Many of you received an email about Marsha Stevens-Pino, from me, originally distributed by Pastor Judy Hanlon at the Hadwen Park Church, inviting you to hear Marsha perform in a free concert and hear a little bit of her story.
Having received the message twice, the second time from Sean Fitzpatrick, who simply forwarded Pastor Judy's email with the note, “FYI, if you haven’t heard her she is great!!” I knew that I was in store for a great afternoon.
Pastor Judy's message read:
Marsha Stevens-Pino -- is a published hymn writer who used to open for Billy Graham, Sandy Patti and other well known gospel artists. Until she came out! Now, her published hymns are ripped out of hymn books and sent to her with nasty writing across them.
But, she and her wife, still sing! AND, she is AMAZING. Come to hear her. No charge, just a free will offering.
I am so pleased to share with you that I am still riding a bit of a high after hearing Marsha's beautiful story and her doubly beautiful, extremely stirring and equally thought provoking lyrics/musical arrangements. Two selections in particular, which carried the same weight with me and still hold strong in my mind and heart, are For those Tears I died and Dig Your Own Well...because they are complimentary works.
DYOW's chorus has the following lyrics - Dig Your Own Well! Dig Your Own Well! Don't hang out where they hate and condemn. They can keep you from drinking at the well they built, but the water don't belong to them. No, No, no, the water don't belong to them. And For those Tears I Died is the modern hymn that, at the age of 16, began her musical career. FTTID is a piece of music that, for many was common to be sung in worship and I am sure that many sang it at home. Marsha wrote the song to tell her story to her sisters. She knew that if she could fit it all into three verses, they would have to listen.
Well, thousands (due to it's translation into 12 languages) have heard, learned and truly know that Jesus is able to quench that thirst experienced by many, even though many others have taken/torn/ripped this hymn out of songbooks and collectively bombarded her with mail. A testament of her her strength is that she checks the reverse of the music to see who else got thrown out of the music program at the church/worship family with her...she's particularly interested to see who was also discarded, at one time it was "A Mighty Fortress is our GOD!" Her response is "at least I'm in good company!"
Also, Ms. Stevens-Pino is so comfortable and sure of both her faith and her orientation that she states "I've given God permission to strike me straight! I know he has a plan for me and I will stay in the middle of His plan!" Her logic, which leads to some perfectly eye-opening one-liners, added to the enjoyment for the entire audience.
I will add her to my list of Must See Performers! Ms. Stevens dug her own well and I know we are all welcome to take a drink!
More information about Marsha and For those Tears I died:
Her site http://www.balmministries.net/ or read this article LookSmart's FindArticles - Marsha's tears: An orphan of the church - Marsha Steven's son "For Those Tears I Died" from the Christian Century, March 17, 1999, by Mark Allan Powell