here with me by Maria Long

During her childhood years her parents were in a traveling singing group and toured all over the US. At age 2 Maria wrote her first song. She has performed on countless stages for many church events and programs. Her passion for making music that speaks to the heart came early in her life when she accepted Christ as her personal Savior at age 12. In high school Maria traveled around Texas as a singing recruiter. Then when she attended Southwestern Adventist University in Texas she traveled to youth conferences, retreats, high schools, camps, campmeetings, and churches all over the U.S. sharing God and music with many teens her age. In 1998, her Junior year in college, she decided to become a student missionary on a tiny island called Yap. She taught 6th and 7th grades that year and found a new passion for her life in addition to music. It was there that she made the decision to become a teacher.

After getting her degree in Elementary Education, Maria became a teacher and found her career very fulfilling. During her time as a teacher, in addition to teaching a full load, she also taught guitar and choir for grades K-10, and still found time to write and perform Christian music throughout Arkansas and Texas. After three years in Arkansas, God led her into a public high school ministry position for a Christian university in Michigan. Maria spent her time traveling and performing throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin. She also established “The Basement”, a weekly public high school ministry in Berrien Springs and then began to train and mentor teens in starting their own ministries. After being told by teens over and over that she needed to make a CD and that her music meant so much to them, she realized that God was telling her to move forward with her music ministry.

Maria recorded her debut album Here With Me in the summer of 2006 and released it October 14, 2006 at the Attic Christian Rock Club in Hot Springs, Arkansas. For this album, she found her songwriting inspiration in various places. Some of her songs originated with time that she spent with God in His Word. Others were written through personal struggles she was dealing with. “In Love” was a song that came when Maria was just overwhelmed by God and His Amazing presence. “Here With Me” and “Inside” were written because of experiences that she has had ministering to teens from “The Basement” who are struggling.

It is this kind of personal touch that is the trademark of Maria’s music and ministry. Through Myspace.com, she ministers to hundreds of teens and answers questions of those who are having difficult times or are simply seeking someone who cares to give spiritual advice. Maria Long has a bright future ahead of her. She says often, “God is blessing me faster than I can give Him credit.” God is opening many doors for Maria’s music, her life, and ministry and as long as He continues to open them she will step through….

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