Christian DJ Brotha Richie went through some really dark times before he found peace with God.

The radio host, whose real name is Lynwood Richardson, suffered anxiety attacks as a teenager that put him in and out of St Brendan’s Hospital.

With God’s help he got rid of the medications he’d been prescribed and went years without hospital treatment.

He married his long-time girlfriend, DeLori, and started a family.

He was also getting into His word and praying regularly.

And then his life took a turn.

“I went through some personal difficult times in my relationship and it took such a toll on me that I literally turned my back on God,” he said.

“I went from preaching at certain places to where I was DJing at secular parties and got back into smoking marijuana, getting high and living life.”

In 2004, he got a job as a radio host with Hott 107.5FM. The role was made redundant a year later.

“Following that I went through a serious depression — drinking and smoking — and that only made things worse,” he said.

“In 2009, I had reached rock bottom and just knew I needed a change. The whole while, in the back of my mind, I knew I could run but not hide from God.

“During that time God was shouting out to me.”

Mr Richardson made a gradual return to the Christian music scene even though he wasn’t sure it was the right move for him.

The fact that he’d lost so many of his CDs only added to his uncertainty.

“When I felt myself coming back into the music, I said ‘Lord it’s got to be out there. If you help me find this music I will serve you again’.”

Out of the blue he got a call from Mark Phillips, aka DJ Total Package, and Ellington Weldon at Bermuda Broadcasting Company where he’d worked with Gina Spence on her show, Youth Talk.

“They said, ‘We have this CD pack here that we think is yours’. They were cleaning up Bermuda Broadcasting and they found it and thought about me.

“That was the beginning of my journey back to God. But I was still walking that thin line of coming back to faith — and smoking marijuana on the side.

“In 2010 I got tired of the cycle of getting sick and then healed again. I said ‘God, I need your help. I love herb, but I love you more’. That April I rededicated my life to God and called my friend Pastor D with [anti-drug organisation] Pride and he gave me some counsel. I haven’t smoked since. I’ve just been going hard with music.”

Mr Richardson has seen God’s blessings over his life ever since.

His company Soul Food Promotions has had success in creating positive, Christ-centred events for the Island’s youth.

He also got his old job back.

Soon after his transformation he ran into Glenn Blakeney. The Hott 107.5 founder invited him to return to the station and play “old-school music”. Mr Richardson declined, saying he only played gospel.

“He loved it and said, ‘I want you to come back. We’ll pay you more and whatever you want to play on the air you can’. By May 24 I was back, but doing a whole new thing.”