Langley singer/songwriter Jeanette Petkau has just gone Beyond Reason .
That’s the title of her latest CD, which has been getting air play on both Canadian and American radio stations. Petkau recently celebrated her newfound success with a ‘Valentine Social / CD Release Party,’ held at North Langley Community Church February 11.
Beyond Reason , released in December, is Petkau’s third album. It was recorded at Sapphire Sound Studio in Abbotsford, and the cover images were created by award-winning Langley photographic artist Carmen Tome.
Several of the songs were written by Lower Mainland musician Chris Janz; he wrote the music for the remainder of the songs, and he and Petkau co-authored the lyrics for more than half a dozen of them. Janz contributes backing vocals, and plays several instruments on the CD; he also produced the album. He has recently released an album, titled simply Chris Janz .
Petkau is very enthused about her latest project. “It is definitely the best work that I have done so far. Having a quality producer is a big part of it. We also had some excellent musicians, who added to the overall sound that we wanted to hear for this album. I am sometimes blown away by the talent and musicianship that B.C. has.”
Manitoba-based A2J Distributing is marketing the album to Christian bookstores across Canada. Petkau believes the music could appeal to both the Christian and secular markets. The songs, she says, “talk about real-life issues, [and about] trusting in God — who gives us hope and the excitement of new life through the power of Jesus Christ, as we lay our lives before him.”
She is excited about the prospect of expanding her audience. “In the last few years, I have been keeping busy touring in Canada, and haven’t been in the United States as much as I would like.” She hopes to remedy that this year. However, she says, “I never know for sure how things will turn out, because God is in control, and he sometimes has different plans than I do — but I keep looking for those open doors!”
Petkau says she considers evangelism the essence of her activities. “In November, I had a chance to work with Campus Crusade’s Power to Change events in Saskatchewan. This was exciting for me, since I have a heart for reaching out to unbelievers. It was a good time, and I knew that God was using me. I sometimes don’t hear all the results from a concert; but the main thing is that God is working in the lives of people who are searching for meaning and truth. And I hope my ministry will be clear enough for them to understand that Jesus is their answer.
“My heart and passion for music ministry comes from the experience of knowing how God has changed my life — how he can free us from our fears, and give us hope and meaning. I know that it is the work of the Holy Spirit that touches individual lives, that makes my concert ministries ‘successful.'”
She cites a recent, particularly inspiring example. “At Christmas time, I saw first-hand nine people give their lives to Christ, at one of the outreach banquets in Saskatchewan that I was singing and sharing at. Now that is something to get excited about!”
Petkau plans to participate in Power to Change activities scheduled for Manitoba in March and April. She is also available to perform at various evangelistic services, conferences and festivals.
For more information about Petkau’s Break-Thru Ministries, contact: (604) 533-5133; jpetkau@ibands.com; or www.ibands.com/jpetkau
For more information about Chris Janz, contact: http://missioncontrolstudios.com/chrisjanz