of events. “So, it’s just like he said – he was going to Jesus, and it’s like he really did go to Jesus in heaven, and Fieldy got saved.”
In a 2007 interview, Arvizu commented: “My dad died, and I came out of that at rock bottom.” He described his father as having been transformed by the Bible. “So, I really got into it, and that changed my life. I’ve been living a clean and peaceful life. That has been bringing so much good
into my life right now. I’m craving and chasing good. I used to chase bad instead - and I’m getting off on it, on the right life.”
Welch continued: “I went to his dad’s funeral, and I didn’t know this. He was grieving and stuff; I was crying, and I hadn’t see him since I quit Korn. I walked up to him, and not knowing he was saved, I
said ‘Hey, your dad really wants you to know Jesus, man.’ I talked to him a little bit, and he was grieving. He was mad at me, and he
looked at me and goes ‘You ain’t better than me! I got Jesus! You ain’t better than me!’ So it was a weird meeting. But now, I’ve talked to him.”
Two members of Korn becoming Christians are two more than most of their fans
would ever have imagined. Welch figures it’s just the beginning. “The grace of God is smacking people like me and Fieldy.”
I interviewed Arvizu earlier this year. He confirmed that his father’s death was the catalyst for change. Four years ago, his dad was diagnosed with
an aggressive form of cancer. Initially, Fieldy was in denial about the
illness, believing he could remedy the situation via his own exalted position
as a millionaire rock star.
Continue article >>
|
He continued to party until the day of the funeral. That night, for the first
time ever, he and his wife prayed with his stepmother. At the time, he didn’t understand the ramifications; but a fundamental change had occurred. The
following day – after 20 years of non-stop partying – he flushed his drugs down the toilet. That was it. No rehab, no self-help
groups.
For many, it takes a crisis to bring about substantial personal change. Arvizu
agreed, but with a caveat: “I think that when a crisis comes in someone’s life, you do have a choice to make that turnaround. But when someone makes a
turnaround without Christ, it doesn’t work.
“We all thirst to fill this emptiness inside, and we chase everything from money
to women to drugs to alcohol. And there’s only one thing that can fill that emptiness, and that’s Christ Jesus. That’s it. And until people can realize that, they’re going to continue to try and fill that emptiness.”
Arvizu said he fully supports Welch’s decision to leave Korn. “The way I see it today, with more understanding, is [that] it’s so cool that he actually left, because there’s so many people in the world that are stuck in situations that are afraid to
leave. And he did that. And he still can reach people where they’re at.
“And then from my side of it, there are so many people who are afraid to make
that change, and stay right where they’re at, and be strong enough. So, both ways are good. And who knows what tomorrow
brings? He may be back with us, or I may not be in Korn. I don’t know.”
For the time being, he believes he’s exactly where God wants him to be. “There’s so much power by staying. I can either walk away from it, or I can use the
power of Korn to release books like I just did. If I stay, I’m walking with a sword. If I walk away, it becomes like a butter knife.”
The preceding article consists of excerpts from two much longer pieces by John
Cody. They can be found at CanadianChristianity.com, using the following search
terms:‘Head’ Welch and ‘Fieldy.’
August 2009
|
