J. Drew Sheard II Returns to Erica Campbell's Church Years After Saying He Felt Judged by 'Church People'
Years after he spoke out about the criticism he received from some people in the church community, J. Drew Sheard II — the musician and son of gospel music legend Karen Clark Sheard — is playing the drums in gospel star Erica Campbell's church.
Campbell, the solo gospel music artist who got her start in the duo Mary Mary, is now the first lady of the California Worship Center headed by her music producer-husband Warryn Campbell.
Erica recently took to Twitter to reveal that they had a guest drummer at their place of worship, none other than Sheard, 26.
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"Thanks @jdrewsheard_jds for helping us out on the drums at @caliworship @warryncampbell," she wrote. "Super cool having @jdrewsheard_JDS on the drums @CaliWorship today!!"
The news comes months after Kierra Sheard, another gospel singer who happens to be J Drew II's sister, revealed that her brother has felt judgment from the Christian community in the past.
"There are people out there like my brother, who are probably just tired of church people and the judgment and the negativity ... " Sheard told The Huffington Post earlier this year.
J. Drew Sheard II, son of Bishop J. Drew Sheard who pastors the Greater Emmanuel Church of God in Christ in Detroit, Michigan, previously opened up to The Christian Post about feeling pressure from church people because of his well-known family.
"My dad hates when I use this term, but the 'church people' that's probably where the most pressure comes from because I'm a pastor's kid and my mom is who she is. I come from this gospel background [so] everybody expects me to pretty much live a perfect life or do things in the lane of my mom and dad," J. Drew told CP back in 2013. "But I choose to do things outside, so it's kind of a lot of pressure because sometimes I have to watch what I say because of who my family is. But it's just all about coming out of that box and coming out of those four walls and just being you."
J Drew II went on to speak about why he wanted to branch out of the gospel music legacy cemented by his family's name.
"I come from the whole gospel legacy thing. I just wanted to do something different because, believe it or not, when I first started working on music, gospel was never really my first love," he revealed to CP. "I thought that there's more things to talk about in life besides the main thing that gospel songs talk about. I pretty much work to really be able to relate to people and become the best at it."
When it comes to his Christian walk, J Drew II made it clear that he believes his relationship with God extends beyond the four walls of the church.
"I really believe that when it comes to the whole being a Christian or being a true man of God, it's all about the time that you spend with God outside of church. Don't get me wrong, going to church is a great thing. It all ties into being a Christian as well," Sheard told CP.
"To kind-of still be a believer and not really care too much about the stuff that goes on in church, I just continue to pray to God outside of church and read my Bible and seek God. I believe that he's with me ... no matter what I do I just feel his presence with me."
