INTRODUCING DAVID RAGAN

BASIC INFORMATION

   I was born October 12th, 1985, in Olongopo, Philippines. My parents are David Ragan, Sr. and Josie Ragan. My mom is a native of the Philippines, which is where my parents met while Dad was in the Marine Corps. They were married there while he was still in the service, and I was born thereafter. Before I was a year old, I was flown back to the United States with my mom to my dad's home in Michigan until he finished his term in the military. I am the oldest of five children: four boys and one girl. Roscommon, Michigan has been my home my whole life until now, and I attended school at Immanuel Christian School from kindergarten through my senior year.

On September 1st, 2007, I asked Michelle Karres of Etowah, Tennessee
~ formerly of Cartersville, Georgia ~ to be my wife;
and on February 14th, 2009, we were married. Yes, that was Valentine's Day,
and no, we did not originally plan for that to be the case,
but The Inspirations called, so we changed our plans!

  I then attended Pensacola Christian College in Pensacola, Florida, for four years. In May, 2008, I graduated with a bachelor's degree in Bible Studies, and during that summer I worked as a Park Ranger for the state of Michigan.

    Michelle and I met at college, and she backs me up 100% in the ministry that I know God has prepared for me. I am blessed that she will be my partner in that ministry. She loves and is very supportive of Gospel Music, and she will be a vital part of the success of my career in the Inspirations.

Pictured below is my family

  
From left to right are: my youngest brother, Tim (16); my oldest brother, Andrew (21); my Mom and Dad, Josie and David, Sr.; That's me behind my Dad, and then my sister Kate (12), and brother, Daniel (20). You may notice that my Dad is in a U. S. Army uniform. In 2005, he re-enlisted and is now serving with the National Guard.

SOUTHERN GOSPEL MUSIC BACKGROUND

    My background in SGM is unusual in that I was not raised on it like so many in the industry were. Growing up in northern Michigan, Southern Gospel was an unrecognized genre in Christian circles and was definitely not a part of our church services. In most cases, SGM was actually looked down upon in the fundamental circles I was raised in. These churches prefer a much more "high church" form of music rooted typically in such conservative Baptist colleges and universities as Bob Jones University, Maranatha Baptist Bible College, and Northland Baptist Bible College.

    Interestingly enough, the Inspirations were the first southern gospel group that I heard -my best friend Nathan Lowe had a tape of "Cry for the Children" that he let me hear in 1999 when I was going into 8th grade. He knew that I enjoyed quartet singing (until then I had only heard barbershop quartets) and that I especially loved the bass part. So he played "Hide Me Rock of Ages" for me, and I was introduced to SGM at that point.

    I fell in love with everything about the Inspirations from that point forward, but I especially loved their bass singer. Mike Holcomb was the only reason I went to see them for the first time in Troy, Michigan in August of 2001. I just wanted to hear the great bass singing in person that I had heard on cassette. When the Inspirations took the stage and began singing, I got bit by the gospel bug BIG TIME, and my life would never be the same. I went home a different person. My three younger brothers and I, along with my friend Nathan Lowe -who had started the whole thing- began singing the Inspirations' songs in church and eventually around Michigan at other churches and different events we were invited to.

    I was 16 when we started singing and I sang the baritone part. My brothers Andrew and Daniel were 14 and 13 and both sang lead. My best friend Nathan Lowe was 15 and sang bass, and at age 9, since my youngest brother Tim's voice had not yet changed, he was singing tenor . Every time the Inspirations came to Michigan, we went to see them; and we even got to sing for them one time. The five of us called ourselves the Messengers and we sang for a little over three years, spreading an a cappela version of the Inspirations to the northern state of Michigan.

    All the Inspirations liked us a lot because we were young and we sang their songs, and that is where our relationship began. A few years later, when I went to college, our group disbanded, with each of the guys pursuing other interests. In college, my love for SGM and the Inspirations didn't wane like my brothers'; rather it grew even more intense. I went to see the Inspirations every time they came to Pensacola, and Martin remembered me from when we saw them in Michigan. He told me to keep in touch with him, and he gave me his number.

    So I did keep in touch. I called Martin every month for three years just to see how everything was going and to update him on what was going on in my life. In May, 2006, at the beginning of the summer following my sophomore year of college, I had the opportunity to fill in as lead singer with the group for a weekend. I realized then what I wanted to do with my life. I knew that I would have to stand on stage with these men someday. I sang with the group here and there after that, filling in or just singing a couple songs. I knew every song they sang because my brothers and I had learned them long ago. When Martin called me in September  In September, 2008, when Martin called about stepping in to fill a void, I didn't have to think about my answer, and I am now the lead singer for the Inspirations.

SPIRITUAL BACKGROUND

    I was born again on June 30th, 1993, in my grandma's back yard. My dad led me to the Lord when I was almost eight years old. I have the classic "quiet" testimony, but I do understand what a miracle it is whenever anyone is saved. I grew up independent fundamental Baptist and have been a member of two churches: Immanuel Baptist Church of Roscommon, Michigan, and Houghton Lake Baptist Church of Houghton Lake, Michigan. I was baptized in March, 1996, and shortly thereafter I surrendered my life to do whatever God wanted me to do.

    As I grew older I began to be aware that God's will for me somehow involved singing, for that was my passion. I have learned that the best way to be used of God is to be empty of self; for "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." All that I have or am is because of Him. I am grateful for the Christian upbringing and grounding that I have received through my parents. They have taught me to depend on the Lord for everything, and for that I am very thankful.

 .RANDOM INFORMATION   My interests include the following: basketball (I played all of high school and four years intramural in college), singing (of course), Southern Gospel CD collecting (I have over 315 already!), airsoft guns, fishing, Bible study, model railroading, Star Wars (I guess that makes me a geek!), and MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS basketball (GO STATE!).

Ron's Note: The Inspirations have another direct connection to Pensacola Christian, even though David was unaware until we told him. The Pensacola Christian Campus Church Pastor, Rev. Neal Jackson, is the grandson of Evangelist Maze Jackson, "The young man with the old message."

     Maze was one of the three strongest influences in the Inspirations' lives, not only as a dear friend, but we were blessed to have him as spiritual counsel and mentor. We know that Neal's dad, Nolan, and grandmother, Dorothy "Dot" Jackson, are thrilled that Neal has followed in Maze's giant footprints, and I wonder if Maze might not be looking down and thinking "Alright, David, you better not let these guys down!" LOL

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