The Prodigal Comes Home: My Story of Failure and God's Story of Redemption
A painfully honest story of human weakness and God's unending forgiveness.
Thirteen years ago, amidst scandal, sin, and shattered lives, Michael English fell from the pinnacle of the Christian music world. In 1994, newspapers around the world blared the headline, "Gospel Singer Named Artist of the Year Turns in His Awards After Confirming He Had an Affair with a Fellow Married Singer." From 1994 to 2002 Michael English's life went from bad to worse. Public shame, divorce, broken relationships, drug addiction, even homelessness. But in 2002, God reached out and rescued Michael from himself. Today Michael is whole again, and in this book he tells his story of redemption.
Reviews (205)
wow! I am crying like a baby
This is just amazing. I was working at a Christian bookstore in 1993 when the news of the affair broke. As stated in the book, we pulled everything related to Michael out of the store. 25+ years later, I recall being so angry that the Christians were being anything but Christ-like. Still bugs me...perhaps more now. I had no idea how much this poor man had been through (Ed!!!! UGH). His humanity took over, and he lost it all, except for a few dear friends. I was very glad to read that. I assumed Bill Gaither did what everyone else had - abandoned a friend and fellow believer when he fell below rock bottom. I haven't read a book from cover to cover in about 15 years because of executive functioning problems in my brain. I finished this book in two days!!!!! I've already started reading it again.
This is a GOD thing
I have listened to Southern Gospel all of my life. I grew up on the same “soundtrack” as Michael and I understand the dynamics of Christians who claim the faith vs. those who walk the faith. When reading the reviews on this book, one reviewer called the book bad... I wanted to read it all the more. This book is anything but bad. This honest account of one man’s struggle is real life. Life can be ugly and horrible, but with God, life can be beautiful even in the ugliness. I find it absolutely refreshing to read the honest struggle and the determined pursuit of finding and accepting God’s grace, favor and guidance through addictions that many of us know very little about. This book shows that one small decision can affect so many facets in ones own life, not to mention the lives of others. I am highly recommending this book. We are ALL sinners saved by grace. Michael is no different and is one brave heart to bare his life for all to mock or embrace. I choose the latter.
Divorce, Drugs, Detox and Divine Redemption
Having been a fan of Southern Gospel music since childhood, and marrying into a family of local Southern Gospel Quartet “royalty,” I was no stranger to the twisted tale of Michael English’s fall from Grace. I didn’t know the specifics, just that there was a woman, a divorce and some drugs and eventually he came back to where I knew him best, on stage with Bill Gaither, the Vocal Band and the Homecoming Friends. I devoured this book in one day. I found myself watching Michael’s performances one afternoon and thought to myself, surely there’s a book about his struggles. Sure enough, a google search produced this title, and before I knew it I was hip deep in Michael’s story. In this autobiography Michael takes us from his tumultuous childhood in North East, North Carolina, a town he says was so small it didn’t warrant a name, only a direction, through the beginnings of his gospel music career, his big breaks, the height of his stardom, the depths of his despair and at last to the glory on the other side. Michael opens the book with a vivid, terrifying description of what drug detox is really like, and in later chapters he goes into great detail about his drug habits. His $400 a day painkiller addiction. He talks about the affair that brought down his superstardom, ended marriages and ruined careers. He dives into deep childhood trauma, abuse, addiction, a feeling of worthlessness. He tells us about his mistakes, and bears his heart, never sugarcoating or trying to justify his actions. He simply tells it like it was, and is, and makes it quite clear that the old song is true: “I’m not perfect, I’m just forgiven.” For fans of Michael English, or for anyone looking to read a true account of a life redeemed, this is 5 stars! Michael English stands today as a true testament to the will of God, to the life altering power of the love of God and to the purity of a heart mended, and is once again a powerhouse performer in the rhealm of Christian and Gospel Music.
I love Michael English's voice..
What I didn't realize was the trials and tribulations that he has been through in his life. Reading the book gave me a lot more insight into what all he has been through and a lot more respect for the man. I actually enjoy hearing his performances now knowing all he has allowed God to bring him through. My only reason for the 4 star ( instead of 5) is since Sandy Patti came out with her 1st ( and subsequent others) there seems to be a rush from all these singers and stars to publish a book and sometimes it feels ( not in this particular book) that some are doing it just to revive their dying career. And although as I said, I don't think that is the case with this book, I am cynical enough to withhold a star just in case. Other than that, it is a good read.
Will He Reach Down for Me Too?
I read a few pages and then hid the book because I thought I couldn't relate to the experiences. Bothered by the intense personal reaction, I picked it up again but could not put it down. I found it deeply disturbing because it reflected the depth of my pain, despair and isolation that I carried for so long. And when I realized that I could not appreciate the depths from which this child of God ascended to experience the redeeming Love of Christ if it were not for the courage to be completely transparent, I then realized that his testimony was a message to me. There were many details that as a healthcare professional, the truth of which I could validate and also appreciate the enormity of God's mercy. Individuals who have never walked the road cannot testify effectively of the breadth of God's Love nor His enduring desire for us to return home. Reading this book broke through every wall that I had hid behind and encouraged me to just reach past the pain to the real and true Father. Shortly after reading this book that upset my tidy but simmering emotions, I had a life-changing encounter with My Lord. For God, You bent down and lifted Michael up, would you do that for me too? It was the story of wandering into the wilderness & the degree to which God has gone to redeem us that pierced more than 42 years of demonic lies and darkest depressive bondage that was barely circling the drain. Now I don't wonder how much longer before I make my final descent or whether I should give the enemy a helping hand, I am restored and living in His Love. How could I have believed that God would welcome others & not myself? I pray that God will continue to minister through Michael English, there are so many who need to be reassured of His saving Grace.
A Place Called Hope
This is an in-your-face, eye-opening story of a man who was at the top of the music business with an incredible singing voice, and then hit rock bottom, before he was able to find his way back. I give Michael English all the credit in the world for not sugar coating anything that happened. The story couldn’t have been told any better. I read it in two sittings. This book will appeal to musicians and music fans alike. If not properly grounded, fame can be a dangerous thing. Also, putting an actor, sports figure or artist, yet alone a Christian artist, on a pedestal can be heartbreaking as they are human and no less susceptible to temptation than the non-famous person. Michael English had it all and shortly after sweeping the Dove Awards was basically blackballed from the Christian Music Industry. Radio stations banned his music and Christian book stores removed all his recordings from their shelves. An extra-marital affair caused an avalanche of chaos in Michael’s life, going from one bad decision to another. I was a fan of Michael at the time the news of the affair was made public and the reaction from the Christian community made me question my own belief and whether I wanted to be associated with a judgmental group of people that were anything but Christ-like. After all, I made my share of mistakes with drugs and a bad marriage. Even after I had my conversion experience in 1982, I continued making bad choices. Belief in Christ by no means makes you perfect. All we can do is learn from our mistakes, even if it means going through hell before we get it right. God will never truly abandon anyone who seeks his help. This book explores Michael’s childhood, his relationship with his parents and how he became a Southern Gospel Singer and then a CCM artist. There are things in this book that will surprise you and perhaps shock you. To me, it showed guts for Michael to bare his soul the way he did. You get a taste of Michael English the person as opposed to Michael English the artist. Even in Michaels’s darkest hour, the God that I believe in did not turn away from him when others had already written him off. Michael has a God-given talent and his music was and still is being used to minister to others, even when Michael didn’t think it did and he was sort of just going through the motions. The music business can be a crazy and dangerous way of life. It’s not all glamour and the charmed life that you may think it is. I know, as my wife is a singer/songwriter and plays guitar and I’m exposed to behind the scenes of what the average fan doesn’t see or hear. So, I applaud Michael for his courage with telling his story, which I found extremely fascinating. It shows that no matter what there is still a place called hope.
Michael English doesn't hold back.
I found this book to be very open and honest. He really takes us through his life until now and doesn't hold back (as far as I can tell) on anything that's happened to him. His conversion was a lot like mine in that it was more out of fear than love. It has taken me a long time to reconcile my salvation because of this and it seems he struggled with this also. You could tell from his childhood why he had many of the problems he did. It was difficult to read some of the things he put himself through and the choices he made. Woke me up to the sin that goes on in all areas of entertainment, the Christian market being no exception. As Michael said, we are human beings and not free from temptation, just need to run from it and keep running. I would encourage reading this if you need the encouragement that comes from going to the bottom of the pit --- and learning through Michael's story that God never quits on us, we just quit on God, but He's always there to offer us hope and Himself. I feel sad that Michael had to go through what he did, but if it brought him to where he is, that's the uplifting part of the story. I am old enough to be Michael's mother, but I was just getting to know his music when he fell from grace. He is definitely one of my favorites, he has a voice that can only be God given. And it seems like now, after all the pretense, he has truly learned to sing for the GLORY OF THE LORD. Keep looking up Michael English so we can always appreciate your God given talent.
A Remarkable Story of Sin, Grace, and God's Pursuit of His Children
This book came out almost four years ago, so why read and review now? Well sometimes I like to read books that are older that perhaps I wanted to read in the past but never had the chance. The backstory is that my wife and I attended a Gaither Homecoming a few weeks ago and I heard Michael English share his story of redemption live. I had the chance to meet Michael afterword. There was something about hearing his story that provoked in me the desire to hear more about it beyond the news clips and assumptions and gossip I'd heard when his issues were in the news. So while my wife was using the restroom at the concert during intermission, I used the Amazon app on my iPhone to buy a used copy of the book. Then I read it in a couple of days. What I found in English's story was far different than I expected. When Michael fell from grace in the 90's due to an affair with another singer, I reacted with the typical mix of judgement and anger. I castigated all of contemporary music as one big fraud. Then when he continued to make the news with arrests and other behavior, that added more weight to my opinion. So when his book came out in 2008, I sort did an eye-roll. Whatever, now he wants to sing again? When Bill Gaither asked him to rejoin the Gaither Vocal Band, I wondered if this was a good idea. But hearing Michael sing--my wife and I typically watch the Gaither homecomings--and now seeing him life has given me a different perspective. Michael seems genuinely humbled and grateful for his second chance and his life is a picture of God's amazing grace. So I began reading this book with fresh eyes. And I was surprised by the content of the book. This is not a man giving excuses for his behavior, this is a man genuinely repentant, humbled, and full of grace. He is surprisingly candid about his poor choices. offers no excuses or justifications, and is thoroughly sorry for the people he hurt. He's also very honest about the trappings of being a Christian celebrity and how easy it is to hide your real self. It's a gut-wrenching read in many parts. Michael spares no detail in describing his journey through addiction to prescription drugs. He talks of the ups and downs, the fits and starts, the depths to which an addict plunges in his quest to satisfy himself. This is a wonderful book, a remarkable story of God's pursuit of his children, through the mire and the muck. It's a beautiful story of God's great grace in restoring what sin destroys. I highly recommend it.
What a great story!!!
I fought back a few tears reading this book, I have been some of the places Michael has been in, he is so inspiring. What a great and mighty God we have. I pray that Michael will be delivered forever. And like the song goes "The God Of The Mountain is The God Of The Valley. Keep on singing Michael.
The
It was a gift for my sister who is has real understanding of loss. And she has been in hospital for over a month unconscious from complications in surgery. She has had a miraculous turnaround in her condition! She doesn't know it yet because she's still in intensive recovery rehab. But this book comforted her before she went in for her surgery. She had discovered his music a few months prior and wanted everything she could get to complete the story of his life. So it was well received & she will again enjoy his music as well I'm sure.
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