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And the Winner Is... - The Karen Harding
Interview (Editor's Note: ninetyandnine.com will be publishing periodic articles on Apostolics who are pursuing non-traditional channels to share the Gospel. If you know of anyone who is doing this, email us a short bio/description at editor@ninetyandnine.com.) It is the unlikeliest of tales. It is the American dream. It is a God story. It started with the most innocuous of beginnings--send in a cassette with a song on it for a national Christian music contest and hope and pray opportunities would occur. It included regional competitions before a final event over five days before 2,000 people and an international television audience. She had a 1,400-in-1 chance to win it all, but God laughs at long odds. Joseph rising to world leadership, Daniel being captured so he could rule an empire, the murderer Paul becoming history's greatest missionary--now those are long odds. This was child's play for Him. Except Karen Harding, an Apostolic music minister living in San Diego, California, didn't know that. She just knew what Joseph and Daniel and Paul knew, trust in Him and He will surprise and amaze. So when she entered the "Exalting Him 2003" Christian Talent Search on May 14, 2003, she just trusted Him. What started as a "Why not?" moment ended with judges in tears as she sang for the contest's Grand Prize. While the contest ended in August, ninetyandnine.com couldn't release the results due to the sponsorship blackout requirements. That blackout has now lifted and we offer this exclusive interview with Karen Harding, another Apostolic who is making a difference. 90&9: Tell us a little about yourself. KH: I am currently the Minister of Music at Revival Tabernacle in San Diego, CA. I have worked in a lot of churches over the years. I went to Bible college in Stockton, CA where I received an A.A. in Music. I also went to Jackson College of Ministries and finished my degree a few years later. I received a B.A. in Music there. I also travel a lot! I am out at least three times a month and try to make it back for Sundays. 90&9: What type of music do you sing? KH: I sing all types of Gospel music. I have covered it all from opera to country and everything in between. I love variety and being able to be versatile to minister in a large array of different settings. 90&9: So do you write your own songs? KH: I write some of the stuff I sing and I am starting to write more. I also do a lot of my brother's (Pastor Gary P. Harding in Orangevale, CA) songs. But, if a song hits me and it has a great message I want to sing it. Right now there is a song I just love called, "The Cross Said It All," written by my friend, Marty Funderburk. I really love the tune and the words. 90&9: How did you hear about the 2003 National Christian Talent Search? KH: I heard about the "Exalting Him 2003" Christian Talent Search because I was recording an album (On Track) at Daywind Music Group in Nashville. The contest had major sponsors and it sounded really great. I thought, "What could it hurt? If I win great, if I don't…Oh well." 90&9: What did you have to do to enter? KH: To enter I had to send in a photo, a tape of me singing one song, and the completed contest form. 90&9: Had you ever entered any other music contests before this? KH: Yes. In 1990 I took first place in Estes Park, CO at the Christian Artist Seminar in the Rockies. It was a big deal. We had to sing in front of some major Christian artists. They just kept narrowing it down each day for a week. Finally, it was the final day and I won first in my division. Then I had to compete against the other divisions (age, groups). Someone else won the grand prize. I still won lots of prizes. I won 80 CDs of my choice and my way paid back the next year and a check for $300. 90&9: So what was the competitive format of the 2003 National Christian Talent Search? KH: There were 1,400+ entries. Their people listened to all the tapes that were sent in and then narrowed it down to 25 soloists and 25 groups in each region. There were eight regions. I was one of the 25 semi-finalists in the Western region. I had to go to Los Angeles to compete in the semi-finals. The judges voted for one soloist and one group to win in each region. I won the solo division of the Western region. So the eight finalist soloists and the eight finalist groups went to Nashville to compete in the finals. The eight soloists sang and the judges narrowed it down to four. Then they added two "wild cards," which were runner-ups from the semi-finals and the six of us competed. Then the judges narrowed it down to one and they chose me! Then they did the same elimination process with the groups, thus narrowing it down to one group. Then I had to compete against the group for the Grand Prize. And the judges picked me! I still can't believe it. It feels so unreal. It actually feels like a dream. 90&9: What songs did you sing? KH: I had to have several songs. In Los Angeles I sang "Just Keep Holdin' On to Faith." In Nashville I sang, "Till the Storm Passes By," "Just Keep Holdin' On to Faith," "The Road is Rocky," and "In My Father's House." I prayed for the anointing to be on me and be felt by the audience. God was really there in a powerful way. 90&9: Why did you choose those songs, as opposed to the infinity of others? KH: I chose these songs because I felt they had a strong message and I was familiar with them because I had been singing them for some time. Also, we had a time limit and all of those songs were within the timeframe allowed, which was four minutes. 90&9: When was the national competition and where was it hosted? KH: The national finals were the last week of August 2003 (in) Nashville, Tennessee. Mark Lowry was the emcee/host. 90&9: How did you prepare yourself mentally and spiritually for the national solo competition? KH: It was a really busy time in my life (but what time isn't? Ha!) I was rushed, tired, and totally leaning on the power of God to get me through. I guess you could say I had prepared a long time before I was even selected to compete. God had ordered my steps and cleared the path before me to walk therein. He gives us strength when we need it most and it is out of our control. That way He gets the credit and the glory. I was way too tired to think this was my doing. I was running on His strength. At one point during an interview I almost fell asleep. Seriously! They had to let me go and rest. 90&9: Did you think you were going to win? KH: I really did not know! I wanted to believe that I would and I had come this far, but I had not heard or seen the competition and I wasn't sure what God had in mind, but I do know one thing¾I wanted to win! 90&9: How did it feel winning the solo competition? KH: It felt great. I really was in a daze. It felt surreal. 90&9: How soon did you find out you won after you sang? KH: As soon as all the contestants finished singing the judges tallied their scores and they announced the winner. 90&9: Did you have any family or fans watching? What did they do? KH: My sister, Kristie, and her son, Kristofer, were there with me. It was so great to have them there. I really needed their support and prayers. 90&9: Who did you call first with the news? KH: Well, it's kind of funny. My sister was on her phone calling my brother and I was on my phone calling my dear friend Nancy Grandquist. 90&9: Do you remember what you said and what she said? KH: I said, "Hi Nance" and she said, "DID YOU WIN?" 90&9: So what did you do for two days while the group competition went on? KH: I busied myself with appointments, studio work, and, of course, a little sight-seeing and shopping with my sister and nephew. 90&9: What was the format for the final competition against the winning group? KH: I sang two songs and then they sang two songs. Then I sang one song and they sang one song and then the judges tallied their scores. 90&9: Wasn't it a bit intimidating to be squaring off against a group? KH: Yes! It didn't seem fair to compete against a group. 90&9: What type of group was it? KH: (It was) two guys. Alternative/Rock/Contemporary (music) and they both played guitars. 90&9: Did you have to sit and wait for the judges after you sang? KH: We got to go off stage. Thank God! We waited in the green room while Mark Lowry entertained the audience and we chewed our nails. They called us out when they were ready. 90&9: Were you shocked you won? KH: Well, yes and no. God always goes beyond our wildest dreams and hopes, so I wasn't surprised in that aspect, but, my human nature side said, "I can't believe this is happening to me. There is no way I just won this contest!" I still can't really believe it, but that is just like my Jesus! He does things that are so above and beyond what we could ask or think! 90&9: How did your sister and nephew react to you winning the Grand Prize? KH: I remember looking at them and saw the joy on their faces and saw them yelling. And then they tried to make their way to the stage and could not get to me because of the crowd. Then the cameras were right in my face, so it was a few minutes before I got to talk to them. But once they got on stage we hugged and rejoiced together. 90&9: How did the group you beat respond? KH: They were so gracious and kind. They were…are great guys. They had been great all week and given me so many sincere compliments before they knew we would be competing. 90&9: Who did you call first with the news? KH: Same as before¾my sister called my brother and I called Nancy "G"! 90&9: So what did you win? KH: This is the exciting part! I won a recording contract with Daywind with distribution by Word Entertainment. Michael English will be producing my new project (in January, 2004). I will also get advertisements for the new project in major Christian music magazines, radio distribution, and I get to sing at two major Christian events in 2004. I am also going to be on a compilation CD by Daywind with the last eight contestants singing on it. (The CD title is "The Finalists - Exalting Him 2003," to be released January 21, 2004.) 90&9: What sticks out in your memory the most from that week of competitions? KH: The surprises God just kept sending my way. So many neat things happened that week. I guess I just realize how much God loves me and that He is not finished with me yet. There can be a time when you sing so many songs and you've done it so long that you wonder if God still realizes how much you love to sing for Him and if He likes it! I guess this was His way of saying, "I still love you Karen, you are important to me. When you sing it matters to me." 90&9: What are your plans now? KH: That's not up to me! God is in control of my life. When He says, "Go" I go. When He says, "Do this," I say, "Yes sir." Proverbs 3:5-6 says that He orders my steps. That is my plan for the future. Jeremiah 29:11. 90&9: Have you started preparing for the new CD in any way? KH: I will be doing a photo shoot in December and meeting with Michael English and the record executives that same week for our plan of attack. Needless to say, I am excited and filled with awe at God's blessing in my life.
(Editor's Note: This interview was conducted at the end of October 2003. You can listen to Karen Harding sing at http://www.pentecostalpublishing.com.)
ninetyandnine.com © 2003, Kent d Curry --------- Kent d Curry is an executive editor of ninetyandnine.com. |
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