There are people that God will put in your path that make a great impact on your future. The ministry that you do together, and the people that you meet because of them, can set the course for your journey for the next season, or maybe even for the rest of your life.
Carol Owens was one of those people for me. Carol, along with her husband Jimmy, founded the School of Music Ministry International. I was a student in their first school in the USA. SMMI was a 6 week training school that became a template for all the worship schools that started after that worldwide. I was working full time, as the Director of Marketing for Pacific Bell, at the time. I had not taken a vacation for over a year, so I was able to take 6 weeks of vacation to attend the school. I was also the volunteer director of worship at my church, working with five different worship teams. I was simply hoping to become a better worship leader for my local church.
While attending the school, Jimmy and Carol asked me to pray about coming to work for them to help establish Worship Schools all over the world. I did. Because of their obedience to start the school, and to ask me to help, I left my six figure corporate job to become a missionary. I moved into their spare bedroom, and helped them set up worship schools. I have now been a full time missionary, with no salary, for over 30 years. It has been the best adventure with God you could ever hope for. I have traveled to over 60 countries. I have taught students from over 100 countries. I have lived overseas several times. I have never wanted for anything. God has blessed me abundantly. I am forever grateful to Jimmy and Carol for SMMI, and all the lifelong friends I met by knowing them. They opened up their home, and shared their lives with me, and others in our ministry.
Carol passed away this week. She was a great lover of God. She and Jimmy wrote hundreds of songs, and their music, and musicals, (Like “The Witness”, “Come Together,” “If My People” “Heal Our Land”) sparked prayer movements and revivals worldwide. Their fun children’s musicals (Like grammy nominated Ants’hillvania) delighted young saints through the years. They also wrote a wonderful book about how to write, “God Songs.” I am certain that her mansion in heaven is amazing and filled to the brim with ‘treasures in heaven’ that she has stored up because of her faithful service to the Jesus. I love Jimmy and Carol like family. She will be missed until I see her again in heaven.
I encourage you today, to take time to thank God for the wonderful people He has used to connect you to your destiny. And, while you’re at it, contact them, and let them know what a blessing they have been in your life!
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