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Lona (pronounced like Donna with an “L”) is a Songwriter who wrote the Dove Award nominated song, “I Plead The Blood” recorded by such artists as The Lesters, The Gateway Choir and Mike Purkey of TBN. She has had dozens of songs recorded by others including Living Sacrifice, The Brown Family, Southern Image, Edith Tripp, Arlena Burnsworth, Samantha Parrish and Mechele Nichols, to name a few.
She has been a resident of the Joplin, Missouri area since the fall of 1983. Born into a minister’s home she spent all her life in some form of ministry but it was through the pain of a broken home that her own ministry was birthed.
In October of 1982 her husband left her with an eight-month old baby girl, and a stunned church congregation of which he was the pastor. The next few years would prove to be the most difficult of her life. Yet she will be quick to tell you that her lowest moment in God could not compare to the best of moments for those who choose to spend a life without Him.
David Walker, a businessman from Joplin, stumbled across the path of a wounded broken shell of a person in the summer of 1990. He recognized the value in the tangible evidence God had left to prove He was there during the countless sleepless nights she had spent. It was in the form of lyrics, often scribbled on a crumpled piece of paper. Songs she never thought of as being heard outside of her living room walls. . . until David.
When he entered her life he knew it was for more than loving her back to wholeness, it was to fulfill a destiny. David, with delicate skillful maneuvers orchestrated by the hand of God, found a record company willing to listen. Then after fourteen years of raising her daughter alone, David and Lona were married in May of 1996.
She is also an author who has published a book title, “This Is My Story, This Is My Song.” Lona speaks for Ladies Groups and Seminars, Church Congregations and ministers at music events.
They attend Joplin Family Worship Center where she has been actively involved in the music department since 1995.
Lona desires to be an inspiration to those who have felt rejected and abandoned. Her purpose is to prove to those in a hopeless situation that there really is a way out. Her motto: “It doesn’t matter if I’m touching one or a million and one. . . as long as I’m touching.”
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