Have you ever kept a diary or journal? A place where you write your innermost thoughts: your struggles, concerns, joys, and hopes. If so, the thought of someone reading it may leave you feeling uneasy.
For years, my wife Lisa has told me that listening to our songs is like reading our journal, hearing our deepest thoughts, feelings, and questions.
Over the past couple years we have continued to write – not for another project, but simply as a release for the emotions that otherwise might have stayed bottled up. While we did share a few of our new songs in concert, most were simply belted out in the comfortable confines of our living room.
During that same time our faith had been challenged and stretched as the five of us were scattered over three time zone and two continents, and then back brought together again. The same, yet different.
In different ways, we all seemed to be feeling a divine discontent, but were unsure what it meant. We wrestled with thoughts of trusting by living a life fully surrendered. We were tempted by the questions that arise when bad things happen. We clung to the truth that God is good and sovereign even in the midst of chaos. And through it all we found rest in the assurance and knowledge that God’s love is bigger than our hurts, hang-ups, questions, and doubts. And in that truth we celebrated the knowledge that in spite of it all, life with God is the only way to find lasting peace.
All the while, unbeknownst to us, we were indeed writing for a new project. As – quite by surprise – the opportunity to step back into the recording studio presented itself, this time with Multi-Dove Award Winning, and two time Grammy Nominated songwriter, worship-leader, and producer Michael Farren (https://www.weareworship.com/us/worship-leaders-2/michael-farren).
Michael’s songs have been recorded by such artists as: Lauren Daigle, Reba McIntire, Michael W. Smith, and many others, and it is quite a honor to have his thumbprint, not only on our sound, but our songs.
The title track of our new project– Things Unseen – sums up our journey well with the chorus lyric “I will trust though I cannot see this road ahead where You are leading me. My wandering heart looks to You my King. I fix my eyes on the things unseen.”
For us, recording has always been about fixing our eyes on the things unseen, but this time it hasn’t been a step of faith but rather a full-fledged leap.
Everything had lined up too perfectly: from the co-writing opportunities, to the advice of those who sit on our board and the professionals we work with, without fail each came to the same conclusion – we needed to record.
So, we took the leap and jumped headlong into this, knowing somehow, someway the funds would come. Since we began the recording project last spring life has been a whirlwind. Starting the recording process, while at the same time my wife acceped a new job – in Nashville – a trip to Guatemala with Compassion International, selling our home in Indiana, a wedding, remodeling our new Tennessee home, another wedding, and now (sigh) It’s time to ramp back up the capital campaign for the new project – which over the last several months has been the least squeaky of our wheels. Since the initial push – which includes pre-orders as well as larger backers and corporate sponsors who have caught the vision of our music, ministry, and our message of strong families and strong faith – we sit at just over 50 percent funded. Which means we have just over $14,000 to go.
Looking at that number can be a bit overwhelming, but as the old question goes, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!” And really, that’s only 140 people saying “yes, I’ll be a $100 backer!” And, there are three easy ways you can say “Yes!”
- With a tax deductible gift through our ministry department at Artists in Christian Testimony International https://actintl.givingfuel.com/frye-family.
- Through our crowd-funding page at http://pdpsupport.com/projects/frye-family-band/ where you can also get various awards depending on the level of partnership!
- Businesses can partner through our corporate sponsorship option.
For more information on that please contact our management at gary@themanagementagency.com and request an executive overview.
Our prayer is that the remainder of the budget will be raised over the next six weeks so that we can continue with the production and have the project ready for our summer tour. No amount is too small or too large. From $1 for the mp3 of our first radio single, to underwriting the remainder of the project, we are grateful for everyone who is willing to partner with us! Expressing this need in itself feels a bit like posting another page from our journal. So, we once again share our heart, our vision, and the opportunity for you to join us in it!
Blessings,
The Fryes
Inspring Family Harmony
FryeFamilyBand.com
