Jenny Abner
Singer/Song Writer
http://www.jennyabner.com/
By: Kelvin Oliver

CS: How long have you been a Christian?

JA: I have been a Christian my whole life, in that I was raised in the church and felt the Lord’s Hands on me as long as I can recall. I was baptized and gave my heart to Christ when I was about 6. I always felt the Lord inside of me, but I resisted Him in my late teens/early twenties.

I ignored Him for many years, but He got my attention again at the age of 28. I fully surrendered my life to Him and received the Holy Spirit into my life. No longer was the struggle to ‘be good’ MINE, it was now His turn to change me! I was re-baptized on April 7, 2002, 19 days before my mom tragically died. My whole world changed in April of 2002. He then began an brand new work in me….changing me from inside out, forever.

CS: Who, aside from Jesus, is or has been the biggest influence in your life?

JA: Aside from Jesus, the biggest Christian influences in my life have been Karina Young and Sher Powers. They are friends/mentors in Nashville, TN who show Jesus in their lives more than anyone I have ever met. They have taught me so much, but in such different ways. The Lord blessed me with them in the months after my mom died. She has a boldness I admire and has walked with such conviction and realness, it amazes me. Karina just shines with the love of Christ and walks in such humility, I am amazed by her grace!!

She does not even see how much she shines when she walks into a room. Both of these ladies have truly inspired me. They are proof that the Lord does not leave us alone. He puts certain people in our lives, just for us. To help, guide, teach, instruct, mentor. Gosh, don’t we want people to say that about us? That they SEE JESUS IN US?!!!! I do.

CS: Who do you look up to the most in life?

JA: I look up to my Dad, Steve Abner, the most in life. He is truly an inspiration to me..and since losing my mom in 2002, he means even more. I have watched him change so much over the years, into the man he is today. He loves the Lord very much. I have always considered my Dad to be so wise, but never wiser than he is today! He so often says so much by saying so little. I have watched him be humbled by God.

He has gone from being independent (to the point of being arrogant!) to being a real, honest, humbled man, FULLY depending on GOD. He makes me proud to be his daughter. We have endured some painful and difficult times together. I know for a fact that ALL things are possible through CHRIST..and forgiveness is possible, no matter what the situation. Amen!

CS: What is the biggest thing God had shown you through your music career?

JA: The biggest thing the Lord has shown me through this music career and ministry is to TRUST in HIM and have patience!!! I have learned that just because a door opens does not mean it is a door HE WANTS me to go through…. and that He may give me a calling, a word, a vision, etc…but it may not come to pass for a LONG TIME. He has shown me that if He and I take baby steps together, He will work all things for HIS glory and my good….and eventually get me to where He wants me! I have had to spend lots of time with Him so that I can recognize His voice. I have learned total dependence on Him and trust, even for my daily needs at times. He is sovereign. Period. He knows what He is doing. I trust Him.

CS: Can you share a short testimony with our readers?

JA: I am currently living in Scotland, just south of Glasgow. I was born and raised in Indianapolis, IN, USA. I was so paralyzed by fear that I never thought I would amount to anything. My world was small and I had no idea how to expand it, nor did I really want to, because that scared me. I had not done ANY traveling until I was in my mid 20’s and most of my travels were very close to home. Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee. I grew up in the church, but kept trying in my own strength to “be” all God wanted. The problem was, I did not really know God, His voice, anything. I believed in Him, wanted to please Him, to ‘be good’, but kept failing, so in my 20’s, I quit trying.

He never let go of me…after several years of bad choices, mistakes, and failures…after quitting everything I had ever tried (piano, softball, college, jobs) and moving homes over 20 times, I finally asked Him to change me. To do the work in me. He did. I found a Vineyard Church and met the Holy Spirit. The last 5-6 years have been such a journey with God. I went from being shy, insecure, and afraid….and KNOWING I COULD NEVER DO A MUSIC MINISTRY to doing just that..and in other countries as well. He gave me confidence only possible through Him. I started to memorize His word, like a tattoo in my heart. Ephesians 2:10 became so real to me: We are His masterpiece, made anew in Christ Jesus, to do the things He planned for us a long time ago.

After my mom’s tragic death in 2002, I moved to Nashville, TN….by God’s provision and by meeting generous, Godly people, I recorded an album, then started traveling a bit to share my testimony and songs. The Lord told me to go to the UK in Sept of 2004. He confirmed it through His word, through prayer, and through circumstances. I sold almost everything I owned, left my friends and family and moved to Portsmouth, England. I spent 4 ½ months there and then re-located to Scotland. It is interesting how all of these changes came about.. Briefly, to share a few miracles: Before moving to the UK, I told God I needed a free place to live, a place that would welcome Morgan, my cat, a buyer for my brand new car, several thousand dollars, air-fare, a visa, a college I could get enrolled in quickly and afford..that is all for starters.

He provided all of that and within 6 months, I was relocated to the UK, WITH my cat! I was also provided a car for me and a trip to Poland where I spent a week, made lifelong friends and have an opportunity to come back and lead some worship at camps. I was unable to find work, for 5 months, and every need was still provided for. The money given to me before I left supported me, plus a few CD sales and a few donations. Every hurdle was met with a solution. Friends along the way helped and the Lord taught me total and complete dependence on Him and His people. It was NOT easy. I cried a lot. I have been lonely. I have wanted to give up. But I don’t because God is real and keeps proving His faithfulness to me. The least I can do is remain faithful to Him. I am now seeking opportunities to share and sing in the UK and around the world, including more opportunities in the USA.

My album, entitled “Home” is for sale at concerts, appearances, and via my website http://www.JennyAbner.com. Clips from the album can be sampled on the site as well. I have photos of my travels and friends made as well. It is all very exciting. If I can encourage anyone on anything, please hear me on this: God has a purpose for your life. He may take His time in preparing you, may even put you under pressure to prepare you so that you don’t crumble, may seem to be missing when things are tough…but He is THERE and always working. The enemy will try to stump you. He is a deceiver who will try to make you give up. But persistence is worth it. Perseverance builds character. God WILL NOT fail you. Press in.

CS: Do you all write your own music? If yes where do you get your ideas for the music?

JA: I am a fairly new song-writer. The songs on my album were written by me or Justin Johnson, who produced the album. I don’t play anything, except a few chords on the piano and guitar. I hear melodies and words and sing them to a musician, who then charts them out. I write through my own emotion, pain, frustrations, joy, learning times with God, etc. I am feeling quite burdened to learn my keyboard, as it will make song writing easier for me! Although I don’t play anything well, God’s songs are still written, I just need help with them!

I have been singing since I was 3 and have not had any lessons, to speak of. I took a vocal class in college one semester, but don’t recall anything we practiced!!! My voice is a gift from God and I thank Him for it. I want to use it for Him and His glory. I am considering some classes to help to improve what He has given me though. I am also working on doing some more co-writing with new individuals here in Scotland, as well as possibly writing some worship songs.

CS: If you could meet any one person who would you meet and why?

JA: If I could meet any one person it would be Amy Grant. She was the biggest musical influence on me as a child and as I grew. I was about 10 or 11 when I started listening to her music. I LOVED her songs and her voice, her range, everything. I wanted to be “HER” when I grew up!! I lived in Nashville, TN for a few years and never met her, although I did see her once at a hockey game, right after she and her husband Vince Gill had their baby. I have also grown to be just fine with being ME, Jenny Abner, and not trying to be ‘Amy’ but her music has certainly influenced me. Her songs were so real, so to the point, and her voice spoke so much to me! Her range seemed to match my own and so I remember being a child, trying to imitate every sound! I was from the Midwest and suddenly I sounded like I was from the south on many songs! Eventually I corrected that! I would like to meet her now to see how she really felt being in the eye such an audience.

The Christian music industry can be tougher because of the level of accountability God places on us, but also because we as people and fans can be so critical. I would love to have some time to talk to her about it felt to be her in the 80’s, as her music spread into secular crowds….and how bold and GREAT I think that was. I have friends who would have never heard some of her great songs, that contain the message of God’s love, without first hearing her other songs, particularly off of her “Heart in Motion” CD. I had a friend buy that CD and fall in love with the song “I Will Remember You” from the album. Amy Grant was probably the only Christian artist in her repertoire so I was so happy to hear this.

I knew that somehow, some of Amy’s other songs would make it into her heart, and that God would have a way to get in and speak through song, eventually. That is one example. I have admired her through the years and have dreamed of the day when I can meet her and talk with her. I would ask her how it felt to start music so young, how it felt to marry and raise her children in the spot light of American Christian Music, how it felt to divorce under such watchful eyes….and I would want to pray with her. I would hope she would have some wisdom to bestow on me about the ‘music scene’ but mostly, I would want to hear her talk about her own testimony. That would be such a great day!!!!

CS: If you had 30 Minutes with God how would you spend them?

JA: I spend 30 minutes with God quite often, but if I could be face to face with Him, for 30 minutes….wow!!!!!!!!! I would be in such awe!! But, if I could handle the awesomeness of it, I would ask Him questions! I would THANK HIM sooooooo much for all He has done to make my life better, for giving me peace that passes all understanding, and for wisdom and revelation from His Word. I would ask Him to give my mom a message, a BIG HUG and KISS and ‘I LOVE YOU’ from me. I would ask Him questions about the galaxies, the land and times before Adam and Eve, and I would ask Him
what more I could do to make Him proud of me. I would ask Him why He has not introduced me to my husband yet and I would sit on His lap and let me hold me, like His little girl. I know I would be very overwhelmed!! Until I see Him face to face, I will keep seeking His voice….for it is LIFE to me!

CS: When you are on tour, when do you find time for personal worship?

JA :My music career is still so new, I have yet to have an official ‘tour’…although one day, this will change!!! But, I have found that before and after any time on stage or in front of an audience, I need time alone with the Lord. I need prayer time with the band before worship time and prayer time along before I sing or share with a track. God always has things for me to say or share..and I have to be tuned into Him to share the right things!!! Each gathering of people is so important because there are people assigned to be there, to hear these songs and my testimony. I want to make sure I share what they need to hear, to motivate them closer to Christ, to be able to hear what HE is trying to say to them. I am honored to share! I have found worship to be key to moving many mountains in my life. When my car broke down on the way to Scotland in January, I was nearly penniless and this trip was very important.

CS: What is the biggest thing God had shown you through your music career?

JA: It was important for me and my best friend, Janae, who was visiting from the US. I knew I did not have the money to fix my car, but the alternator went out whilst on the carriageway. We were an hour and a half from my home in Portsmouth (at the time) and it was pitch black out with no people around. It was cold. I called the road-side emergency service and we waited. We decided to ask God to intervene, because the rest of the trip was only going to be possible with His help. In fact, getting
home was only going to be possible with His help. We sat outside of the car, behind it, on a guard rail, singing praise songs to God!! We ended up watching the sun come up.

Shortly after this, our towing service man showed up. He found the problem, called around to 4 different shops, and FOUND an alternator that fit my model of car in a small English town nearby. He drove me to and from the shop, took out the old, put in the new, told me about a faster route to where we were going, and gave me money for the M6 toll road!!! While I was gone to get the alternator (which cost me the rest of the money I had in the bank, which was supposed to be petrol money for this trip!) Janae made some phone calls.

We made a stop along the way, unexpectedly, and that weekend we were blessed with petrol money from 3 different sources, had all of our meals and expenses provided for us, and I made it home after taking Janae to the airport after that busy weekend with 5 pounds to spare! Not only that, but I found out later that I did not even have enough money in my account to cover the cost of the alternator, but the transaction went through anyway.

A few days later I received an insurance check in the mail, and sold a few CD’s, so I put a little money back into my bank account to cover the cost of the alternator. That whole weekend the LORD spoke to me about moving to Scotland, to where I am today. Had I not been able to make this trip, where we actually went to Bradford Abundant Life Church on the way back to London Gatwick, and then the rest of the way home for me back to Portsmouth, I would not have received the words I needed to hear from Pastor Scanlon at the church.

I was also ministered to by the worship and the anointing of the Holy Spirit . The Lord had a plan for me to be at this church on this weekend. He also wanted me in Scotland that weekend. He was trying to move me along in His path for me, in the UK journey. Not even satan would have kept me away, as long as I was praising the Lord!!! He used my praises to overcome the enemy at trying to keep me away. I have found when I am stuck, to praise Him. That way, the doors meant to open for me will, and the doors meant to close will. He guides me and moves any and all mountains in the way!