Evelyn's Bio

As a young child, I had two dreams – to be involved with music and to minister to people.  Music became an integral part of my life as I started signing solos at church and learning how to play the piano at the age of four.  My goal was to develop my music skills so that I could sing and play beautiful songs, mostly church songs praising God.  By the age of twelve I made the decision to major in music in college and teach in the public schools so that I could foster in my students the same love and enthusiasm that I have for music.

My ministering skills began developing during my youthful years as a paper carrier.  Many a Saturday afternoon was spent listening to customers’ problems as I went from house to house collecting for my paper route.  Little did I know that the seeds for my future pastoral ministry career were being carefully planted and nourished at that time.

A few years after I started my teaching career, my composing skills surfaced.  I was learning how to play the guitar when my fiancé died.  I found that I could express my feelings of sorrow, loneliness, frustration, fear and uncertainty through songs I composed for voice and guitar.  These songs not only brought me through a difficult grieving period, but were the start of a new interest in music, one that I discovered I could share with others who were greatly impacted by the realistic, touching lyrics of my songs.

Life moved on for me as I overcame my grief, pursued a doctorate degree in elementary education, expanded my teaching career beyond music-teaching, and married my husband, Luis, who was a good friend and educational colleague.  After retiring early from my career as an educator and administrator, I went a different direction as the result of an intense faith experience.  Not only did I resume my songwriting to express my newly deepened faith, I also began my new career as a board-certified interfaith chaplain through which I could professionally minister to those who are facing difficult situations and crises in their lives. My experiences as a chaplain have inspired me to write more songs based upon my encounters with those I have met along my journey. 

Wanting to support others on their life journey led me to form my company, Sojourner Support, LLC.  Through this endeavor I am able to reach out to others to share with them the gifts God has given me and to be blessed by the gifts others share with me.