PETRA, Thank you

[SolidRockStrength]

Wanted to start a thread for everyone to just say thank you to PETRA for what they have meant to them. In light of what looks like the end of a Legendary career, I just want to say thak you. If enough people post maybe this could be a sticky thread. Heres my thank you....


I remember the day I got Beyond Belief. It was my first christian rock album and a christmas day gift from an aunt. I was listening to secular rock and had no idea who Petra was. My brother and I went back to the house(from my grandmothers) for some reason and I put Beyond Belief in the cassettte player. It was what I had been searching for. That following August I saw Petra live in concert at the Newsong music festival. I had a blast, we were in the up front, directly in front of a speaker section. I got home and my ears literally rang for 3 days. It was incredible. Over the next few years I bought and listened to all the Petra I could afford. I spent many a night lifting weights to Petra Praise: the rock Cries Out. I can picture all those years lifting at my parents house in the basement jamming to Petra. It was like a Petra Weight Lifting Praise and Worship Event. When I went to college Petra was one of the few things that remained constant. I remember hustling to the local Wal-Mart the day Petra albums were released, I was ready to ROCK. My wife(then a friend)and I first developed those warm fuzzy feelings at a Petra concert/college road trip at the Shigionoth Festival in Hazard, Ky(Petra Praise 2: We need Jesus album). I started into strength ministry with the Omega Force Strength Team and now have my own ministry called the Solid Rock Strength ministry. Petra has been there each step of the way. I always get at least 1 Petra song in during my strength ministry programs. And Now when I train in my home gym, the Main music I slam iron to is PETRA! Jekyll and Hyde is the best weight lifting album ever. Through more than 15 years one of the most consistent factors in my life has been PETRA! I have been blessed to attend 6 concerts and look to add a couple more this fall. The reason I have been so drawn to Petra over other bands is that PETRA'S focus never left scripture, each song was based on scripture and that was sold me on the GREATEST BAND OF ALL TIME PETRA ! Words alone don't describe how the band has ministered to me thru all of life's peaks and valleys. God used Petra in my life, to teach, to guide and lead me. The scriptures those songs are based on have taught me more than any pastor ever has, thats not a slam on pastors but the shows the IMPACT the WORD OF GOD played/sang by Petra has affected my life. Real depth the Word of God! Its really cool how those scripture based songs were just about Rock(music) then and now when I listen to the lyrics I hear the depth of scripture as I have grown and continue to grow in my walk and in ministry. Thats real depth, Thank You!
I may never get a chance to say it in person, but with the Joy of the Lord I want to say Thank You to Petra. Thank you for serving so faithfully to the Messiah! THANK YOU!

[petrarocksA2]

I feel the exact same way. I was 16 years old when I started listening to Petra. Petra has been a part of my life for the last 25 years. I traveled all over to see them. I have had oppurtunities to meet them several times. The last few times I've seen them at the merchandise table John Schlitt remembers me. That means alot. So I want to thank all the past and present memers of Petra for blessing my life for the past 25 years and for being a part of my life. I will miss you.

[PDX]

I just wanted to say thank you to the band for being such a positive influence in my walk with God. They have been my favorite band for 14 years now. I still remember the first Petra CD I got. It was Petra Praise: The Rock Cries out when I was 16 years old. I got it from a music club and it came in the mail the same day I had my wisdom teeth taken out. That day I listened to that CD over and over again while I laid on the couch icing my face. Nice timing if I do say so myself. Since then I have bought all of their CDs and seen them in concert 8 times. It made me very happy to see that they are going to be in Washington in August. I will drive the 3 hours from Portland to see them. Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks for the many years of ministry and the great music you have made. You have blessed my life over and over again. God bless.

[Michael]

Don't forget... you can also post on the Tributes page at A Guide to Petra. If you do that, it will be there forever; this post will sink to the bottom of the forum eventually.

[Enosh]

I first heard Petra when a girl in my church gave me a copied tape of Back to the Street. I was 10. A bunch of the kids in the church started singing together and the main song we used to sing in our little church was Shakin the House!

I then took the tape I had and sang King's Ransom at my public school's talent show! The gospel was going forth with no pulled punches!!

I then purchased This Means War! That album changed my life! I bought every soundtrack from that album. I started performing on my own all over Michigan at different churches and events with those songs. That is what got me started into music ministry.

I actually recorded the songs I am available and Don't let your heart be hardened on albums I put out when I was 12. petra was such a huge part of my life growing up! I had all the albums, but i didn't get to actually see the band until the Wake up Call tour. I was 16 and wanting to start a band. Petra was what I still to this day consider to be the STANDARD for how a Christian band should present themselves. Both Lyrically, and on and off stage.

God really used them to help mold me into the musician and performer but most importantly the minister He wanted me to be. Even in the last few years that have been lean for Petra, I proudly professed my appreciation for the band. Many times I have shamed bands I played with who made fun of Petra for being dated or old. In the process I have introduced many to Petra and their ministry.

Then in 2003 I had the ultimate opportunity. I actually played guitar for John Schlitt. As fun as that was, it didn't really hit me until we played in Sheboygan with him. I was standing on that stage, we were playing No Doubt and I realized, "I'm living out something Beyond Belief!" The crowd was praising God and getting into it just as I had so many times at so many Petra concerts.

Then all the compliments came for the AndBand. That we sounded just like Petra in the glory days, and people really felt that we represented the fans! I can never explain to you how that felt, not just because I was a musician and liked the praise. You see I truly understand the weight that those comments carried. I understood what it meant to stand there on a stage with John Schlitt and play those songs. To this day I can't believe the opportunity I have had.

I say all this to say Thank you Petra, John and Bob. You have had such an impact on my life that you will never know. Most of my life has had something to do with Petra and I am grateful. And whether or not I have the opportunity to play with John again with his solo efforts, I will always have in my mind what it means to be minister first and a musician second. To have God be the center of your band and never compromise.

Here's hoping I have that opportunity again.....

[sue d.]

Enosh, I am praying hard that you not only have that opportunity again - but many times over.

[MattWittman]

I never really thought to look for Christian CD's until I heard that John was in Petra. I was glad that John became a Christian and the first Petra CD I listened to was God Fixation.