Closer Legacy
The original Closer was comprised of brothers Brad and Bryan Andrews (from Jackson, MO), and their two friends, Mark Meyers (Washington, MO) and Patrick Brawner (Jacksonville, IL). They made their debut at the then college’s Resident Life “Christmas Coffee Shop” in December of 1996. Within a few months the group entered the Goodlife Promotions Group Competition in Cape Girardeau, MO. There, in February of 1997, Closer won the title of “Best Group” out of numerous entrants from a five state region. They went on to place 5 th out of 63 groups at the National Quartet Convention’s Group Talent Search Competition on September 13, 1997.
In 1998, Bryan moved on to pursue other interests and Tim Arnold (also from Washington, MO) came on board as the group’s new bass. Even the transition in members didn’t hold Closer back as they cut their first album, Closer to Jesus, in the spring of 1998. The group continued to tour for the next year before Mark and Patrick graduated and moved on to new ministry opportunities.
Mark Meyers graduated in 1999 and went on to star in the off-Broadway production of Forever Plaid. He took a position as a Music Teacher at St. Clair High School before moving to Waynesville, MO where he now serves as Associate Pastor of Worship and Education at Harmony Baptist Church. Mark won the 2004 KCVO Spirit FM American Icon Music Competition as was a featured artist at the Crossover Christian Music Festival with such groups as Newsong, Plus One, and Zoe Girl. Mark and his wife, Amy, have a daughter named Selah Wren (2 years old) and are expecting a son (to be named Lincoln) in December.
Patrick Brawner also graduated in 1999 with a BA in Religious Education. He went on to complete an additional ministry program at Rhema Bible Training Center in Broken Arrow, OK in 2004. He is currently serving as the Worship Pastor at New Life Church in Cary, NC, which is a suburb of Raleigh.
Brad Andrews finished his degree in Church Music before moving to Nashville to begin a career as a recording artist and studio musician. He returned to Missouri as a Worship Leader before moving to St. Louis in July of 2004 when he accepted the position of Director of Worship Arts at Grace Church in St. Louis. Brad serves as primary worship leader for weekend services totaling over 3,000 people, and serves in a pastoral/shepherding role for the entire department. Brad is married to Holly and they have two children, Cooper (age 3 ½) and Margo (age 2).
Tim Arnold graduated in 2000 with a BA in Music Education and is the Fine Arts Department Chair for Hazelwood Central High School and Hazelwood Middle School. Tim also serves as the Choral Director for Hazelwood Central High School. Tim and his wife, Jessica, live in Florissant, MO and sing on the Praise Team at Grace Church in St. Louis.
