From Grace to Glory 
By Minister Kathy Horry 

As a 9-year-old singer, musician and songwriter, I aspired to the heights of the music world, and by the time I reached 22 I had become successful at making a living doing what I loved most. I grew up singing and playing piano in the church, but along the way I developed a taste for secular music. My dream was to land a recording contract with a major record label. I achieved that dream in 1986 and recorded my first R&B album, Katt Walk, with CBS Records, which later became Sony Music Entertainment.

My experience while recording the album was awesome! I stayed in Los Angeles for seven fabulous months, and during that stay I met Smokey Robinson, Lou Gossett Jr., and Luther Vandross, just to name a few celebrities. It was like living a dream to go to work and see entertainers I had admired for many years. We shared studio time, as we worked on our individual projects. In addition to the excitement, I was fortunate to also spend a few sessions at Marvin Gaye's studio in Hollywood. Katt Walk soared to great heights as it entered Billboard's Top 20.

Although it appeared that my career was skyrocketing, there was trouble on the launching pad. I began to experience conflicts with the record company over decisions that were being made regarding my future, and my personal life began taking an ugly turn as I dealt with a distressed marriage. In spite of all the confusion, I thought that I could make it through without developing a relationship with my heavenly Father. But the blow that hurt most was the shock of learning that my father - my best friend, my confidant, and my all-in-all - was battling a terminal illness. Satan had set a trap and was waiting on me to fall - hard.

It was during this period that I cried out to the Father for help. Not only did He reach down and push the enemy aside, but He cradled me in His grace and mercy. Then He whispered to me, “Come closer to me! Come closer to me! Come closer to me!” As I dealt with losing my earthly father on this side of eternity, I knew that I had to sell out to my heavenly Father by giving Him my life. The enemy did not win this battle! I turned from the worldly way of doing things to embrace God’s will for my life.

I began to study the Word and receive training in the things of God. I was assigned by God to Glory Harvester Church in Atlanta, under the direction of Pastor Jackie Beavers. I would later learn that Pastor Beavers had been down a path very similar to the one I had been traveling. Pastor Beavers had also been in secular entertainment.

This was only the beginning of God’s faithfulness in my life. His grace continued to pour out on me, allowing me to sever my contractual obligations with CBS Records. I simply wrote a letter to the company requesting release from the contract with no strings attached, and it was granted! It was an awesome move of God! As I began my new walk in Christ, everything about me changed - the songs I sang, the places I traveled and the people I spent time with. Although I was still a babe in Christ, I had moved to God’s place of glory. When I looked to the Lord for my purpose in music I heard Him say, "I created you to cause others to praise me." Today, when I sit at the piano and see people lifting their hands to the Lord, I see a breakthrough taking place in their lives, and I'm honored that I can carry God’s message in song.