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Heart of Worship Star Search Showcase

We had an overwhelming number of votes for the Heart of Worship Star Search Showcase. Almost 500,000 votes were received for our 15 finalists. Of those fifteen, three are going on to compete during Saturday afternoon at The Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC on January 13th. The winner will open for Avalon during the Saturday night Heart of Worship Celebration concert.

Star Search Showcase Final Three
	Brandon Chase Concord, NC Listen to Brandon's Entry: "Swept Away"
As a pastor’s son, Brandon had early exposure to church life and ministry, and his interest in music and instruments was piqued early on, so much in that you’d often see him in the front row, playing his toy guitar along with the worship service. At the age of 12, Brandon dug out his father’s old acoustic guitar from the closet and began to teach himself to play guitar. This new skill was just the springboard he needed, as he began to write his own music and lead worship for his youth group, which prepared him for the privilege of being one of the worship leaders at the Bible college he later attended. Brandon currently lives in Concord NC , with his wife Pilar, daughter Atara, son Jacob, and new born daughter Sofia. There, he serves as the worship pastor for Evangel Worship Center , utilizing many of his own original songs for congregational worship. A few of the things Brandon enjoys are, spending time with his family, playing and writing music, pulling for his Carolina Panthers, and enjoying a nice dinner out.
	Paul Cummings Hickory, NC Listen to Paul's Entry: "Jesus In Me"
It’s all about Jesus…really that’s the most important thing you need to know about my life…but here’s the rest. I’m married to the prettiest girl in the world; my wife Danielle, and we have 2 little princesses; Molly (8) and Hannah (4), they are Christ’s amazing blessings on my life. I’m an ordained minister at Corinth Church here in Hickory, and I’ve been serving here for going on 7 years as Worship Leader and Pastor to our contemporary service and as pastor to students and young adults. I’ve been leading worship for about thirteen years starting out at Appalachian State at the Intervarsity Christian Fellowship there, but it wasn’t until I began to lead worship for the Church in 1997 that I began to write praise and worship songs. I never really feel like I “write” a song, it’s more that I feel like I just happen to be there when the Lord gives me a melody and some words. The main goal in my ministry is to be a vessel that Jesus Christ uses to draw people into a closer walk with Him, and so that’s why I always have to say “It’s not about me….It’s all about Jesus.” I’m also incredibly blessed to have an amazing band to work with: Athos Rostan on drums, Robb and Jeanne Elkins on lead guitar and vocals, David Watson on bass, Jeff and Carol Anne Hartman on vocals and of course Charissa Loftin, Richard McNeil and Jesse and Tiff Sloane who help run our sound on Sunday mornings at Corinth Church in Hickory (www.corinthtoday.org). And…Just in case you were wondering…I do have a 15 song CD of original praise and worship that we do at Corinth, and I’m currently in the studio recording a second full length praise CD with Ricky Rodriguez at BombHouse Studio in Morganton NC. I pray that no matter what, the Lord will use this little moment in time to draw you closer to Him through these songs…May the Lord bless and keep you!
	Natasha Perez Hickory, NC Listen to Natasha's Entry: "How Great Thou Art"
I'm originally from good ole Hickory NC My parents always sacrificed to send me to Christian Schools, which I am very very thankful for. Some of my best memories are from my high school years at a Christian boarding school, Mount Pisgah Academy, in Asheville. It was there that I began singing publicly and have been singing ever since. After 3 years of college my University (Southern Adventist Universtiy) in Tennessee sent me to Honduras for a year of Volunteer work. There I met my husband and also learned Spanish. We had our first child in January of this year, so he will be 1 year old Jan. 15. I felt a burden to be at home with my baby so in order to make that possible my husband joined the Army in August. We miss him terribly but are very appreciative of the great sacrifice he is doing for our family and country.