Hello my name is Doran Starr & I listen to you guys all the time. Thank you for your positive encouragement! I will share a brief testimony. 

I struggled with heroin addiction for many years. I have been in and out of prison behind my addiction. Upon reaching prison in 2004, I re-dedicated my life to the Lord. During which time over the next 4yrs I began receiving songs, songs that glorified God. I began leading praise in prison and by the time of my release in 2008 I had accumulated a dossier of nearly 300 songs. Upon release the Lord promoted me quickly. 

I received funding to record a demo at Razors Edge Sound here in Austin. Shortly after, I entered the 1st song of the demo in a contest on the old 102.3 The River. "The Love You Carry" received 10th place in the contest< Praise to God! I began submitting the MP3 everywhere I could think of, radio stations, recording labels, TV programs, etc... A year passed and I received a phone call from Tate Music Group out of OKC & was subsequently signed to their label. A 12 song LP was recorded to be released, everything but promotions and release was complete when I relapsed and ended up back in jail for 23 more months.

During this time my eyes were finally truely opened to the understanding of God's Grace. I finally began to realize that my righteousness came as a gift and not by anything I deserved but only through Jesus Christ. I never got it before & still sought after external validation & justification and wound up still feeling empty even though everything "seemed" to be going perfectly. I understand now that we are all full & complete in Him and He is the only thing that satisfies. I rest in this truth now. 

Anyway, Tate has stood by me and a national release date for our band The Mending's 1st LP "Songs of Deliverance" is set for national release on August 12th of this year. We are a planning a release event for August 15th at 12th & Chicon to benifit in part Mission:Possible!, a street ministry who is doing awesome things in the local community and supports Church Under the Bridge at 7th & I-35 on Sunday mornings, among many other endeavors. Beau Hamner, a pastor with MP has been instrumental in helping me over the years and we want to give back. I am trying to get my testimony out there in hopes of gaining support for The Mending Ministry & Mission:Possible! I thought this would be somethg you guys would like to hear about and hopefully support in any way you are able or see fit. Thank you for taking the time to pray about and consider any way you may be able to help us all move forward in the Greatness of God's Grace through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior!~