Dallas Holm

've never seen the righteous forsaken / Or their seed begging for bread"- it just seems fitting that Dallas Holm would choose Psalm 37:35 as the basis for these lyrics in the song he considers one of the best he has written.

Like many of the boys who grew up in the 1960s and early 1970s, Dallas Holm wanted to be a rock and roll musician. Unlike many of us, he had the talent to back up his desire. By 1965 he was playing in local bands wherever he could get a gig.

"I was that kid who would come home from school, get out my guitar, sit down in front of the stereo and learn everybody's parts," he says. "My early influences in music were Elvis Presley and Ricky Nelson. "I remember watching the Ozzie and Harriet show on television. I lived for that moment at the end of the show when Ricky Nelson would come out with his band at the high school dance and play a song. I watched the guitar players' hands, and I listened to the music; then I would run down to the basement, grab the guitar, and see if I could remember anything they did."

Later in his career, one of his major influences was Phil Johnson, who has produced most of his recordings.

The man

In 1965 something happened that would change Dallas Holm and his career path forever. After church one Sunday night, his pastor sat Dallas and his brother down and talked to them about their relationship with God. Dallas was raised in a Christian home in the presence of parents who did more than talk about godliness - they lived it every day. Even though he went to church every time the doors opened, he had never taken the step of inviting Jesus into his heart.

Dallas Holm in his office

Though he was not fully aware of where he was headed or what he was going to do, that night in Minnesota Dallas Holm started his ministry for the Lord. His promise: "If I ever get to sing, or make a record, or write a song, it will only be for the Lord." Dances and clubs gave way to churches and jails as the venue for his music.

His spiritual foundation comes from his parents. The words he uses to describe his mother and father speak volumes about their influence on him. Words like integrity and honesty and character coming from a child in relation to his parents are high praise, indeed. Dallas was also greatly influenced by the pastor who led him to the Lord.

"I remember when I first got saved, I began to go out and minister all the time. I was starting to travel quite a bit. One Sunday he took me aside and said, 'Dallas, you will have all your life to minister. You will only have this one chance to prepare. Don't go out all the time. Spend time being discipled and taught. Build a foundation on God's Word and you will have something to minister all your life.' What great advice! I think that has a lot to do with the fact that I am still in ministry."

This same pastor also encouraged him to go to Bible college to prepare him for the things God wanted him to do.

The music

Upon graduating from college, Holm became a youth pastor/music director for the youth choir in a Fort Worth, Texas church. In 1970 he joined David Wilkerson, who was doing youth crusades across the country. This was the beginning of a new chapter in the life and ministry of Dallas Holm. He recalls, "It immediately put my music and myself in front of a lot of people, which gave me a tremendous opportunity to learn and to expand." In the early 1970s the ministry moved to California to be closer to the subculture called the "Jesus Movement."

Dallas Holm ... yesterday and today

It was during this time of change in America, which was felt primarily by the youth of the nation, that Dallas began to solidify his musical style. The combination of folk and rock and traditional Christian music was beginning to birth a new sound of praise and worship. Like most changes in musical styles, older generations did not necessarily receive this transition well. But the young people were touched and turned on to the message of faith and salvation. This was the time for which God had been preparing Dallas Holm.

"Contemporary Christian Music was not even a term yet. Christian radio and television as we know it today did not even exist yet," Holm recalls. The record industry was barely beginning - certainly as far as any kind of contemporary Christian music, it really had not even started yet."

The combination of David Wilkerson's Teen Challenge and Youth Crusades ministries moved Dallas into a genre of music that was in its infancy. In order to reach the young people involved in these events, the message had to speak to them where they were - and that included the message presented in the music.

In describing this time of his ministry, Holm says, "It was all about presenting the Gospel, presenting Jesus and meeting human need, especially in young people." Little did he know that he was on the leading edge of what would come to be called contemporary Christian music.

Though he is best known for his song, "Rise Again," Dallas will tell you that he does not feel that it is necessarily his best work. "It was a great lesson," he explains. "In my opinion, it is not the best song I have ever written. It is very simple. I think it is not a lyrical masterpiece. It is not a musical masterpiece. It was unique at that time in that I had never heard a song of that kind that was written in the first person - it is basically Jesus himself singing the song."

Dallas Holm

He goes on to say that this was one song about which he felt his part was to take dictation. "I really believe that the number-one issue is that God in his sovereignty just said, 'I'm going to use that song.'"

"This song is the pure essence of the Gospel message. It is the life, the death, and the resurrection of Jesus - and the fact that He is coming back. There is a power inherent in that message that still moves people's lives," says Holm.

In early 2007, Dallas and several others who were involved in the "Jesus Movement" in the early 1970s got together in San Antonio, Texas for a reunion of sorts. The concert was called "Touching our Roots." In discussing their early days in the business, they agreed that the motivation for "Christian" music today seems to be different.

"We could say this honestly. There was no reason for us doing Christian music except that we were compelled to do it because of our love for Christ," Holm states. "There was no record industry. There were no carrots to chase. It was: we have to do this. Our lives have been transformed, so we are going to take the tools we have and tell everyone about the wonderful love of Jesus. That was the only reason we did it."

The ministry

"The main reason we are still active is that we built a very, very firm foundation and have always understood it is about ministry. It is not just about music. It's not about entertainment. The music is just a tool," says Holm.

Dallas Holm has had an active concert ministry for over 30 years. This is unheard of in the music industry. The average span of a top artist today is five years. If a record company signs an artist today, it plans on the artist producing top songs for five years at the maximum - most of them are two to three years. Such is the nature of the industry, particularly in Christian music.

When he started his musical career in the 1960s and 1970s, there was not a musical style that was called "Christian" music. There were Christian singers in most genres, but church music was either the hymns or gospel. The idea that rock and roll or jazz melodies could be used to deliver a spiritual message was not only unheard of, it was considered totally unacceptable.

Even so, writers and performers like Dallas Holm and Praise, Don Francisco, the Second Chapter of Acts and others not only believed it was possible - they made it happen.

"We (Dallas Holm and Praise) had only been together for six weeks when we recorded a 'live' album in the Lindale High School auditorium in Lindale, Texas. We had a recording truck come from Nashville to do the recording. 'Rise Again' ended up on side two of the album, but a radio station played it and the rest, as they say, is history. 'Dallas Holm and Praise ... Live' ended up our first certified Gold album."

One of the main contributors to the longevity of Holm's ministry is his priority system. Early in his career, when he traveled with the David Wilkerson crusades, he learned that he had to learn to say, "No." He learned early on that there were things that he had to take care of, no matter what else was happening.

"Dave Wilkerson helped me to establish the priorities that I still follow today: God first, my family second and ministry third," he explains. "If I reached the whole world but lost my own family, I'd consider myself a failure."

"If I am not the minister to my wife and my kids in my home that I need to be, then I really have no right to go anywhere else and tell people how to live their lives. It starts there. My ministry to others is really an extension of my ministry at home."

Looking around his office, one can quickly pick up on this hierarchy in his life. There are pictures of his family scattered all around. Pictures that show a man who dedicates quality time to his family. As with any other family, there were times when they had to face difficulties in their lives.

"I met my wife, Linda, at church. The first time we ever dated, I was 16 and she was 14. We've known each other a long time," he recalls. "But we have had our share of struggles and heartaches." His wife, Linda has been fighting cancer for almost 20 years. This has served to focus on the importance of setting priorities based on God's leadership.

Dallas Holm

Today, Dallas Holm still stays true to his integrity and his calling. His touring schedule still calls for up to 10 engagements per month. As he points out, his music is but a tool to his ministry.

Having listened to him at a seminar teach about the art of songwriting and present the unadulterated message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I can attest to the fact that his objective is not a stellar performance or the adulation of man. It is obvious that his motive is still that he is compelled to do it because of his love for Christ. When he talks about songwriting, he talks first about ministry. When he talks about performing, he talks first about sharing the message of Jesus.

After almost 40 years in a business that is not known for the longevity of its superstars, Dallas Holm continues to minister - even across generational lines. From the "Jesus Movement" to the "Now Generation," his message has remained the same: Jesus loves you.

Maybe the reason his ministry is still strong after all these years is best stated in the chorus of one of his songs: "And I still love Jesus / He's my dearest friend, faithful to the end / I still love Jesus and He still loves me."

Testimonials

The song "Rise Again" was on the charts for 48 months - not weeks - months. It was on the southern gospel, contemporary and inspirational ratings for a span of four years.

"Dallas and Linda are two of the most solid and dedicated believers I know. I recently ministered with Dallas, and his music is fresh and anointed. I am not involved in the Christian music scene of today. It has drifted so far from its birth in the ‘Jesus Movement' that, to me, it is unrecognizable. There are many individual musicians, however, who sing an uncompromised message. If anything, Dallas shines as a beacon of what real music ministry should be."
- Don Francisco, Christian musician for over three decades

"As a high school Junior, I sang "Rise Again" in front of everyone gathered for the high school talent show in 1986. I'll never forget that moment and I'll never forget that song. So Dallas Holm was an early influence in my life. At that time Dallas was well established in the industry, having been recording for almost 20 years. And still today, approaching 40 years of recording, people still love Dallas Holm. It's interesting to me: I never remember people talking about him like a rock star or idol-type musician. People talk about him like they are talking about a well-respected pastor or their granddad - not so much in age, but out of respect. It seems everyone has a deep respect for him and his music. It wasn't fluff. It was biblical truth and deep spiritual music."
- Steven Polk, Worship and Senior Adults Pastor, Firewheel Church, Garland, Texas

"I rededicated my life to the Lord at a Dallas Holm concert."
- Greg Long, Avalon (Group of the Year Award three consecutive years from CCM Magazine readers, numerous Dove Awards, American Music Award)

"He's still a hero to me."
- Steven Curtis Chapman, contemporary Christian musician, (5 Grammy awards)

For more information about Dallas Holm, his tour schedule, or to purchase his music, visit www.dallasholm.org.