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Testimonies are funny things. In our modern evangelical world, it often seems that the more dramatic the conversion experience the better the impact on listeners. The notion that one can be raised in the church, and better yet, stay in the church, is often brushed aside in the American Christian subculture rush for sensationalism. However, Tammy Trent is an example of someone who has been raised in the church, stayed in the church, and wishes to minister within and through the church. Not that she's simplistic, narrow or naive regarding her ministry. In fact, the opposite is true. Tammy Trent has shown herself to be a determined, sophisticated and savvy young woman with a vision of reaching people with the hope she finds in Christ. Tammy's newest release on Light
Records, You have My Heart, expresses her story of optimistic commitment to her God, her family and her music.

For Tammy, music, faith and ministry have always had a familiar ring. Her childhood in Grand Rapids, Michigan, was spent traveling with her mother, Judy Buffum, a talented and recognized singer. Judy would take her daughter along as she sang in nursing homes, prisons, and hospitals. However, Tammy's early musical interests did not center around singing, but rather drumming. At age 6, she was given her first kit and proceeded to pour all the energy a spunky kid can wield into learning to play drums. She began to develop an appreciation for the driving rhythms that would be featured so prominently years later in her music. "I was raised in a home where everyone would run around just be-boppin' along. There would be times when my whole entire family would just start dancing around our living room." It wasn't long until she heard Amy Grant on the radio and at age 9 sang her first solo, "Father's Eyes". Tammy relates, "I think I always had the dream of being a singer. I knew by age 16 that the Lord had a call on my life that would involve music in one way or another. I just didn't know how it would happen."

Sports and a crazy sense of humor marked Tammy's school years. She played and excelled at most sports, basketball being her focus. After being voted all-conference honors in basketball at (15 pts/game, set records for steals and assists) as well as being voted class clown and best personality in school, Tammy received a scholarship for singing and basketball and attended Southeastern Bible College.

By 1990, Tammy had left school and married high-school sweetheart Trent Lenderink, who is now partnered with Tammy in her ministry. In 1991, Tammy traveled to Nashville where she met a young songwriter named John Mandeville (who later wrote several cuts for Point of Grace and Clay Crosse). Together they produced a three song demo that led to Tammy being signed by REX Music.
Tammy's self-titled debut release in 1995 generated a number one song, and three other top ten singles. She was immediately recognized as being one of CCM's truly authentic R&B/pop artists. Critical acclaim and an aggressive touring schedule introduced Tammy to listeners, retail stores and radio stations. Tammy remembers, "The few years leading up to the record deal I'd struggled with being complacent in my faith but now, I'm out there everyday. People are actually getting saved at my concerts and I'm realizing what kind of responsibility this is. I've been learning to have the faith and trust that I've been telling people about. To hear God's voice I have to learn to recognize it.
I have to be in the word, reading and studying to know what He's saying."

1996 led Tammy back into the studio to record her sophomore release, You Have My Heart. Enlisting the production talents of Fred Hammond (formerly of Commissioned), Ira Ferguson (who cut his teeth working with the artist formerly known as Prince) and long-time friend John Mamideville, Tammy takes her music, artistry and skills to the next level. "Recording this album has been so much fun. I asked myself what I wanted to be reminded of and expressed it to John, Fred and Ira who in turn wrote music that expressed those things. Everything going through is about the Lord. I want people to look at me, listen to the music and be able to see what God is doing."

You Have My Heart features the energetic rhythms of R&B but also shows a more mature side of Tammy. Songs about relationships, faith and hope mark a decidedly AC compatible sound punctuated by thoughtful lyrics and stellar arrangements. "This is a very conversational album, I don't want to shove Jesus down people's throats but I definitely want them to know that He's the answer. The whole thing is a real celebration for me."

Songs such as "Run To The Cross," "Love And Devotion," and "It's All About You" encourage the listener to find joy, sufficiency and hope in the Lord. "Welcome Home" reminds wayward listeners that God is patiently waiting to receive them into His presence, faults, failures and all. "He Chose Me" reminds us who's in control and the peace of surrendering to a loving, yet all-powerful God. The
messages, like Tammy's testimony are nothing new but powerful nevertheless. "I try to keep things on a very down-to-earth level. I want people to feel like they're in my living room and that there's a God that cares about them individually. Ultimately, all I can do is be myself and pray that God works
through me to touch lives," exclaims Tammy.

The song "Say You'll Stay" features the mature themes of struggle and reconciliation between a man and woman. Tammy explains, "It's silly when we hide and don't talk about relationships. 'Say You'll Stay' is a love song about a relationship that has drifted away and about promising to work through problems and preserving what God has given us. Hopefully, it will encourage people to stay and work it out when things get hard. So many women come to my concerts crying out for understanding. I want to have a song that gives them hope and a gentle reminder to persevere through rational trials."

With the release of "You have My Heart," Tammy plans to stay the course her life has taken, following God, loving her husband and using her music to encourage others to cling to the hope and love that is ours through Christ.

An aggressive touring schedule through 1997-1998 will lead Tammy throughout time United States, Canada, and Europe. She and husband Trent have a cat and a dog and reside in Grand Rapids, Michigan.