SIERRA BRINGS `STORY OF LIFE' TO EVERY PERFORMANCE

Although each has their own stories to tell, Wendi Foy Green, Jennifer Hendrix and Deborah Schnelle of Sierra realize that God has given their tales meaning.

The group tells the "Story of Life" on their latest album. Sierra will perform in concert Sunday at 7 p.m. at Lynwood Baptist Church.

Sierra began performing together six years ago, and from their first meeting the trio had a perfect blend of voices.

"As soon as we started singing, we had the blend," Hendrix said. " A lot of people think we are sisters."

With harmonious voices and a rich blend of music, the group's debut in the Christian music industry was a success. "We believe it was very much part of God's plan," Hendrix said.

Two songs from their latest album have reached No. 1 on the Christian music charts. Their current single is "Pray for Me."

Most of the people in the audience at a Sierra performance are Christians. However, it doesn't mean that only Christians need to hear their message, the group says.

The songs "can reach believers and non-believers alike," Green said. "I'd guess that 98 percent of our concert attendees are Christians, yet there's still 2 percent out there that aren't. We have an opportunity there that they could hear a song that says, 'No matter what you've done in your life, God loves you.'"

That message also is an important one for the group to remember. Each has had struggles in their lives and understand the need for compassion and care.

Sierra tries to offer encouragement to everyone, especially through music. "We feel our ministry is to help these people," Green said.

But offering help doesn't mean misleading nonbelievers into thinking that the Christian life is perfect. "We have to be real with people," Hendrix said. "Our lives have not been perfect."

"I'm so amazed, so lovingly amazed that he would choose me to do his work when he doesn't need me at all," Schnelle said.

"We're just normal people," Hendrix said. "We deal with the same things. I think it's important to just be totally real and act goofy."

Part of being real means dealing with family issues. Because the trio performs 150 to 175 concerts each year, they travel frequently. But their schedule is usually limited to weekend concert dates.

"We want family to remain the most important thing in our life and not our career," Hendrix said.