Greg McDougal and his family began in full time music ministry in 2007. It all started as a special cause and need in their lives, But God eventually turned it into a great desire to go and tell of just how real He is through it all!
Greg and Diane moved to Nashville, Tennessee to be in the Country Music Business in 1992. In 1997, Atlantic Records Recording Artist, John Michael Montgomery recorded one of Greg’s songs, and it seemed as if Greg and Diane were living a dream. In 1998, they had their first of 4 children, but with three of their four children diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis, life got complicated. It was clear that God had different plans than the ones Greg had been chasing. Greg walked away from a promising career in music and spent the next seven years as a home repair carpenter.
This family will tell you that this is when they first began learning how God takes the years that the locusts have eaten and makes them new. He redeems all things through Christ!
It was during this season that God led Greg to record a life changing and award winning CD called The Work of a Carpenter. Because of this project, so many lives across the country and around the world, have been touched by their story of faith, love, and determination for the sake of their children.
In 2007, Greg recorded a follow up project called ‘Try a Little Kindness’ that featured many special guests in duets with Greg including: Tammy Cochran, The Bellamy Brothers, The Oak Ridge Boys and others. In 2009, Greg responded to God’s call to Preach the Gospel as well as sing it. From 2010 through 2019, Greg has been twice named The Inspirational Country Music Awards Music Evangelist of the Year, Musician of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year. As he speaks, sings, and plays his Martin guitar, you will hear of forgiveness, faith, family, and how God indeed redeems all things through Jesus Christ.
There was a time that his family travelled with him. (By the way they won ICMA Youth in Music Award in 2013 and 2014.) But in 2019, their 19 year old son, Sean, went home to rest with God. This led to a new season at home for the others while Greg continued on.
The McDougal Family has been involved in over 2200 events in the last 15 years. Singing and preaching in churches of all sizes from New Mexico to North Carolina. God has given them favor everywhere they have been, and He has grown this family, especially Greg, because of it.
Years ago, I co-wrote a song entitled, “What the Lord Gave Me To Do” with a fellow songwriter Wyn Varble. The song is about a father explaining that taking care of his child, as well as what he did for a job to make a living, are the things that God gave him to do in this life.
I have gotten to see this theme be a revelation to some and a confirmation to many others as they heard it. We have been “fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:14 )
We have each been given gifts in this life by God and He has allowed circumstances that, He knows, will be part of a refining work in our lives for His good purpose. As believers, we are saved by the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.
There is a responsibility we inevitably realize as we walk in this saving grace. People are watching to see that the Word of God, indeed, makes a difference in our lives. We’ve been “bought by a price” (1 Cor 6:20) and “grafted into the family of God” (Rom 11:11).
We’re it!
As “ambassadors to Christ” (2 Cor 5:20) we are “to bear good fruit” (Matt 7:17) and represent well.
That is what the Lord has given us all to do.
People often ask me what do I do for a living during the week. For the last 18 years, God has kept me on a ‘short tight leash’ What I mean by that is God has had such specific purpose in this calling on my life. I’m sure that many of us have thought of ministry as something that we are doing for the Lord. Only to discover it’s all about what God is doing for us. The work that He is doing in our lives.
He has placed in me a drive to stay on the phone to keep the schedule full as He has provided every step of the way. A longing to get to stand up in front of people to tell of just how real He has shown Himself to be and wants to be in our lives. I do get to be home 40 to 50% of the time. There is always more calls to make, work to do on the RV, repairs at home and for the last 4 or 5 years, I’ve been doing benevolent type projects to help other families with home repairs, wheelchair ramps, auto repairs, etc.
It has become a unique part of the mission for our ministry. We also included, in the mission statement of our 501 C3, our desire to get to visit other families who find themselves in the hospital with their child, and when possible, give them a cash gift to encourage them in their struggle and sort of stand in the gap.
That is what so many have done on our behalf over the years and we simply get to pay it forward. There is always more things to get done than there is time and energy to do. In my mis-spent youth, time and energy was wasted on self indulgence. I am so thankful that He intervened and gave me something way more worth doing.
Let’s journey together as God does His perfect work in our lives. Also stay updated on how He is working in the ministry.
