Korn’s Brian ‘Head’ Welch Recalls Baptism: ‘Death to Self’
By Movieguide® Contributor
To commemorate his “spiritual birthday,” Korn’s lead guitarist Brian “Head” Welch posted a picture of his baptism in the Jordan river from 2005.
“Happy spiritual birthday to me,” Welch captioned the post with a picture of his baptism on Instagram.“People thought it was a practical joke, but what happened on the inside of me was no joke at all and it is just as powerful and secure today – 19 years later!”
The Grammy-winning artist has been vocal about his faith and how God had helped him overcome drug addiction and depression since his conversion, and his recent post was a reminder of how his baptism “symbolized that death to self.”
“New life will never be birthed until a death happens; a laying down of one’s pride and egotistical state of mind,” Welch’s post continued.
His post received many positive and encouraging responses, including one from fellow Christian rocker John Cooper from Skillet, who toured with Korn.
“I Love your testimony and your humility. I also love your faithfulness brother. All for The Kingdom and the glory,” Cooper replied.
Another follower, the_real_rickhe, wrote, “Yours has been an integral voice in my journey back to the God I was raised on. I was a full blown Wiccan practicing black magic and lost in addiction. Seeing your change helped call me home. Thank you for being such a strong voice for the Kingdom. God bless.”
Cooper previously spoke of Welch and his testimony, something he called an “absolute miracle.” He told ChurchLeaders, “He has been a shining light in a dark world, loving everyone he comes in contact with, and he has never been ashamed of Christ.”
In another throwback picture going back even further in time to when Welch was on drugs, he posted with the caption, “I’m thankful that I’m not this guy anymore, this is the face of meth and Xanax addiction, but…the ego died, the soul came alive, the true self emerged, VICTORIOUS, back from the dead, it’s never over until we decide it’s over, or unless the addiction wins. It’s our choice!”
Welch initially left Korn when he came to Christ, but later felt God leading him back to the band in 2013. While he admits the “music’s crazy,” he says it comes from a “real and raw place,” and now he wants to use that connection to share the gospel with his fans, as he explained in an I AM SECOND video.
“People need hope. There’s addictions like crazy in that world. There’s depression. There’s been a lot of suicide stories happening. What better place to be, having the meaning of life that I carry.” Welch said.
“So it’s not the most popular thing to do at a rock concert is talk about Christ. Now I’m doing it because it’s the most realest thing that’s ever happened to me in my life,” he said.
Movieguide® previously reported on Welch’s dramatic conversion:
Welch’s life changed completely after some business partners shared the gospel with him. He started attending church, and the pastor told him it didn’t matter if he was on drugs because God would cleanse him.
“When I met Jesus and…gave him a chance to show [me] that he’s real, you hear it all the time, but it actually is true, and it’s like the chains broke,” Welch said. “And the prison opened up, and I came out, and I found my contentment. I found peace, and that cloud couldn’t come after me anymore.”
“I knew that I could fight for my sobriety with him and then walk with him.” He continued, “Just like I toured on drugs and sent drugs to myself all over the world, I knew I was going to walk with Jesus and go set people free with him all over the world.”
Welch still plays lead guitar for the metal band Korn.
When asked “how he stayed sober while being in his old environment, Welch replied, ‘…I am high on the most high. He’s poured his love into my heart by the Holy Spirit. I traded in my ashes for beauty. I traded in my addictions for relationship, for love,’” Times Reporter wrote.
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