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Comment by Patricia Skinner on Friday

Hi, my name is Pat Skinner.  I have been in music ministry since 1991.  Starting out as a tag along with my husband who was the bass player for several local Southern / country and bluegrass gospel groups.  During the early years, we traveled to several states, singing in prisons, nursing homes, festivals and churches.  I was very much into Contempory Christian music (being much different then as it is now).  I liked and sang songs of Sandi Patty, Evie, Amy Grant, etc.  I sang by soundtrack  and never really learned to sing with live music since their (my hubby's groups) styles was so much different then mine.  Needless to say, I wasn't really accepted in those circles as a vocalist and therefore didn't get to sing much.    I knew in my heart that I had a message to give too, but I felt like an outsider. Every time I heard a preacher preach on the "talents"  I felt a twinge of guilt cause I wasn't using the little talent I had.  I didn't want to face the Lord one day and tell him, "oh, I didn't think I was good enough so I buried the talent you gave me."  I also need to interject here that I was extremely shy--so I never tried to promote myself.  I just thought--well Lord, if you want me to sing--you will open the doors. One day as I was walking out of a local grocery/department store, the Lord spoke to me, and said, " What do you want to do?"  my first thought was, "Well, duh!" knowing He already knew what was in my heart to do for Him.  But I anwsered, "I want to sing."  Two weeks later I got a call from a lady I had never met. She did scheduling for a local resturaunt that featured Gospel music--I got my first "booking" as a soloist.  I went on to record my first project, "To Jesus, with all my love" in 1998. At the time of the release I wrote a short booklet of my first studio experience and included the lyrics of the ten songs and a brief discription of why I chose those ten songs and / or what they meant to me.  I had a thought one day as I was thinking about the struggle I had and the lack of support I had received from my peers--just because I sang to canned music and my style was different. As I was thinking on these things, I thought if I ever had it in my power to help other singers who may not have a great talent or had a different style - those who didn't get the opportunity to share their particular message, but had a true heart for music ministry, I would help and encourage them in whatever way I could.  In 2005, the Lord gave me my own Cable TV program.  I feature independent  Gospel singers and groups--all styles.  I would like to expand my ministry and at the same time help and encourge other artists to use whatever talent God has given them to further the Kingdom.  That is why I have been searching the internet for sites like this one and IGA, of which I am also a member.  Don't know exactly what God wants me to do--but I don't want anyone else to have to struggle to share their God Given message with the world.   I may not have a great talent as some do--but I do have a message and a mission that He wants me to do, and I know there are others who are the same.  That is why I love this site and other's like it because you have the same heart and mind as I do---It is all about Him and we need to get the message out there however we can.

Comment by Zack Martin Sr on February 13, 2012 at 7:57am

Hello, I'm Rev. Zack Martin Sr. I served God for 35 years as Minister of Music & Youth Pastor. I became disabled in 2006. After about 3 years of fighting depression over my disability & my inability to do my ministry, I was prescribe a power chair in 2009. After that I found out I could do things for the Lord. I began to sing again, and I have recorded 3 CDs since then. I also write short messages for my Lord. To find out more about me, read my blog here, "I Am Blessed." God Blessed each of you. A Friend in Christ Jesus,

Rev. Zack Martin Sr.