Often we ask ourselves, how do we know God? How can we communicate with Him? How do we share our intense devotion to our faith? As a child, I learned so many songs from Sunday School and later youth rallies, but I believe that I heard the whispering of the Spirit from the songs that Mother sang at the piano and from the gospel singing at Youth Camp. The hymns we sang at Grace Methodist Church were rather slow and boring at times. The music of my faith came alive one summer when I attended the Youth camp at Lancaster, Ohio. The man who led the singing played the organ with such zest! We sang and clapped; my emotions were unreal. When this gentleman asked me if I wanted to sing on the 6:00 PM Gospel Hour Radio program for the week, I jumped at the chance. I actually had the opportunity to sing a solo one evening! I realized that week when I was sixteen years old that I would be committed to being a follower of our Lord Jesus Christ for my life. I have never regretted my decision!
What this meant for my singing was that I was more interested in sharing my faith through music at any time I was asked. Yes, I sang solos of all different types in high school, but I was most excited to be able to lead others in church settings. When I attended Miami University, I immediately joined the choir. Later, I would actually sing in three choirs in three different churches every Sunday! My voice lessons were not entirely religious. I began to be trained in opera and art songs. I was able to do well with anything I was given, but I enjoyed oratorio the most. I could relate to the Biblical setting of the music. Every year at the university, we would have the opportunity to sing one of the famous oratorios with the Cincinnati Philharmonic Orchestra. What an exciting experience!
It was in my senior year that I sang a very difficult solo from Felix Mendelssohn’s “Elijah” and the professors who listened were surprised that I could do this. It was at that time that they were encouraging me to study another year focused solely on Vocal Studies. I became “arrogant” and almost made the decision to take the path of self-aggrandisement. It was something that my sister said to me that made me think twice! She could sense that I was “stuck on my ability”. I asked: “Is this why God gave me this special gift?” I believe that turning down the scholarship offer led to where I am today–a person with a Christian calling to bring others to know the grace and love of God.
After teaching one year in Elyria, Ohio, and continuing to sing in the choir and study voice, I went to seminary. There, again, I became well-known for my ability to lead the campus choir. The unforgettable highlight of my singing was the day I sang a solo at the church attended by the famous Martin Luther King.
After seminary, I was hired by West Virginia University at the campus church to lead the Christian education. Immediately, I joined the choir. At the first rehearsal, I met a man who heard me singing. His name was Rosendo Santos. The story of our courtship is already written in detail. But, it was again my singing that led me to our marriage, my gift of having three incredibly talented musical sons, and a career in Wyoming Valley, Pa. that has been so memorable. I have sung in so many churches, Temple soloist for twenty years, and Oratorio soloist. I even had two opportunities to sing the Star Spangled Banner for the professional baseball game in Scranton, PA.
Above all, my calling to be a pastor was critical to me. When I finally received my first church appointment, I knew immediately that my singing would be critical to my message that I shared every Sunday. People would say that they were inspired and I thanked and still thank God for the gift He has given to me.
It is amazing that so many years ago God could lead me to know that singing and music would be an essential part of my destiny of Christian ministry.
