Shelley's Bio
Shelley Kristen is a passionate worship leader, with a heart that desires to see lives transformed by the power of the Living God. Her gift of singing, songwriting and prophetic giftings, flow from the very throne room of God. Her worship imparts God’s healing virtue, fire, and living water, bringing the believer into an encounter with their Maker that’s tangible…and life-changing. Shelley’s gift of teaching and intercession, as well as her passion to pray for others that are in need of physical, emotional, and spiritual healing, make her a powerful conduit in the hands of God. Shelley is a gifted vocal instructor as well. Her voice lesson training program, “The Complete Singing Voice Lesson Series” is sold around the globe. .To learn more about the program, click on the voice lesson link on the home page, or visit her site at www.singingvoicelessons.com.
Shelley recently stepped out of her full time staff position as Worship Pastor to found “Out of the Grotto Ministries”, a praise and worship oriented ministry that helps bring people out of the darkness, into His marvelous light. Shelley currently does guest worship at various churches by invitation, Praise and Worship concerts, and also worship leading and speaking at conferences and retreats. She is also a World Vision Artist, helping fight the fight against word hunger and poverty, especially in the lives of children.
Shelley's autobiography
It is awkward to tell people about yourself. Man looks at the outward appearance/ outward accomplishments, but God looks at the heart. So let me approach things a little bit more from the heart and intertwine my testimony with my background. First and foremost, I am a devout follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. I have known Him for 19 years and can honestly say I am more in love with Him now than ever before. My passion is to Praise and Worship the King of Kings, and see the captive be set free. I have done this in many forms over the years, on worship teams, in bands, and most recently, completing a season being on a church staff as a full time worship leader from 2002-2006. Prior to being called into music ministry, I lived in Southern California for a total of 7 years (my favorite number) moving there at first to play volleyball in college. I was a 3 sport athlete all through high school, athletics was my life. When athletics started to loose it’s glimmer as emptiness would set in even after major victory, I started experimenting with what the world had to offer. The emptiness increased, along with my disillusionment with life. After finally realizing that the wages of sin was sure death, I got powerfully and radically saved and filled with the Spirit of God! My dormant gifting o f singing and songwriting sprung to life, and God opened up the doors miraculously for me to study music. I attended Grove School of Music in Los Angeles and graduated as a vocal major. I also was blessed to study privately with some top vocal instructors.
The Lord then opened up the door for me to attend Last Days Ministries (Keith and Melody Green) in Lindale, Texas, to the School of Ministry. It was an awesome time of spiritual preparation and training. I then moved back to my hometown in Southern Oregon and wore many different hats as a worship leader, songwriter, producer, recording engineer, voice over artist, and on air personality for a Christian radio station. I met my husband Alan (one of the most amazing bass players on the planet), fell in love and got married. (What a novel idea)!
I recorded my first CD entitled Consider. You can hear some sound bites in the discography section. My husband and I helped start a band called Soul Fixin’s, along with David Sprunger, an extraordinary singer, songwriter and piano player, and 4 other extremely talented musicians. We also served on the worship team in our home church. During that time, I started coaching other aspiring singers, adults as well as precious children! In my season of teaching, I was privileged to coach several students to national award winning prominence. From my teaching profession and recording background, I produced a series of voice training CD’s in 2002, which are now sold internationally. This has turned out to be a tremendous blessing, not only as tent-making provision, but a creative way to train up a lot of voices at the same time! My husband Alan and I currently sell the program from our website, www.singingvoicelessons.com. I have also been blessed to teach at some phenomenal worship/ music conferences with some other great instructors…(you can read more about that in the conferences and retreats section). I am also in the middle of producing voice training videos, which should be an additional encouragement to those desiring to improve their singing.
God started to birth Out of the Grotto Ministries in the summer of 2005. My Pastor was in agreement, and encouraged me to start moving in that direction. One month later, World Vision contacted me and asked if I would become an Artist Associate. I thought it was a great fit and felt the green light to partner with World Vision and help promote the sponsorship of children in need throughout the globe. God really started to give me a heart for the Kingdom of God at large, instead of “the zeal for one house (one church) consuming me”. Thus, it was time to step down from my Worship Pastor position at the church and pass on the mantle to a wonderful young man. With my Pastor in agreement, I took the Nestea plunge and stepped out in faith! Since then God has been opening up many doors to pour out for Him through this Praise and Worship centered ministry. I have 2 great groups of musicians who I can team up with depending on the situation, the Out of the Grotto Ministries worship team or the guys from Soul Fixin‘s. I also often go alone, (thank God He promises to go with us wherever we go) or work with other existing musicians in that particular church or city. I am also blessed with a dear sister in Christ, Rene’ Phelps, who is an invaluable team member and assistant in the ministry. We also have great intercessory prayer backing, which is so necessary to embark on any Spirit-fueled journey. (Please feel free to join in praying for this ministry-much prayer, much power, little prayer, little power). As I have a huge heart to see my own city transformed by the power of God, we are currently doing nights of worship and intercession. It’s called OUTCRY-- A Live Worship Encounter. This is a huge focus right now. It’s my main passion, nights of unhindered, uninterrupted praise and worship where God can encounter His children, and we can encounter OUR GOD. If you would like a night of worship in your church or city…just let us know.
My husband and I still play with Soul Fixin’s, bringing more of a concert- like feel through awesome Gospel, Jazz, R&B and Latin sounds. Soul Fixin’s, in a nutshell, is a pure ambassador of Christ’s joy!
I still see through a glass dimly but the pieces of the puzzle seem to be falling into place. You can read more about the vision and purpose for Out of the Grotto Ministries in the Vision link. I haven’t talked much about church denominations, as I really don‘t think it is that important, especially when God is concerned about His Kingdom at large. When I was in Southern Cal I got saved at a church called The Hiding Place, then went to Church on the Way with Pastor Jack Hayford while going to music school. Just know that I love being a carrier of His Presence. I love to usher people into the Holy of Holies, my favorite place to go…period. I love to go into un-chartered territory with spontaneous songs of worship for a God that is deserving of all glory, honor and praise. I long to see the river of God flow unfettered, without hindrance, with it’s crystal clear waters pouring into the Sea touching and healing all that come in contact with it. I love to be emptied and used as conduit, completely broken, knowing apart from Him I can do nothing, but with God ALL things are possible. My goal as a worship leader is to get out of the way and let God move as He desires, doing in minutes what man can never do…healing, forgiving, melting bitterness, binding up the broken hearted, profoundly transforming…the list goes on. The anointing destroys the yoke and sets the captives free.
In regards to this Bio, in the words of Forrest Gump, that‘s all I have to say about that...
The important thing is that you know Him, the One who died for you, the One who lives making constant intercession for you, who rejoices over you with singing, who is preparing a place for you to dwell for all of eternity. It is with those awesome truths that I most humbly hope and pray that any worship I may be privileged to bring so exudes a passionate love for the Savior, that you fall deeper and deeper in love with Him, and become more than a conqueror in Him, through Him and for Him.