Choirboy III

C. L. Austin Clyde L. Austin Jr. Born and raised in South Bend, Indiana, Clyde is the fifth of nine children. When he was in the sixth grade, he wrote his first short story titled the land of the unborn dogs. His teacher was very impressed with the story, however; she did not believe that he possessed the ability to create such an imaginative and creative story. After the experience of being discredited, Clyde laid down his pencil never to write another story. Over the years, he has told many stories while in high school and serving in the military to entertain his army buddies. After the military, he told stories to children when he was a day-camp counselor in the early eighties. In 1988, Clyde answered the call of God and entered the preaching ministry. Right away his ability to tell stories and his sermon writing revealed the talent that was tucked away. In 1993 after being in the preaching ministry for five years, Clyde entered college and earned a B. A. degree in Bible and Ministries from Bethel University, a liberal arts college in Mishawaka, Indiana. The author of the hip-hop Gospel "Choir Boy", Clyde has discovered that the Gospel message of Jesus cannot and should not be limited to the pulpits on Sunday mornings packaged in three-point sermons.