Take me back

In 2020, my brother introduced me to Maverick City Music.

That was the year I became very intentional about listening to gospel music, and my brother played such a huge role in that journey. He put me on to so many songs, including Maverick City. I loved their music so much, but there was this one person in the group I connected with deeply. Dante Bowe. He was my favorite.

I especially loved his song Voice of God. I listened to it every day, over and over again. It became my go-to for worship, prayer, and just sitting in God's presence. That song helped me grow in ways I didn’t even realize at the time.

Then one September evening in 2022, my friend sent me a screenshot from Maverick City’s Instagram page. They had officially announced that they were parting ways with Dante Bowe because, according to them, he no longer “aligned with their values.”

I remember feeling crushed. He was such a special artist to me. His songs had pulled me closer to God in a way I couldn’t fully explain. And now, this person I had admired so much had apparently gone off track.

When my friend sent the post, she said, “Is this not that Dante guy you’re always talking about?”

I won’t lie. I felt a tinge of secondhand embarrassment. It’s hard when someone you’ve spoken so highly of starts spiraling publicly. And to be honest, the signs were there. It got so bad that I eventually had to unfollow him.

Fast forward to 2023. I was at home with my mom one day, playing music on shuffle and asking her what she thought about each song. When Make It Right by Maverick City and Dante Bowe came on, she immediately loved it. The message. The sound. Everything. So I told her about Dante. I explained how someone who once sang so passionately about finding your way back to God seemed now to be so far gone.

She was quiet for a moment. Then she said, with so much concern in her voice, “Eyah... you mean someone who sang this masterpiece could derail so badly that he’s no longer with them?”

Then she added something I’ve never forgotten:
“Titi, after this song ends, play more of his songs so that as I’m listening, I’ll be praying for him. All this talent and anointing cannot go to waste.”

And I thought that was so beautiful, because subconsciously, I had been doing the same thing. Every time one of his songs played, I’d say a little prayer. I even prayed that he would listen to his own songs and somehow find his way back to God. Because honestly, his songs could do that.

Then two weeks ago, I randomly opened Instagram, and the very first video I saw was Dante singing again with Maverick City Music.

I quite literally almost started crying.

After he left Maverick, it felt like he was on a downward spiral. There was even some visible resentment from his end. But that moment reminded me that you can genuinely love God and still derail. You can fall so far that you begin to wonder if you ever really knew Him in the first place.

But somehow, God brought him back (and I genuinely hope so).

I don’t know the full story. I don’t know what happened behind the scenes.
But what I do know is this: God is merciful.

And I pray deeply that Dante is truly back in the fold and never goes back to the world.
His music changed me. It showed me God’s love. It made an impact on my life in ways.

And now?
I’m so grateful and happy for Dante.

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Why did I share all this?

Because sometimes, we place people on pedestals.

Just because they preach, or sing, or stand on platforms every Sunday, we assume they can’t have issues. We think they don’t struggle. Don’t fall. Don’t derail. We imagine they’ve figured it all out.

And when they do fall, we throw stones.
Sharp, heavy stones.

We judge. We condemn.
We say, “They should have known better.”
And maybe they really should.
But what we don’t do is pray for them. We don’t check on them.

And that’s dangerous.

Because people placed on high pedestals often suffer the most devastating falls.
When they fall, it feels like there’s no getting up again.
Even they start believing there’s no way back.

But there is.

Seeing Dante that day reminded me: there is a coming back.
God can take you back.

And I pray that for anyone reading this who thinks they’ve gone too far,
I pray that God reveals His love to you all over again.
I pray that your heart softens enough to receive it.
I pray that you find your way back.

Because the truth is, He’s never been far.

So wherever you are right now, whether you feel close to God or like you’ve wandered too far, I hope this reminds you that there is always a way back. You are never too far gone for grace. God’s arms are still open, still reaching, still welcoming. And just like Dante, you too can find your way back to the One who never stopped loving you.

Until next week,

Titilayo.