by Matthew,  Lynden, Washington, USA

by Julie (Pethead Forever)
Southern California

I knew it would be A MATTER OF TIME before Petra would have to retire but my
heart sank when the announcement came that it was going to be this year.  I
didn’t want it to be true and I still don’t want it to be true!  I have been
a Petra fan since I was 15 years old, for 31 years now and have seen them in
concert so many times that I’ve lost count but it’s somewhere between 25-30
at least.  This year has been the most memorable year of all for me, thanks
to the Lord and Pastor Mike Reed of Oceanside Calvary Chapel.  In May we
were not only blessed with 2 days of Petra concerts but we were also blessed
with picking them up from the airport eating meals with them and hanging out
for the whole weekend.  Then in August I received an email from Bob Hartman
asking me to do a collage design for the pick guard for his commemorative
guitar representing 33 years of ministry, and that just blew me away!  I
thought WOW what a blessing to do this for him! Then Bob gave me another
blessing by telling me that the first one he makes was going to me!  I was
speechless…all of this has been beyond my wildest dreams.  Now just this
last weekend I got to see Petra 2 more times and I got the guitar
autographed by them and I will treasure it always!!

Petra’s songs have taught me more than any one else.  Such as we are NOT OF
THIS WORLD, to RUN FOR THE PRIZE, the Apostle’s CREED, to STAND strong, that
the Lord has His HAND ON MY HEART and will never let me go, to have STRONG
CONVICTIONS about the way that I live, to be watchful and ready for the
Bridegroom to come and to keep burning the MIDNIGHT OIL, that we can ENTER
IN His gates with thankfulness and praise, to desire to be the Lord’s
DISCIPLE and that I have the blood of an innocent Man ALL OVER ME.  MORE
THAN A THOUSAND WORDS can’t describe the impact that Petra has had on me or
how much they mean to me.  I will always have a DEEP LOVE for Petra.

I’M THANKFUL that they have inspired me to focus on being a GODPLEASER, to
not give in to the MAGNET OF THE WORLD and to always keep Jesus as my FIRST
LOVE.  They have been my encouragement through all the MOUNTAINS AND VALLEYS
in my life.

When I think of Petra, I think about how they have always represented the
MARKS OF THE CROSS and have always been an example of a BELIEVER IN DEED.

33 years of ministry is BEYOND BELIEF!  They have stood the TEST OF TIME and
have fulfilled their DESTINY.

My PRAYER for Petra is that the Lord will bless them and continue to use
them to bring glory to Him.  And I have NO DOUBT that the Lord will still do
great and mighty things through them.

The Lord has truly given them a SACRED TRUST and they have taken it to the
WHOLE WORLD.  Beyond a SHADOW OF A DOUBT, the fruit of their labor will
continue to grow throughout future generations until we get the INVITATION
to the marriage of the GREAT I AM.

LOVE & SINCERELY YOURS!  Julie (Pethead Forever) Southern California

by Gavin, Perth, Western Australia

by Jeff, Tampa, FL

I have been listening to them for years, since I was 10, now I'm 33! So many of Petra's songs have ministered to me at so many different times in my life. Each new cd opens up more and more different and unique ways of being ministered to, and fresh real ways of being a Christian. Petra has never been stuffy religion, but has always been about REAL relationships with Christ. Petra has always made being a Christian fun, and really shown that the Christian walk was meant to be an abundant life, full of excitement and power."

Jeff (and Carla), Tampa, FL

by Kazz, Darlington, Western Austrailia

  What can you put in motion?

The Petra  band has been a great leader in the contemporary Christian music field for four decades. Also they have been soul winners for the cause of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I wanted to share with you my Petra Band story.

During the spring of 1978, I was asked to host and promote a special music concert at Evangel University. Putting my learning in action from communication's classes, I gave it my best shot! 

The band was a bit of an unknown commodity. They had formed in Indiana five
years prior.  They had numerous band changes, but their early record releases
had gained some wide acclaim in the new contemporary Christian music market!

The band re-formed and I had made friends with Greg X. Volz one of the band
members. We were going to try and pull off a debut concert at the old Evangel
College Chapel building. We put posters together and then asked for a staggering
admission of $1.00!!!!

The night was incredible.  The little chapel was full!  It was affordable for
the students and the community! Almost 1,000 people were there.

The music had an edge, and the musicians played with a passion greater for their
God than their music!  At the end of the concert an invitation was given to come
to Christ.  The front of the old altar area filled with young people.

It has been many years since that $1.00 concert! 

The group has maintained nearly three decades of ministry.  It will be recorded
that they have sung to millions, sold millions more recordings, and most
importantly lead hundreds of thousands to Christ.

The groups name is Petra!  They were pioneers of the early days of "Jesus Rock,"
contemporary Christian music.  More information about the groups history and
current ministry can be found at www.petrarocksmyworld.com, www.petraband.com,
and www.guidetopetra.com.

It all started with five young men from Indiana who had a dream to share music
in a unique way!

I was a young man had a dream to reach classmates and community youth in a
unique way!

It was more than concert when the two dreams merged together, it was a cause!

It's incredible now to think of what that $1.00 admission price set in motion!

The years have past with many concerts to organize with more musical technology,
and higher budgets. The cause still remains! 

Big events for the 21st Century will always begin with taking what you have,
working smart and using it for good.  Jesus said in Luke 16:10,

"He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he
that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much."

The next time you look at a one-dollar bill, remember it is amazing what you can
get with it!

It is a seed.

It is sacred.

It was and is still the admission to put something great in motion!
 

by Johnathan, Lexington, KY

I was born in 1972! Yes I am old. I saw Petra in the 70's  at Icthus. My parents were actually the people to introduce me to the band. But there taste was different and only the slow songs they liked. My fathers favorite was the Coloring Song. My mothers was the doxology,and This Means War! I really think that the later was to make me think that she was cool! They are. I have to say if it wasn't for my parents I would never have known Petra. I was adopted and thank the Lord for that. So really all of Petra's music somehow affects my heart and soul. People say "Petra" I don't like them. Well to me Petra was always real. No sugar coating it. That is why Petra is so special and I always say just listen to the words,go to a concert and listen. Petra had the guts to say it the way that people need to here it. 

Well. the first Petra concert I remember was like 1987 the This Means War tour in Louisville, Kentucky. I had asked for a Bible for my birthday, that is all I wanted. Well I was looking up some scripture and my mother was like (for the life of me I can't remember what chapter she told me to go to but) look in that chapter and the was two Petra tickets! Wow! Well I went to that concert and that is when I really became a pethead!

I remember having the tapes at school and always being proud of having a band as cool as Petra around. Sure we had the bands like Stryper, D&K, and so on but I keep saying there was something special about the ministry of Petra.

People I went to school with when I see them are like do you still listen to Petra? And I am like of course. My brothers and probably the rest of my family are so tired of hearing about Petra. I had the chance to be at the Farewell taping and I told him and his wife that it was not just the music it is the Ministry and they are men after HIS own heart and they just love to tell People about CHRIST!  That is the real reason that I love there music so much.

A few years ago my friend bought a guitar off of Quinton Gibson and we got to spend some time with the band. It was cool. Meagan had never listened to Christian music and she digs Petra. Darron and I did a remake of Graverobber and I really loved being a part of that.  We  have met numerous people from the Petrazone, and at the Farewell taping it was just like being with family/ I can honestly say whatever band has been like that. Sue Dempster (John's manager) has been such a blessing to us!

I do want to ask something of you guys. I get alot and I mean alot of kidney stones and I am usually faithfull I just want you all to Pray over this for me. I Love the Lord with all my heart and want to serve Him and know that there is something Huge that He has in store for my life. Or else Satan would not attack so much. So pray that I will stay strong.