Bios

Ali and Leighton's adventure began with a courtship in Thailand, December 2004. There at a world-youth congress for Adventist Christian youth in Bangkok, Thailand, Ali and Leighton led worship for the 5,000 odd young people aged between 18 and 25. Now, 5 years, 2.7 children, 1 album recording and a fair few mows of the front and back lawn later, they are happily doing life together, growing cucumbers (amongst other family vegetable projects) and preparing for whatever God has next in this music and ministry adventure!

Ali

Since I was a child I had a secret dream to be part of something musical and big, but I just couldn't see how that could be of any help to anyone. There are hundreds of fantastic God believing musicians who are filling peoples' hearts all over the world. What use would another one be?... that's how I thought.

I thought 'what's the point of a Christian musician anyway? Just to make people feel all warm and fuzzy?...' I thought it was more noble to not try and follow that dream, I thought it would be more noble to be one of those people who quietly go around doing kind deeds. Those people are my heroes!

But I am so selfish! Being kind just doesn't come naturally to me. I just don't naturally even think of doing things like that. My sister is awesome at sending cards, boy I wish I was less selfish and prioritised that, but I forget to even think of prioritising it! What a hopeless case I am...

But then I decided I do have something God may be able to use. We can't all be Martha! If I can show just one person a clear picture of the real Jesus I know with our music... The Supernatural Father we have who is beyond belief awesome, then I believe there is a point to it after all, maybe I'm not being selfish to follow my dream if I give it to God to use for His purpose!

More than just showing the people who hear our music who God is, we wanted to spread the love further afield, so we chose to connect with Asian Aid. To be honest, being humanitarian doesn't come naturally to me either. I could easily live my day without thinking about anyone else but myself. I try to really understand and feel what it must be like to live in poverty, but I just don't get it.

For now, the choice to give half of our profits to Asian Aid is something I want to understand more. It was our choice completely, but I think until I see with my own eyes the people who need our help and love, I will never understand exactly why we are doing this except that I know it is a good and loving thing to do. And God asked me to do it. Pretty cold hearted and unfeeling hey - my husband, Leighton, always tells me off for being ice queen. But I do feel compelled and convicted by God that it is not right that we live in such wealth while so much of the world lives in such poverty. (I know it will pass through my icy heart one day.) So let's do something about it!

Give big, use your gifts... be Martha cause I can't!

Leighton

I remember being four years old, lying underneath my parents grand piano listening to them play and being moved to tears! The music just poked me in the eyes and in the heart so deeply that I wept. Actually if I'm honest today it still happens! For as long as I can remember I have wanted deeply to be a part of a concerted effort to connect people with God in the context of music; I've wanted to use my gifts of music to build His kingdom, to build a sense of awareness, respect, awe, reverencing of Jesus. I want to share in the fun and joy of Him too. I just want to be involved in music that has deep meaning, a real respect for God; music that rejoices in the life God has blessed us all with, and that brings fullness of life to others (in a real physical, social justice sense too).

That is a big reason for wanting to partner with Asian Aid. I desire when I'm making music that I join with God in bridging the gap that exists in today's world (the gap of geography, wealth, opportunity for life, knowledge of God). A young man at Sunshine Orphanage, Bangalore, India has a Christian education and a caring community, partly because music I helped create helped him. How cool!

A few years ago a Pastor friend and I were talking one Sabbath afternoon about the Moses question in Exodus 4:2 where God asks Moses "What is that in your hand?". Moses sees a shepherd's rod in his hand, but God shows him there is a snake in it - the rod turns into a snake. God removes the snake and gives Moses back his rod, inviting Him to help God do "signs and wonders" back in Egypt. Through the creative power of God and Moses' willingness, the Israelite nation is set free from slavery, bondage and suffering to a complete freedom.

I really feel like the music I get to make and want to keep making with Ali is like that. God has asked me the question, "What is in your hand?" and I have answered, "Music and influence". By influence I mean the ways I relate to and affect those around me. So I want to use music and influence to be a part of God performing wonders in our time - where God restores fullness and abundant life to we who are locked into all kinds of bondage and suffering.

I love how God partners with ordinary people like Ali and I - brings us together, with our limited experiences and gifting - and performs His wonders to bring about His great work of Shalom (the Hebrew word for "Peace").