Stephen Acree, currently fifteen years old, started playing guitar at eleven. Since then he has become an exceptional musician. He now plays the piano, as well as the electric guitar, and has made good use of his voice by learning to sing lead vocals and harmony. Furthermore, he is trying to teach himself the fiddle, and is sure to continue learning more instruments as his music career continues.

Stephen’s superb talent in music has led him to join the Fluvanna Baptist Church praise team, where he plays the acoustic guitar and sings. He is also in the national touring band FreedomDrive, where he plays lead electric guitar, and sings background vocals.

“I love music more than I could tell you,” says Stephen during an interview with his band, “however, I love God even more. Music is fun and entertaining, but in the end it hasn’t changed my life, but God has.”

Stephen’s main goal in life is to glorify and enjoy God forever. “If I can do that through music,” he continues, “great, if not I’ll do whatever it is that God wants me to do wherever it is He wants me to do it.”

However, I lost, as many children do, my passion for music as I got older. So it was with surprise that I found myself 9 years later playing bass for FreedomDrive (then known as Chivalry3). It wasn’t long after picking up the bass that I joined the worship band, where I learned most of what I know about music from Barbara Linticum, my Aunt Evie and her sons Dan and Luke Acree, two other members in FreedomDrive.

Five years after picking up my first bass I find myself still playing with the worship band but also coming off of a tour that took our band through Tennessee, Ohio, Wisconsin, West Virginia and of course, Virginia. I’ve been in the studio for two complete CDs, one demo and have now done all the bass for the upcoming album called “The Body”. It has been a fun and adventurous journey.

The most important thing that happened since I was four is that through my parents I have found Jesus. He means more to me now than my music career. In fact He is the reason I even play music. I want to show the world that He is the Savior. And the band gives me the perfect opportunity to go around all over the USA and the world proclaiming Him as Savior of the world. I hope that He will allow me to do this for the rest of my life.

“For almost as long as I can remember I have always had some interest in music. However, it wasn’t until I saw my first concert on a mission trip to New York City at the age of 15 that I decided I wanted to be a musician. The band was a worship team led by singer and songwriter Jeff Scott. I remember being completely amazed at how powerful and moving their music was. I had never heard anything like it.

“After I returned home my life went back to normal, however; I never forgot my experiences in NY. The mission trip as well as the worship had had a profound influence on me, and I continually listened to Jeff Scott’s CD.

“About a year later my brother Luke, who had also been influenced greatly by the music and worship that we had experienced in NY, began learning guitar and writing his own songs. Being a natural musician, Luke became very good pretty fast, and it wasn’t long before he started to teach me how to play. From there the idea of starting a band came pretty naturally.

“Since I had natural rhythm we decided that I would play percussion, and that Luke would be the lead singer. We then recruited our younger brother Stephen to play guitar and our cousin Tim to play bass and we had our band. Well almost. We all barely knew how to play our instruments and I didn’t even have a drum set. Despite this seemingly big obstacle we pressed on toward becoming a real band. I would play on buckets or anything that I could find, and we had a great time learning all of our instruments together. That Christmas our parents bought us a drum set, and I almost immediately started to play in the praise band at our church.

“Music has been a huge blessing in my life, and I thank God for giving me the opportunity and ability to honor him with it. Some of the best times in my life have been going on tour with my band Freedom Drive or praising God with our worship team on Sunday mornings. God has been so good to me, and I plan on serving him wherever he may lead me in the future.“

For some people music is just a song on the radio or a CD in their stereo, for Luke Acree music is his life. At thirteen years of age Luke picked up the guitar and the rest as they say is history.

Luke’s talent in music combined with his already creative mind caused him to start writing his own music. He soon helped form the band now known as FreedomDrive, and became the lead singer. With Freedom Drive, Luke has had countless opportunities to tour all over the country and share the gospel through music.

At the age of 19 Luke has already recorded four records, and produced and engineered two. Luke is excited about what God has in store for the future and is ready to follow Him wherever that road may lead.

There ain’t no grave gonna hold His body down
I said there ain’t no grave gonna hold His body down
Well you nailed Him to a cross and you stuck Him in the ground
But there ain’t no grave gonna hold Him down

Chorus
Hear that trumpet blowing see the angels coming down
We’re gonna meet Him in the skyline
Leave our burdens on the ground
Cause there ain’t no grave that can hold Him down
Cause there ain’t no grave that can hold Him down

I once was lost but now I am found
I said I once was lost but now I am found
I was blind for many years
I walked across the forsaken ground
Yea I once was lost but now I’m found

Chorus

I’m gonna tell the world that Jesus reigns
I’m gonna tell the world that Jesus reigns
There’s salvation for the lost under no other name
I’m gonna tell the world that Jesus reigns

Chorus

©2007 The Body

The first time I saw you
My life was forever changed
A love I’d never felt before
Started crying out my name

Walking and talking happened so fast
Before I knew it, school days were here.
And as you stepped up on that bus
It took all my strength to hold back the tears

Chorus
Little smiles, tiny hands
Catching fireflies, playing in the sand
No matter where God takes you in this world
You will always be my little girl

In your beautiful innocence
I hear God speak to me
For in your eyes I catch a glimpse
Of how He wants me to be

Chorus

The years have started to fly and soon you will be grown
But in my heart you’ll always be…

©2007 The Body

The cold comes in like the rain, flooding my soul again
How does a heart get here after all these years?
Please let me know that you’re near

I will trust you
When I’ve got nothing left to pray
I’ll just be still and know
That you know the way
I will trust in You
I will trust in You

What happened to the fire, and the heart filled with desire
To know you more and more and in your presence be?
This is all that I need

I will trust You
When I’ve got nothing left to pray
I’ll just be still and know
That You are The Way
I will trust in You, Jesus
I will trust in You

Cause I know that You got a plan
And I know there are no other hands
Who can take this heart of stone and turn it into flesh
I will trust in You
I will trust in You

©2007 The Body

Words and Music by: Freedom Drive

I was sitting in church last Sunday
Listening to the preacher talk
He was talking about time, wonders and signs
And the way Jesus walked

But two rows back Mr. Thompson was sleeping
The rest seemed to be day dreaming
Momma was thinking about the chicken that was cooking at home

Chorus
Tell me why did you come to the church today?
Do you really think that being here gets you saved?
You check it off your list just to clear your mind
Where did you get this lie?

I was driving to church last Sunday
When I ran into my best friend Shane
He said he sure hoped church doesn’t run late
Cause he don’t want to miss the game

But two blocks down there’s a family that’s hurting
Starving for the truth that we’re learning
And all we do is think about ourselves

Chorus

It’s not about the time or the building
Or the fancy clothes that you’re wearing
It’s about building the kingdom of God

Chorus

©2007 The Body

Words by: Aleks Peterson
Music by: Aleks Peterson and Freedom Drive

When you see me crying Lord, will You comfort me?
When my soul is dying Lord, will You heal my hurt?
When I need someone to love, will You love me back?
When I need a shoulder to cry on, will You lend me Yours?

Chorus
Will you hold me tight in Your arms?
Will you save me from the pain and sorrow?
Will you take me, please don’t break me,
Take this life of mine and heal it with Your love.

When the waves are crashing over me, will You lend me your hand?
When I slip up and fall over backwards, will You understand?
When the crowd is laughing at me, will You wipe my tears away?
When my friends have left me lonely, will You please stay?

Chorus

Heal me with Your love
Heal me with Your love
Heal me with Your love
Heal me with Your love

He will hold you tight in His arms
He will save you from the pain and sorrow
He will take you, He won’t break you,
He will take your life and heal it with His love

©2007 The Body