June 11, 2001

Country singer plans free concert
and barbeque in New Braunfels
___By George Henson
___Staff Writer
___NEW BRAUNFELS--Clifton Jansky spent much of his life singing country music while cowboys twirled their cowgirls around the dance floor. Now, if he can use his music to win their hearts for Christ, he'll be the one doing the dancing.
___For the last 12 years, Jansky has been singing music that's still as country as ever, but now the lyrics are solely to glorify God. However, those people who used to come to hear him before he came to know Christ are always on his mind.
___In an effort to reach them, a barbecue and concert will be held Friday, June 15, at the New Braunfels Civic Center. The food will be dished out at 6 p.m., and the concert will begin an hour later.
___The event is geared to reach non-Christians who would not attend a traditional church meeting.
___"I was in country music for 20 years, and I had a lot of folks dancing to my music," he said. "That might give me a chance to reach these people for Christ like no one else can. God has really given me a burden for these people who used to be my fans."
___The event is entirely free, including the meal.
___"The barbecue has been donated, and the concert is free," Jansky said. "Most people outside the church think all Christians do is build these big buildings and then beg people for money to pay for them. I'm going to stand up there and tell them that what I'm offering them they can't pay for--it was paid for 2,000 years ago on a cross on Calvary."
___John Waymer, a member of First Baptist Church in New Braunfels, heard how Jansky had been able to attract more than 600 people to two similar events last year in Uvalde and Boerne.
___He knew that during Jansky's secular career he had played more in New Braunfels than in either of those communities and felt the event would be a good way to reach some of the people who haven't been reached by churches there.
___"Churches have altar calls every Sunday, and for many it's rare when someone comes forward," Waymer said. "So if everybody in the church is saved, we need to find ways to reach those people outside the church who need to know Christ."
___Jansky, a member of First Baptist Church of Universal City, has developed a successful career as a Christian country artist. His single "Heart Transplant" was listed as the top Christian country single in the March Power Source magazine, the magazine of the Christian Country Music Association.
___The story of Jansky's life, though, is one many in his audience can identify with--a good guy whose dreams and life went awry because Christ was not a part of it.
___Jansky was a popular performer in the South Texas dancehall circuit, and his music was played on regional country and western radio stations, his biggest hit being "Amarillo by Morning," later was recorded by George Strait.
___Jansky seemed to be on the cusp of making the big time, making several trips to Nashville and opening shows for Gary Morris, Lee Greenwood, Tanya Tucker, Eddie Rabbitt and Strait.
___The big break did not come, however, and "my childhood dream of performing on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry seemed just out of reach," he said.
___Jansky started performing country music at age 11, and church was not a big part of his family's life. Country music was his guiding force.
___"My mother went to church sometimes, but I had only been a couple of times on Christmas and Easter. I was not a drug addict or an alcoholic. I was a good, moral, respected person who made a good living singing country music. I didn't know that there was more to life than this."
___His good life came crashing down in November 1983 when his band trailer and all his equipment was stolen. Two months later, he went through a divorce, "unaware of God's plan for marriage or my life because no one had ever shared that with me," Jansky said.
___He began attending a home Bible study and at the age of 27 "heard the word of God for the first time."
___On May 3, 1984, Jansky got down on his knees, confessed his sins and made Jesus Lord of his life.
___"I don't know how it happens with other folks, but I got him all the way at once," Jansky said. "My life has been totally different from that moment on."
___He's hoping he'll soon have others singing the same tune.

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