Thomas Dayton

I was born six years into the middle of the twentieth century in Jersey City, New Jersey. My family moved to a suburb near Baltimore Maryland when I was a young child. I have lived in Baltimore most of my life.

I love music, think I always have. Sundays in church as a youth I would bellow out the hymns not really giving any heed. Noticed at times people would turn around and “look” at me as I sang. I noticed my mother would “look” back at them.

I love lyrics in particular. The line, “Going where the weather suits my clothes” really hit me between the ears as a youngster and I thought, ‘You can say it that way’

I learned to play the guitar. Not very energetic about it, but pounded away. I took lessons for about 6 months from a man, (I believe his name was Jake) at Bill’s Music House in a town near by. A “Candy Store” for this hopeful music man!

Time went by and I fell apart. Rebellion as a teenager had me drinking and in my twenties I began smoking “pot”.

In the year 1979 I was hospitalized and diagnosed Schizophrenic. In 1982 I became a Christian through the gospel preaching on the 700 Club by Ben Kinchlow.

In 1983 I attended the seminars in Basic Youth Conflict. I heard the teaching of healing from James and called the elders of my church through my pastor for anointing and prayer. In the 1990’s my diagnosis was changed to Bi-Polar. I look at that as a healing.

My education is 12 years of school and taking the GED test and passing. My work ethic is poor.

In 1993, during a sermon at my church, God the Holy Spirit gave me the go ahead to write songs for the Lord. In 2000, during a sermon again I received what I refer to as a “Timothy” call. When I first came to Grace Bible Baptist my College and Career Sunday school teacher asked me, “What are you looking for here at Grace?” My answer was, “I feel like a Timothy looking for a Paul!” Today I feel the Lord has meet that hearts desire.

I am hoping now to pass to the next generation what I have come to know of the Lord in my life. Numbering my days.