Dec. 21, 2009 issue
EMS student releases CD
By Laura Lehman Amstutz Eastern Mennonite SeminaryHARRISONBURG, Va. — Along with writing papers and reading books, first-year Eastern Mennonite Seminary student Jessica Crawford has been busy producing a recording.
Jessica Crawford
Her first solo CD, Shine, is a mix of acoustic rock and folk with a Christian message.
“Just before entering seminary I completed this really intense season of songwriting,” Crawford said. “The songs on this CD are all connected to my life experience and faith journey I’ve been on.”
Crawford attended Mary Washington University in Fredericksburg her freshman year and then transferred to James Madison University for three years.
While in college, she and Katie Grove Swartzentruber began singing together. She learned to play guitar on her own, and the duo started leading the “sunset service” at Bridgewater Church of the Brethren. Crawford produced a CD with Swartzendruber in 2003.
Crawford decided to enter seminary to explore her call to ministry and how music might fit with this.
“My faith and my music are completely connected,” she said. “So many of my songs were composed quickly. I feel like they were God-inspired. I am so glad to be able to process my faith through music. I recognize my music as a gift that God intends to be used for God’s work.”
Crawford said seminary had been helpful in discerning her place in ministry.
“I’ve had opportunities to work with music in chapel and to write a song for my class on prayer,” she said. “It has helped me redefine myself as a musician and reaffirm a call to ministry with music.”
Crawford’s CD will be available for purchase in January. She hopes to begin performing locally for churches, youth events, conferences and retreats.
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