A teenager’s adoration of gospel music may have spared his life.
As per the police report, a man captured the nine-year-old Willie Myrick from his southwest Atlanta garage and purportedly drove the child around for about three hours before dropping him off unharmed in East Point.
Despite the Willie’s movements throughout those frightening three hours, he portrayed hope and confidence through singing the gospel tune “Every Praise” until the kidnapper let him go by tossing him out through the door and telling him not to tell anyone.
His euphoric outcome made the community leaders hold a meeting in Willie’s honor as well as advising different folks and youngsters what to do if such befalls them.
Also, the Willie’s story quickly reached the Grammy Award-winning gospel artist – Hezekiah Walker – the man who composed the melody. After listening to the boy’s story, Walker settled on the choice to fly from New York City to Atlanta to meet Willie with a view of embracing and letting him know that he cherished him. He believed that it was only God who spoke to him so as to spare the boy’s life.
Thursday evening, the artist entered the haven of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church to an overwhelming applause, snatching Willie into a tight embrace as tears streamed down the child’s face. Walker then headed the congregation, and Willie, in singing “Each Praise,” the tune that may have spared the kid’s life.