Um, interesting? I met the two of them at 4:00 thinking that would be a good way to end my day before heading home at about 5:30 for dinner. And wouldn't you know it? It was 7:00 before we parted ways. The last time I got caught up in small group conversation like that was ... well ... quite some time ago.

Melissa Campbell? No surprises there. The first time I met my friend, I discovered she could bring the stuff of life to a conversation in both fun and compelling ways. So here she was with Vicky Beeching, an artist she represents, an artist who turned out to be an interpersonal heavy hitter in her own right.

Beeching, as you may know, moved to the United States from her native England a couple years ago. This unusual worship leader spent a stretch of her childhood attending a charismatic church before doing her undergraduate and graduate studies at world renowned Oxford University. Yeah, THAT Oxford -- home to literary giants such as C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien.

So, what do you get when you mix charismatic sensibilities with a striking intellect? Well, according to theologian Gordon Fee, in the best case scenario, you get a "scholar on fire" (for God).

And while Ms. Beeching has a very relational, easy going spirit, I definitely get the sense that Dr. Fee's descriptive would resonate with who she is. (Or as her evident humility would no doubt direct her, who she wants to be.)

And then there's her music ... a natural reflection of herself. If you haven't heard Beeching's Sparrow Records debut, YESTERDAY, TODAY & FOREVER, you're missing out. The modern worship gem released this past December and would be a unique complement to any CD library.

Beeching's worshipful art is immediately accessible -- think thought-provoking pop. Her beautiful voice strikes me as very familiar, yet often reveals an unusual (and appealing) texture that reminds me of former A&M recording artist Toni Childs.

If you're a CCM subscriber and would like to know more about Vicky Beeching, check out the full-page story we did on her in this past January's issue. It'll be time well spent.

Respectfully,

Jay

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