Local singer seeks votes in online competition

About three years ago, Debbie Fisher of Gordonville was vacationing with friends. "We were sitting around talking about (the answer to the questions) 'Are you doing what God called you to do? What's deep inside you?'" recalled Debbie. "I was like, 'Well, I am in roles I like. I am a mom, wife, business owner, but I am not really (in my calling).'"

Debbie is a mother of two daughters and the wife of Dave Fisher, with whom she owns a cabinet coating and ecommerce business, but her calling was in the field of musical performance. "When I was a kid, I always wanted to be a professional musician," said Debbie, who was involved in choirs, worship teams, and traveling musical groups as a child and young adult. After graduating from Lancaster Mennonite School in 1997, Debbie married Dave, and they traveled west, where they started businesses. "I shelved (music)," said Debbie. "'Never too late' is kind of my motto (now)," said Debbie, who is in her 40s.

"What's holding you back (from pursuing music)?" Debbie's friends asked her, and she did not know the answer. She prayed, "Lord, here I am. I can sing and play guitar, but I have never written a song." Debbie also took action, making contacts in the music industry through friends in Tennessee and joining songwriting groups on social media. Within five months, during the fall of 2021, she wrote a song and submitted it in hopes of taking part in a virtual training offered by two Grammy-winning songwriters in Nashville. Debbie's song, "This Is Part of My Story" was selected from nearly 30 other entries, and she took part in the seminar.

In July 2022, Debbie went to Nashville to record three of her songs, which began getting airplay on Southern gospel stations in the South in October of that year. "I said, 'Yes,' and God swung the doors wide open," said Debbie, who discovered the You, God's Music Showcase competition on Facebook around that same time. "I submitted a video of me singing ('This is Part of My Story'),'" said Debbie, who was notified within a day that she had been selected for the competition. Debbie explained that the contest has four rounds, three of which are held online. The fourth round, which is live with judges, will be held in San Antonio, Texas, in July.

For each vote in the first online round, which began April 22 and will run through Sunday, May 7, a nominal donation is required. Debbie chose for her donations to go to the Outpouring Church in Manheim. Those who would like to watch the video of Debbie and vote for her may visit https://yougodsmusic.org/music-video/this-is-part-of-my-story-by-debbie-fisher.