Biography |
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With a passport, a Bible, and an ever-growing collection of songs and stories in tow, Dan Meyers may travel lightly, but he's got all he needs for the journey. Far from a sightseer scribbling home postcards and moving on, Dan is an itinerant evangelist and musical troubadour in the classic sense, traversing the globe, living out a call to encourage the Believer and challenge the seeker along the way.
"Life is ministry," Dan says. "So whether it's playing a concert or doing other work, there is plenty of opportunity to share the Truth and gaze upon the face of God. I decided early in my career that I was going to seek out adventure both on the road and off. What I've learned is that I don't have to look very far."
Indeed, adventure writes the stories of Dan's life and pens the lyrics of his guitar-driven melodies. Like some of Christian music's prolific storytellers - Wes King, Carolyn Arends and even the late Rich Mullins - Dan not only engages listeners with an organic, acoustic sound, but most notably with his poignant personal stories of everyday life.
"The story is what is before a song is created or any emotional effect is experienced from a given situation," Dan explains. "The story is what we live everyday regardless of how mundane an experience may appear to be. The story brings the listener and me together in a world of experience where I can give them a hook and a theme upon which to ruminate."
Dan's stories and songs have opened the door to hospitality - and most importantly, ministry-nearly everywhere. He's worked with the Eskimo people in remote regions of Alaska and tried his hand at commercial fishing in the icy waters of the Upper Cook Inlet. And on the other side of the world, he's spent seasons with deployed troops, reaching out to soldiers in war-torn locales. To date, Dan has completed 23 European tours, performing and ministering in such countries as England, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Kosovo, Bosnia, Iceland, Russia, Iraq, and Morocco, among numerous other places.
Outreach to military personnel is a calling especially close to Dan's heart. His father is a former Marine, and the family served tenures in ministry at U.S. military installations in the Philippines, Guam and England during Dan's youth. A graduate of The Citadel Military College of South Carolina, Dan was preparing for active duty himself until God intervened.
"I sensed the call to ministry the summer before my senior year in college and honestly did not know what to make of it," Dan recalls. "Confirmation from others in my life as well as others in ministry helped guide me toward the unknown of an itinerate ministry at 22-years-old."
"While on the road that first year, I discovered my work went far beyond the stage and into the homes and lives of the people for whom I had performed," he explains. "They found confidence in me and drew me out regarding questions of theology and godly living. I realized, at that point, the great responsibility I had with the platform my music had granted me, and that God was confirming my vision and His calling."
Dan also saw that his firsthand understanding of military culture was leading him to focus a majority of his outreach efforts among the deployed. "The experiences of my life all seemed to begin to make sense as God directed my paths toward the overseas military field," he says. "Although I work in other areas, He seems to confirm my calling by constantly preparing me and then deploying me."
Today, a military tour for Dan is a varied experience that encompasses not just interaction with the troops themselves, but of equal importance, ministry to their families. Working with chaplains around the world, Dan performs outreach concerts, at chapel services, and even in homes around the base-the "house concert" being his favorite venue for personal connection with the audience. He also conducts devotions with small groups and preaches on Sunday mornings; he performs and speaks at women's and youth events; and in some cases, he even ministers to troops in forward areas of deployment.
As his itinerant ministry and music continues to unfold, Dan is more certain of his calling each day. "I was given a quote by a man in military ministry when I was 14-years old," Dan recalls. "He said, 'Whom God uses, He prepares, without exception.' I wanted to bring encouragement and spiritual challenge to these unique communities that are filled with people who often feel alone, isolated, and far from home - and my wish was granted!"
Dan's journey continues to grow with his wife, Julie. They went for a year to teach school in Kurdistan, Northern Iraq at The Classical School of the Medes - a Christian worldview school. Dan realizes his need for continued growth and stretching beyond his comfort zones as he trusts the Lord for His provision and guidance each day. He continues to serve with his wife Julie and children: Hope, Corbin, and Silas at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida ministering to the Marines who are in training there leading Bible Studies, discipleship, and coffee discussions.
It's safe to say his passport will be stamped a few more times this year, but as Dan seeks his next adventure, he leaves behind much more than a few songs and stories - he brings Hope and encouragement to forgotten corners of the world where many would dare not tread. And for this troubadour, that's the greatest story of all.
"Life is ministry," Dan says. "So whether it's playing a concert or doing other work, there is plenty of opportunity to share the Truth and gaze upon the face of God. I decided early in my career that I was going to seek out adventure both on the road and off. What I've learned is that I don't have to look very far."
Indeed, adventure writes the stories of Dan's life and pens the lyrics of his guitar-driven melodies. Like some of Christian music's prolific storytellers - Wes King, Carolyn Arends and even the late Rich Mullins - Dan not only engages listeners with an organic, acoustic sound, but most notably with his poignant personal stories of everyday life.
"The story is what is before a song is created or any emotional effect is experienced from a given situation," Dan explains. "The story is what we live everyday regardless of how mundane an experience may appear to be. The story brings the listener and me together in a world of experience where I can give them a hook and a theme upon which to ruminate."
Dan's stories and songs have opened the door to hospitality - and most importantly, ministry-nearly everywhere. He's worked with the Eskimo people in remote regions of Alaska and tried his hand at commercial fishing in the icy waters of the Upper Cook Inlet. And on the other side of the world, he's spent seasons with deployed troops, reaching out to soldiers in war-torn locales. To date, Dan has completed 23 European tours, performing and ministering in such countries as England, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Kosovo, Bosnia, Iceland, Russia, Iraq, and Morocco, among numerous other places.
Outreach to military personnel is a calling especially close to Dan's heart. His father is a former Marine, and the family served tenures in ministry at U.S. military installations in the Philippines, Guam and England during Dan's youth. A graduate of The Citadel Military College of South Carolina, Dan was preparing for active duty himself until God intervened.
"I sensed the call to ministry the summer before my senior year in college and honestly did not know what to make of it," Dan recalls. "Confirmation from others in my life as well as others in ministry helped guide me toward the unknown of an itinerate ministry at 22-years-old."
"While on the road that first year, I discovered my work went far beyond the stage and into the homes and lives of the people for whom I had performed," he explains. "They found confidence in me and drew me out regarding questions of theology and godly living. I realized, at that point, the great responsibility I had with the platform my music had granted me, and that God was confirming my vision and His calling."
Dan also saw that his firsthand understanding of military culture was leading him to focus a majority of his outreach efforts among the deployed. "The experiences of my life all seemed to begin to make sense as God directed my paths toward the overseas military field," he says. "Although I work in other areas, He seems to confirm my calling by constantly preparing me and then deploying me."
Today, a military tour for Dan is a varied experience that encompasses not just interaction with the troops themselves, but of equal importance, ministry to their families. Working with chaplains around the world, Dan performs outreach concerts, at chapel services, and even in homes around the base-the "house concert" being his favorite venue for personal connection with the audience. He also conducts devotions with small groups and preaches on Sunday mornings; he performs and speaks at women's and youth events; and in some cases, he even ministers to troops in forward areas of deployment.
As his itinerant ministry and music continues to unfold, Dan is more certain of his calling each day. "I was given a quote by a man in military ministry when I was 14-years old," Dan recalls. "He said, 'Whom God uses, He prepares, without exception.' I wanted to bring encouragement and spiritual challenge to these unique communities that are filled with people who often feel alone, isolated, and far from home - and my wish was granted!"
Dan's journey continues to grow with his wife, Julie. They went for a year to teach school in Kurdistan, Northern Iraq at The Classical School of the Medes - a Christian worldview school. Dan realizes his need for continued growth and stretching beyond his comfort zones as he trusts the Lord for His provision and guidance each day. He continues to serve with his wife Julie and children: Hope, Corbin, and Silas at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida ministering to the Marines who are in training there leading Bible Studies, discipleship, and coffee discussions.
It's safe to say his passport will be stamped a few more times this year, but as Dan seeks his next adventure, he leaves behind much more than a few songs and stories - he brings Hope and encouragement to forgotten corners of the world where many would dare not tread. And for this troubadour, that's the greatest story of all.
