Deborah
http://www.deborah.cc/
by Trisha Bleau

CS: Please share with us how your got started in music.

Deborah: I began singing when I was 27 years old. I started with a group as a back up singer, then from there worked with a partner. We called ourselves Son Light. For a while, I sang folk music (only clean lyrics) in the secular scene, then I moved and sang for a while only on the worship team of my Church.

CS: Has it been a hard road to travel?

Deborah: In a way, yes, but only while I tried to do it my way. When I first recorded my CD Love's Passion, I was so excited that I tried to book myself everywhere to no avail. I hired a manager to book me, and she did nothing. Finally, I surrendered it all to God completely and began to spend my time and energy in prayer and worship instead of trying to get bookings. The calls started coming, and now I rely completely on God for open doors.

CS: What advice would you give to the aspiring singer/musician?

Deborah: The first thing I would advise is to pray and make sure that the direction you want to take is in the will of God, and then if He shows you it is, take each step with much prayer. The next thing is commitment. Don't give up, but persevere. Remember that the word of God says that perseverance works patience in us. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit and vital in our Christian walk. Third, study your bible, and seek the heart of God through worship, because that is where your truly anointed music will be birthed. In your times of communication with Him, he will inspire you with songs that touch lives.

CS: What is the main focus in your ministry? Teens? The lost? The hurting?

Deborah: My primary focus is evangelism and ministering healing and restoration to broken hearts. I have a heart for teens and young people, and I focus a lot of ministry in that direction.

CS: Why did you decide upon this as a focus?

Deborah: Jesus said that we should preach the Good News of the Kingdom to everyone, everywhere. I spent years in prayer seeking to have the compassion of God so that I could be truly effective in ministry. Consequently, he broke my heart for the lost, for those in bondage, and for those that have lived a loveless life. Teens and people in their 20's are the generation that some have called, 'Generation X', but I believe that God sees them as the Joshua generation. Joshua and Caleb were radical older people who took a generation of young people into the promised land. God has a promised land for this generation, and the only 'older' people that will enter will be the ones with a Joshua and Caleb mentality. The young people of today are supposed to be radical warriors who stop at nothing, slay giants, and bring down walls. This is very exciting to me, and I feel that a large part of my mission is to prepare this generation to go.

CS: Where do you see yourself in five years? Ten? The future?

Deborah: In five years I hope that the ministry God has given me will have many young people, ex-homosexuals, ex-drug addicts, etc. that have been rescued from deception and hopelessness and who are rescuing others. I hope to have a world wide influence through my music and preaching, so that I can reach many more people.

CS: Do you ever worry about getting caught up in the world of show biz? That success will change you?

Deborah: I don't worry about this happening, but I do rely on the grace of God because anyone can get off track. I prayed for years that God would prepare me well before releasing me into a large public audience. Success can turn anyone if pride is an issue, or if we have a need to be praised, so that is where I focus my prayers. I pray for pride and that need to be taken from me at all cost. (ouch!) :)

CS: When did you feel called to perform in a manner like this? Have you felt God's hand guiding you towards this all along?

Deborah: When I was a little girl I used to dress up and do dramatic song and dance routines for my parents. I always wanted to be a singer and an actress as long as I can remember, but I didn't realize that it was God's destiny for me until much later.

CS: Do you make it a goal to use your music to minister to people?

Deborah: Absolutely! That is my reason for writing and singing.

CS: What is the message you are trying to get across with your music?

Deborah: That there is love for the unloved, hope for the hopeless, healing for the hurting and the sick, salvation for the lost, all through a true relationship with Jesus Christ.

CS: Do you write your own music?

Deborah: Yes

CS: Where do you get ideas for your music?

Deborah: Mostly through spending time with the Lord, but He causes me to look at the world around me and write from what I see as well as what I have experienced.

CS: How would you describe your music style?

Deborah: My music style is Dance-Pop

CS: Who, or what, are your biggest musical influences?

Deborah: My influences have been varied. When I was a child I loved Barbra Streisand, then later I loved Linda Ronstadt, Laura Branigan & Donna Summer. I was really influenced by the clarity of the vocals, and the disco style music was so fun and up-beat that later when I began to really develop my own music, I found myself leaning toward that up-beat fast paced music. Now, my favorite singers are Kathi Tricolli, and Krystal Lewis.

CS: Are you involved in your own home church? What role do you have there?

Deborah: Actually, I am a pastor of a church called Freedom House

CS: Are you involved in any other ministries?

Deborah: I have a ministry called White Fields Ministries International, from which all of the other ministries have been birthed. Freedom House and Deborah music are extensions of this ministry.

CS: What is the latest news? Any new CD's to be released soon?

Deborah: I am working on songs for a new CD, but it may be a little while before I release it. I am still working on the Love's Passion Tour with my first CD.

CS: Any plans to sign with a major Label in the near future?

Deborah: No, and I may never sign with one. Major labels tend to 'own' you during your contract period, and while that may work for others, it could be a major hindrance to the ministry I am called to.

CS: Do you have any advice to give to the youth of our world?

Deborah: Love the Lord with all that is in you. Love the world as He does. Make a difference in the sphere of influence that He has given you and don't compromise! Surrender your life to God's plan and purpose for you, and watch Him fulfill you at every turn. He wants to use you to reach your own generation in a mighty way, and that means you don't have to wait until a certain age to be mightily used of God.