AGT Judges in Tears After Gospel Singer Ben Waites’ Message of Hope
By Movieguide® Staff
Gospel singer Ben Waites wowed the judges of AMERICA’S GOT TALENT on Tuesday, July 12, after his performance of “True Colors” by Cyndi Lauper.
Waites, 32, was born with Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenital (AMC), a disease affecting his joints’ growth.
But Waites’ perseverance in his own life comes from his desire to give others hope through song.
“I am a Southern Gospel singer and a vocal coach,” Waites told judges Vergara, Simon Cowell, and Heidi Klum. “The message of the song, I feel is able to speak to people no matter their age, their race, their background. It’s able to communicate a message of hope.”
Vergara, who was in tears by the end of his performance, commended him for his unique take on the song.
“I loved it because you know it’s a beautiful song, but you made it yours,” she said. “And it was special. It was different.”
All three judges voted Waites on to the next round, but the gospel singer said he sings because life is about “serving Christ and showing the love of God.”
“What I’m more concerned about is appropriately and effectively showing the Gospel of Christ through this opportunity,” he told the Baptist Press. “It’s very important that I get that message across.”
Despite his disability, Waites said that his family always encouraged him to preserve, which is now the message he has for the audiences of AGT.
“It wasn’t really a thing growing up because it was just my life,” he said. “I don’t ever think about it just because each day is just another day for me where I’m using this wheelchair to get around or a stylus in my mouth to type. Growing up, my parents and grandparents kept that same mentality in how they raised me.”
“They would encourage me that if I wanted to do something, then do it, and do it to the best of my ability. There were no excuses, and you would just figure out how to do what you wanted to do,” he explained.
“My mind always goes to Romans 8:28 and knows that everything has a purpose,” Waites added. “What I would hope my life demonstrates for others going through hard struggles is if your perspective is in the right place, then you can persevere, endure and see it through to the end.”
- Content: +2Share:
- Content: +2