Mended Hearts is a band full of Texans

BY JACOB BACK

Contributing Writer

Through the reverb of God's creation, you can hear the voice of Tarleton Texans glorifying Him through music. 

Rising Christian group, The Mended Hearts Band, is making its place at Tarleton State University. The band was started by five friends who all met through Tarleton’s Baptist Student Ministry (BSM). 

They knew immediately the Christian genre was the right choice, opposed to other genres such as country or alternative. 

“We want it to be focused on God,” Mended Hearts vocalist and guitarist Sydney Land said. “We want it to be focused on the Gospel and sharing how Jesus is the way, truth and life.”

All five members are in the BSM’s house band; they glorify Him every week at the BSM’s Thursday worship night, 402. They all contribute by running sound, playing instruments and providing vocals.

Even though they practice and lead worship every week, the idea of an actual band formed quickly one night during a group get-together. 

“Austin [Austin Mims, Mended Hearts bassist and vocalist] was showing another one of his originals,” Mended Hearts vocalist Ian Martin said. “I was like, ‘He has all these original songs, and we are not doing anything with them, so why don't we finally do something?’”

Suddenly, The Mended Hearts Band was a real thing.

Mims said the “Mended Hearts” name didn't come from just any place. He said the name is based on a scripture from the Bible, Psalm 147:3.

“He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3). The group also mentioned that the verse is the message they want to get across to listeners.

However, the goals they hope to complete in the summer of 2026 include leading worship at different events as well as recording their first single and uploading it to music platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. 

Following that, the band plans on leading a worship night at Bluff Dale High School’s football stadium in April. They mentioned it's not only for high school youth groups but also for the surrounding communities and anyone who wants to hear the word of God.

But don't get them twisted, they want to release music and become a huge deal, but that would just be an extra cherry on top of serving God.

“He’s given me these gifts, He’s given me these songs in my heart and He’s given me these words,” Martin said. “What am I doing with them if not for His glory?”

With some members growing up with one another and the rest coming together at the BSM, they all have one ultimate goal in mind. 

The band seems to want to serve the Lord with every gift they have been given, and to do it with a community behind them.

“The band is very special to me,” Mended Hearts keyboardist and bassist Shay Weise said. “It’s people that I already love and people that I was close to. And now that we’re able to collaborate in something we all love to do, and to have those memories is just a little token of what the Lord is doing in our lives.”

Mended Hearts does not seem to be here for fame, but for the glorification of God; their close dynamic seems to carry them through to that.

Be on the lookout for The Mended Hearts Band’s first single, and remember when these Texans make it big; they bleed purple.