About Danette
I found out that Jesus loved me in Vacation Bible School at age 4 or 5. I clung to this, but knew precious little of Him. More often than not, I feared serving a God for eternity that might be as demanding as my real father and as unable to be pleased as he. Jesus was to me in my limited knowledge, the Son of God, but not God. Father God was the One I had to please. And because I thought He was so harsh, by the time I was in high school, I had declared He didn’t exist.
However, the summer before my senior year in college, God showed me that I was willing to open my heart to Him. My roomate had placed a small poster on the wall in front of my chair at the dinner table. It was a picture of bread and wine. It said, “Jesus Christ of Nazareth requests the honor of your presence at a dinner given in His honor”. My heart throbbed when I read those words and saw the bread and wine. I had to bow my head in prayer. Somehow I knew that this meant that my wild days were going to be over very shortly.
The summer went on and I began to feel completely worthless as I grew worse in my partying ways. Yet there were times when I would do something to help Cindy, my roomate. And she would comment, "Jesus just used you to help me!” Inwardly I would respond, “WHAT??? How in the world could God ever use someone like me?!!!” And I would dismiss her words. But when she had said this to me numerous times, I suddenly was confronted with the love of the Lord. One evening, when alone again, He opened my heart to His love. It was as if He spoke to me, “I love you!!! It’s not you that has to be worthy, it is my sacrifice. I am worthy and you are forgiven”. I discovered in that instant moment’s of time, that He, Jesus, was worthy before the Father. Through His blood and His broken body, through His pure walk in complete obedience, He fulfilled everything the Father asked, and I was not able nor expected to be worthy. He was worthy for me. I was forgiven. Believing this, I asked Him in my heart. I gave Him my life. I asked for Him to use me!!! I felt CLEAN!
That was the end of my not wanting Him. Instantly. I started diligently studying the bible and pursuing Him.
Years later, in a time of desperation, the Lord showed me that He had a work for me to do. And as I did His work – His way – He would provide. I had never heard this taught, but the Word confirmed it. He showed me that He wanted me to stay on my face before Him, learning, and coming to know Him.
It was during this time frame that I found CSN (Christian Satellite Network) on the radio. Bible studies from various Calvary Chapels filled the air time and I diligently listened. I felt that I was now hearing what I had always yearned to hear – the Word of God spoken with truth and understanding. I poured my heart into the studies and began looking for a Calvary Chapel to attend.
When visiting the "chap" in Joplin, MO my heart was taken away by the worship of a young man with long hair singing and playing his electric guitar in the worship band. He loved the Lord! This is how I wanted to worship our God – in love! As the praise time ended, I awaited the pastor to the take the pulpit, not knowing who it was. To my surprise and to my glee, it was the same young man who so affectionately worshiped his Lord. He taught with the depth of understanding that I yearned for. With incredible faithfulness, the Lord then opened the door for my family and I to move to Joplin.
Two months after this move, the Lord sent me to my first contemporary Christian music concert. During this time, He opened my eyes to the power of worship and of His “feeding” His people as they entered into His presence. I felt Him stir my heart to pray, “Lord, let me be a part of this. Taking You to Your people.” He astounded me when He spoke back, “Take My music to My persecuted church.”
That journey began in early 2004. I have watched Him open doors with many musicians, ministries, funders, as I have stayed on my face at His feet. He has given me a place at CCJ, under their covering, from which to launch the ministry of Music for the Persecuted Church. With the solid worship and teaching of the Word that I have received at CCJ, I have learned over time that He sings into the hearts of His people with music and with His Word.
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