By Grace Music Ministry

.My siblings and I started singing in church as soon as we could stand. Our mother played the piano and organ and led the choir. Our dad was the Sunday School Superintendent and church custodian. And we four kids provided special music at most of the church functions, singing in four-part harmony. Since mine was the deepest of all four voices, I always sang tenor or bass. That’s how I learned to “hear” a part. I learned to read music by being involved in every special instrumental and vocal musical group our high school offered.

As we got older, we kids also served in various positions in the church: choir directors, youth leaders, VBS leaders, etc. As an adult, I’ve served in those same capacities, as well as others. For several years, I was heavily involved in planning and facilitating women’s and young girls’ Christian retreats. I was also blessed to participate in two musical missions trips (to Belgium, Holland, and Ireland) with our church worship team.

One of my life-long dreams was to sing with a Southern Gospel Quartet. God granted that dream by allowing me to minister in churches across the United States traveling with Promised Land from 1979 – 1989. When that part of my life came to a close, God began to open doors for me to minister as a soloist, something I never really planned for nor anticipated. Although I grew up singing, I was always part of group – a “back up singer,’ if you will – and that was, and still is, where I feel most comfortable. But, God sometimes has other plans for our lives. Thus, my first solo recording, “Amazing Grace,” was released in 2000.

In the past few years, I’ve performed in a lot of community and dinner theaters. I’ve been honored to sing the National Anthem across the country at various automobile races, political events, and for Special Olympics and Habitat for Humanity functions. In 2004, I was chosen as the Featured Female Vocalist to perform at the Circle of Lights Ceremony in downtown Indianapolis. I also sing lead for the Messengers Band, a band that sings and plays old, classic Rock-N-Roll music – with Christian Lyrics.

I praise God for the talents He’s given me, and every opportunity He provides to use those talents to bring Him praise. My prayer is, as the song writer so beautifully said:

             ♫  “Take joy, my King, in what you hear. May it be a sweet, sweet sound in your ear!”  ♫

duaneheil43@hotmail.com 317-773-2028 www.bygracetrio.webs.com