HeartSong

BLESSED!!!!

Psalm 57:7, “My heart is steadfast, Oh God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music!” (HeartSong’s theme verse from day 1)

I’m just seeing that one of our HeartSong leaders posted and announced that HeartSong has concluded. Your remarks have already deeply touched me! Thank you!!! The word “blessed” doesn’t begin to express how I feel!

Although this past year was the final chapter, what a book has been written to His glory for the last 32 years! Yes, 32 years ago President Maurice and Marcia Lednicky asked Doug and me to return to Springfield to form a new music ministry group at CBC following the conclusion of Revivaltime. We both knew it was in God’s plan and we moved back to Springfield! Doug and I are forever grateful to the Ledneckys who believed in us and gave us this opportunity. They have remained our dear friends all these years! Now 32 years later and after much thought and prayer, I met with Pres. Rakes and Dr. Darla Rakes to let them know that I felt that this was the year for me to step aside. The Rakes graciously accepted my decision. Doug and I can’t thank them enough for their support and love for HeartSong and for us! They have blessed us time and time again and we highly respect and love them! I was shocked at Commencement this May when they presented me with a beautiful award to commemorate the HeartSong ministry. We will always cherish the Rake’s friendship! But…… as HeartSong posted, “every song must end.”

To the HeartSong alums, Doug and I want to say a special thank you! We never looked at HeartSong as our group, it was always God’s tool to encourage and lead others in true worship. It was the ministry that He gave us to steward. It was a group of extremely talented students who had a deep passion to worship. It was a group that God wanted to mold into servant leaders that would be sensitive to the moving of the Holy Spirit! It was a group of young people that God would use to touch the world for His Kingdom in these last days! We have HeartSong alums all over the world and as Joel VanBriggle, HeartSong alum stated, “The sun never sets on the ministry of HeartSong!” He and his wife, Gail, also a HeartSong alum, are missionaries in Belgium. HeartSong has literally traveled in all 50 states and numerous places abroad. I wish I had kept track of the miles we’ve traveled! To say that I’m humbled and touched by the opportunity to lead HeartSong for 32 years is an understatement! I love each and everyone of the students who were in the group and we are so proud of how God has used you to build His Kingdom!

To our dear HeartSong friends and supporters! Without you, we wouldn’t have been able to do it! We have felt your prayers and support during every season! Love you all!

I can’t leave out the many sound techs who have assisted us through the years! I can’t name you all but you were an integral part! Thank you so much! I have to give a huge shoutout to Barry Kinzer who was in HeartSong and then continued to be our sound tech and mixed and engineered most of our albums. He was the longest standing member of HeartSong!!! Then most recently Josh Hendrickson mixed numerous services along with Matt Moore. Matt and Dylan Neiman engineered our recent and final album! So blessed to have had their support!

To our precious children who traveled with us many times, Deja and Mitch, you sacrificially allowed me to miss many Mother’s Days when we did May tours! Thank you for being so giving and understanding of this calling in our lives. A huge thank you to Doug!!! Although Doug was behind the scenes, HeartSong couldn’t have done it without him. He was the booking agent, the fundraiser, the connection to AG districts, the manager, and my biggest supporter!

What’s next……I will continue to lead and direct academic assessment at Evangel. I love supporting academic departments as they use assessment to improve programs and stay in compliance with the accrediting body of the Higher Learning Commission. I will also continue my work as a peer reviewer and chair with the Higher Learning Commission. So it’s not goodbye yet! We believe in what EU is doing under the leadership of Pres. Rakes and Dr. Darla! God is blessing the university in so many ways under the Rakes’ leadership as young people study in this amazing Christian environment!

Love, thankfulness, and gratitude to you all! It’s been a wonderful ride but this is the wrap! Of course, we thank God for all these years He gave us to serve in this ministry! Oh…and be watching for a HeartSong Reunion!!! Love to all!!!

As it was announced during this past graduation, the 32 years of HeartSong run by our dedicated leader, Dr.Bonnie Jenkins, supported by her husband Brother Doug Jenkins, has come to its final season. Our last event was this past week with Illinois Student Ministries.
We as a group are so thankful for the years of service and dedication Dr.J has put into this group. HeartSong has affected so many people around the globe and was used in many ways by the Lord, for the Lord. There are not enough words to describe the gratitude we and many others all feel for the profound impact of HeartSong's ministry these 32 years. This is not just a group- but a family. All the years of students through CBC and now through Evangel and their ministry have brought us to this moment. Dr.J and each year of HeartSong has paved the way and anointed our steps, building us up in prayer and worship- and we are all so thankful for the way God has used this group of students. Thank you for letting us be your hands and feet Lord.

This ministry has always been God's- and we are all so thankful for the memories and times spent worshipping together that He allowed us to be a part of.

Every song must end- but God you NEVER do.

HeartSong Worship, est. 1993-2025

Our band, 2025 🤍🥁🎹🎸

We were so honored to be a part of the groundbreaking and dedication of the new residence hall here at Evangel! Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow!! Thank you Jesus for what you are doing at our campus!

Romans 12:1-2 (ESV): "Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

Palm Sunday 4/13/25 - Tulsa, OK

Reminiscing our time at Greenway church in Orlando last Sunday! 🔥🔥🔥

The Breeze Church, 3/19 🌴

We had such a wonderful time with Teen Challenge of Fort Myers! Thankful for the time spent worshipping together and sharing testimonies outdoors in God's creation with God's people🌴

Fort Myers, 3/16/25

What a time spent in God's presence at Arkansas Fine Arts this weekend! 🔥🔥🔥

Bolivar First Assembly, 2/23/25