Amy Shreve — This Sunday
We have a very special time to look forward to this Sunday, February 11, as contemporary Christian artist, Amy Shreve comes “home” to lead us in worship and grow us in our faith. Amy, a singer, songwriter, and harpist (who grew up in FBCTLH!) will be joined by her husband and producer, Gary Wixtrom, backing her with guitars and mandolin. Also accompanying is their daughter, Elise, on percussion.
Amy has performed with the guitar and piano on stage as early as five years old. At eleven she began mastering the harp. Graduating with a music degree from Wheaton College, Illinois, Amy landed in Nashville to pursue a music career. After signing her first record contract with Sparrow Records, she was immediately signed as a staff writer at Birdwing Music where she honed her skill as a writer. She has opened for Larry Carlton and Michael McDonald, performed at the National Religious Broadcasters and Praise Gathering, and has worked with Tommy Sims (Bruce Springsteen), Norbert Putnam (Dan Fogelberg), Brian Hardin (Motown), and Peter York (EMI). Amy has recorded sixteen records for six companies and has been nominated for a Dove Award.
Her influences, the likes of Michael Card, Counting Crows, Lifehouse, Evanescence and several Irish artists including Enya, have helped her develop her musical style. Co-writing and arranging with her husband has added a pop element to the music. The result is an appealing Celtic influenced folk/pop sound.
Her newest release The God of All Hope is her last in a series of Anthology albums. In 2010, a sixteen song vocal CD called The God Of All Comfort, the first in Amy’s Anthology series was signed and is distributed by DHM a division of RBC Ministries and with Zondervan. Since then, The God of All Joy (2012), featuring the songs Beautiful Scars and Afraid Of the Dark, and The God of All Grace (2013), a follow up hymns release also with Discovery House Music have been recorded.
Amy tours the US and will be traveling internationally in 2018. She speaks and sings in churches, universities, and conferences. Amy has led worship in over 120 conferences for ‘The Voice of the Martyrs.’
In 2015 Amy and her family found themselves in the middle of a tragic situation that God used to test their faith and trust in Him. Her husband, Gary, shares a little about that experience:
What would it be like to be told you are going to die within a few months? Most of us think to a time out into the future where you are full of years and you have witnessed children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. It becomes your time to pass on to glory and to trust your legacy to the very God you are about to meet face to face.
But, what if you are young, full of life, with a husband, and a 14-year-old daughter? On October 22, 2015, Amy received that very gift. The gift of being told, “You have a rare cancer called Non-Hodgkins, Large B Cell, Double Hit lymphoma, which is very aggressive. You have 12–13 tumors some 3 inches long, you are stage 4, and the prognosis is grim.” It is a gift because you get the rare opportunity to take full stock of your life and ask yourself big questions like, “Is what I believe about Jesus the truth?”
You will have the opportunity Sunday to hear more of Amy’s amazing story. Her message of God’s perfect peace through music will comfort you, encourage you, and will challenge you to fall in love with a God who cares deeply for you.
Amy will be leading us in worship at both 9:00AM and 11:15AM services. A love offering will be taken to help support her ministry.