As a devoted father of 5 with 12 grandchildren, Dewayne Gibbs leads his family and his musical followers in songs of worship and praise. Listen now to his latest piece about finding redemption, “I Met the Man with Holes in His Hands.”

“I think the mood you are in will help determine the melody, and when it all comes together and is enjoyed by people around you, satisfaction sets in.”

How does your music writing process work? How can you know that you chose the “right” chord or melody?

I carry a notepad wherever I go, you never know when or where inspiration might hit. After that the word of GOD, and meditation and prayer generally put the sound in my head. The sound of the songs I have created differ, some are Bluegrass, Southern Gospel, Country Gospel, and even some humorous. I think the mood you are in will help determine the melody, and when it all comes together and is enjoyed by people around you, satisfaction sets in.

How did you come up with the concept for this song?

Jesus stayed on the cross because it was the will of the Father, suffering for hours where he was crucified for our sins. After three days, Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to his disciples with holes in his hands, showing them it was him and he was alive. This brings thoughts of praise to Jesus that he should be lifted up in song.

In this piece, you mentioned three individuals: Jesus Christ, Saul, and the vocalist himself. Why did you decide to use Saul and his story as one of the vehicles used to emphasize the greatness of “the man with the holes in his hands”?

Saul was a man of common flesh that persecuted the church of Jesus. People today associate themselves to be like Saul, not yet recognising they to can be forgiven of sins just as Saul that said he was chief of all sinners and became Paul.

In what musical way do you hope your piece might impact listeners?

I believe music gives a song strength and stability, not to mention the word of God tells us in several different books to praise the Lord with song, timbrel, harp, and stringed instruments. The words in “I Met the Man with Holes in His Hands” is a message to people to remind them Jesus died on the cross for their sins and he is alive. I hope this song touches the hearts of the people that hear it, and that they are blessed and feel GOD.