July Alumni Feature: Melanie Tierce-Slay

 

Melanie Tierce-Slay is currently a full time missionary and artist with People & Songs. They are an interdenominational community of worship leaders and songwriters devoted to releasing the voice of the Church. They do this through a variety of means using the tools of songwriting, evangelism, hospitality, and community service. They are additionally a music label, to which Tierce-Slay’s husband and she are both signed as artists. She had the honor of recording her first solo record just last month, which will be releasing later this year.

 

Tierce-Slay also had the opportunity to compete on American Idol while studying at APU, and says it was an honor. While at APU, Tierce-Slay says the Music and Worship program combined the two things she was most passionate about and wanted to spend her four years being trained in: musical training and Theology, ministry, and biblical studies. “The program was a wonderful hybrid! Both the musical and theological pieces were rigorous and provided a strong foundation.”

 

At the age of 15, leading worship and writing songs quickly became an incredible passion for Tierce-Slay. During her gap year after high school, she took part in a year-long internship at her home church in Murrieta. She says it was a “wonderful time of development, as well as an experience that confirmed I was wired to work with the Church, and I hoped that would mean full-time!”

 

Melanie has three pieces of advice she would give other students:
“First, seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and everything else ACTUALLY WILL be added to you. Jesus was NOT. KIDDING. Every dream and longing is fulfilled in this one pursuit of His Kingdom! It's a promise. Go as low as you possibly can, and then whatever amount of influence you are supposed to have, God will give it to you.”

 

“Second, the bible holds. My mentor, Jennie Riddle, says this all the time. In your life, this is going to be challenged, I can guarantee it. Now, more than ever I believe, it is so urgent to understand and experience how powerful the Word of God is. It will feed you, nourish you, counsel you, strengthen you. His word holds. It's trustworthy! Stand on it. Build your life on it. Cling to it.”

 

“Lastly, read The Freedom of Self Forgetfulness by Tim Keller. Then read it again.

 

For more information, visit Peopleandsongs.com/melanietierceslay and

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