No, really…I am going to lead more than 20,000 people in praise and worship!

20,000 High School Students Doing What?

Every two years a really amazing thing happens. Over 20,000 Catholic high school students from all 50 states (and Canada) descend on some city for three days of praise, worship, prayer, sacraments, fellowship, and a chance to grow deeper in their faith.

This is the National Catholic Youth Conference.

Over the years I have had the chance to perform at 5 of these conferences. To be honest, it is a dizzying affair.

From the moment you get up, until the moment your head hits the pillow, the sights and sounds of thousands of young people celebrating their faith and growing close to God, surround you.

They fill the hallways, elevators, and lobbies of all the hotels in the area with laughter and joy. As they walk down the streets they chat and sing. They fill large arenas and small chapels with songs, cheers, and prayers.

It is impossible to walk away from this event without having your own faith grow and without great hope for the future.

Christ Reigns

This November, NCYC is being held in Kansas City.

After a prayerful process that took months, the conference management committee discerned that the theme of NCYC 2009 in Kansas City would be “Christ Reigns”.

When the theme was announced there was also a call for theme song submissions.

Although writing a theme song was on the back of my mind, God kept bringing me back the theme and the scriptures associated with His Kingship. I believe now that He was encouraging me in my own life through the fact that He is in charge of my life and my family’s.

One fine spring morning in Baton Rouge — ahem, while in the shower — the chorus hit me. Obviously being without equipment to record said chorus — well, if you don’t count the comb I was singing into — I hopped out of the shower and ran around like mad until I found a notebook and jotted down most of the song quickly. Once home in Colorado, I called upon the incredible talents of my friend and fellow musician, Matt Miller, to work out the bridge and verses. After an exhausting day of working/recording, we finished the song.

The next day, we submitted it.

Over 30 songs were submitted by Catholic musicians from all over the US. A national panel of youth ministers and musicians narrowed the choice to three songs. Those three songs were then passed along to the young people of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph for the final selection.

On August 12th I received the following e-mail:

It is my great pleasure to inform you that your submission, Christ Reigns, was selected by a committee of young people from the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph and Archdiocese of Kansas City as the 2009 NCYC theme song. Jon Schaffhausen, director of youth ministry for Kansas City-St. Joseph, said that the young people “immediately gravitated [to your song] for both the lyrics and the song style.”

It was early morning — everyone was sleeping — and I immediately ran into our room and jumped on Brad, scaring him awake. Ah, the joys of being married to me.

Exciting Opportunity

Over the last year our rough version of the song has been featured in all the promotional material for the conferences. Copies of the music and lyrics have been distributed to every diocese in the country. MyCatholicVoice.com is even running a video contest where high school students are making videos to our song.

We are also going to get the chance to perform the song a number of times at the conferences. This is still something I am having a hard time wrapping my head around.

I will get the opportunity to lead over 20,000 high school students in praising God.

Wow!

Sharing My Giftedness

At this point in my life, I feel inexplicably called to use the gift of music I have been given, to praise God and to encourage others to do the same.

I have recently been reminded that although God does not want me to rise through the ranks to become a singing sensation at all, the simplicity of what I do can be more encouraging to the average young person who needs a human connection with the songs and the songwriter.

When we recorded the song we had no idea that the version we were submitting was going to be the version that was going to be version that was used for anything other as a submission for the contest.

To that end, in September I am heading back into the studio to record a new EP (in short, a “half album”), which is going to include the NCYC theme song “Christ Reigns” so that I can have it ready in time for NCYC.

This will be my third time recording an album and I am looking forward to the process. As much as I love my first two albums, I now have a much better understand of the recording process and can’t wait to explore a new musical project with my new producer and friend, Dan Bozek.

As excited as I am about recording a new album I am also aware that this is also a daunting task for an independent musician. Studio time and studio musicians are not free and neither is the physical production of the CDs.

As an independent artist, this is a cost I must front myself with the hope of breaking even over time with CD sales.

The reason I am writing you this note is I am hoping you might be willing to help me in this process.

First, I am asking that you please pray for me as I enter the studio. Pray that I continue to use my gift of music to give glory and praise to God. Pray that the process goes smoothly. Pray that the music makes it way into the lives of the people who will find encouragement and hope in our God by listening to and praying with it.

Second, I am asking that you prayerfully consider becoming a sponsor of the album. This could be as simple as pre-ordering a copy of the CD or as you can see below it could be something much more elaborate. (See the details on the following pages. I hoping you choose the tattoo option.)

See how you can help the CD happen.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Keeping Tabs

I have created a special blog just for the recording of this album. I am going be giving written, audio, and video updates of the record process right up to the opportunity to share the song “Christ Reigns” with NCYC.

You can follow the process at http://www.joiafarmer.com/cdblog/

Thank You!

Thank you for your consideration in this matter, but more importantly thank you for being in my (and my families) life. Thank you for the words of encouragement. Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for your friendship.

Love,

Joia