Episode 50: Choosing Joy in the Middle of Pain with Amanda Currie

Sam and Becca Mizell are singer/songwriters from outside the Nashville area. They have been making music for around 20 years. Between them, they share 3 Grammy Nominations, 2 ASCAP Songs Of The Year, 7 #1 Songs, and 2 Dove Awards. Becca is also a featured vocalist on Hidden In My Heart Scripture Lullabies.

Their latest collaboration, LIFE Vol. 1, showcases their talent through several songs written for well-known artists ("King Of The World" by Natalie Grant, "The Motions" by Matthew West, "Broken Ladders" by Selah) as well as brand new compositions. Their prayer is that you will be richly blessed as you listen and that God alone will be glorified..

Michael David O'Brien is an American Christian musician and worship leader, who primarily plays Christian pop and contemporary worship music. He released eight solo albums since 1990. He was a touring member of the Heritage Singers, before becoming a full-fledged member of NewSong, in 1999.

He started his music recording career in 1990, with the album, Someone Needs to Tell Them, which was an Indie project. His subsequent album, Michael O'Brien, was released in 1995, with Benson Records. The third album, Conviction, was released in 1996, again by Benson Records. He released, Godspeed, in 1998, also with Benson Records. His fifth studio album, Something About Us, was released in 2007, with Miracle Productions. He released his 6th album "Be Still My Soul" in 2010. And then his first holiday album, Christ'mas, in 2013, by Miracle Productions. His eighth album, Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs, was released in 2015, with Miracle productions. And he just released his latest project "Crown Him" in 2020.

Lisa Bevill is an American Contemporary Christian musician best known for Christian radio hits such as Number Condemnation, Only a Saviour and Hold On. Lisa has performed with and sung on albums for a wide range of artists, including Amy Grant, Garth Brooks, Faith Hill, Linda Ronstadt, John Tesh, Reba McEntire, James Ingram, Michael West. Smith, Carman, Donna Summer, Petra, the late Rich Mullins, Kim Hill, Kathy Troccoli, Cindy Morgan, Twila Paris, Newsong, Margaret Becker and many others, before she went on her own.

In addition, she has recorded jingles for many different companies, including McDonalds, Wrigley"s Doublemint, Ford, Chevrolet, Chrysler/Dodge, Domino"s Pizza, Frito Lay, Arby"s, Radio Shack, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Stanley Steamer and many others

Jolene Philo grew up in a caregiving family and raised a son with medical special needs. As a teacher, she created an inclusive classroom for children with disabilities for 25 years. She's authored several books, including Every Child Welcome: A Ministry Handbook for Including Kids with Special Needs and Sharing Love Abundantly with Special Needs Families: The Five Love Languages® for Parents Raising Children with Disabilities. She hosts the award winning blog, www.DifferentDream.com. Jolene and her husband live in a multigenerational family in Iowa with her daughter, son-in-law and their two young children.

Shannon Adducci is a beloved singer, songwriter and worship leader who writes from the deep places of struggle and joy in her own story. After graduating from Christ for the Nations and Dallas Baptist University, she began to work with musical artists and ministries such as Women of Faith, Revive Our Hearts, The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Integrity Music, Maranatha! Music, Focus on the Family, Our Daily Bread, Jared Anderson, Paul Baloche, & others. Sharron has also had the privilege of writing and recording six albums of her own thus far and also writing for other artists over the years.

For more than fifty years, Bill and Gloria Gaither have shared a mutual dedication to combining great art and great theology. As a result, they have created a lasting legacy in the field of gospel music and beyond. Together they have written more than 700 songs, created hundreds of award-winning recordings and a dozen timeless musicals that have been sung for decades. Gloria also traveled with the Bill Gaither Trio for twenty years before she turned to her graduate work in literature. In recognition of Gloria and Bill’s vast contribution to the gospel music industry, they were named ASCAP’s Christian Songwriters of the Century in 2000. Also on their long list of special honors with Grammy Awards and Dove Awards, is their induction into Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

Gloria has long been a student of literature, with special interest in the works of John Steinbeck. She has contributed papers and reviews on his writing in a variety of academic settings. She has been published in the Steinbeck Academic Journal both in the United States and abroad. She has written more than 40 books, including titles for adults and children, created scripts for over 100 videos in the chart-topping Homecoming series, and for 15 years she led the vision for Homecoming Magazine, an innovative publication for which she guided the themes, wrote features, and did milestone interviews.

Born and raised in Wisconsin, Danny moved to Nashville shortly after earning his bachelor’s degree in jazz piano and composition. Since then, he has worked steadily as a freelance musician in and around Nashville, and across the country.

As a composer and arranger, Danny’s work runs the gamut from small chamber pieces to full symphonic works. His “Dawning of a Soul” has been performed by the National Wind Ensemble in New York City’s Carnegie Hall under the direction of H. Robert Reynolds. In 2021, Danny was commissioned by the University of Wisconsin to compose a piece of music that reflected the hardship we experienced during the pandemic of 2020 and beyond. “From the Depths We Rise” received its world premiere by the University of Wisconsin-Madison wind ensemble under the direction of Scott Teeple in April 2022.

As a passionate singer-songwriter, and worship leader, Jen Mozley's zeal for music began as a little child listening to her father sing and play piano her church in Georgia.  Her main desire is to spread the love of Christ through her words and music to inspire others to chase after God's own heart. 

She is blessed to be married to an amazing man and to be a mom to her beautiful, fun loving daughter.  Her entire family is so encouraging and supportive. Currently, Jen is the worship leader at Rivertown Church in Columbus, GA.  If you are local and looking for a church home, she'd love to see you there!