With the Sword Held High by Jerry Corelli

With the help of Billy Masters, the lead guitarist of “The Archers” Jerry’s first song was written and arranged and by High school he had written over 100 songs & formed the Contemporary Christian band Ωmega III. Ωmega III released an album with 10 songs. A year later two songs from the album were released on a 45 LP by Gospel City Records. The songs “King of Kings" and “Through my Eyes" received airplay in and around the Denver area and the band’s popularity kept them busy through the Midwest for the next few years.

Life moves on and most of the members of Ωmega III went on to pursue other careers. Jerry co-founded another Contemporary Christian Band called “Dominion”. But a year later the members of Dominion, although very talented, went on to pursue other careers.

After two bands breaking up, and a short lived attempt at a solo career, Jerry became disillusioned with music. Jerry dropped out of the music scene but he continued writing songs, and pursued everything from self-employment, to college, to being a seminary student.

Jerry saves the life of a little girl!

This article appeared in the July, 1993 issue of Northwest Christian Journal, Renton, Washington. Written by Nick Walker.

Wayne will never forget the phone call he got Friday afternoon. His five-year-old daughter had been strangled in a rest room on the campus of a local community college. Miraculously, she was alive. Perhaps even more miraculously, she was going to be all right.

It was an early morning in May, 1992, that Michelle was on her way to the women's rest room in the cafeteria in a local community college, where her mother was a student. Just before the young girl could go through the door, a stranger snatched her, covered her mouth, and dragged her into a stall inside the adjacent men's room. He started chocking the child.

Moments later, Jerry, another student at the college, walked into the men's room. He saw Michelle's feet sticking out from under the stall. She wasn't moving. Jerry yelled, 'Hey, what are you doing in there?' A man's voice answered, 'Nothing.' Well, I knew something was going on." Jerry peered over the top of the stall and saw the man's hands around the neck of the lifeless little child. "I just yelled out, 'Call 911; get an ambulance!" and the guy ran away. I thought for sure Michelle was gone. She wasn't breathing; I couldn't find a pulse. She was blue."

Being a Christian, Jerry started praying as he began CPR on the five-year-old. After what seemed to Jerry like hours, Michelle started gasping and crying. "That was when I had a real sense that she would be okay," says Jerry. Police found Michelle's attacker within minutes. Wayne vividly remembers seeing his daughter in the hospital.

"Her eyes were bloodshot, blood vessels in her face had been punctured, and I was really hurting for her. I leaned over to here and I said, “The angels are here; there's nothing to worry about.' Her response was, 'I know, and they told me everything would be okay.' I asked her 'Where?' and she replied, 'They're all over the room."

“That proves to me there is a Kingdom of God. A five-year-old could not be able to come up with a statement like that right after such a trauma. I know now that if something happens to me, a loved one, or my children, God will always be there."

Jerry agrees. He takes no credit for saving the girl's life. "I believe that it was all in the hands of the Lord, and I was just an instrument that He used. You can attribute it to a lot of human factors, but when you really look at it, everything points to God.

"The Lord placed Jerry in there," affirms Michelle's father. "He was sensitive to the Spirit. There were four other men in the rest room at that time, but Jerry was able to pick up that something wasn't right". Wayne also sees Gods hand in his daughter's amazing recovery.

"She was up and about playing games and released from the hospital the next day." And although Michelle doesn't like to talk about her incident, her father sees a special joy within his daughter. That has helped him forgive the man who almost took his girl's life.

In the Present:

Jerry writes and sings songs that speak about the everyday peaks and valleys of the Christian walk. Some of his songs are worship songs while other songs speak of the despair of homelessness. Still, other songs talk about life’s seemingly endless road of addictions. Yet, at the center of his songs is Christ.

From singing at Christian Coffee houses to 3 performances on "The Seattle Praise the Lord Show", Jerry sings songs of Praise, Hope, and Encouragement that are reflected in our everyday lives. He is passionate about his music and this can be heard in the performance of every song.

Jerry shares his testimony through every song. His songs are about how God has blessed his life. Jerry has personally felt the good and bad ways of life. He knows where he would be without the Lord's Grace, lost and alone. Jerry’s voice is a gift from God, so he uses it to carry God’s promise and word.

Many of Jerry’s songs ask the listener to re-evaluate their daily walk with Christ. His songs aren’t sugary lyrics expressing an everyday happy blissful walking in the Lord. But, rather meat and potato’s lyrics that deal with our real everyday victories, losses and struggles.

Jerry’s songs are from his own life experiences. Even as a Christian Jerry has experienced homelessness, divorce, addiction, bankruptcy and the list goes on. However, today Jerry ministers in song about how Jesus never left him and how Christ touched and healed his life.

In The Future:

Jerry's newest CD “Righteous Man” was released on March 25, 2006 at “Veritas Olympia”, a Christian Coffee house in Olympia Washington. A CD of original songs dealing with addictions entitled "Shadow Man” is in the works for Jerry’s next Christian CD.

Jerry also enjoys working with other singers, songwriters and bands in the arena of publishing (Corelli’s Music Box, BMI & My Angel’s Songs, ASCAP), recording (Angels Dance Studios), songwriting, and producing new talent.

A FEW PAST PERFORMANCES

Three Television appearances on the Seattle Praise the Lord show ‘2000 ~ 2003’, Worthy Music Ministries (Seattle/Tacoma, WA), HopeFest 99’, Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church (Tacoma, WA), Calvary Chapel Eastside (Everett, WA), Calvary Chapel South (Renton, WA), Algona Days Festival, Auburn for Jesus Festival, RainFest (Forks, WA), The Roxy Theater ~ Solomon’s Porch (Gig Harbor, WA), Bella Luna Cafe, Seattle Center, East Side Christian Church (Tacoma, WA), Rockin’ for Jesus (Seattle, WA), The Original Club Cristo (Seattle, WA), Grace Lutheran Church (Bellevue,WA), Free Coffee House (Everett, WA), Top Hat Coffee Lounge (Burien, WA), Holy Cross Lutheran Church (Spokane, WA) New Life Christian Church (Federal, WA), Algona Community Church, Seattle/Tacoma Christian Singles, Bay Street Diner (Bremerton, WA), Halo Ministries (Tacoma, WA), Calvary Temple (Denver, Co), New Life Christian Church (Federal Way, WA), Inspiring Body of Christ Church (Auburn, WA)

What people are saying about Jerry Corelli...

"Jerry is one of the best. What impresses me most, other than his vivid voice, is that he presents the Gospel message throughout his program." Walt Mead – Club Cristo (Seattle, WA)

"We at Holy Ghost Revival Church really enjoy when Jerry Corelli comes to our Friday night 'Rockin' for Jesus'. His songs inspire us greatly and his music makes us move our feet."

Pastor Mack - Holy Ghost Revival Church (Seattle, WA)

"Jerry has pleased us here at "THE ROXY" with his kindness and love for Jesus shared through his music." Pastor Rick Beaudry - Calvary Chapel (Bremerton, WA)

"Outstanding! Jerry gives a powerful presentation."

Pastor Bowman - Algona Community Church (Algona, WA)

"Jerry has a heart for God." Dustin Bell - KCNC Radio & Crosswalk.com (Seattle, WA)

“His original music and lyrics are delightful, and an incredible testimony is presented through that music! God has gifted Jerry with a spectacular voice and a real talent for reaching people through his music.” Terrilee Bishop – Worship Coordinator – New Life Christian Church (Federal Way, WA)

This past week we listened to the words and original music of Jerry Corelli, an accomplished artist. Young and old heard how, through our struggles, our faith in Jesus Christ makes all things possible. His voice is like listening to crisp and clear ballad from Gordon Lightfoot. Jerry, through his music and words, opens your heart and ears to a positive and uplifting message. "Cowboy Christmas", a single off his latest CD, draws you in to a story of hope and love. Corelli has taken the words and brought to life a meaning that hits home to each and every one of us. Jerry allowed us to see how, even in those difficult times, with Jesus in our lives, the road that lies ahead is always easier with Him.

Thanks Jerry for your wonderful message.

Kent Campbell Club Cristo - Club Manager (Bellevue, WA) Christmas 2004

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