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June 2008
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More than Music Inc. Newsletter
Revolutionizing the culture at large, one heart at a time, through multimedia, ministry and money given, until everyone on earth knows and lives the love that is is Jesus Christ.
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Greetings!
Well at the waning of a sweltering summer I,
Stephanie
Pauline, type away here at my desk. I am so thankful
to you for caring for and supporting this ministry. I
could
think of no better way to start this newsletter than to
say that. Thank you. Without you investing, listening,
praying, and caring I couldn't do what I do.
In fitting with my mommyhood-induced sabbatical of
sorts I have asked Mike Rueffert to write our "From the
Heart" section this for this newsletters' installment.
He is an amazing man of God who has been a
spiritual father to me since I moved to CO in 2000. He
has a heart to serve the youth and to see the lost, and
hurting, recovered and renewed. He serves as
Executive Director of Southern CO Youth for Christ,
and has also served on the board of MtM since its start
five years ago now.
Thank you Mike for all you've done to help steer what
we do here at MtM. Thank you for your faith in the God
in me and in this ministry. I know I'm so very flawed
and human, but you have never ceased to see beyond
that into the heart of what God has made me to be.
Your service and support have been such an
encouragement to me so many times over the years.
Publicly I want to declare it: Thank you.
This last month or so has seen some amazing
developments for MtM - so be sure to take a peek at
our highlights. I may be grounded right now, but God
is
on the move! :)
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Highlights |
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- The radio promotion we announced last
newsletter has met with success. "Love Never Fails"
is # 8 on CRW's Global Adult Contemporary Chart. "I
Will" is at #8 on the Global Inspo Chart with "Love
Never Fails" also on the Inspo Chart at #21. "Love
Never
Fails also rose to #7 on the NCM Euro Chart this last
month. This means that the good news delivered
through these songs has been heard in Texas, New
York, Guam, Australia, California, The Netherlands,
Michigan, Germany, Kansas, and the UK to name just
a few of the places these songs are spinning
daily. Wow!! We've been waiting to give you
this kind of report for years! Thank you God for your
faithfulness and thank you supporters for believing in
MtM all this time.
- Stephanie Pauline's song "A Little More" (not yet
available for distribution), won 3rd place in the country
category in the Indie International Song
Competition. "It Happened" also faired well landing in
7th place in the folk category. You can view the
winners, click on Stephanie's name to view her Indie
International profile, and also hear her winning songs
by following the link below.
- The song, "Anything to be with You" has been
nominated for the Independent Singer Songwriter
Associations Awards. You can view the listing of
nominations at http://songcontest.issa-
music.org/nominees.htm
- Stephanie heard of an impromptu opportunity this
last Friday, August 22nd, to play for KTLF, (a station
that proudly declares that it
played Stephanie Pauline's music long before she
was on the
charts. We do
thank you for that.) and Power 88 America the Beautiful
Concert in Colorado Springs. Since she had the night
free she packed up her guitar and her baby, and with
the help of her friend Jenny (who babysat at the park),
she was able to play a 30 minute set just after the CO
Cowboys played, (a great, renowned local group). It
was a moving time of ministry. Stephanie reports that
it was good to be back on stage sharing God's heart
after her year home caring of her baby girl and family.
- A great time was had at the Gospel Music
Associations Seminar in the Rockies. Though
Stephanie narrowly missed making the semi finals,
(by 2 to 3 points out of 200), she still had a grand time
networking with industry professionals and meeting
fellow musicians. It was an inspiring, encouraging
time. MtM wants to give a BIG THANKS to Jenny, Kathy
and Bruce for the sacrifices they made to come along
and help watch Stephanie's daughter so she could
attend.
Thank you so much.
- There are tons of plans still coming together for
next year's ministry and tours. Please pray that all will
go well in preparation for the work we have ahead of
us! As always more than 30% of our concerts will be
performed in detention centers and treatment
facilities.
We are excited about the lives that will be touched and
transformed by the power of the Spirit working through
MtM.
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From the Heart |
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by Mike Rueffert
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It was late in the year 2000 when Stephanie called me
at my Youth for Christ office. She and young Trevor
had not been in Colorado Springs very long. I could
sense both hope and weariness in her voice as she
gave me the Readers Digest version of her life and
why she was in this city.
She was looking for work - no - she was looking for
more than work. She was striving to fulfill her calling
and she was looking for others who would come
along side her; not only to help her carry the load, but
to bless them as well. It was obvious that she was
tired after many rejections so my revelation to her that I
did not have any paying job openings was just
another, rejection.
However, I began to tell her how she could join us as
one of our volunteer staff and use her gifts and talents
reaching out to incarcerated and hospitalized young
people with the hope in Christ that she had very clearly
expressed to me as part of her story. She brightened
(I could "see" it on the phone), her tone was clear and
hopeful and she said, "Yes, sign me up!" Then we
prayed. It was obvious that she needed a brother, a
sister, someone who loved Jesus the way she did to
just sit at His feet with her. And so, for just a few
minutes on the phone, we prayed.
Stephanie did "sign up" and began speaking and
singing her way into the hearts of many young people
who were in desperate need to hear her story of both
brokenness and healing. She very quickly became the
most requested musician/speaker at the youth
institutions served by Southern Colorado Youth for
Christ. If you, the reader, have ever heard Stephanie
share from her heart in both song and word you know
why the young people wanted her back. God speaks
through her and the message is clear, "I will never
leave you; never will I forsake you." No matter what
you are going through!
More Than Music is more than music! It is
Stephanie's heart. And she has given her heart to the
Lord. Our friendship has been a huge blessing to me
personally and the MtM/YFC partnership has planted
many seeds that will continue to germinate, grow and
blossom.
If you are partnering with MtM either financially and/or
prayerfully - thank you! Your investment is a wise
choice. I am so very much looking forward to watching
and experiencing how the Lord will continue to use
Stephanie, MtM and our investment to bring about His
Kingdom purposes.
Michael Rueffert
Executive Director
Southern Colorado Youth for Christ
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Prayer Requests |
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Our main prayer need right now is for more financial
support. Before our next tour we need:
- A quality trailer for hauling our gear.
- $3,000 to pay for some grant writing to fund our 25
+ concerts in detention and treatment facilities.
- $1,000 to edit and duplicate a recording of
Stephanie's testimony. It has been in demand for
years now and we finally want to meet that demand
and use yet one more avenue to convey the
revolutionizing power of God. We will hand these out
for free and by donation when available at
concerts.
- $4000 to do some more radio promotion to set up
the next tour.
Also, as mentioned in the highlights pray that God
would anoint our efforts as the plans begin to come
together for next year's tour and ministry. May He open
doors where He wants them open and close them
where He wants them closed. May He provide the
spiritual, financial, and organizational support needed
to accomplish the work He has prepared in advance
for us to accomplish.
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In Closing |
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Thank you again for your time and attention. I am
humbled to think how blessed I have been by that
phone call I made to Youth for Christ when I first
arrived in CO. You never know what God is going to
do. A random call can be the call on your life.
I have loved my time with the kids in the detention
centers. I pray God will bring me back to my ministry
with them soon. Of course with my cherub sleeping in
the next room...I'll add...not too soon though. Not too
soon. ;)
Bless you all!
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Contact Information
Booking/PR: Kathy Morford 719.330.
6707Admin: Genny Moellring 651.460.2510
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