"I may not know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future." This profound verse from a popular Christian song portrays a kind of faith that many wish they could have. To shrug off the need for tangible securities and earthly pursuits in order to totally surrender to the plan of God. To place all of our desires for life at the foot of the cross so that, as Paul so eloquently puts it, "I may decrease so that Christ may increase." It's a kind of submission that did not come easy for her but it's the way Dawn Smith Jordan sums up her life.
"My first passion is to know and love God with all that I am," says Jordan. "As Proverbs 3:5-6 says 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.' I may not always understand, but I can trust God. When I trust Him, look to Him, He promises to lead me and be with me."
That passage of Scripture has become the foundation for Dawn and her faith throughout her life. "When I was a junior in high school, I knew God had given me musical talents and with that a gift to communicate," recounts Jordan. "One Sunday night during the invitation time, I knew He wanted me to commit it all to Him. I did - not knowing what I'd be doing in the future, but knowing He called me.
Then in 1985 the unthinkable happened, her sister Shari was tragically abducted and murdered, resulting in the largest manhunt in South Carolina history. "Losing my sister Shari has been the most life-changing experience. It was a horrible nightmare for me and my family to lose her in such a painful way. Yet through that I experienced the grace of God in a way I probably never would have otherwise. He used it in my life personally to build in me a faith in Him that I can now say 'no matter what, His grace is sufficient."
That grace lifted her out of the depths of tragedy and turned what seemed like an unclimbable mountain into the stepping stone for a ministry that has since touched thousands. "I believe a lot of what God was called me to do in my ministry has to do with encouragement," says Jordan. "He has turned a tragedy in my own life into a ministry of hope to so many hurting people. Because I have been there myself, I know exactly what they are feeling. Yet I can say with confidence to them, 'You can make it by God's grace and can one day look back, as I am, and know you have.' I hope and pray that when someone comes to one of my concerts that they will walk out feeling more confident about facing the next day that they did when they came in. I want them to have a great time with the music and truly hear God speak to them, whether that be words of hope, salvation, or forgiveness." This perspective lead to Dawn initial Urgent Records release "How Far" in 1993.
Her sophomore release, "Canopy", on Urgent Records captured much of hope
and encouragement that echo throughout her ministry. "I'm was really excited
to see how God is used the music on Canopy. It's always an amazing
thing to see how He takes songs that have come out of my own life experiences
to speak to or reach others. God's really been good to me and to Him I
give all the glory for what He's chosen to do through me." "A Moment Alone" (September 2001) reflects a soul searching Dawn. Her most intimate album to date, this project finds Dawn penning most of the songs herself. Not questioning her Savior in a doubting way, but asking him what he desires of her. Dawn
bears a maturing heart walking through life's many difficult circumstances. Dawn
has also released a much in demand worship project "Everyday
Praise" for Urgent Records.
Urgent Artists
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Austin, TX 78735-8331
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