BUNA—In the midst of personal trials and storms, singer/songwriter Micah Tyler clings to Christ as his anchor and shares his struggles during concerts as a testimony of God’s sustaining power.
“A few months ago, we found out that my grandmother has blood cancer. As hard as it’s been to watch her lose her hair as she takes her treatments, her faith has remained intact,” he said.
“A few weeks later, Hurricane Harvey came for my hometown. In two days, 44 inches of rain poured on my house. As we’re in the process of replacing the flooring and re-leveling our foundation, we keep waiting on things to get back to normal.
“Then, just a few weeks ago, we found out that my little brother Daniel has Stage 4 colon cancer. After the shock and the tears, my family is preparing to fight by his side, as he gets ready to start chemo. In the midst of all this, the prayer that I kept praying was: ‘Jesus, can you just change these things? Can you stop the cancer? Can you stop the storms?’ But he’s chosen not to stop these things just yet.”
Tyler hopes the message behind his music will resonate with audiences and draw them closer to Christ for comfort and strength.
‘God, can you change me?’
With the songs on his new album, Different, Tyler emphasizes the theme of Romans 12:1-2 and encourages people to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord so others may see a difference. The title track is in the Top 10 on the National Christian Audience Chart.
“I wrote the song ‘Different’ a few years ago, but I feel like the Lord is teaching it to me in a whole new way right now,” Tyler noted. “I’m finding out that sometimes the best question is not, ‘Jesus, can you change these things around me?’ but rather, ‘God, can you change me so that I can handle the things that you’re walking me through?’
“So, I keep singing and praying and believing the words of ‘Different’ because I know that he is changing me. That’s making all the difference. I want my life to look different because of the difference Jesus has made. I’m ultimately learning to embrace who God has called and created me to be.”
Growing up at Central Baptist Church in Buna, Tyler made his profession of faith in Christ at Vacation Bible School and committed his life to vocational Christian ministry when he was in high school. He went on to serve in youth ministry 10 years before sensing God leading him into an itinerant music ministry.
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“I actually don’t have a strong musical background,” he acknowledged. “No one in my family sings or plays an instrument, aside from an aunt who plays a little piano. I started singing in our little children’s choir, and I played baritone in my junior high band in 7th grade. …
“When I first started serving in student ministry, the youth group needed some music on Wednesday nights. I learned how to play guitar so I could lead with a few students. I served in student ministry for nine years at two churches in the area. In 2011, Genesis Baptist Church in Buna, where I had been serving for six years, sent me out as a music missionary after I sensed God calling me to step out into this new, exciting and unknown adventure.”
Travel full circle
Years later, the opportunity to share the gospel through music has taken his ministry full circle. Tyler now attends Central Baptist Church in Buna with his own family when he is not leading worship for youth camps, conferences and churches around the state.
His satirical music video, “Gotta Love Millennials,” has garnered more than 65 million views and helped him gain national attention.
With a passion to creatively communicate the gospel through songs, Tyler stays focused on his mission and message as he performs concerts around country. Tyler is currently on the “Set Free Tour” with Big Daddy Weave and We Are Messengers.
Whatever the venue, his goal remains the same—to share the gospel through music.
“Any time I get to share Christ with someone, one on one, is the most special experience for me,” Tyler said. “I love being a storyteller from a stage platform, and watching people connect to the message behind the music is what motivates me to keep pressing on towards the goal.”
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