Music for the Soul, Inc.
Stories

Dear Friend - As ones eager to be good stewards of the vision that God has given, we at Music for the Soul prayerfully seek God’s call and leading every step of the way.

Living in the rigors and demands of the day to day it is often difficult to see God’s hand at work. That’s why it is so important to reflect on the journey from time to time; to remember what God has done. For it is through the stories of a ministry like Music for the Soul that one can see God’s faithfulness in weaving together something more beautiful and surprising than could ever be imagined. I hope you’ll enjoy reading some of these stories and seeing the miraculous way God has inspired us, encouraged us, and sustained us.

Additionally, we have been blessed with many wonderfully thoughtful, creative, wise, and passionate friends. From time to time to they have shared their thoughts with us on a wide range of subjects having to do with music and ministry. Some of these are archived here as well. We welcome your thoughts and comments on what you read here. And we pray that you will derive joy in sharing with others – whether through song, poetry, essay, film, art, or the spoken word - the stories of the miracles that God has done in your life!

Steve Siler
Music for the Soul

Giving Hope Miracle 2003

In 2003 my five year songwriting deal at Word was coming to a close. This marked the conclusion of ten years as a contemporary Christian staff writer for me. During that time I was blessed to have had hundreds of songs recorded and even more blessed by the close friendships that had developed with so many collaborators; writers, musicians, singers, publishers, and engineers.

I was also blessed to make my living for that entire time by writing songs, something that had always been my dream.

So, even though God had made it clear to me that it was time to move on and devote one hundred per cent of my time to the Music for the Soul ministry, it wasn't easy for me. First of all, I was setting my life long dream aside, something I couldn't have conceived of doing ten years earlier.

Secondly, and certainly more pressing, was finances. During my ten years in CCM I'd had enough success that my publishing deal was among the best being paid to a writer who was not an artist and I hadn't the foggiest idea how I was going to replace the income. Remarkably, my wife supported me in this frightening move.

One day I was over working on a song with my friend Regie Hamm's studio. During a break we were talking about the Music for the Soul idea when he said suddenly, "You need to meet the Goads!"

I'd never heard of the Goad family but soon was at a lunch with their manager learning the remarkable story of this singing Christian family that also had a ministry providing food and medicine in countries all around the world. Though both parents had died tragically, their mother in car accident and their father in a house fire, the children (they had seven in all) had gone on to form a ministry that brought the hope of Christ to millions.

The Goads were based In Orlando, Florida. Not long after our meeting the manager arranged for me to have dinner with the dynamic Rick Goad the next time he was in Nashville. I had a chance to share my vision for the ministry of Music for the Soul.

"Nobody has ever done this before," he observed. During our two hour visit we shared conversation about Jesus, our backgrounds, and our families. When dinner was over he took a copy of the organizational plan I had written up for Music for the Soul. I had no idea whether anything would come of it or not.

Over the next several weeks we had more meetings – over lunch and over breakfast. Rick was like no one I had ever met before. His was indefatigable. During a one hour lunch he would be on the phone several times; making sure medicine was getting to Iraq, an ambulance was getting to Israel, milk was getting to Africa. And he was the most encouraging man I've ever met. Every time we met he never failed to say to me, "You are amazing,"

His love for Jesus was palpable. His desires were to serve to see everyone and to add value to the lives of everyone with whom he came in contact. He wanted to see you have success in achieving your dreams.

Even still I was stunned to the point of having no words when, during our fourth meal together, Rick said to me, "We'd like to offer you a retainer to write songs for the Goad family ministry. We'll fly you down to Orlando every couple of months and we can write together for a few days. That'll leave you plenty of time and energy to focus on starting your ministry."

The retainer Rick offered me was for the exact amount that Word had been paying me. I had stepped off a cliff on faith and God had replaced 100% of my salary.

Over the next two years I had the opportunity to write many songs with Rick, Carolyn, Kurt, & Tim Goad. More importantly I got to learn by watching ministry being done well up close. And I got to know a truly remarkable family.

Thanks to the Goads I was able to devote the majority of my time to developing Music for the Soul and by the time our retainer arrangement was over the first five Music for the Soul projects had been produced.

Rick passed away in January of 2006 at the age of 43. He accomplished more in those 43 years than most people would in 430. I was privileged to have known him and am grateful that God saw fit for our paths to intersect. I still remember what Rick said to me as we got up from the breakfast table at what would be our last meeting. "You are amazing."




Phone: 1-877-214-7703 Email: inquire@musicforthesoul.org P.O. Box 159027, Nashville,TN 37215-9027
Music for the Soul is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3). Donations are tax deductible.
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