What's it like to start a music career and ministry at 17?

It’s been one of the most wonderfully awkward experiences. It’s amazing that the Lord allowed me to work on an album every weekend during my senior year of high school. I was flying to Tennessee and taking a red-eye on Sunday night to fly back to California by Monday morning. I’d drive from the airport directly to school. Most of my weekends were spent in Nashville, with the rest of them at home with my family and friends.

I’ve always been a very self-propelled person, because I want to please everybody. But what God has impressed upon my heart in the past few years is, "Joy, the only person you need to please is Me. If you’re focused on pleasing Me, you won’t always please everybody else. But if you’re walking My way, that’s the way I’ll bless." It doesn’t mean it’s the easiest path, but I’ve found a great amount of joy and comfort in the fact that this awkwardness is a privilege. Not many people have the opportunity to do this.

It’s been an amazing experience for me to grow with God, too. I’ve really dug into the Word more than I ever have. And I have a pastor and his wife who mentor me. They help keep my head screwed on straight if it’s not already. Just talking with the Lord everyday has been so vital.


Why are you doing what you're doing?

Early on, I felt God open the doors for me to go into music. When I was offered a record deal at 14, it literally dropped in my lap. After praying about it, I didn’t feel that it was what God wanted me to do. Turning down that record deal made me look like such a fool. But I said, "I know God’s got good plans for me. And I trust that they’re going to fit the pattern of 1 Corinthians 2:9 which says, "No eye has seen, no ear has hear, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him." I said, "I’m just gonna rest on that."

Over the next couple of years, God began to grow me. It’s like He put Miracle Grow on my soul. I’m not just here to sing Christian music. I’m here to talk with people about the amazing way that Christ can transform their lives—and about how He’s transformed mine. If people haven’t met Christ, I hope they’ll come to the realization of who He is and how badly they need Him in their lives.


It sounds as if you put more weight on the ministry side of your life than the career side.  Is this true?

I don’t see this as a career. And sometimes ministry sounds so formal. What did Christ do? He went around with His disciples to different towns and told them about Who He was. I’m not in a career. I’m in a ministry because that’s what Christ has called me to do. I’m just a disciple praying that God will allow me to make others into disciples. If you want to say my emphasis is on the ministry, I sure hope so. Careers come and go, but eternal fruit will last.


Do you ever become tired of being in the spotlight?

I’m not in the spotlight that much. I can’t imagine what it would be like to be better known. For me, I’m a homeward-bound soul. I’m the kid who likes to be on the team instead of leading it.

For some reason God has picked me to be somewhat in the spotlight. It’s been really hard. I won’t lie. My prayer is that I’m the same on stage and off stage. The only thing that’s different about me being on stage is that the platform I’m on is a little bit higher and someone decided to put fancy lights behind it. I just remember that there’s no way that I got myself where I am. There’s definitely Someone who could take me off just as quickly. That keeps me humble.


What's life like for you in Nashville?

I moved to Nashville after graduating from high school. I live with my manager’s family right now, but I’ll be moving out soon. I’ve had a family unit around me since being here. It’s been nice. My church family has been so important to me over this past year, too. The security I find in my church is priceless. It’s been the glue that’s helped me stay together.


Has your family ever toured with you?

Never. My mom and dad are in full-time ministry. My sister is getting her master’s in seminary. We’re all busy people. My parents said, "Joy, we trust that God has this for you. It’s become very evident to all of us that this is the path you need to take. And that doesn’t mean it’s our path. It’s your path. We trust you. We’ve spent 18 years on you — praying for you, teaching you and training you."


What do you struggle with?

Even before I was on stage, when I was in high school, I liked to be the girl who appeared to have everything together. It’s safer to play life that way instead of being vulnerable. God’s been teaching me to have the faith to believe that the way He made me is okay. I’m getting better at not feeling so insecure.

I’ve asked God to break me. It seems like an odd request, and it’s been a painful one. He’s taken relationships out of my life, and He’s picked me up and transplanted me. He’s put me on a stage, which is about the most uncomfortable place I could ever be. And yet, I’m finding that God has been meeting me every time and every place I’ve been. My faith has been built up so much.

All those struggles of, "Lord, I don’t feel that I’m good enough," are met with His response of, "Of course you’re not. Why is that a big shock?" I sometimes feel that I need to have it all together before God can use me. No. God says, "I’m waiting for you to be broken. I’m gonna pick you up and put you back together in a much more beautiful way. And then I’m gonna use you in a greater way."


Is the stage really uncomfortable for you?

It is, but it’s been getting better. I’m the type of girl who likes to look people in the eye, and it’s hard to do that when I’m so far away and there are lights in my eyes. My pastor told me that there’s not much difference between me being on stage and sitting in Starbucks, except that instead of having one person across the table from me there are a few more.

I’m thankful for the way I’ve been stretched. I feel like Gumby sometimes. I’m more comfortable now, but it’s basically because I’m more comfortable with who I am in Christ.


Are you nervous before you go on stage?

Every night! Every single night. It’s kinda like I take a Nestea plunge into God’s grace when I go on stage.


Changing gears...you grew up at a Christian camp.  Why should Brio readers give camp a try?

Christian camp is amazing. There’s something that happens when you’re removed from your normal everyday routine. When you join people your age and worship God and you’re in a camp setting that’s full of nature and you see the basics of life — it’s a great time to refocus. Camp changes lives.


What do you like to do when you have a day off?

I love to surf when I’m in California. In Nashville, I frequent many Starbucks. I’m a sports girl who loves to read and talk on the phone with girlfriends. I like to baby-sit, too. My hobbies consist of anything outdoors.


Your next album is due in October.  What can we expect from it?

Wow. I think you’ll be surprised. My first album was straight pop. With this next album, I’ve grown up, and I think the music has grown with me. It has more live instrumentation. I’m excited because I’ve been able to write. I couldn’t do that on my first album because I was so busy with makeup homework. This time around I have seven or eight songs that I’ve written. I’m excited for what God has up His sleeve!


If you could pick five words to describe yourself, which would you choose?

I hope people would say loyal. A listener. Playful. Carbonated — kinda spunky. And ordinary.


What issues do you see teen girls dealing with and what encouragement do you have for them?

I’m writing a book that will be out in about a year. It’s about proper identity in Christ — what that looks like and what that means. I’m not going to point the finger, because I’ve been one of those girls who’s struggled with her identity.

I know what it’s like to want to dress a certain way to make yourself feel good or to talk about other people to make yourself feel elevated. I see girls giving themselves to guys, and instead, their affection and love should be drizzled all over Christ.

When I was in high school, I wondered, Who am I? Why am I here? Who even cares about me? My mentor said, "Joy remember who you are in Christ. Remember that when God sees you, He smiles. When God thinks of you, He doesn’t think of everything that’s wrong, He thinks of everything that’s right because you’re His princess."

That stuck in my brain. I’m a princess of the kingdom of God. I decided that I’m not going to bother my time with the court jesters and guys I meet. I’m not going to feel the need to find my identity in what I do. I’m going to find my identity in who I am, and who I am is a princess of God. No, I’m not perfect, but walking with Christ everyday has made me realize that the less I’m focused on myself, the better off I am. I’m able to focus on other people more, which is really why we’re here anyway.


You mentioned that you had a mentor in high school.  How can a Brio reader find a mentor?

There was a woman at my high school who I looked up to and respected. She was a Spanish teacher and also the student council adviser. I watched the way she lived her life. I saw the fruit in her life. I saw her genuiness. I saw her honesty. I saw her confidence. And I said, "I don’t have that, but I want it."

The Bible says the older women are to teach the younger women, and so I prayed about it. I prayed that God would bring a woman in my life who would be willing to invest time and energy in me. I prayed God would reveal that person to me and that I would have the guts to ask her to mentor me.

The church is a great place to find women who love the Lord, too. My current mentor is in my church. She’s married and has four children. She’s just an awesome woman of God.


What's your favorite snack food?

Oh. I have too many of them. This sounds really weird, but I love — absolutely cannot help myself — mint mocha Frappuccinos from Starbucks. I have to have one almost every day. As far as food, I’m not really picky. I eat anything that’s in front of my face.