Interview on Music Ministry and future
Q: You’ve had such a rich and varied journey—from media and television to full-time music ministry—how did God lead you into using music as your primary platform for sharing the Gospel?
Yes, it has been a journey with a lot of twists and turns, but through it all has been a grace filled thread of faith. I’ve been holding on to Jesus (with at times a weak grip, but made stronger through Him and His Word) since my life in Christ began many years ago. I had some mental health struggles as a young adult. It kept me from so much. But when I gave my heart to Jesus, my whole life opened up and I had hopes and dreams again. I graduated with a Journalism degree and started a job as an NBC page in Burbank. That was an exciting time which led to work in acting and production. I also was a news writer for an ABC affiliate. Not long after, I won a national talent competition in Hilton Head, SC and through that signed with a respected agent in Los Angeles. During this time, I met my husband Randy who is a wonderful Christian man. I had recently re-dedicated my life to Christ and I had been praying for God’s will for my life. I felt meeting him was an answer to prayer and soon Randy asked me to marry him. Even though some great opportunities were happening in Los Angeles, my heart was focused on Jesus and I wanted nothing more than to have a family with Christ at the center. I moved to Sacramento which was my hometown and where Randy lived. We got married and raised three wonderful children. Now to the music: I grew up in a musical home. My whole life, my mother filled our home with the most gorgeous piano pieces. She played by ear and with such emotion and beauty. And she could play anything! Just name that tune. From the standards such as Stardust, to the show tunes to opera, to the most heartfelt hymns such as How Great Thou Art and Amazing Grace. And she also taught me to play and sometimes we played duets together. I remember her playing Habanera from Carmen and I would sing in a big operatic voice. I loved singing. I had a great time, but in front of people outside of my family, I felt shy about it. I think the fear of people made my voice shut down. I remember when I was at NBC, I would sing alone in the bathrooms which had great acoustics and someone would walk in and say: “Wow, you should be a singer! You’re great!” And I’d love the compliment, but I never pursued it. I was just too scared. As Randy and I were raising our children, I would sometimes sneak into my den, pull out my old karaoke machine and put in a Broadway track. My husband heard me singing “Don’t Rain On My Parade,” and he said: “ Wow, why don’t you sing at church!?” “You have this background and a great voice. And you could serve God.” I hadn’t told him, but as we sat in church every week, that thought had crossed my mind. We attended Warehouse Christian Ministries, which had been instrumental in the burgeoning Christian music scene in the 80s. Many well known artists including Keith Green came through there. They had a stellar worship team with great musicians and singers, so I was intimidated. But the next Sunday, the pastor announced auditions for the ensemble. I was scared, but I prayed and God helped me through. I went and was selected to be on the team and I loved it. I loved the camaraderie and the music and leading the congregation in worship. In many ways it was restoring what I left behind in Hollywood, but this was even better as God was at the center. I could go on with the story, but to avoid getting too long, I’ll just say, God’s hand has clearly been in it all. He has taken all my various gifts and background and used them all as I entered into songwriting, recording, worship leading, writing a book and speaking. It is a true joy and blessing. I love it all! And so importantly and which I thank Him for, Jesus took away the fear and set me free, so now the voice inside is no longer stifled. I love to sing His praises with a full, free and joyful heart.
Q: Your new single “Hold On” is rooted in Philippians 1:6—what was happening in your life when this message of perseverance and God’s faithfulness became so central to you?
When I was a new Christian, I would read the Bible verse Philippians 1:6. “God who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” I wondered how that affected me. What did that really mean? All these years later, I can see it perfectly clear. There have been a lot of ups and downs since deciding to follow Jesus Christ. But it has been a progressive changing, a person becoming more like Christ, just by abiding (or remaining) in Him day after day. Finding I am truly wanting the will of God more than what this world offers. Having peace with God’s approval and not needing man’s. Replacing pride and false humility (trying to build myself up) and self-destruction and self-doubt (tearing myself down) with a true understanding of my worth because of who Jesus is, and what He has done for me. “We have been made right in God’s sight.”Romans 5:1. “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36. I never thought I would be free of people pleasing, fear of people and what they thought. But one day I woke up and just realized, I don’t have that in my heart any more. But it has taken many years. When I first started this music ministry twelve years ago, I very much felt at the mercy of people and them thinking well of me. God, through some frankly painful and disappointing times, pulled that out of me. I don’t consider people’s thoughts any more. Of course I love and care about people. But I look to Christ alone for my security, my guidance, my peace and wherever He wants to take me to share the good news of the gospel and my testimony through my music, speaking and writing.
Q: You’ve spoken about walking through both victories and valleys—how have those seasons specifically shaped the way you write songs like “Hold On”?
When I think of victory in Christ in my life, I think of peace. The more peace I am living with, the more I know there’s victory. And these victories have not happened overnight. They have happened when I have “held on” day after day, year after year. And yes, there have been many stretches of time between the victories spent in the valley. But I keep going because the hope He gives me and the peace of Christ, which I cherish. I keep my eyes on Him.“You will keep in perfect peace, all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” Isaiah 26:3. And the truth is my songwriting is almost like a journal I keep during these times. I wrote a song called “Jesus Therapy.” “When I’m feeling low, when I’m lacking peace, I know where to go, I know Who to see. He gives the best advice and always for free. He’s the Mighty Counselor, Savior who redeems. I call it Jesus Therapy. I don’t have to say a word, He knows what’s going on with me. It only takes one session down on my knee. And I am good to go, filled with His peace. Jesus Therapy.” When I write music, my thoughts are on Him and my mind is on scripture. And there is no better place to be. And when I write a song and it touches another heart, that is the best. I see God’s hand in it all and I get the reward of peace in Jesus and a promise of eternity with Him.
Q: Working with a producer and co-writer like Ian Eskelin, what was the creative and spiritual process like in bringing this song to life?
Working with Ian was a completely positive experience. The ideas and songs I wrote that I sent to him, were deeply personal to me. They were inspired by God and born out of my life experiences and faith. So when he responded to my songs in a way that made me see he understood my heart and more importantly who Jesus is, that meant everything. He has a humility and joy that makes it clear that he is a true believer. And plus the fact that he is just darn talented. I sometimes tend to write a little wordy. He is great at editing. He trims the song down, gets to the heart of it and now and then adds some perfect words and of course amazing arrangements. I learned a lot working with him. And the recording experience was great. He made it so fun and stress free that I was able to record 14 songs in 3 days! And my voice held up! I was amazed. And was even more excited when he sent me the finished tracks, mixed beautifully by Ainslie Grosser who had just finished working on For King and Country’s latest album. Yeah, I think my album was in good hands! I couldn’t believe I had these phenomenal talents working on my songs. It was a true blessing and answer to prayer. Before I started working with Ian, I had a talk with my husband and told him I wanted to make a top rate album using my best new songs. And the next thing you know, I was sending songs to Ian. I think I gave him about 20 songs and we cut it down to 14 and then 13 ended up on the album. I very much would love to work with him again. I’m here in California and he is in Nashville, so there’s that consideration. If I lived in Nashville, I’d be knocking on his door all the time to record! I can’ t sing his praises enough! Ian loves Jesus and serves Him beautifully by the amazing work he does.
Q: Much of your ministry has taken you into diverse spaces—from churches to outreach settings like women’s facilities—how do you see songs like “Hold On” meeting people differently in those environments?
“Though the flesh and heart may fail, there is One who is greater still.” That opening line is one that everyone can relate to. We all have failed and fallen and we all are looking for hope. And when you enter a women’s prison, or a church for that matter, I can’t think of a more profound environment for this song. “Hold on, Hold on, in the battles that you’re in. Have faith, stay strong. When your rope is wearing thin. There is hope when we hold on to Him!” Those women and really all people need that message. We need that hope! This life is not easy. We may be going along and everything seems fine, and out of the blue, we are hit with devastating news or we make a horrible mistake and have to live with the consequences. These kinds of “life earthquakes” can steal precious time from us when we are thrown off our feet. When those moments hit, they may bring big waves of pain and fear. When this happens, we need to run immediately to our safe place. Our shelter: Jesus. Each time they happen to me, the quicker I run. And the quicker I run, the faster I get back on my feet. “God is our shelter and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not be afraid, even if the earth is shaken and mountains fall into the ocean depths; even if the seas roar and rage, and the hills are shaken by the violence.” Psalm 46:1. So when our world is turned upside down, run to our Shelter and Hold On!
Q: As you continue building on your 2025 album Let It Begin, what can listeners expect next in terms of new music or projects that continue this message of hope and perseverance?
I just wrote a song that speaks exactly to this. It’s called “God Answers Prayer.” “It may take a short time, or til the end of our lives, looking back, He was right there. God answers prayer. God answers prayer.” I will soon record it and hopefully release it in the next few months. And I have about 15 other new songs I’ve written sitting in my file and would love to work on those soon. Also, I just finished writing a book about my Christian journey. It is called: “Finally OK – The Truth That Set Me Free.” The publishing process is just starting and it is expected to be out around the fall. As I was writing my story, I so often looked back at my life from a “prayer vista.” I could see all the hills, valleys, and detours where God has molded me, changed me, used some real painful times to ground me in His truth. And where I had some deep painful sores in my life that were not allowing me to completely experience the abundant life in Christ He gives us, He “toughened me up.” Every promise He makes to us, I have lived to see is true. He has been faithful. God answers prayer. “Working things out for good for those who love Jesus.” Romans 8:28. And I can see that clearly looking back on my life. And speaking of the phrase “Toughen Me Up,” that is the title of another song on the Let It Begin album that I really like and may be the next single. I wrote it with Ian and he did a fabulous job on the arrangement. “So I sing Hallelujah, When the road gets rough,You know what You’re doing and You love me enough. To be my strength and comfort in the fire, to toughen me up.” When I say “toughen me up,” it isn’t a hardness of heart as the world may see being tough, but a strengthening, a confidence to handle life. “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” Romans 8:37. When I met Jesus, I was a young woman with many struggles. He has done such a great healing and “has equipped me for every good thing.” Hebrews 13:21. I am so thankful to Jesus Christ. For dying on the cross, forgiving us our sins and for being the way, the truth and the life!
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