When we turn on our television or smart phones we are bombarded with news that brings us down. Where are all the good stories? They’re still there. Here’s one that we hope will bless you.

When new recording artist Edward Byrd toured the U.S. Capitol last week he didn’t expect to sing in the Rotunda. Now a video of him singing the hymn Nothing but the Blood of Jesus has gone viral.

Byrd, along with members of the group Changed — men and women who chose to leave homosexuality — went to the Capitol to tell lawmakers that a bill to outlaw therapy for homosexuals would only hurt those who want to change.

After a tour of the Capitol, Byrd, who released his first single in February, began to sing. Oh, how even the statues seem to weep. 

For Byrd, the song Nothing but the Blood of Jesus is meaningful. “I have a personal relationship with that song,” Byrd told Faithwire. “When I first came out of the lifestyle of homosexuality, and things really became hard for me, as far as transitioning out of my old life and into my new life, the Lord spoke very clearly to me, ‘There’s power in the blood of Jesus.'”

Return to Jesus

Byrd told The Stream that as our culture struggles with divisiveness, there’s only one thing to do. “The real thing that we need to do in this moment is return back to Jesus. He’s the One Who heals. And if He did it for me, I feel like He can do it for our world, He can do it for our nation.” The song is “so powerful.” “I know it transformed me, so I believe it can transform our world.”

Byrd says he’s not a victim of his past. “I’m walking in freedom, walking in love, walking in liberty to share that with the world.”

He hopes the viral video — which garnered 1.8 million views and 67, 000 shares within a week — will spark change. “I hope change comes out of it. I hope love comes out of it. I hope hope comes out of it. … I just hope that I’m used as a vessel of freedom. A vessel of hope.” 

Watch the video:

To learn more about Edward Byrd’s music, click here.

Nancy Flory is an associate editor at The Stream. You can follow her @NancyFlory3, and follow The Stream @Streamdotorg.