BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

Preparation for Purpose Dara thanked God for her parents’ wisdom. She remembered being 8 years old and overhearing a conversation between them. “We have to be in an environment of faith,” her dad had said. Soon after, the family moved to Fort Worth, Texas, so they could attend Eagle Mountain International Church and become more involved with Kenneth Copeland Ministries. “I became a Superkid at 8 and loved it,” Dara remembers. “Superkid Academy was a safe place for children to learn and grow in the Lord. As a child, I learned how to prepare for service, put together an offering message, and lead praise and worship. “I volunteered in that ministry from age 8 to 22. All those years were laying the foundation for ministry in my life. I learned how to lead a band, direct a choir and dance—long before I realized I would need those skills to fulfill the call of God on my life.” As she focused on the Lord instead of the label, Dara’s circumstances never changed—but her heart did. She fell in love with Jesus all over again. She awakened daily to her identity in Him. God loved the world, she realized, but for Him it was always about the one: one lost sheep. One prodigal son. One shepherd boy. One Son. One Savior. “Lord,” Dara prayed, “I dedicate myself to You. I will love people every day.” When friends asked, “Dara, why won’t you try out for American Idol?” she laughed. The answer was easy. The Lord had not led her down that path. He directed her to lead worship and then get off the platform and help one struggling person at a time. She’d never felt so fulfilled in her life. The Call In addition to leading worship and a young women’s group, Dara also agreed to lead worship for the class her dad taught at church called “Knowing Him Intimately.” It wasn’t a major venue, but who cared? Dara was satisfied—content in her soul. It wasn’t about a crowd to her. It was all about Jesus. On June 15, 2009, Dara’s phone rang. “My name is Susan Riley and I’m calling you from Nashville, Tenn.,” the woman on the other end said. “Someone got a copy of your independent project to me. I want to sign you as a songwriter.” “I am a songwriter,” Dara explained, “but I believe I’m called to be a solo artist as well.” Just as the Lord had promised, the call came out of the blue. As Dara began negotiations, she discovered that it was a woman from her father’s class who had sent a copy of her CD to Susan Riley. “Two years passed while we worked on the contract,” Dara recalls, “but this time the Lord gave me the green light. March 7, 2011, I flew to Nashville and signed a contract with Word Records, which is under the umbrella of Warner Brothers. The next thing I knew, I was on the road touring with Winter Jam, one of the biggest tours in the world.” Almost overnight, Dara’s life had changed. In 2011, she released her first album with Word, "You Got My Attention," and was a performer on the K-LOVE Acoustic Christmas Tour. The following year, Dara found herself ministering at conferences and festivals all over the country, as well as touring with performers like for KING & COUNTRY, Jason Castro, Casting Crowns and other big names in Christian music. She also released a Christmas album that year. ****ADVERTISEMENT****article continues on page 15*** SUPERKID ACADEMY: THE MISSION Order Your Movie Today! $19.95* #S130903 skathemission.com : Order online & save 10% 1-800-606-4190 : #CmdrKellieReturns *Plus shipping. Offer and price valid until Feb. 28, 2014 ****************************** FEB '14 : BVOV : 13

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