Fort Hood soldier uses his music, testimony to lead lost to Jesus' love Posted On: Saturday, Nov. 22 2008 05:56 AM By Amanda Kim Stairrett
Killeen Daily Herald

It was four years ago that Daniel Jens combined his love of music with his love of God.

He started playing worship music and started creating his own ideas for outreach and events. It fit his personality and talents. "I was led back to God by Christian music and by loving people taking time to outreach," he said. "My mission today is to glorify God in all I do and to use my talents to be an inspirational light in the world as stated in Matthew 5:14-16."

Matthew 5:14-16 states: "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

Jens likes using his music and testimony as a bridge to lead the lost to the love of Jesus, he said, and "enhance the experience of the believer through music so they are inspired to draw closer to God. "I am able to utilize all of the talents I've been blessed with in outreach," Jens said.

The Jens family attends Harker Heights Apostolic United Pentecostal Church. Jens said they searched for a United Pentecostal Church until they found a good fit, and are blessed to have found the Harker Heights location. Find out more about the church at http://www.theupchurch.org.

Jens has been a singer and guitar player for about 20 years, getting his start in rock music and eventually moving to Christian music. In August and September he gained nationwide recognition as a contestant on "America's Got Talent." He made it to the top 20 before he was eliminated, but the appearances have furthered his work.

Aside from the outreach and worship events he and his wife, Caroline, organize, Jens plays at numerous Army functions.

He will serve on the 3rd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division's rear detachment when the deploys in early 2009. He is a specialist.

Jens got a standing ovation from the "America's Got Talent" audience in March when he walked on stage in his Army Combat Uniform. He returned on Jan. 9 from 15 months in Iraq.

"It didn't' hit me I was home until that moment," he said. "It was hard not to get emotional myself." Caroline also appeared on the show with him and talked with the show's judges about how tough it was for the family while her husband was deployed.

The couple went 12 months without seeing each other because Jens used his leave time early to come home after the family's home was robbed. Soldiers typically get about two weeks of leave time midway through their deployment, breaking up the stretch of time when they have to be apart from their loved ones.

Jens said in August that the 12 months was painful, and there were times when he thought he and his wife wouldn't make it. He was surrounded by fellow soldiers whose marriages weren't holding up and he got worried.

He credited his and Caroline's relationships with God for getting them through those tough times. "If He wasn't No. 1, I wouldn't have made it," Jens said. "That was a big factor in me coming back safe."

Those preparing to deploy should trust God and place him first each day,

Jens said. "Encourage your spouse to do the same," he went on to say this week. "Share devotionals as often as you can even if it's through e-mail.

Communicate as much as possible with each other.

Consistently and often remind your spouse of how much you love them.

Make sure they have no insecurities about your love for them."

The hardest part of the deployment for Caroline was not getting to talk to her husband for as much time as she wanted. "We talked a lot by e-mail or instant messenger, but I missed his friendship face-to-face," she said. "I learned that I'm not as strong as I thought I was."

She advised spouses preparing for a deployment to stay in church and keep busy. The Jenses got married Dec. 30, 2005, at Apostolic Life Tabernacle in Waukesha, Wis.

They hit it off the moment they met, Caroline said. "We always found it easy to talk to each other," she said. "We compliment each other so perfectly!" God is the most important person in Caroline's life.

"I depend on Him every moment of everyday," she said. "He deserves everything that I can give Him."

She is an assistant controller for a construction company in Temple, and hopes someday to write books about God, the Holy Ghost and relationships.

The couple partners often for outreach, a love for both of them. Caroline also loves fundraising, and usually pulls her husbanding into helping with that, she said.

Both work on Daniel's music career and his goal is to be signed with a Christian record label. He is set to leave the Army by April 2010, but leaders have allowed him to take advantage of performing opportunities while still serving.

"I will continue to always worship at church and do outreach activities," he said.

Contact Amanda Kim Stairrett at astair@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7547.

INFO BOX:

Daniel Jens' upcoming appearances include:

Let It Shine! concert at noon on Sunday, Nov. 30 at Harker Heights Apostolic United Pentecostal Church, 2314 Indian Trail. Free food will be served after the concert.

All-American Bowl in San Antonio on Jan. 3. Jens will sing in the pre-game show.

For more on Jens, visit http://danieljens.com or www.myspace.com/danieljens