TNL Praise Band

T

he Tuesday Night Live (TNL) praise band is known for its contemporary Christian music that varies from heart-felt to funky. Beyond the music, God uses TNL to minister to those addicted to drugs and alcohol."My Dad was an alcoholic, but my Mom was a strong Christian," band leader Terry Barnes remembers.

As a youth, Terry went to church regularly and prayed to receive Christ when he was 16 years old.

TNL Praise Band performs at a Celebrate Jesus Concert.

When Terry got his tenth grade high school schedule, he was inadvertently registered for a piano class. He took the class, and his love for music was born. He was a quick study and started playing for a rock and roll band in his early 20s. "I was going to church, playing in a rock and roll band, going to bars and drinking."

Terry drank heavily for 15 years. After many years in recovery Terry relapsed about 12 years ago.

"At that time I was in a praise band. I was going through a difficult time, and I went to the bar with a couple of co-workers. I don't even know how I made it home that night. I passed out and had a weird dream that seemed so real."

He saw himself sitting in a room and Satan was standing at the doorway. Satan had a pure white face and was dressed in black. He perceived Satan trying to grab him, but then he looked up. Jesus Christ was on the ceiling.

Jesus took his robed hand and covered Terry's head. Terry concludes near tears, "I was under his wing. Satan turned and walked away." Terry has not had a drink since that night. The song, "Under His Wing" is based on that experience.

Gonna fly like an eagle
Gonna soar through the air
Gonna mount up with wings
Like an eagle.
Through his grace and power lifting me again.
In this trying hour, shelter within me.
Won't you hide me in the shadow under your wings
Gonna find me under his wing.

Finding love on Tuesday night

Terry was playing at a coffee house for another Christian band in 2000, when he met Cindy. "I took one look at her and said, ‘Whoever is married to that woman is one lucky man.'

Front row: Cami Childres, Cindy Barnes, Chuck Farmer, Missy Cooper. Back row: Greg Reaney, Don Duncan, Terry Barnes.

At the time Cindy was getting over a divorce. She had been married to an addict and saw the control drugs and alcohol had on him. She was not looking for any kind of relationship at all. Terry's persistence and God's nudging paid off, and the couple started dating and married in January 2002. 

The TNL Praise Band started in 2001, when Terry was asked to start a band for a Tuesday night singles Bible study. Terry passed a sign-up list around the Bible study one Tuesday. Twenty singers signed up. He played piano. He remembers those early days, "We sounded awful, but it was all for the Lord. Eventually we ended up with a good mix of musicians and singers."

Cindy now plays keyboards for the band. The couple believes that God sends the right people at the right time. Currently the band consists of seven members; five are original band members.

Beyond Tuesday nights

In the summer of 2006, the TNL Bible study ended after 23 years. "We knew for a while God was about to close that door because he had been opening so many other doors for the band," Cindy reflects. "We didn't plan to be a band who did outreach to the addicted, but that was obviously God's plan. I'm not sure if we were drawn to it as much as the Lord opened those doors."

TNL Praise Band Original members open at My Brother's Place.

TNL has played several locations including many coffee houses, churches, weddings, picnics and birthday parties. However, the TNL Praise Band seems to have found a niche with drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers.

It began when one of Cindy's old high school friends invited the band to play at America's Keswick Addiction Recovery Center in Whiting, New Jersey. Later, they played at the Gospel Rescue Mission in Washington, D.C.

At every event, Terry shares his testimony and gives a Gospel invitation. At every event, someone finds hope in a loving God due to TNL's music and transparency. Terry explains, "How can I not share what God has done for me with others who are in a similar place where I was?"

The band regularly performs for homeless people at Franklin Park in Washington, D.C. Cindy, moved by how the event had been a catalyst for so many to find Christ, wrote a song of tribute.

The day I asked Jesus in my heart
Was an afternoon in Franklin Park
I said a little prayer that summer day
Invited him to show me the way
Believe in my heart he died for me
He saved my soul and now I'm free
Got on my knees that summer day
He changed my life and I'm here to say
He took my sins and washed them clean
He gave me light that I might see ...

Beyond the music

My walk could influence someone else’s walk with God.

Terry and Cindy own a construction company, Barnes Builders. Ironically, many of the employees are recovering addicts. The couple also leads a Bible study. Cindy laughs as she remembers the original plan for the study. "We thought it was going to be a couples study; but here we are over a year later, and almost everyone in the room is in recovery."

"It doesn't always work out because the disease of addiction doesn't go away. I try to give mercy, grace and the benefit of the doubt. Sometimes it works, but sometimes it doesn't," Terry adds.

Final words of wisdom

Terry and Cindy both have profound words of advice for Christians in ministry. Cindy cautions, "We need to be walking the talk. Otherwise we need to shut up. People are watching us. When we're setting up for a concert, the homeless and addicted are watching how we act and how we treat each other. I always want to be aware that my walk could influence someone else's walk with God."

Terry adds, "It is easy to encourage someone who needs to be lifted up. You just open your mouth. God doesn't need us for anything, but I want him to use us for everything."

TNL's debut album, Under His Wing, was released in August 2002. The band is planning the release of its second CD later this year.

For more information on TNL and their outreach ministry, visit http://www.tnlpraiseband.com/.