Rebecca St. James: Looking Back at 2006

|PIC1|JANUARY: MISSION TO RWANDA

"I was surprised at my very strong love for the people-and for Rwanda in particular after being there for only a couple of days. I think I resonated with the people because they are warm and loving. My sponsored child Sam really embraced me and really showed my how much he valued my part in his life-that was very, very beautiful.

I think looking back-whenever I go on missions like this-I've been very challenged by the joy of the people in spite of the poverty-it challenges me not to be so caught up in the everyday challenges of my life-but just to live joyfully.

A trip like this also widens my prospective on the world. There is a whole world out there that is hurting and hungry and needy-and the way that we live here is not the norm. What we have is not the average of what the world has-because of this we need to bless others through our abundance."

MARCH-APRIL: "IF I HAD ONE CHANCE TO TELL YOU SOMETHING" TOUR:

"Rebecca, here, checking in from the road on the Bec-Barlow-Jadon Lavick Tour! We've been able to have some wonderful times of community on the road-some wonderful nights of ministry and I'm really thrilled with the atmosphere of this tour. Altar call response has been great and lots of kids are being sponsored for Compassion. Keep us in your prayers."

MAY: NATIONAL SPOKEPERSON FOR NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER-AND WHITE HOUSE PERFORMANCE:

"What has made America great is that it has a history of honoring God and looking to Him. But there are morals and values that are under attack today, and the breakdown of the family is very evident. At the same time, I think a lot of those biblical principals that this country was founded on are what has helped make it great. There's been a lot of peace in this country because of its biblical principals. I would love to uphold and encourage the honoring of God with my life and ministry."

MAY-JUNE: EUROPEAN TOUR-11 COUNTRIES IN LESS THAN THREE WEEKS:

RSJ: "We have traveled a lot this year. It's a really hard choice to know what exactly was the biggest impression or the most inspiring moment this year overseas. One place that really touched my heart was Moscow in Russia. Here is a country that has been so restricted in some many ways and yet I sensed such a freedom in worship during our stay there. I really inspired me. I will never forget singing 'Here I Am To Worship' with these Russian Christian-and we were singing simultaneously-me in English and my Russian brothers and sisters singing in their language. The unity we felt as we worshipped God in our different languages was so profoundly moving. I will never forget that experience."

'06 SHE EVENTS WITH EVIE, VICKY BEECHING, & CHARMAINE-REBECCA'S HEART BEHIND THE CREATION OF THIS UNIQUE MOTHER/DAUGHTER EVENT:

"I noticed in my ministry that teenage girls are increasingly dealing with tough, very real life issues. Some are cutting themselves because they feel badly about themselves or are so emotionally shut down that they just want to feel something-even if it's pain. Some of them are struggling with anorexia or bulimia. Some with abuse-feeling a lack of trust in men because they've been abused. Some are struggling with homosexuality. These are big issues. The church needs to be strong about addressing these issues and speaking to youth on the hard stuff. It's easy to think that these kinds of issues are happening outside the church, but they are happening inside the church as well. Young girls are struggling with their appearance and immodesty because they see so much immorality portrayed in the media. They think it's OK. Girls-and women of every age-- need to find their sense of security in God, knowing that they are extravagantly loved by Him."

NEW '06 MINISTRY TRADITION:

"This year I've begun a wonderful new tradition of regularly getting together with a life coach. This life coach has become a mentor and friend to me and God is powerfully using him in my life. One of the gifts he has given me is the introduction to a book by a French writer name Fenelon -he was an archbishop in France during the 17th century. I've been reading his book Let Go and it has rocked my world in the best way. I encourage everyone to read it."

DECEMBER: REBECCA-ONE CHANCE TO TELL YOU SOMETHING FOR THE NEW YEAR:

"I would encourage you, my friends, to really pursue community this coming New Year. This is something God has really been laying on my heart recently-just the power and beauty of community with others. There's something so profound about letting people into our lives in a very deep way-letting them know our weaknesses and our joys-what's really going on in our hearts. I think we often find that other people are learning and experiencing the same kind of things and we can really grow personally from being involved in deep community."


Rebecca St. James
Christian Today Senior Culture Advisor


Rebecca St. James is a Christian pop/rock singer, songwriter, and published author; Grammy Award winner; Supporter of teenage sexual abstinence; Books include "Wait for Me", "SHE" and "SHE Teen".