LOCAL GOSPEL GROUP ON RISE

For Paula Andrews, Cheryl Fortner and Crystal Stacks, singing Christian music has been a lifelong activity. Despite their longstandign ties to Gospel music, hwoever, the speed of their recent success has left them amazed.

Less than two years after Andrews, Fortner and Stephanie Odle formed "From the Heart," the group appears to be ont eh verge of major success.

"We jsut stand in awe of the Lord; He jsut does so much," said Andrews. Every time we turn around, there's another door opening."

In April Andrews, Fortner and Odle (who has since moved from the area, being repalced by Stacks) cut a CD titled "Miracle." It will be released July 10. The group also signed a contract with the Celebration Music Group, under the Destiny recording label. Pat Avery, vice president of Celebration music, has urged the group to record it snext CD in Nashville, using Roger Bennett and Scott Sauer (producers for the Cathederals, among others) as producers.

From The Heart, meanwhile, is featured on a compilation CD being sent to Christian 1200 radio stations across the nation. Their song "There's A Miracle Comign" will be on ti, alogn withsuch nationally-known groups as The Days.

"We're jsut letting the Lord lead and whaterver God oepns for us, wie'll go with it," said Fortner, a Jackson High School graduate, who was employed locally in the medical field for 16 years. "We didn't expect any of this to happen. "It's really exciting."

To celebrate the opening fo these doors, From The Heart will hold a free concert at the First Baptist Church of Jackson July 10. CDs and tapes will be available for purchase, as well.

Sikeston Gospel song writer Sandy Bloemer helped connect the trio with Celebration Music. Another group with Celebration had done one of ehr songs, "Daddy was a Jesus Man."

"She told them about us and we sent them a CD," Andrews said. "They loved our harmonies and he said he really loved our look and wanted to see what he could do to take us to that next level of ministry."

Andrews, a New Madrid native who now lives in Jackson, grew up singing in chuch and has never really been away from Christian music. Her sons, Brad and Brian Andrews, students at Missouri Baptist University, both sing in Spirit Wing and in 1997 were in the group Closer, which finished sixth in a national contest.

"My family sings," said Andrews, who ran the Music Garden studio, teaching pre-schoolers for many years. "We're just bound to sing. We love it."

Both Andrews and Fortner gave music lessons for years. Fornter was formerly a member of the Sanders Sisters and performed with such groups as The Berry Brothers and Assurance.

Stacks, a Marquand native, lives and works in Cape, but still attends Marquand United Methodist Church. She has also been in a number of Gospel groups, both in the Fredericktown area and locally. Fortenr and Andrews both attend Jackson Frist Baptist.

From The Heart got its name from I Peter 1:22, "because we want to minister in song in such a way that you feel the sincere love of the Lord through us," in Andrews' words.

"We were so excited. We were jsut elated," Andrews said, reflecting on signing with Celebration Music. "We never dreamed that something like that would happen to old home girls liek us.

"We had been singing together for a long time and had felt for a long time God leading us in this direction. We'll just let him lead us and see where we go."