"My testimony is
that God has always walked with me, even when I wasn't walking with
Him," says Christian artist James Milanesa. Although raised in
a Christian home, James abandoned his faith when he moved to New York
after high school to work as a model and actor. While there, he
spent his free time partying with the entertainment industry crowd, and
his Christian upbringing seemed far away.
But God doesn't let go of His children
easily. "My mother prayed for 10 years for me to come back to
the Lord," remembers James. "One night when I was about
25, I had a car accident when I fell asleep behind the wheel. I
survived without a scratch, but it got my attention. I realized how
shallow my life had become, and I recommitted my life to Jesus soon
afterwards."
Moving back home to California, James
began working with several local youth groups, and friends who heard his
beautiful tenor voice suggested that he think about a career in music
ministry. But James, though he had always been musically gifted,
suffered from a childhood fear of singing in front of crowds.
In November, 1994, a friend was
scheduled to sing at the LA Convention Center for a Christian conference.
Unbeknownst to him, she put James on the bill as the opening act.
Trapped, he prepared a program and sang for the large audience despite his
fears.
"I turned as white as a sheet
before I went on stage," says James. "I prayed that if the
Lord had called me to this, He would help me, and suddenly I felt the fear
being washed away in a wave of peace. I felt the presence of the
Holy Spirit when I sang, and I received a standing ovation at the end,
which was really a nice confirmation."
During the next year, God provided many
opportunities for singing and ministry, taking him all over California and
to India, where he was asked to sing privately for Mother Teresa on her
feast day. "While she held my hand, I sang for Mother Teresa in
front of over 1,500 nuns," remembers James. "Then, she
anointed my feet with oil, kissed me on the forehead, and said that God
was calling me forth to minister to the poor in spirit of the world.
It was amazing."
In the last few years, James has been
invited back to India several times and has also traveled to Rome, Croatia
(at the height of the Bosnian conflict), Portugal, Spain, France,
Indonesia, Singapore, Jerusalem, Jordan, and many parts of the United
States.
Anyone who listens will be glad that
God has given James back his gift of music.