Jodi Faith

 

WHAT AN INCREDIBLE YEAR 2005 TURNED OUT TO BE! A year ago, I was literally laying on the couch – refusing to get up… choosing to slothfully do nothing - when I felt the Lord really tugging at my heartstrings. I’d been given a real vision to ‘reach the hurting world’ almost three years before and yet it seemed like so much work in order to ‘get er’ done!’ I remember asking the Lord why someone else couldn’t do it all? Why me Lord?

What I’ve really begun to understand this last year though – is that each one of us is called to significantly impact the world we live in. God created each of us with the specific gifts we need in order to seriously get His business done! I was created ‘for such a time as this’ and my slothful, detached apathy wouldn’t cut it! So… I got on up… off that couch… and what an adventure it’s been!

 I spent a good bit of time in studio in 2005 with a pre-release of my debut cd ready to go when I embarked on my first tour the end of May. A process not without outrageous complications, I’m excited to finally say the ‘Second Chance’ cd release date is planned for February 06! Five studios later - thank-you - Slyngshot Records in Calgary!

 I praise the Lord that I got up off that couch and quit trying to rationalize His will for our lives this past year. It began with me partnering with TCCI - a national charity group who asked me to create a ‘national awareness campaign’ for them in order to share 1) their vision to create housing for homeless people 2) my songs- two of which they called their ‘theme songs’ and 3) my story, which includes “homelessness” and rebuilding my life. The theme of the tour was “Where’s the Love?” It was an amazing privilege to hit the road with dear friend Juanita Faas – sharing the stage with her and many others Christian songwriters who had a message of “God’s Love” to share. While I was organizing the tour, I met Aven Grace who planned to sing with us in Saskatoon… Two months later – Aven invited me to participate in the Country Gospel Music Associations Canadian (CGMA) convention June 6^th thru 11^th in Yorkton, SK… Awards then won. A voice student, Cecile Corbiere has become a great friend … Acting as my manager for a number of dates on tour including Yorkton, I there met her brother Robert Poirier who became my amazing Webmaster! Wow, eh? Although my service to TCCI has concluded now, I understand there is no such thing as coincidence! The intricacies of a life well lived - in the perfect will of God - never cease to astound meJ.

Joining the Canadian CGMA family was the highlight of the year for me. During the week in Yorkton I felt like I’d finally come home to family… Surrounded by a wonderful group of folks who truly understand what it is to give up career, family and prosperity in order to share the love of God with a hurting world. With my new CGMA family I have felt very sincerely as though I’m not so alone in this work. Bob was able to join me in Branson for the week there in October and was able to begin understanding how integral his part in the ministry would be as he steps more fully into the role of business manager and sound technician. My mom and dad, Heidi and Cheryl, were also able to join us in Branson and I pray they will better understand the call on my life because of that time.

Sharing the gospel of Jesus took another interesting direction this past year too! I am currently enjoying my last year of vocal coaching in the Lafleche area. My spring students became an awesome ‘praise chorus’ during “Where’s the Love? tour stops in May and June, while my fall session students were fabulous as the “praise chorus’ for a new concert series called “Creation to Christmas… Easter to Eternity; The Story Of God And Humanity.” This interaction with the local community is something God’s been showing me to do since my “Continental” ministry experience in 2002. Meaning, if I’m coming your way, I send you the songs and narration for the concert… You invite local adults and youth to join you - creating a local “praise chorus”… then, have fun as you practice together and help advertise the event within your faith community. As I join you in your local area - we do two to five performances together… exemplifying unity and harmony while sharing the message of God’s love with your entire neighborhood! If this vision resonates in your heart, please email or call me directly! You too, were created for such a time as this!

As I said it’s been a tremendous year for me although sometimes mind-boggling as I’ve been on the road, often alone, with over 13,000 kilometers traveled and 50 plus performances given. For Bob it’s been much more challenging… being alone has been interesting yes, but also dealing with the many results of the Sask. Learning initiative to downsize from 80+ school divisions to only 20+ on January 1^st, 2006. His work as director/superintendent of the local school division was greatly complicated this past year as talks of restructuring and amalgamation surged. His board was strongly opposed to the restructuring which put him at odds with the provincial mandate on their behalf. More difficult at times has been his being forced; prematurely perhaps, to really figure out what he’s supposed to be doing with his life. For sometime we’ve been praying about his part in ministry growing but the huge costs associated with ministry (from $1.00 liter fuel to recording costs, to venue and sound technician fees) led Bob to feel he really had to keep working in order to facilitate/finance the ministry expenses. On the day he discovered the possible loss of $200 per month on his impending pension though, we received a monthly partners’ commitment of $200. Per month. Wow, eh! It was like God was speaking straight to his heart with the assurance that He will supply for all our needs. What a faithful God we serve!

With a overwhelming sense of rightness and completeness – final decisions have been made and we are now looking forward to his retirement on June 30^th and his full-time partnership in ministry with me as business manager to Reunion Day Productions. His Christmas gift to me was a portable sound system – 150 watts of portable power with a 5-channel soundboard and speakers and so compact it’s only 80 pounds to lug about… Not so exciting for many of you but I was in tears as I understood his commitment to being on the road with me was complete. Honestly, it is scary to consider that at a time when so many of our friends are able to shift gently into retirement mode we are being called to pick-up the pace and get busier than ever before. We’ve purchased an 800 square foot home in Lafleche – secure with a double garage and chain-link fence – which will act as ‘Canadian home base’ beginning July 1^st. A wonderful gift from God has been my growing friendship with Betty-Ann Tallon in Lafleche here, who is willing to act as a secretary to us - from home base - to wherever in the world we end upJ

This amazing and wonderful year concluded with me in studio with Wes Bloom at Universal Sound Studio’s in Assiniboia, to complete a two-year project - a Christmas CD called ‘Reflections of Love’ tell the story of Isaiah’s prophesy of baby Jesus birth in Bethlehem to His gift in healing the brokenness of humanity - as a Child born to die at Calvary. Amazing sound tracks for 7 of the 14 songs were produced by Rhys Frostad right here in Lafleche with Jackie Poirier on keys and Ed Rigetti on guitar - 2 instrumental bonus tracks from friend Rhys are also included.

We really covet your prayers. They are needed more now than ever before. 1) For committed Prayer Partners as we build a strong support network.  2) For God’s will regarding bookings in order to fill in the many blanks in our 2006-07 schedule. 3) For His Spirit to be evident in ministry: Saturday, January 14^th in Saskatoon at the monthly CGMA Breakfast Buffet and Concert - 9 am at Smily’s on Circle Drive across from Home Depot – $10.00 per ticket at the door - Call Bob Klein 242-7431 and Ken Olson 229-8600. February 17^th in Assiniboia – Prince of Wales Cultural Centre. March 17- 19^th – Saskatchewan Country Music Association Awards Weekend in Nipawin (tentative). June 2- 4^th Cypress Hill Resort, Sask. June 5-10, Canadian CGMA Convention - Wetaskiwin, Alberta; June 17-19, Frenchman’s Valley Gospel Jamboree, Eastend, SK; July 17-22, Central USA CGMA Convention-Watertown, Wisconsin; July 25^th thru 15^th - Canadian Maritimes; August 21-26, Eastern USA CGMA Convention - Oakland, Maryland; October 16-21, 2006 - International CGMA Convention - Branson, Missouri; Nov – April, 2007 Phoenix, Arizona. 4) For protection of our relationships with family - especially our 7 children, their spouses and our 7 grandchildren while on the road. 5) For protection from the powers and principalities of the air and the sometimes vicious attack - A rumor circulating has us split up and me moving back to the Hat – horrible timing when at this exact moment we’re looking to build a stronger partnership with those who see us as committed to God, His Kingdom building, each other and growing our ministry 6) For protection from the spirit of offense. A grave misunderstanding has created a rift in what was a very important ‘studio’ relationship and friendship.  7) For travel mercies.  8) For Financial Partners in ministry – our costs will rise while through Bob’s retirement, our income declines. Corporate partners and monthly supporters are especially needed. 9) Finally, in order to begin ministering fully on the road, we need to acquire a fifth wheel. For discernment in doing so.

Thank-you for your love & support. We couldn’t do it without you… although Satan would like us to try it!

Reunion Day Productions
Box 296
Lafleche, Saskatchewan
SOH 2KO

Outreach and Renewal Event Coordination
Sunday School Picnics, Festivals, Anniversaries, Celebrations, Reunions
Office # 306-472-5716    Cell # 403-580-6066    Email - jodi.faith@sasktel.net
For more information and bookings please contact Jodi or Robert Faith

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