The Sonflowerz bring a message to young women with their new song “More than I Think I Am” on their upcoming album.

“In a culture that emphasizes a false idea of physical beauty, we want to express how much God values young women. This song describes the way God sees us, beautiful and irreplaceable,” says Becca. The Sonflowerz will release “More than I think I Am” on their new album in store April 22, 2008.  Just a few weeks before that, the band will join speaker/author Heather Paulsen (author of the book Emotional Purity) at “Meant for More” young women’s conference. This conference will take place at NorthPoint Church in Winthrop Harbor, IL. The Sonflowerz will lead worship and perform a concert for the girls attending.

A familiar experience like Columbine

Sunday morning, Dec. 9, 2007, was a tragic day for our church. A gunman opened fire after the service and killed two teen girls. I (Becca) was inmain foyer of our church campus when I heard gunshots coming from down the hall. Before I had a chance to look, I was directed outside along with thousands of others in panic. Running out to the parking lot, I tried to find my car and avoid falling on the ice, which remained after a recent snowfall. My first thought was to locate my sister, so I called her cell phone.  Thankfully, she had already left the building before the shots were fired. The next 30 minutes involved a traffic jam of cars trying to leave the New Life parking lot while police and ambulances rushing to the scene. I looked back at the cross on top of our church building and prayed for safety for those trapped inside. Many children’s ministry leaders still were locked in classrooms on the second floor. The two sisters who were shot and killed were active members of our high school and college ministry, which devastated all of us at church.

Still in shock, I drove away from the church and found friends who gathered to pray. Our cell phones constantly were ringing as people tried to locate their family and friends. A friend from England called after hearing the news on the BBC. When I returned to the church, I was able to see bullet marks where shots had hit about 20 feet from where I first heard the gunfire.  God was so faithful to keep me safe that day.

While a tragedy like this could ruin a church, and put fear in our hearts, it only has strengthened our faith. We’ve seen an increase in attendance (and an increase in security) and our new pastor, Brady Boyd, has received international press coverage.

In the midst of uncertainty, God was present. He has used this tragedy to bring glory to His name. As the world watched, our church remained steady, declaring faith in a sovereign God. I am overwhelmed by the way God has restored our church and brought us to a place of greater strength.

A song on our new album, called “God of Restoration,” was written by Elissa and is now truer than ever. I believe God will use this song to bring healing to brokenness. He truly has healed our congregation and made us more committed to our purpose as a church.

Compassion International announced a new partnership with The Sonflowerz. As members of Compassion’s Independent Artists Network, The Sonflowerz joins a growing number of artists who are lending their voices to children in need. As a ministry, Compassion International has partnered with Christian musicians, including Michael W. Smith, Jeremy Camp, and Rebecca St. James for more than 20 years.