We are interviewing Dave Peightal at his home in Glenwood, Arkansas. Although Pegtop was really the name of the band Dave was in, started after Teen Rescue, many think his name is Dave Pegtop. Rick and Dave met back in the mid to late 1980s at Sunshine Festival over 30 years ago. Dave was in the Cutting Edge band at the time and they were introduced and shortly thereafter Dave began to travel with the RLS band.
When Rick thinks back at the impact Dave had in the band, he remembers what was happening on stage was so evident. But what he saw when you were with the group and the band, Rick always saw this incredible gentle spirit that would be sitting there with whoever. Dave just ministered so beautifully to people. There was peace that was in the vehicle while they were traveling. Rick especially noticed it when Dave was not with us. He would ask to himself, why is there some contention today. And one of the reasons was -- Dave is not here. Rick thanks God for the season He gave him to have Dave present with Teen Rescue and in the band because Dave went on to start the band, Pegtop.
Dave wrote several songs that RLS used. One specific one that was one of Rick’s favorites was “I Believe in You." Also, Rick remembers particularly the song, "Everything I Own." It was a song also covered by artist, Jason Gray. Dave states that a lot of the songs we wrote during the time he wrote that song were written during a very difficult time in his life. The songs were Psalm-like in that they came out of depression and oppression with intense honesty. Dave’s songs came from real life experience and they were songs that others could relate to who were going through similar situations.
Dave was contemplating and being discouraged that his Christian walk had not progressed further than it had been. He was evaluating how he had spent his time. Realizing that most of the time we spend as humans is on things that do not really matter and he wished he had spent more time on things that matter. The song goes on to compare what Jesus has done and how He gave everything He owned. That is the hope that we have. Dave says the song was written out of despair and it is one of the few songs that still touches him when he sings it so he still plays it everyone once in a while.
Rick asks Dave who he remembers from the days with Teen Rescue. Dave says that if it hadn’t been for RLS, Pegtop would never have been started. All the people he played with came from the RLS band: Wes T., Terry S., Ben C., and eventually Matt P. The team was knocking off new songs while they were traveling. Rick would be listening from the front of the van thinking how cool it was. Dave says that Rick put people in positions where they found themselves in Christ. Everyone in Pegtop were people that Rick had in one way or another challenged to get out and do things for Jesus. Others Dave remembers are Cindy T., Eric H., and Dwight L.
Rick said Dave’s time with Teen Rescue was invaluable and amazing and the years that followed. And here we are today, God is still working things in and through us. Our journey isn’t over, not even close. Dave says it is an exciting time because things are happening. When people put their trust in the Father and walk in obedience, He promises to protect us. We need to learn to listen and obey that voice and walk in it. We do not need to be afraid. When we trust the Father completely, there is no fear.
Rick replies that the bible says that those who follow Christ did not love their life even unto death. And that is spoke of about how do we defeat Satan and overcome evil? How do we overcome the accuser of the brethren? By the blood of the Lamb, the word of our testimony and that we did not even love our life even unto death. And that is what we call a radical life!!
