Jennifer
Austin
Bio for: Where You Found Me:
Songs of Redemption and Grace
I am an "independent" singer/songwriter out of Tyler, TX. I've
just completed a project produced by Gary Leach at Rosewood
Studios (
www.rosewoodstudios.com).
LeeAnn Rimes and Paul Baloche, among many others record at
Rosewood. I was fortunate to work alongside Paul as he completed
his upcoming worship album. What an inspiration and education
that was! We finished my first album,
Where You Found Me: Songs of
Redemption and Grace, in July and I just received it back
from duplication. It may sound ridiculous but I feel like I have
just had a baby! I wanted to sit back and say "Whew, Lord! We
did it...it's finished!" Yet I know that I'm far from finished.
My journey is just beginning. I'm now ready to take the next
step in this "process" that He has been leading from the start.
My sound has been described as the breathiness of Amy Grant, the
softness of Ginny Owens, intersecting with the depth of Karen
Carpenter and a bit of a Carole King edge. Some people hear a
bit of a Sara Groves, too. What does that sound like? Well, I
hope you will give me a listen! My songs include some that are
very radio friendly pop/soft rock, one with a bit of a country
sound, with a balance of ballads and a hymn that highlight my
voice and range. There is even a bit of a revision of an old
Beatles tune thrown in.
This project was born out of a very difficult place in my life.
Though I have been singing since I was four, I never used my
gift of voice for the right reasons. Though I claimed Jesus as
my Savior at age twelve, it is clear to me now that I never
embraced that relationship and never allowed any roots to
establish. I just never really knew Him. I grew up in the church
and knew the right words to say, but never let God in. In this
last two years, I have really had to go in the "pit" and it was
there that Jesus met me. Through my sin, I was forced to my
knees, and I have been found in that place by a Lord whose love
and grace mean everything!!! I can now
claim and proclaim Christ as my Lord! In doing so I have
been blessed with an opportunity to share my gift, as well as a
message of hope.
How would I describe myself in
my past sin life? I AM the woman at the well..I AM the
woman, lying in the dust, waiting to be stoned. These songs come
from that place. My songs are original and are truly inspired by
the story of my own life. My dream was to make this album. My
desire is to now take this album and its message and turn it
into a ministry. I so desperately want to share with others that
no matter what they've done, He will NEVER leave you! I know
that there are many people exactly like the old me, "Sunday
Morning Best" Christians, if you will, who are living a life
devoid of an authentic relationship with their Savior. I have a
testimony that will touch these people, and hopefully, stir
their hearts to want to "wake up." As I personally know,
complacency leads to weakness and weakness to sin. I know
because I've been there. Because of Christ, I made it through,
and now I have a story to tell. I have always done things
previously for selfish gain, and now I simply want to take this
album and its message and let it be heard for the glory of God!
I am eager for see what He will do with it!
In order for this message to be heard, this album needs to reach
people and my songs need radio airplay and exposure. To date,
American Family Radio, a national syndicate of Christian
stations has picked up my single "You Knew My Name (Before the
Fall)" and is considering others for rotation. I am getting play
of four or five of my songs on our local pair of East Texas
Christian stations. I've had requests for MP3's from a station
in Kansas and incredibly, from a station in the Netherlands!
That's an incredible thought to me! God is amazing!!! I'm hoping
that many other stations will follow. Though it has only been
listed for a short time, my music has also become very popular
on the nation's "premier" Christian independent music website,
www.indieheaven.com.
Please be sure and take a look at their site as well.
Throughout this journey I have prayed for God's will to be done.
This is not about me.
It's about spreading the good news of God's love and grace...and
what He can do in a person's life if you will just let Him in. I
am praying daily for a clear "door slam" if this is not what He
wants. However, the doors just continue to open...radio airplay,
and inclusion in author/psychologist Dr. Debbie Cherry's
conferences (
Child-Proofing Your Marriage,
The Strong-Willed Wife,
and many others) among them. I am always interested in
performing/ministry opportunities, so please, give me a call if
you feel that you can use me in any way! All I want is to do His
will, and give Him the glory and praise each step of the way. I
wouldn't have made it this far without His guiding hand.
Please visit
www.jenniferaustin.com
for more details and information, and please be in touch if
there is anything you feel led to do in order to help broaden
the scope of this ministry.
Forever His,
Jennifer Austin
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