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Throughout the past twenty six years, I’ve always had a deep faith in God. I decided to commit my life to Him, and to honor and glorify Him in all that I do. There have been ups and downs, good times and bad times, and it hasn’t always been an easy road, especially the past two years. When Kyle was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer, our family began grieving from that moment on. Although we tried to stay positive and faithful, there were many times that we questioned God and cried out “why”, feeling as though it was some kind of nightmare that we couldn’t wake from. I tried desperately to be strong and to be an example to my family and my friends and to be strong for Kyle, Michael and Ellena. Miraculously, by the strength and grace that only God can give, I was able to keep it together and not fall completely apart. God has always shown me that no matter how hard it gets or how painful it can be, He is always in control and He has a plan for my life.
I know this may come as a surprise to some of you but I had to make a decision to live my life and move forward in it. I could have very easily drawn the shades and hidden from the world. Instead, God brought someone so perfect for me at the perfect time. I know Kyle would want me to be happy just as I would have wanted her to be, if it had been me who was called home. I hope and pray that all of you reading this can understand.
It’s been a witness for me to see how accepting and supportive Mikey and Lena have been. I’m amazed at how much grace they both possess and how much of an example of Christ they are and continue to be. Kyle essentially raised and educated Michael and Ellena and because of her sacrifice to do so and her gift of teaching, they are without question, the most incredibly smart and loving kids and I love them more than words can describe! I’m so proud to be their father…..
As I mentioned in my last update A new chapter in my life I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to love again, unconditionally, without restraints, and to be loved in return the very same way. Although the past few years have been excruciatingly painful and trying, I feel as though I’ve been given a second chance at true love and to live life once again as it should be lived – happy, joyful and at peace. Most people are blessed in one lifetime with true love and I’ve been blessed twice and I continue to stand in awe of God’s favor and God’s hand upon my life. When you find someone that you can share your heart, mind and soul with and you long to share the rest of your life with, it cannot be planned or arranged, or forced in any way. It just happens – destiny unfolding right before your eyes and as a very dear friend of mine so recently said, “God is playing Connect the Dots, and all the dots are connecting”.
Lisa is a unique person in the sense that she has the ability to love and accept everyone, unconditionally, and without judgment. She is kind and caring and always puts the needs and feelings of others before her own. She reminds me constantly of why I’m here and what I’m here to do – to be a light and an encouragement to those around me and those I come in contact with. I have to admit that it’s been easy at times for me to lose sight of what I do and to take this ministry that God has loaned to me for granted. Lisa keeps me grounded and always helps me to come back to the reality and importance of what I do. She is a gift from God and I need her in my life.
I recently proposed to Lisa and she changed my life with one simple word – Yes! I am pleased to announce the news of our engagement and our commitment to each other through matrimony. She is an angel and a Godsend and I look forward to a lifetime together. I’ve always been open about my life and I wanted to share this news with all of you. You have always been there for my family and I want all of you to know how much I appreciate that! Thank you for your support, your faith in prayer and your encouragement over the years. It will never be forgotten or taken for granted.
Sincerely In Him,

http://www.michaelsweet.com

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Catching Up With … Michael Sweet
The famed Stryper frontman reflects on losing his wife to cancer, the group’s 25th anniversary, plus an update on his role in legendary rock band Boston.
by Andy Argyrakis | posted 6/30/2009

How are you balancing your music with the grieving process?

Michael Sweet: When Kyle was diagnosed two years ago, we basically started grieving then. Because we did that together, it made it a little easier to move forward at times, like going on tour with Boston. She gave me her blessing, encouragement and really pushed me along in making that decision. Now she’s gone, but I feel like the past two years have been such a low that I feel now like it’s time to pick up the pieces and move forward. People tell me not to do anything, but staying busy is the way I’m dealing with it.

How are your kids taking it?

Sweet: Tough, really tough. I’m constantly trying to encourage them through the whole recovery. We’re all battling it and we could go in our rooms, close the doors and all just stay there. But I feel the need to stay busy and active, because when I’m not, I feel like I’m going to lose my mind. The same goes for my kids. My 22-year-old son and his band Flight Patterns are opening the next Stryper tour. When I asked him, his chin just about hit the floor and his eyes popped out of his head. I see him with new purpose now and it’s pulled him out of his shell. My daughter, a senior in high school, is a dancer and is home schooled. She’s coming out on the tour as well, working on school during the day and probably handling merchandise at night. It’s going to keep her active and busy, which is so important so we don’t just sit around and dwell on things.

What’s been your most poignant observation during this period?

Sweet: It’s made me realize how precious life is and how short life is. Life is a gift, but sometimes we abuse it because we don’t seize every opportunity or moment in the way God intends us to. So many times we take life for granted and get caught up in all the activities that we become distant from God. But now I’m learning how to truly live life to the fullest and love to the fullest. I don’t want to waste a moment.

What are Stryper’s plans for its 25th anniversary?

Sweet: We have the new record Murder by Pride coming out on July 21 and are going on a 50-city tour this September through November. The first set will focus on new songs from Reborn and Murder by Pride with our new bass player [Tracy Ferrie] and the second will feature all the old, classic songs with our old bass player Tim [Gaines]. We’ll put on yellow and black for that.

Are you digging out the old Spandex?

Sweet: No way, never again on Spandex! But we’ve got some custom yellow and black threads—really nice stuff.

What is Stryper’s sound these days?

Sweet: We’re going back a bit more to our roots of harmony guitar solos and harmony vocals. We brought back more of what people like about the band. We fell away a little bit on Reborn because we wanted it to be a little more modern, and in doing that, sometimes you unfortunately lose sight of who you are trying be. I’m not saying we did that, but I think we unfortunately shot ourselves in the foot by not having more guitar solos and things people really liked about the band.

How has becoming Boston’s lead singer added to Styper’s fan base?

Sweet: A lot of Boston fans are now Michael Sweet fans and they’re incredible. I’m hoping they come out to the Stryper shows. At the Boston shows [last summer], I would see Stryper shirts and Stryper fans coming out.

How does it feel singing for one of classic rock’s most legendary bands?

Sweet: I’m still pinching myself! Here I was participating in what was supposed to be the last Boston show ever [paying tribute to departed frontman Brad Delp] and then I was out with them singing on the 2008 tour. It was really wild, but there was so much joy between the band and the fans and the tour was successful beyond anyone’s wildest expectations.

What’s next for Boston?

Sweet: There’s a new album coming out that being worked on right now. It probably won’t come out until 2010 and a tour is being talked about for 2010 as well. I played some songs for [co-founder] Tom [Scholz] and he really liked them. I’ve also written some others that I’ll be singing on and they’ll be a couple of other surprises.
Quick takes:

Where are you from originally?
Whittier, California

Favorite place you’ve traveled to?
Japan

Pet peeve?
Clutter

Your most annoying habit?
Clearing my throat

Favorite website?
www.wunderground.com

Last good book you read?
The Bible in 90 Days

Last good movie you saw?
Music and Lyrics

Band/artist you’re listening to the most right now?
Keane

Band/artist that comes closest to your sound?
Stryper’s been influenced by Queen’s harmony vocals and Van Halen

Age you became a Christian?
12, but I fell away and rededicated my life at 20

Favorite Bible verse?
Isaiah 53:5

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Details:
Doors: 6:30pm
Show: 7:00pm
Phone: (413) 684-0001
Opening Acts: ARMORY, DEAD TO RIGHT

** NOTICE **
The Michael Sweet show scheduled for February 13 at the New Life Church in Pittsfield, MA will be postponed until further notice.

As many of our friends and fans know, Kyle Sweet (Michael’s wife) has been battling cancer for some time now and after recent developments, and with much prayer and consideration, we believe it to be in the best interest of all for Michael to spend time with, and caring for, his wife.

Tickets already purchased will be honored at the rescheduled date. Stay tuned to MichaelSweet.com for an announcement of the rescheduled date. For more information or questions email promoter, Matthew Sposato at sposie@thexfactorinc.org.

You see, she is the backbone of our family, a pillar of strength, and as unselfish as one can be. She doesn’t want any credit for anything she does but truth be known – she deserves all credit. She is the perfect wife, mother and such a blessing to everyone she meets. I constantly wrestle with the reality of this monster that invades her body and I can tell you that it’s been a tremendous struggle to see my wife so sick. I have felt so helpless and at times completely hopeless, but I know I must be strong for my family and be that pillar of strength too, as she’s been throughout our marriage of almost 23 years.

When our son Michael was born, Kyle was hospitalized for over 2 weeks due to a severe blood clot in her leg. I was on tour at the time and I would fly home after shows to be with her and then fly out to catch the next show. I remember that time as if it was yesterday and I recall how brave and strong Kyle was then. It was a testament of her courage and an example to me. She never complained and she picked up the pieces and carried on with taking care of our newborn son, Michael.

Kyle is also a very accomplished and successful makeup artist. This is actually how we met. She drove from Cape Cod to LA in the early eighties with a degree in child psychology but once there, she decided to pursue a career in makeup. Through hard work and perseverance, she went on to work in film and television. Her career had not even peaked and she chose to give it all up to spend 100% of her time raising Michael and Ellena as I toured the world. She sacrificed everything for us and again this was a testament of who Kyle is – a loving, caring, unselfish wife and mother. She wouldn’t have it any other way. She has given me so much joy and I guess I just wanted to give all of you a glimpse of who Kyle is and the character that she bestows.

We covet and cherish every prayer from everyone of you and I thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts as I sit here by my love. If you can, pray for Kyle’s body and immune system to gain enough strength to fight so her body can get back to some sort of normal state, specifically her digestive system. She hasn’t eaten for days due to nausea and it won’t pass. She’s very weak and I just want to take her home.

I’ll update as time permits. Kyle sends her love too. She lit up when I told her that I would post and ask all of you to pray. It means so much. More than you know.

Always,

Michael

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Details:
Doors: 6:30pm
Show: 7:00pm
Phone: (413) 684-0001
Opening Acts: ARMORY, DEAD TO RIGHT

** NOTICE **
The Michael Sweet show scheduled for February 13 at the New Life Church in Pittsfield, MA will be postponed until further notice.

As many of our friends and fans know, Kyle Sweet (Michael’s wife) has been battling cancer for some time now and after recent developments, and with much prayer and consideration, we believe it to be in the best interest of all for Michael to spend time with, and caring for, his wife.

Tickets already purchased will be honored at the rescheduled date. Stay tuned to MichaelSweet.com for an announcement of the rescheduled date. For more information or questions email promoter, Matthew Sposato at sposie@thexfactorinc.org.

Cambridge-bred actress Mindy Kaling and Newton native B.J. Novak, both stars of NBC’s “The Office,” joined Boston band members Michael Sweet, Tom Scholz and Gary Pihl for a Kidz b Kidz art party and fashion show with patients at Children’s Hospital. The band members even played a special song for the recovering kids.

Kidz b Kidz background:
Kidz b Kidz is a label with a heart. We aim to teach children that they can make a difference, giving them a voice through their rich, inventive artwork.
All of our designs incorporate original drawings created by children with cancer and other illnesses along with children who just want to help.
Proceeds from the sale of all Kidz b Kidz products are donated to Children’s Hospital Boston and CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation.

Below is the complete interview.

Posted 08/26/08 on Christian Music Planet:

Former Stryper front man Michael Sweet reflects on the inspiration behind his latest album and his current tour with Boston.

Even though he’s always been associated with major bands—first ’80s metal trailblazers Stryper and now as co-vocalist with the newly reconvened Boston on this summer’s arena tour—Michael Sweet’s kept a steady eye on his solo career. Though jump-started in the early ’90s after Stryper’s original hiatus, it maintained steady steam through that act’s reunion at the tip of the 2000s and continues through today. Yet, the brand-new individual offering, Touched, is a complete anomaly when compared to any of the singer’s other projects, not just because of a stripped-down approach, but due to its series of covers dedicated to his wife Kyle (who’s bravely battling stage four ovarian cancer).

“When I was taking care of her during her first treatment, and she would spend a lot of time resting, I would go down [to my studio] and record for an hour,” says Sweet of the project’s genesis. “I basically just recorded a bunch of songs as a love letter to her, which I originally planned on just presenting [privately] to her. But it turned into something she wanted to be available to people, so I [released it online] and then got a distribution deal. What was just a record for her fortunately became something that a lot of people were touched by as well.”

Those expecting all out rock ‘n’ roll won’t find much on this outing, but Sweet’s remarkable range is in tact as he lovingly remakes several familiar favorites. Though not necessarily cut by Christian artists originally, the singer is using tracks like “You Are So Beautiful,” “She’s Got a Way,” “The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face” and “The Rose” to display his marital covenant of unconditional love, which has in turn inspired other couples across the entertainer’s vast listening audience.
Visit michaelsweet.com for more info.

“We’ve received several emails [from people] saying how these songs have touched them and helped restore their relationship with their husband or wife,” he verifies. “It’s really affected a lot of people as far as love for one another and gaining strength in relationships, which it was never really intended for, but it’s really neat how things like that work out.”

Aside from restoring others, he hopes Touched will showcase the family’s firm faith in a time of crisis, while also prompting prayer from fellow believers over this delicate situation. Though touring has scaled back considerably since Kyle’s diagnosis, Sweet currently has Boston shows on the books through the end of August.

“We talk about it every day, but she’s insisted that I be here [on the road], and she wouldn’t have it any other way,” adds Sweet. “In fact, she wouldn’t let me come home if I wanted because she feels like cancer has taken so much, and she doesn’t want to take away this. It feels odd to be away from her, but I have her blessing and call home all the time. I’m going home from the Boston tour September 1, and I requested from Stryper’s management that they don’t book any shows for the rest of this year. I’m just going to stay with my wife and take the next year as it comes.”

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Something about classic rock gets into one’s DNA like nothing else. The joyous sound of it, cranked on electric guitars, infused with its majestic pop hooks, hits the body’s central nervous system as a rushing wave of euphoric dopamine. This was proven repeatedly Thursday night at Boston’s energetic, 105-minute concert at Hard Rock Live.

You could say it has something to do with being a boomer — like this critic and most of the few thousand fans who were gathered at the Seminole complex near Hollywood to hear a revamped version of the rock band whose only original member remains mastermind guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter Tom Scholz.

But it’s more than that. True, we were weaned on the enduring hits from Boston’s first two albums in the mid to late ’70s, nearly all of them performed flawlessly in this expertly paced and filler-free concert. These included, of course, More Than a Feeling, played not as an encore but at the set’s mid-point, Don’t Look Back and Peace of Mind.

But when Boston’s new co-lead singer Michael Sweet, who was plucked from the Christian hard rock band Stryper for this summer tour, introduced the chiming Hitch a Ride as a song ”Boston hasn’t played in 20 years” and then asked if there were any fans 20-years-old or younger in the house, several hands shot upward. These included two brothers who had floor seats and who clearly were indoctrinated by their parents in the heady highs of Boston music because one of them, in particular, looked near rapture when the still mesmerizing guitar-organ festival that is Foreplay/Long Time closed the main set. The teen sang along to every word of the first encore tune, Smokin’, while someone else took the Bicentennial-year song’s lyrics at face value to light up a doobie as the tell-tale smell of a ’70s rock concert sailed through the air.

‘Oooo, are you feelin’ satisfied,” Boston’s other new lead singer Tommy DeCarlo sang from a 1978 cut. Can we give him a “Hell, yeah?”

Later, DeCarlo hoisted a cloth on stage marked with the words, ”Boston Fans Rock,” and his uplifting story attests to that adage.

DeCarlo, who is on-leave from his day job as a credit manager for a North Carolina Home Depot, happened into the vocalist slot for his favorite band when he posted a song on his MySpace page he had written in tribute to Brad Delp, the original Boston singer who committed suicide in 2007. Scholz was tipped to the 43-year-old newcomer, who had never performed professionally, and was struck by DeCarlo’s familiar vocal timbre. He hired him for this tour.

It proved a good choice. DeCarlo did his idol, Delp, proud on numbers like Feelin’ Satisfied and Sweet also approximated Delp’s high tenor money shots on Amanda, Something About You and Peace of Mind. To Be a Man, a lesser track from Boston’s 1986 LP, Third Stage, was dedicated to the late singer. (The superior hit A Man I’ll Never Be, sadly missing from the setlist, would have been even more appropriate). Scholz said, “You don’t see him on stage but we feel he’s been with us on this whole tour.”

However, to quote from another Boston favorite that closed the show, Party, this wasn’t going to be a wake. The upbeat pace of escapist rockers never flagged. Even the relatively new 2002 opener, I Had a Good Time, had the chugging flavor of a vintage Boston rocker.

Best yet, M.I.T. engineering grad Scholz, a boyish 61 who has the same feathered hair and lanky basketball-toned frame he sported when the record-setting Boston came out in 1976 (albeit he wore a knee brace on stage), continues to prove Boston is the ultimate garage band — and dispels that bogus ”corporate rock” tag that has always unfairly dogged this band.

Dissatisfied with the sound of conventional electric guitars, organs and amplification, Scholz, without major-label support, developed and built his own musical equipment to give Boston its distinctive sound. The process is evolving because the crystalline, full-bodied, near three-dimensional fidelity Boston achieved on the Hard Rock stage seemed peerless and gave this nostalgic material remarkable presence.

”If we come back, will you come?” Sweet asked at the concert’s conclusion.

Certainly. We’re powerless to resist. Boston’s hot-wired in our DNA.