“A friend…gave me the CD as a gift and it has held me and saved me and given me strength through these last several months. “ S.C. Sales of this CD benefit Embracing Life Ministries. This lovely, powerful and passionate journey through knowing Christ was originally created to give as a gift to those with HIV and AIDS and also sold to benefit the AIDS Resource Ministry, now know as Embracing Life, a ministry to those with life-altering conditions. Healing Presence begins with God’s declaration of love via Marty Goetz’s sensitive vocals and acoustic piano, and ends with the definitive rock version of Holy, Holy, Holy performed by Rick Norris. It features a wide range of artists and styles including two songs written by Love’s Bryan MacLean with a number of songs featuring the exquisite guitar of Dean Parks. Healing Presence is a primarily gentle acoustic journey (folk, semi-classical, jazz, R&B, rock) comprising the talents of top vocal and instrumental artists including Marty Goetz, Wendell Burton, Dean Parks, Rick Norris, Justo Almario, Alice Echols, Christie Houser, Patti Burton, Kathleen Isacson, Abraham Laboriel (both Senior and Junior), Ramone Stagñaro, and Vaughn Taylor, among others. There are three more Gospel/soulful percussive/electric renderings: “Teach Me How To Forgive” and “Thank You, Lord,” both feature Norris and Echol’s R&B stylings and Terry Hunter’s cinematic rock arrangement of “Holy, Holy, Holy,” also featuring Norris. “Could You Believe” will encourage...and melt the heart. “Healing Presence Medley” features the classic “To Be In Your Presence,” written by In His Presence Pastor Mel Ayres, along with an evocative instrumental version of “Will You Be My Prayer,” written by Goetz with album producer Andrea Hunter; “In Your Presence” continues the Medley with Goetz and the addition of Kathleen Isacson and her fresh, present and uniquely beautiful voice. The medley ends with a freshly arranged “Abide with Me.” To get a sense of the album, the best thing is to read what those who have experienced it have said: I don’t really know where to begin to tell you how this music has helped me in my life here. It is such a sheer gift to my soul and spirit, and it has guided me towards God when I wanted to really turn inward and away.” “I love all of the songs, but especially, “Just Receive.” I would walk through the streets of Brookline at night, alone, replaying this on my cd player, over and over, until I felt strength and presence. Then I would go home and resolve to get up again and do what I had to do. It had an extremely profound effect on me and, believe it or not, my two cats (who were also very unsettled) listened to it, and it seemed to calm them—maybe because it calmed me.” “Thank you from the bottom of my heart for making this music available. Thank you for its beauty and for all the effort you put into it. It gave me a sense of presence when I felt extremely alone and scared.” “The beauty of the music, words, melody was like grace for me. Rumi says, "Let the beauty that you love, be what you do. There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground." You indeed, have done that.” “I long to go home now from a hard day at Harvard to listen and let your music soothe my spirit and my soul. Please thank everyone who has participated that their love has penetrated so very far away and helped a soul make peace with a foreign city and foreign people.” “If this kind of music were played in more churches, more people would go to church!” “I have played a few of the songs to some of my new friends here and they have also responded the way I did. One friend...just looked at me and a tear rolled down her face. She was so deeply touched. Please continue to write and produce!” Note from The Director of Embracing Life: It’s been quite a few years now, since my brother Terry and my sister-in-law Andrea spent many long hours with me answering my questions about Jesus Christ. And I had a lot of them, most of which centered on homosexuality and how, as a Christian, my struggles with it would be resolved. They modeled true Christian love with their amazing patience and steadfast belief that Jesus would find a way to answer my difficult questions. The Lord won over my heart, and transformation of my entire life began. His successful pursuit of me, however, held greater import than even their deep concerns for my life. For what none of us knew back in 1980, was that I was already infected with HIV, the AIDS virus. Andrea, the visionary, producer and co-writer of Healing Presence, later became a co-facilitator with me in the AIDS Resource Ministry’s HIV/AIDS support group. The corporate praise and worship in those meetings always seemed to transcend the pain, suffering and travail that we often saw in the lives of the men and women who attended them. The prayerful songs on this album are as much a loving tribute to them (many of those original members have died), as they are to all of you listening right now. The Lord’s appeal for intimate relationship is found in His Word and in the lyrics of these songs. Healing Presence is about the Father’s extravagant love for his hurting creation, demonstrated in the saving grace of his son Jesus Christ. His offer of life, real transforming Life through Jesus Christ, still stands for all who recognize their need—regardless of the type of sickness or pain. It is our hope that these songs will touch your heart and draw you into His Loving Presence...where there truly is fullness of joy. Jonathan Hunter Acknowledgements: We at Embracing Life Ministries want to thank all the wonderful artists who contributed to this album, and donated their time and royalties to the ministry. May your talents bless the lives of the many who will hear the message of God’s Healing Presence From Jonathan Hunter: special thanks to the Mustard Seed Foundation for their grant and the many churches of every denomination who financially encouraged us, also KK for that special gift. We love you and cherish your prayers. To the board members of Desert Stream for your unqualified blessing and whole-hearted support from the beginning. And most importantly, to Andy Comiskey, my dearest brother in Christ, who always calls out the true self in me. Without you, ARM Wouldn’t exist! From Andrea Hunter: First of all, unending thanks to God for His faithfulness to see us through this project. To Terry for his personal support and creative input. To my father and mother who nurtured a love of God and music. To Leanne Payne for a “catchy” title. To Cynthia (along w/ Desert Stream, Jonathan, Beth and all the ARM and Embracing Life volunteers) who’s prayers prepared the way for this project and sustained it during production. To my friends who gave so freely of their gifts without thought of recompense: Mel, Michael, Patti, Wendell, Marty, Christie, Kathleen, Brian, Craig, Brad, Rick, Mary, Vaughn and David and new friends like Van, Ramone, Tammy and Kelly. To Joe, for his care, concern and unbridled hilarity. To Hiroshi for his golden touch and quirky humor. To Dean, for so perfectly modeling generosity, patience and humility and for contributing his incredible artistry. To Abe and Abe Jr. for lending their considerable talents and time to this project and for their heartfelt dedication to what Healing Presence stands for. To Alice and Rick who redeemed songs I’d all but given up on. (A special distinguished service medal to Rick and Marty for giving above and beyond the call - and to Jenny and Shelly for sharing their husbands). To Pastor Jack Hayford and Church On The Way for being the first to contribute to Healing Presence and for their encouragement and support in the past. To my first pastor Kenn Gulliksen and his church Metrowest for their generous support, along with the Santa Monica Vineyard, Glendale Presbyterian, Trinity Presbyterian and He Intends Victory churches and The Mustard Seed Foundation. To Colin Hodgson, Janice LaGrange, Rick Wietsma, and Rick Dixon and all those who have joined with us in extending God’s Healing Presence to those with AIDS and HIV. Thanks Krista, for encouragement and inspiration. And last but certainly not least, thanks to my dear friends who are now in Heaven and inspired me to make this album: Chuck, Milton, Angela, Tom and Sheila; as well as their family members Cris, Aaron, Glen, Tara, Michael; and all of those who are winning the battle against AIDS here on earth, like Jonathan, Dick and La Gena.