Our Story
The director of Children’s Ministry at our church knew that I was helping my daughter memorize Bible verses for Sunday school by putting them to music. She asked me to share them with the kids at church. Since I was already leading the kids in worship it was easy to simply teach them a new song each month as the Bible verse changed. We all had a lot of fun with them and I found that as I would sit down to write the song for the next month, the tunes and accompanying verses would flow very easily! I really felt that God’s hand was in this! The kids were memorizing the Bible verses effortlessly and we were all having a great time with the music! As the year progressed and more and more songs were written, I started to think maybe some day these songs would turn into something more.
The next fall, my oldest daughter went on a month long missions trip to Grace of God Academies in Guatemala, to help teach students English through art and other activities. I accompanied her for the first 5 days. My heart went out to all of the families and teachers there. I was so encouraged by the loving spirit of the teachers and their devotion to serving God in all that they did. I fell in love with the gentle, loving people of Guatemala and came back home with a desire to help bless the school. I also came back to a diagnosis of breast cancer.
Getting Started
It was at this point that I decided to reach out to my good friend Chris Younken and ask him if he would be interested in this project to support the children and school in Guatemala. Chris’s heart was touched by my experience in Guatemala and offered to help without any compensation! We began recording immediately as I was unsure how things would transpire after my surgeries. First, it was going to be just me with my guitar, but Chris had other ideas. He took these songs from a very basic beginning to something that you would hear on the radio! With every addition and nuance, I was further encouraged.
My surgeries came and went, and as accompanying treatment plans were walked through, these songs actually helped me stay grounded in my faith! I remember joyfully resting in the melodies of 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “He’s got it under control” as the MRI was loudly whirring around me. And the words of Ephesians 2:10, “We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works…” reaffirmed that I had a job and a purpose on this earth and kept me focused on His great will and purpose instead of on the trial that I was enduring. As I was recovering from surgeries, actually much faster and easier than I had anticipated, I rested on the words of Ephesians 6:10, “Finally, may the Lord make you strong, depend on His mighty power!”
In the Studio
Recordings, additions, and re-recordings continued as we sought to perfect this work! My own kids added to the project and one of my personal favorite female vocalists, Terri Parker fit in an afternoon to add her amazing voice! In passing, Chris mentioned the project to Tom “T-Bone” Edmonds. He was amazed when Tom offered to help out! Tom is a nationally recognized Engineer/Producer and has worked with many top recording artists such as Lenny Kravitz! I couldn’t believe it! Another professional added to the project and all because they felt a desire to help outside of themselves!
I remember laughing at myself when I got word that T-Bone was going to send a couple of songs to a professional musician friend of his in California, Arti Funaro, to have him lay down a better keyboard part than the one I had put down. (I’m no keyboardist! But, I had attempted a very weak reggae part in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, T-Bone could not approve!) A few days later I was blown away! Not only had Arti replaced my keyboard attempt on that song, he had added a Jerry Lee Lewis like part to Luke 16:10! And, he had replaced a couple of bass parts with his own! All of these additions were without any compensation! Improvements kept coming as Tom sent track after track for me to listen to!
Finishing Touches
As the recording project came to a close, I turned to my daughter, Alea, for the artwork and my husband, Jason for everything else! They are incredible! Alea is blessed both in music and art (the last song is one she wrote) and she has her own unique way of expressing joy through her drawings. I asked her to design the album cover! I love what she has done! My husband has a gift for all things business, art, and design, so the more serious matters were delegated to him!
It has been quite a journey to get to where we are. I am so grateful to both Chris Younken and Tom Edmonds for their willingness to spend countless hours churning over these songs and improving on them after I had already gone home! They are both incredibly talented and generous and I can’t thank them enough! This project would simply have never happened without them. We are so proud of the final product and look forward starting on volume two. We are also keeping our eyes open for other God Breathed projects. The CD project is just the beginning. We hope to embark on other efforts to spread God’s Word and support God’s work.
René Oakman is a singer-songwriter, preschool music teacher, mother of four, and has been a part of many varied genres of musical performance groups ranging from choirs, folk groups to a R&B band. She has a true heart for children and has worked in Children’s Ministry for the past 20 years. Currently, she helps lead worship at local churches and events in her hometown. In addition to the Bible Verse Memory songs for children, she is also writing music for worship.
Chris Younken has been a musician, songwriter, audio engineer and recording studio owner for decades. He has performed in symphonies, rock bands and in a duo as a singing cellist with a guitarist playing everything from the Beatles to Steely Dan to folk songs. “I took on the “God Breathed” project not only because René is a dear friend and I wanted to help the cause but also because we have performed music together for many years and I love her talent and endless amount of positive energy.” [Photo by Patrick Redmond]
Tom “T-Bone” Edmonds started his professional career in 1974, working with Todd Rundgren, Albert Grossman, Levon Helm, The Isley Brothers, The Rolling Stones, Lenny Kravitz, and dozens of others.
“My first recording experience was at Bearsville Recording Studio in Woodstock N.Y. with Janis Joplin’s “Full Tilt Boogie Band.” I have been working with Lenny Kravitz and many others for the past 25 years. These days I mentor young artists and upcoming producer-engineers, as well as mixing and mastering local talent. I met Rene Oakman through long time musician friend, Chris Younken, and was invited to co-produce the final mix and mastering of Rene’s album. I took on the “God Breathed” project feeling it a very worthy cause and was proud to be involved with Rene’s project.”