Christian singer Ginny Owens will perform two concerts in Tallahassee

Ginny Owens, an award-winning Christian singer and songwriter, will perform and share stories about living a life of faith in the face of debilitating odds at two Tallahassee locations on Sept. 16 and 17. Both evening performances of “Finding Hope in Darkness” will be free and open to all.

Despite losing her vision at the age of 3, Owens has achieved remarkable success over the past two decades, writing and recording music, performing at the White House and the Sundance Film Festival, publishing books and winning multiple awards, including three Dove awards and the Gospel Music Association’s New Artist of the Year in 2000.

Entertainment: Things to do in Tallahassee: From New 76ers to Earth, Wind & Fire, amphitheater's rocking

Theater: 'Sweet Charity' kicks off the FSU School of Theatre 2022-23 season in October

Refugees: Tallahassee becoming a place for home, hope and laughter for refugees

​​​​​​​Born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, Owens suffered from a degenerative eye condition that took her vision but did not prevent her from pursuing her love of music. “As a child, I processed everything I was learning through songs,” she recalls, and she regularly sang and played her own creations at her hometown church. “I quickly realized that music could help me connect with a roomful of people I couldn’t see.”

After graduating with a music degree from Belmont University in Nashville, Owens made Nashville her home as she began her recording career. She signed a record deal with Michael W. Smith’s record label, Rocketown Records, in 1998 and has recorded 11 albums and multiple EPs, garnering critical success and chart-topping radio and streaming hits, such as “If You Want Me To,” “Free,” and “Echo.”

Her 2021 book, "Singing in the Dark: Finding Hope in the Songs of Scripture," is “a combination of songs and scripture interwoven with my testimony,” Owens explains. Navigating “a sighted world without sight,” has given Owens a unique perspective on life that helps her deliver a message of hope with vulnerability and humility.

Owens now lives in New York City, where she is studying at the Reformed Theological Seminary and working as the interim women’s ministry manager and assistant director of worship arts at Redeemer Presbyterian Church.

She continues to write, perform, tour, host a video blog series, and collaborate on a variety of projects with other Christian artists. In her “How I see It” video blog series, Owens shares some of her day-to-day life and talks about how she accomplishes tasks such as picking out clothes and applying makeup.

Owens also contributed to a 2021 project called "Faithful," an all-female artist and author book and album collaboration that also includes Amy Grant and Ann Voskamp, Owens wrote a chapter in the book and co-wrote multiple songs on the album.

Her earlier books include "Love Be the Loudest: Hearing God’s Voice Above the Noise and Transcending Mysteries," which she co-authored with Andrew Greer. In 2016, Ginny launched the Love Be the Loudest campaign, an initiative that donates a portion of her album sales to nonprofit organizations.

At her appearances in Tallahassee, Owens will perform from her most recent EP, "Sing Hope in the Darkness," her first EP of modern hymns and praise songs. “I’ve been writing a lot more worship music for our worship services,” she said, which inspired her to release the five songs together.

Owens believes that her time in seminary has shifted her focus in her public performances, which allows them to be richer for her and the audience. “I’ve moved from entertainment to encouragement and education,” she said. “Now I teach on themes, since I learned so much from my time in seminary. It makes going out on the road even more special than before.”

Owens will perform on Friday, Sept. 16, at the Wesley Foundation at FSU (705 W. Jefferson St.) and Saturday, Sept. 17, at Killearn United Methodist Church (2800 Shamrock St.) Both performances will be from 6:30-8 p.m. A love offering will be taken, and those attending Killearn UMC’s concert should sign up in advance (killearnumc.org) due to limited seating. Childcare not provided. For more information, contact cstanton@kumconline.org.

If you go

What: Christian singer Ginny Owens

When and Where: 6:30-8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16, at Wesley Foundation at FSU (705 W. Jefferson St.) and Saturday, Sept. 17, at Killearn United Methodist Church (2800 Shamrock St.)

Details: A love offering will be taken, and we encourage those attending Killearn UMC’s concert to sign up in advance (killearnumc.org) due to limited seating. Childcare not provided. For questions or more information, contact cstanton@kumconline.org.

Never miss a story:  Subscribe to the Tallahassee Democrat using the link at the top of the page.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Christian singer Ginny Owens will perform at FSU, Killearn church