Meet the Sonflowerz! Becca and Elissa talk about shining bright for Him, what to do if a friend is struggling with feeling beautiful, and of course they share about their favorite Disney Princess!
Crown of Beauty: So first of all, I have to ask about you girls, and let our readers know who you are! If you could describe who you are and the purpose behind your music and ministry, that would be great!
Becca: We are two sisters who write songs, sing and love to travel. We’re also finishing our first book, so add “author” to that as well (crazy). Our purpose is to create music that has a message of truth, love, hope and inspiration. God has changed our lives, and we can’t help but share about who He is wherever we go.
How did The Sonflowerz get started, and how did your band name come about? It's really cute and catchy!
Becca: I was 13 when we started leading worship at our church youth group, and at the same time, writing songs. It began as a fun hobby, but has turned into a fun career! Our dad has always been a musician, and growing up, he recorded his own songs in our house.
Eventually we learned enough about music that we could record our own songs at home.
That resulted in our first demo in 2000. With five girls in the band, we all had different ideas for a name. We landed on “The Sonflowerz” because it is girly (we’re a girl band!) and it has a deeper meaning. This flower is a great picture of what our relationship with God should be like. We are to face the Son. Hebrews 12 says is perfectly: Keep your eyes on Jesus, the author of our faith.
Elissa: If you have ever seen a field of sunflowers you know that their beauty reflects the sun. The head of all the sunflowers turn and face the sun in the sky as it moves. What an amazing picture of how to live our lives following Christ, setting eyes on him. This is what our name symbolizes.
What is your favorite part about this ministry and the platform that God has given you?
Elissa: I am a writer at heart and one of my favorite things about being in the band is writing songs. But this year we took it a step further and wrote a book. It's a daily devotional called “Made To Shine,” and it's written for teen girls just like you. I would wake up every morning so excited to write this, and now I can barely contain my joy as we finally get to publish it!
Becca: Without a doubt, my favorite part is interacting with young women through events and conferences we do. Elissa and I started “Made To Shine” events this year. I love to share my heart and hear what other girls are going through.
What has been the most difficult part of this journey in your music and ministry?
Elissa: The biggest difficulty in our music career is when my voice gets sick and I can't sing. That's when my faith is put to the test and I get on the plane anyway to go to a performance. I have to rely on God fully. He comes through for me every time. Even though I have felt so weak in my voice at times, I have never missed one performance. That's God at work!
This issue is all about exploring and tackling the enormous topic of true beauty and self-image. So what's your story when it comes to beauty? Have you ever struggled with the girl in the mirror?
Becca: Yes. I grew up never liking my hair (I always thought it was frizzy and hard to manage!) and even struggled with acne. I could always pick out what I didn’t like about myself in photographs. And I don’t think I’m alone in this, because as girls, we often compare ourselves with others. We want what they have! I remember thinking, If I only had straight hair, I would be prettier. But if you have straight hair, you’d want curly hair, right? It’s a never-ending cycle. I discovered true beauty when I discovered God’s love for me. It became less about my outward appearance and more about what’s within. The treasure of our soul is that we are made in God’s image. We’re beautiful because the Author of beauty designed us uniquely. That doesn’t mean I don’t wake up some days and think I could do more to look better, or that I never struggle to compare myself with friends on Instagram. But I also have come a long way! I am confident in who God says I am, because I’m digging more into the Bible and living my life based on truth. It’s amazing how reading God’s Word can transform your thoughts! Try it
Crown of Beauty spotlight:
The sonflowerz
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