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10 Questions with ... Rachel Lee Ann
October 12, 2015
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1. Birthplace, childhood, schools, jobs, current hometown, etc.
I was born in Woodland, Ca and grew up in Vacaville, CA. I live in West Sacramento. I am currently working as the Worship Director at Journey Church in Elk Grove, CA. I am also a Personal Trainer and have been for the last 18 years.
2. What does a normal day at home look like for you?
I wake up between 5:00 and 5:30 am. I spend about an hour reading my bible and praying. Putting my focus on God every morning reminds me that my life is really about God and what he wants for me, not what I want. I have two boys that I get up and get ready for school. I get a quick workout in and then start on the tasks for the day. Usually I am writing, preparing music for the church services for the week, or I have a few clients to train. The rest of the family usually is home by 6pm. We still have a sit down family meal almost every evening. My husband (guitar player and co-writer) Scott and I will rehearse upcoming music for about an hour. Since we get an early start the next day the whole family is usually in bed by 9pm.
3. What's the song that you just can't get out of your head right now?
Right now it is an old School Hillsong Song called My Redeemer Lives. I am always looking for upbeat, fun music to start our Sunday morning worship service and this one fits perfect. It's pretty catchy.
4. How much do you travel, what are the challenges? How do you juggle life on the road with wanting to be home?
We really played a lot last year. Every weekend and often during the week. I am a home body so it is tough for me to be away from the nest, especially if my boys can't come along. But my joy comes from meeting all types of people and hearing their life stories and the amazing things God is doing in their lives. That is what keeps me enjoying this lifestyle.
5. What Artist or Pastor has had the greatest impact on you?
Pastor Chip Ingram, by far. I have been listening to his podcast for the last 10 years. He preaches straight from the bible without apology, but makes the word of God easy to understand and gives practical ways to apply Gods word to your life. I am also a huge Randy Alcorn fan. His study of what Heaven will be like is fascinating to me.
6. What's the last book you read?
I just finished reading Safely Home, by Randy Alcorn. It is a story about two college friends who reconnect after about 20 years. One of them is working at the top of an American corporation and the other is living in China under intense persecution because of Christ. The American goes to China to live with his friend for a month while researching for his corporation. I really love this book. I read a lot of books about persecuted Christians in other countries because it reminds me that freely worshipping God is a gift in America but we have the responsibility to get involved in the lives of our persecuted brother's and sister's.
7. Funniest or most embarrassing moment on the road?
We were opening for Alabama. I love listening to Alabama but I had no idea what any of the guys looked like. After I came off stage from our set there was a knock on my trailer door. My 10 year old son looked out the window and said " Mom, there is some weird guy at the door". I opened the door and there was a man standing there. He told me that I did a fantastic job and offered me a drink. I was polite and said thank you and then shut the door because I had no idea who the weird guy at the door was. I was later told that the man was Jeff Cook, one of the founding members of Alabama. I was so embarrassed! Later that evening I was able to apologize for not recognizing him, which was even more embarrassing. The whole time he was very sweet and even let me take a photo with him.
8. Tell us about your latest project, "Jesus I Adore You".
Over the past two years I have made so many life changes because of my faith in God. I have been learning the truth about who God says he is instead of who I thought God was. I started this project because I didn't want to forget the things I was learning. I never actually set out to write a CD. I started writing for myself. The title track & first radio single, "Jesus, I Adore You", came about because I was asked to do another country show, but I had made a commitment to God that I was only going to use the gifts he gave me to tell people about him. It was really hard for me to let that life go and for a second I was trying to figure out how I might be able to do both, but the more I prayed about it the more I saw clearly that I needed to keep strong in my faith and my commitment. I saw that even in my moment of weakness, God still loved me.
The song that has the most impact on audiences is called, "I've Already Set You Free." This song is all about forgiveness. I learned that forgiveness is a choice. I can choose to let go and walk away or I can choose to pick up the chains that were holding me back from healing and let them keep me bound. I have had so many people, many from 12 step programs, tell me that the words to that song remind them that forgiveness and healing is a choice.
9. What organization/service group(s) are you affiliated with?
The organization that I have partnered with the most with is 3Strands Global. Their mission is to combat human trafficking. They educate our communities and also provide employment to survivors and those at-risk on a global level. I am passionate about human trafficking because I live in an area that is one of the top destination points for trafficking. Most people who live in my community are totally unaware that this is even going on. In the last 8 months we have been able to partner with 3strands and put on two large events that gave 3Strands a platform to be able to speak their message.
10. Person you'd most like to have a discussion with, living or dead.....Deities are excused from this question.
I would love to be able to speak with my Grandma Tackett. She passed away when I was about 10 years old. I have some great memories of her, but because I lived far from her I didn't get to spend enough time with her. My cousins have some amazing stories about her that I love to listen to but I am a little jealous of their time with her.
Bonus Questions
1. Favorite Bible Verse....life verse?
Ezekiel 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. WOW! Not one time did God say we had to do the work. If our heart is truly his he does all the work. That is a huge weight lifted off my shoulders!
2. How & When did you become a believer?
I grew up in a Christian home and have always attended church. I asked Jesus in to my heart when I was about 4 years old but I didn't truly commit and start living my beliefs until the end of 2013.
3. What's the biggest "God moment" you've ever experienced? Personally or professionally, when has God shown up in a powerful way?
This sounds totally crazy but it is true... God had been teaching me to come out of my comfort zone. I have a hard time doing that. One day I was driving through a really bad part of town and I had to stop at the store. I usually carried some cash on me because there are a lot of homeless men and women in this area. But this day I felt the spirit tell me that there would be a homeless man in front of the store I was going to and I wasn't to give him money. I was to ask him if he was hungry. That is really really out of my comfort zone. I am actually pretty shy about meeting new people. When I pulled up, sure enough, there was a man sitting on the curb out front. When I walked up to him, he asked me if I had any money and I asked him if he was hungry. He told me he was very hungry. I went in and bought him some food. When I came out I was able to speak to him for a bit and I made a new friend. That was a gentle lesson. For me, it was like God was telling me that living for him is going to take me out of my comfort zone, but the Holy Spirit will always be there to guide me. Since then I have time and time again been taken out of my comfort zone. It isn't always easy but living out my faith is becoming the only way I know how to live.
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