Plays On Word Radio
An in-depth look at the Word of God, the Plays On Word community, and the Plays - with original music - we perform, that are based on the Word of God. New episodes drop Fridays at 7AM EST! To find out how Plays On Word Theater can perform 'LIVE on YOUR STAGE' and to support this missionary & podcast visit: https://playsonword.org/
Plays On Word Radio
Ep 88: Pastor Walter Santos' (Part 2) Transformed by Faith - Stories of Addiction Recovery, Musical Ministry, and Prison Outreach
"Faith transforms lives, turning addiction into service and fulfillment through Christ. Have you ever wondered how faith can be a powerful force for transformation? Today we’ll see prayer, fellowship, and personal stories profoundly impact a life."
Picture this: a life once consumed by addiction now blossoming into one of service and fulfillment through Christ. This episode promises to reveal how grounding oneself in spiritual practices like prayer, fellowship, and witnessing can build a solid rock of faith. Join us as we share heartfelt personal stories and explore the profound impact of roles in law enforcement chaplaincy and other ministries, demonstrating how abiding in Christ and seeking the Holy Spirit's guidance leads to natural fruitfulness and the ability to serve others effectively.
We reminisce about our incredible experiences performing plays like Genesis "JOE" and "CHRISTMAS JOE," and how they brought healing to friends like Ted at Lacey Christian Assembly Church. Balancing life on the road with pastoring is no easy feat, but we draw inspiration from those who manage both with grace. You'll also hear the fascinating story of transforming classic doo-wop tracks to glorify God, a creative journey that has resonated deeply with audiences, including our listeners' fathers. This chapter will encourage you to use your unique background and talents, showing that God can work through anyone, from a butcher to a baker.
Our journey continues into the impactful realm of prison ministry, especially amidst the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Discover how faith has the power to reduce violence and improve the lives of inmates and guards alike. We'll share the joy of Christian Doo-wop music, and highlight the church's annual car show that unites the community with classic cars and the message of faith. Before we close, we offer a heartfelt prayer for ministry growth and divine provision, expressing our gratitude for our global reach and trust in God's sovereign plan. Tune in to be inspired by stories of transformation, creativity, and unwavering faith.
PlayGrounds Guest: Pastor Walter Santos Doo-wop singer for Christ
www.santosministries.org
https://www.facebook.com/santosdoowop
laceyassembly.org
Santos Youtube interview
Addiction Help
Plays On Word website
Plays On Word YouTube
Plays On Word Instagram
Plays On Word Facebook
Email us: team@playsonword.org
or in New Jersey there, I don't have to take that seriously. Check him out I don't live like that man.
Speaker 2:I just can't.
Speaker 1:I don't know how people can treat God like that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it don't work. And you put yourself in such a spot and that's why I loved Calvary Ranch because what had happened was you cut down to the basics and you start over again with those five basics that I mentioned prayer, fellowship giving and witnessing and God rebuilds the house and you do it, you're built on Him, the solid rock, and then, when it comes time for that too especially, you know, with the Holy Spirit, asking for that infilling of the Holy Spirit, and God will use all the gifts and abilities that he's given you, that you were born with and man. You don't have to, you can just rest in him. And my friend, chuck Smith, wrote a book years ago called Everything by Grace. And then you realize, as you abide in Christ, the fruit naturally comes out. You don't have to make it happen. In other words, you can rest in him. His yoke is easy, his burden is light and he does that, whether you want to get married or whether you want to stay single and pure and devote your life to Him.
Speaker 2:What a time to be serving the Lord. I was sharing that last night at Calvary Old Bridge when I was up on the platform talking about 9-11 and how God is. You know it's coming around full circle and you need to be ready right now for anything that can happen at any moment. But as you're rooted and grounded in Him and abide in Him, he'll use you to help others. And that's the key thing is not what's in it for me, as I used to be a drug addict, so selfish, and all I cared about was me, me, me. In fact, that's the ism in alcoholism is I self and me. What a horrible place to be. But as you serve the Lord, it's in the giving that you receive. And as you're rooted and grounded in Him and reading the Word and plugged into fellowship, he'll use you to be a blessing to people.
Speaker 2:That's what I do as a law enforcement chaplain. Today I'm in the United States Secret Service as a chaplain for the law enforcement agents and also with Homeland Security. Whatever comes down the pike, god wedges me in there and he allows me to be a blessing to people. To look at it from my perspective, and I don't have to hawk it. They open up to me. How do I get help? And I tell them about what happened in my life, because if you want to know the road ahead, like I said, talk to somebody coming back. So I've got all that behind me now. Now I'm 74.
Speaker 1:I'm old man, I may be old but I ain't old, got a lot of wisdom in there. Yes, hey, I learned that from you. We had breakfast a few years back and you were like, yeah, man, when you want to know what's going, talk to somebody on the way back. Man, talk to somebody on the way back and.
Speaker 2:I didn't even that's right.
Speaker 1:And you came and you asked back and, uh, I didn't even that's right. And you came and you asked me I didn't even know I'd be pastor and I didn't know the church, though, at you know, at that time, um, I was, yeah assistant pastor.
Speaker 2:God was preparing you. Yeah, god was preparing you, ted, and you're right on target today. Your plays are so beautiful. When you came to our church and you did those plays you touch so many hearts because you make it viable and real. You're bringing into today's culture, but yet you're still sticking to the word. So I would encourage anybody listening to get a hold of ted for those plays, because they're essential.
Speaker 1:We came out on uh, resurrection morning, uh, I think two years in a row, and uh and that's right pete play we. And I believe I don't know we did genesis joe. I think we did genesis joe there, I think yeah I don't know, did we ever do christmas? Yeah, I don't know if we might have even done christmas, joe, I don't know oh, you did christmas, joe. You did christmas, that's right, we still and people love that how's my buddy ted doing, how's, how's he doing?
Speaker 2:oh, he's doing good, he's growing in the lord, and he's opening up you know, he had a lot, a lot, a lot of war, wounds, yeah yeah, and god can reach in and touch anybody when they carry all that burden with them. He can lift it off of them, but he'll never kick the door in. He waits for us to say I need you, jesus, come in he really appreciated the the p play.
Speaker 1:I remember specifically we talked for a while after and he was just a blessing to me with his words.
Speaker 2:But yes it was.
Speaker 1:You know. The plays were fun. Thank you for allowing us to come out and do that.
Speaker 2:And we're not done yet.
Speaker 1:We might be pastoring a church, but we're still touring. We're going to come back.
Speaker 2:We're going to it's all part of the journey. We're going to come back.
Speaker 1:We're going to it's all part of the journey. We're going to come back and maybe, off the air, I'm going to get some more pointers on how to juggle being on tour and pastoring at the same time, because that's a challenge. That's a challenge, but I keep saying hey, Santos is pulling it off.
Speaker 2:Keep me on speed, dial brother. Keep me on speed dial.
Speaker 1:Santos is pulling it off. Keep me on speed dial, brother. Keep me on speed dial. Hey, I need to put a poster of you up because, well, Santos is pulling it off, If I can do it you can do it.
Speaker 1:Amen, amen. So that brings me around to my next question. As far as you know, you were talking about using the gifts that god has given you and, uh, using what he's, uh, what your life has been all the good, bad and ugly have led up to what you're doing right now and what the lord has called you to do. Um, how, how do you, how did you find yourself flipping doo-wop tracks? How did that come about, man? I mean, because that's like you using your gifts as a vocalist and music producer and understanding music. And then, all of a sudden, now, whoa, it's not secular, he's glorifying God. Wait. And before you even answer, I just got to say this uh. And then, all of a sudden, now, what it's? Well, it's not secular, he's glorifying god with it. Wait.
Speaker 1:And before you even answer, I just got to say this you came to our coffee house. We did over in living water. Back, I want to say 2017, I think it was. And, uh, my, my father, um, god rest his soul man, he, he, he, he was so like I could do a hundred songs and he'd be like, yeah, it's okay, but you spoke to his soul man because it was like his generation. All of a sudden, he knew the music you were singing and yet it was flipped to glorify god, and I'll never forget that and I'm always so grateful, uh, to you for that, because it was such a blessing for him to come out to church and and he left on cloud nine because of that yeah, and then that happens a lot.
Speaker 2:You know, especially I go to southern california and the chicanos out there love the oldies man. I mean they got radio stations happening. I got a lot of friends that are artists, that are old, old school r&b, mc boulevard, and you can go on youtube and type in mcvard, little, willie G and Sal Perez.
Speaker 1:Holy Rollers.
Speaker 2:Holy Rollers and they're all doing gospel Holy Rollers. Go on YouTube and type in Holy Rollers. They cover the gamut of Christian oldies and it's a whole subculture there and it's beautiful because the Lord's in it. But in New York, before that happened, god just spoke to my heart because growing up that was in my DNA. I grew up singing those oldies on the street corner.
Speaker 2:Those oldies but, goodies remind me of you. Those were the songs on the radio back then and I always loved that music. And if you come to the Lord and you have a desire or a burden in your heart, you talk to the Lord about it and God will make that happen. He'll use you where you came from and you don't have to be something that you're not just be in Him. And so God put that desire in my heart and then Dion lit the fire in me, because he was, you know, dion was part of that oldie culture too, and we decided to do it as fishing bait, you know, to bring the gospel into it.
Speaker 2:So I got with a producer in LA and we started doing those CDs Street Corner Symphony and it was beautiful because I would go to those people that can identify with my life, people like your pops, who grew up on the streets and knew the soul culture and you heard those gospel lyrics in it. God lit a fire in his heart and that's what I pray for before I go out. I ask the Holy Spirit to bring those people in. And now I even get young kids that even grow up in that culture and they like the music and they start asking me questions and they're drawn into it. But the Holy Spirit does all that. So, as you surrender to the Lord and allow Him to use you, whatever your gift or ability might be you might be a butcher maker or a candlestick maker, but when you love the Lord, he'll bring out that talent in you and use it for His glory. So it's so beautiful, and music happens to be the language of the heart, so you reach people right there.
Speaker 2:I remember going to Rikers Island and singing to all these inmates and I started doing this Oli song and you could see them and they were just like what's that? And before you know it, they started hearing the gospel lyrics and God opened up a whole new door in their life and they identified with it and loved it.
Speaker 1:That's opened up a whole new door in their life and they identified with it and loved it. That's what god will do with it, isn't that beautiful amen to that man. That's, that is awesome, I uh. It's funny too, because the younger generation, my, my buddy tim, he's down to college right now, uh, and he, um, he, he's, he, he's like him, and his buddy are, I mean, maybe 21, 22 if that, uh, but yet they, they were like digging on old soul music from the 70s and whatnot, and and and yeah, sam and Dave, I'm a soul man.
Speaker 1:So it's like, uh, it's new, to some people it's new and and I just think that's fantastic you said Rikers Island man. So tell me and you might have to think about this what are, if you could give us one or two of some of the most impactful, meaningful ministry experiences? And that's a tough one, because if somebody asked me that I'd be like wait, I let me. Well, I gotta think there's just I've got one right now for you.
Speaker 2:Oh, man, yeah, and unless december, you know, from rikers island I go down to uh, mississippi, and uh, first of all, I went to angola state prison in louisiana the bloodiest prison in america. Before burl kane, the warden took over and brought the bible in and today it's a Bible college. And so I went there and God lit my fuse to see what the gospel can do. The broken men that were violent, that didn't have no direction, and the Bible came in and they started learning and being transformed by Jesus. Today Burl Kane is the head of commissions in the state of Mississippi, and so he invited us down last December and we went into a few prisons down there and he gave us carte blanche, in other words, we should go into the prison with whatever we want to bring in. So we brought in sound systems and we brought in all kinds of Bible teachers and we did a festival in there. So this year we're going back and we went to death row. He gave us access to death row with 30 inmates on cap ready to die, and we went in there with the gospel and gave them a last minute life preserver and we could see the Holy Spirit just moving. And some of those guys have been executed since then. But they how you start the race, it's how you finish, and people were coming up to the finish line.
Speaker 2:So I'm going back this December to Mississippi and we'll be in Parchment in the middle of Mississippi. That's one of the largest prisons there, which has now started the Bible College and they're learning the Word of God and they have families and people that come to visit them and they spread that love to their families. So that's what happens with the Bible and the gospel it goes out and it affects everybody. And that's what's happening now, in these crazy times that we live in, the whole world's basically in prison. A lot of them don't even know it.
Speaker 2:The prison is your mind, and so God comes in and he renews everything. That's why we need to trust Jesus with that same life-giving message that we heard all these centuries that Jesus saves and he does. And that's why I love going to prison, because, number one, I have a captive audience and, number two, they've been beat up, tore up from the floor, beat up from the seat up, and they're ready to listen to some good, good truth, and the truth will set you free. So's it, and you and I wanted to say you have a gift, ted, and you ought to use it. You got that soul in your heart and when you start singing, that comes out, so keep doing that. No matter where you are, keep singing your thing, amen.
Speaker 1:We uh, yeah, it's. It's funny you say that about, about prison, that that was your, because, when I think about it, some of the most meaningful experiences were in prison, uh, in jail type situation where we were ministering, in fact, covid put the hurt on us being. We haven't been in since right before. The last time we were in was the in december of 2019, right before covid hit, and we were supposed to continue going into jails and prisons and they shut us down. And I've been reaching out. So I tell you what send me your guy's contact, because I would love to reach out to him. We're down south now. It's a hop, skip and a jump. We'll drive over.
Speaker 2:Yeah, there's enough going on right in your state. You just need one contact. I'll ask my friend if he knows anybody in South Carolina. Burl Kane probably does, because he's involved with a whole fellowship of prison wardens and they heard what happened in Mississippi and they were saying to Burl what are you doing?
Speaker 2:down there. We want to do that here. You know why? Because when the inmates get saved and start worshiping the Lord, the violence in the prison goes down and it's easier on those prison guards that want to go home at the end of the day. So it makes common sense to trust God with your life.
Speaker 1:The gospel makes things better, man, it just makes things better, just all the way around, All the way around, and this isn't even the final quarter, the final product. You know, this is just on this side of glory. There's all kinds of still pain and trouble, but when that trumpet blast happens, it's going to be boy. We have no. What is this description? No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind can conceive of how good it's going to be. What the Lord has prepared because we can't even imagine that song has prepared because, that's right.
Speaker 1:We can't even imagine. We can't even imagine that song. I can only imagine we can't even imagine that's. That's what paul's saying, no you can't imagine that's right how awesome this is going to be no, I have seen no ears heard the incredible things. God's prepared, that's it, that's it, man, and so you know I'm I'm looking forward to that, but the amazing thing is that on this side of glory he still gives us things that we can get joy in and excitement, like Christian doo-wop yeah.
Speaker 2:And you can pick that up on the website too, santosministriesorg. There's some of that music available on there, and Holy Rollers on YouTube has got that Doo-Wop edition number four on the Holy Rollers hit list Number four on YouTube. You can listen to some of that gospel doo-wop. All right.
Speaker 1:Slam some of that. We're going to play that in the music section, but we had to do our interview section. You know we had to do like Casey Kasem or.
Speaker 2:You do a good job, don.
Speaker 1:Cornelius.
Speaker 2:Yeah, cousin Brucie on Sirius XM, channel six or five, he does that. He was talking to Tommy James and the Shondells the other night and you know that song, crystal Blue Persuasion. So, yeah, crystal Blue Persuasion. And so he asked Tommy where he got the inspiration for that song and he said the Book of Revelation, nice, about heaven. I said, boy, that puts that song in a whole new perspective now. Oh yeah, look over yonder. Yeah, what's that you see?
Speaker 1:I love it. I love it, man, amen. Do we have a? Is there a new Santos album on the way, or are you working? On anything new, any new projects? Have you exhausted every doo-wop song there is?
Speaker 2:Well, when I became a pastor, it was like, wow, that was the right turn. That took me into the pit stop and I had to go back to the woodshed. I'm in the woodshed every day with the word of God. So, yeah, eventually, when God guides, he provides. So he'll take care of that. As I trust in him, I don't have to make things happen.
Speaker 1:There are many people that probably want to hear more. We're going to we're going to blast out a bunch of your tunes on the uh, the next program, but this um uh, if they want to, you know, either download or get some of the songs you have. I guess we'll provide a link You're going to send us. You give me a link and I can put it up there.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's so, so easy. Santosministriesorg on the web Cannot beat it.
Speaker 1:That's fantastic.
Speaker 2:That's it. And Santos Ministries on Facebook.
Speaker 1:Amen, okay, perfect. Yeah, did you guys have a car show this year at the church?
Speaker 2:Yes, we sure did, and it grew bigger than the one last year. People love them, old cars, america's- car crazy.
Speaker 1:No doubt Now did you do some music also.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, I always do the music. We have fun. I bring in a couple of singers, they sing with me and we just love on the people, give them a festival of life with food, the gospel and my friend, Barry McGuire, who owns McGuire's Car Wax. He's the car guy. He sent me a bunch of his books because he has a ministry called Ignite and it's all about revival outside the walls, about being a witness for God. He teaches people how to share their faith and you can win somebody the Lord just by sharing your faith. Real simple, it's not complicated. So, Ignite, your Life is the book and you can get it anywhere. It's a great guide on how to share your faith and if we ever needed to share our faith, we need to do that today, right now, with what's going on, Because it's Jesus and it's all about him. So the car show is a big draw for the community.
Speaker 1:We get the love on that. So we have we have a lot of pastors that listen to this program and if they wanted to have you come out and do your thing. I mean, actually we didn't even really talk about what your thing is. Let me just explain. Santos will come out and he does, uh, like you don't need a whole bunch of other artists. He, he comes out. Uh, we did the coffee house and I was like all right, we're gonna have santos come out and I had seen him before at john dorante's. Uh, well, that's not the name of it's jersey shore calvary chapel. It's not john dorante, it's not like arthur tricher fish and chips. You know john dorante's jersey shore calvary chapel. It's not like Arthur Tresor's fish and chips. You know John Durante's Jersey Shore Calvary Chapel. It's not that it's Jersey Shore Calvary Chapel, but our dear brother, our dear brother, john, please forgive me John.
Speaker 1:He is literally shaking his head right now, as he's listening. He's shaking his head.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but he loves it. That's the main thing.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no doubt he's sipping a coffee, shaking his head, but yeah, I saw you there and I was like man, this guy's got, he's got an iPad, a speaker and a mic.
Speaker 2:You don't need much, you just need the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 1:And you brought a concert. That was incredible. So we had you come out to the coffee house and it was such a blessing. People talked about it, they're still talking about it, and that was 2017. They're still talking about it and that was 2017. So, if there's, you do a concert with testimony and there is, there is even an invitation. If you don't know Jesus Always and that's that's the thing I really appreciate it, because you know, when I do the plays, we don't take for granted. God told me a long time ago don't take for granted, don't assume. You know who's saved and who's not. You delivered a message. Even if there's one person, you delivered the gospel message. Everything you do, that's right. So that's what we do. But if a pastor wanted to maybe have you come out or get some more information, I highly recommend it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, just call me up, man, I'll give you the loadout, it's not hard.
Speaker 1:You're still touring right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I still do it. We work it out. I try to get as many as I can into the year. I'll be in Hartford, Connecticut, in a few weeks at a Jacob's Well. It's a very New England coffee house but it's very popular. And God brings me out to Samantha's Little Bit of Heaven in Long Island. And then I go to California and I do car shows for the.
Speaker 2:Chicanos, yes, san Diego, los Angeles. I was just in South LA with my friend David Trujillo. It's a war zone, but he has a church in the middle of it and we bring the gospel. And then all these draw people in, so they could hear the gospel.
Speaker 2:That's why I call it Fish and Babe. But I'll go anywhere and, like I said, I'll be in Mississippi in December and God opens so many doors where I can go and share. All I have to do is come and we talk about the particulars, about what it costs to get me there. It's not a lot of money. I always go for the love of the Lord, but God provides, you know, and takes care of the details. So if we can work out a date, I'll come in and be a blessing to the people there and I always share my testimony because of what God has done for me and he'll do that for anybody, whether you're up and out and down and out, and then a Sunday service. I also do worship. I recorded a CD with Franklin Graham's worship team and we do all the hymns Great is thy faithfulness, how great thou art, and so many good songs, and I did a Southern Gospel album.
Speaker 1:Because I'm eclectic.
Speaker 2:I love different styles of music.
Speaker 1:I think I might have the one with the hymns, but the problem is I moved and since I moved, things are like in my library behind me. I'm still unpacking boxes. Is there any way to get? I know the feeling. Is there any way to get any of that music Like? Is it online or do I have to order a CD from you?
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know I try to get everything online as best as I can, but you'd have to get me to send you something and that's how we could do that. But when I show up it would be like last night Lloyd had me do. Great Is Thy Faithfulness. Written in 1923 here in New.
Speaker 2:Jersey by Thomas Chisholm. Great is thy faithfulness. Great is thy faithfulness. We were singing about the faithfulness of God even through 9-11, how God is there and rebuilds our lives and meets every need that we have. That's why I love the old hymns, because they're so rich in God and what the Lord can do. It's so beautiful. Music is the language of the heart.
Speaker 1:Well, before we close out, do you have something you want to sing to the audience, just so they can hear? I hate to put you on the spot, but you're the one guy that needs nothing. You don't need anything, you can just go, man. So I know you have something, let's hear it, man.
Speaker 2:Yeah Well, I couldn't think of a better song to close out this session with than the Christian National Anthem. And this is it. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I'm found. Was blind, but now I see. Was blind, but now I see. Thank God, I can see. See him in all his glory.
Speaker 1:Amen, Amen. Close us out with a prayer brother.
Speaker 2:Lord, thank you for this session. I thank you for my brother, ted, that you have him on order right now and he's on station serving you. I pray you meet every need that he has. Thank you for this ministry that goes out all over the world on the Internet and it reaches hearts. We pray that people would tune in, however they do it, on whatever platform, and they would hear this and it would do a work in their heart, that they would give their life to you or, if they've been backslidden, like I was, they would come back to you and father, I pray that you would meet everybody's needs because it's in you we live, breathe and have our very being, especially in the times that we're living in, that could change in a heartbeat.
Speaker 2:There are people with their finger on a trigger for a nuclear bomb which could change the whole world, but we don't look at that. We look at you, lord, because the Bible says it's not coming apart, it's all coming together according to your plan. So thank you for Ted, and this ministry plays on word. Father, god, meet every need that they have and let that little fellowship down in Carolina grow in you and light a fire in that community that will burn bright, especially in these last days, in Jesus name Amen.
Speaker 1:Amen, amen, amen, amen. All right, my brother, we love you. Thank you so much. Give your wife a hug from us.
Speaker 2:And we hope to see you soon.
Speaker 1:We're going to try to get up there soon. We just. You know you understand more than most people.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and God knows the date. So trust him, yeah, and give Katie a big hug. All right, man Love you much, God bless you. God bless you bro, Love you bro.
