Korn’s lead guitarist Brian “Head” Welch posted a picture of his baptism in the Jordan River from 2005 to commemorate his “spiritual birthday.” He captioned the post with a picture of his baptism on Instagram, “Happy spiritual birthday to me. People thought it was a practical joke, but what happened on the inside of me was no joke at all, and it is just as powerful and secure today, 19 years later!”
The Grammy-winning artist has been vocal about his faith and how God had helped him overcome drug addiction and depression since his conversion, and his recent post was a reminder of how his baptism “symbolized that death to self.” Welch’s post continued, “New life will never be birthed until a death happens; a laying down of one’s pride and egotistical state of mind.”
His post received many positive and encouraging responses, including one from fellow Christian rocker John Cooper from Skillet, who toured with Korn. Cooper replied, “I Love your testimony and your humility. I also love your faithfulness, brother. All for The Kingdom and the glory.” Another follower, the_real_rickhe, wrote, “Yours has been an integral voice in my journey back to the God I was raised on. I was a full-blown Wiccan practicing black magic and lost in addiction. Seeing your change helped call me home. Thank you for being such a strong voice for the Kingdom. God bless.”
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Cooper previously spoke of Welch and his testimony, something he called an “absolute miracle.” He told ChurchLeaders, “He has been a shining light in a dark world, loving everyone he comes in contact with, and he has never been ashamed of Christ.” In another throwback picture going back even further in time to when Welch was on drugs, he posted with the caption, “I’m thankful that I’m not this guy anymore, this is the face of meth and Xanax addiction, but…the ego died, the soul came alive, the true self emerged, VICTORIOUS, back from the dead, it’s never over until we decide it’s over, or unless the addiction wins. It’s our choice!”
Welch initially left Korn when he came to Christ, but later felt God leading him back to the band in 2013. While he admits the “music’s crazy,” he says it comes from a “real and raw place,” and now he wants to use that connection to share the gospel with his fans, as he explained in an I AM SECOND video. “People need hope. There are addictions like crazy in that world. There’s depression. There’s been a lot of suicide stories happening. What better place to be, having the meaning of life that I carry.” Welch said.
He said, “So it’s not the most popular thing to do at a rock concert is talk about Christ. Now I’m doing it because it’s the most realest thing that’s ever happened to me in my life.”