Leah Martensen has a personal secret she wants to share: God is in the business of using us to share his perfect love, despite our own imperfection...." He is calling people to come as they are and contribute to the world the best way they can. And Leah should know, she is a successful Christian artist who has performed and toured for the past sixteen years.
Realizing that God is not in the business of calling only the equipped but equipping those he calls, Leah is the first to state that she is not a typical musician. "I'm not looking for fame and stardom, nor am I what 'stardom' is looking for", she says. "I have a simple message and I tell my story: God is using me in spite of what I'm not. I've traveled the world telling this story."
As she prepares to release her fourth album, Leah is shifting gears, leaning towards an acoustic style, a different sound to her last release, "What I'm Not", which was contemporary pop.
Aptly titled, "Still..." this new album shines its light on Leah's belief that God is still in charge, offering hope, grace and love at a time when many of us are feeling afraid and helpless.
"People all over the world are lost", says Leah. "God's love endures, however - we need to keep praying, keep hoping, dreaming and loving each other, following Christ's example."
Recorded at Paradiso Music in Nashville, TN, 'Still...' will feature songs that touch on real life issues, with emotional underscores, that Leah hopes her audience will relate to on a personal level. She wants to send out an album that gives listeners hope for the future and inspiration to become part of the change that will take us there.
"When I perform, I sing with positivity, not perfection," says Leah, who has re-worked a traditional hymn, 'Ten Thousand Angels' into a contemporary version for 'Still...'
"I hope my audience will appreciate the message of my new songs and like me, be the best they can be at what God has called them to do".
Since launching her musical career nearly sixteen years ago, Leah has released four albums with Joyful Sound Records, Where is the Love (2000), Give It To Him (2002), and What I'm Not (2005), which earned a top seven place with the single 'Shut up and Pray' on the IggyRock charts earlier this year.
In 2005, Leah co-formed a collective of female Christian artists called 'Christian D.I.V.A.S.' who feature regularly on TSR radio.
Leah's music has been featured on several Podcast programs, including, Build The Church, Mad Money Review, Delta Radio and Delta Podcast.
As Leah has developed her ministry, she has found freedom and opportunities for reaching others. "As a Christian artist, God and I get to call the shots. I have the freedom to go where God leads and I wouldn't want it any other way."
God has led Leah to interesting places. She has ministered at churches and conferences and performed at countless coffeehouses, fairs and festivals across the United States and around the world.
He also directed Leah to minister in South Africa and Asia. Leah joined World Vision as an artist associate in 2001.
"I have seen the devastation and hopelessness in the eyes of children in the squatter camps of South Africa. The only thing in abundance is disease and death. We can all be missionaries without leaving home by sponsoring a child, a family, or a community on the other side of the world through World Vision. That really gets me excited."
Leah has experienced the adventure of traveling with other musicians and continues to plan a busy tour schedule for 2008.
Leah and Beth Champion Mason are touring together for the Road To Recovery Tour 2008. They will be traveling through the Southwest with a 14-day schedule along with a fall Arkansas tour that will be packed with hope and encouragement. Check out the Road To Recovery website www.roadtorecoverytour.com
"I've been singing all my life and traveling for the last 16 years. I get to do this with my husband of 22 years and I love that we can grow together in this ministry. It's a privilege that God would allow us to join with pastors and churches, encouraging their ministries and bringing believers together".
Jan and I are heading out today for VACATION! Yeh for us! LOL! We'll be driving today halfway. Tonight we are meeting up with a couple of friends of ours from China living in West Virginia. They are driving to meet us for dinner somewhere. I don't kn...
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Hey everyone!
Beth just sent over a demo of a song we wrote together on tour a couple of weeks ago. Please check it out. It's the first song "A Good Day". It will make you smile! I promise! Ok...don't hold me to that! You could be a difficult person...
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Jan and I are leaving for Thanksgiving on Friday. We're heading to spend the week in Williamsburg, VA. We're pretty excited! Many because we don't have much on the agenda! I think we're catching up with Beth and her hubby on Sunday and from there we ...
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Hey! Just wanted you guys to know that Exteme Home tonight is in the Toledo area. I knew a ton of people that took part on this home. The people are christians and really known in the area. It's pretty cool to watch and see people I know. What a bles...
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I pray you guy have an awesome thanksgiving vacation with Beth's family. Don't have too much fun, but if you when you do, just remember it's " A Good day" :D
TO MY DEAR SISTER IN CHRIST. I PRAY ALL IS WELL. SORRY, I HAVE BEEN AWAY FROM THE NET, SOAKING IN THE WORD OF OUR PRECIOUS KING. BUT AS YOU CAN SEE I CAME TO SPREADING SOME LOVE TO MY FAMILY IN CHRIST. I LOVE YOU AND I MISS YOU ALOT. I WILL KEEP YOU IN PRAYERS AND SINCE WE ARE GETTING CLOSE TO CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAYS, I PRAY FOR HEALTH, FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS, PEACE, HARMONY, HUMILITY, KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM, MORE LOVE AND MORE OF THE PRESENCE AND THE GLORY OF OUR SWEET JESUS. AMEN
well you Im heading off. I need to study my head off beacause I have to take a test tomorrow that I have to pass. Night. Drive Safe tomorrow-Ill pray tonight for safe travels. Love you Bomb Diggety :)
Yeah, I mean you're gonna a need a cart... but mine is for stuff... and it's complicated. So, I don't get it. Man, why couldn't you need this like 2 yrs. from now? LOL!
No way Jose. You still a youngin :) When I was in high school I thought like 60 was elderly...but now I see my Mom near to her mid 50's and she still seems so young. So Ive moved to 70 is elderly-like now haha
Hey... and I figured out how to add my company name... plus, if you click "more" on the bottom right, a window opens with all these options... I even figured out how to add my logo! I'm learning! LOL! Pretty soon, you may be able to hire me... well, a couple of years from now anyway! LOL!
I think doing it at 60 would be cool! haha. I may even dye my hair purple when I hit 60 :)
Haha Ive seen the blue hair before. I think thats awesome. I want to be a cool elderly person one day! haha
I think Im gonna try to make an appt for when I go back for Thanksgiving. Either that or dye the underneath red again and do my blonde highlights but put a red highlight between every blonde highlight. So I guess basically dye it all red and then put some blonde highlights on top. Hmmm
I may come back with some WILD hair...but its the holidays :) And if you say Go for it...why not? haha