Contemporary Christian Artist Resumes Recording Career. By: TERRY DeBOER The Grand Rapids Press Don't call it a come back... For she really never left!!!! But Singer, Songwriter, Stephanie Boosahda is back on tract with her recording career. "I am working on several projects now" the artist said from her Oklahoma City Office. Through the latter 70's and early 80's the contemporary Christian Artist released more than a half dozen solo albums featuring several radio hits. She also wrote songs for other artists including "You Were there" a song Amy Grant sang on one of her earlier releases. Television and Music tours occupied her time and her career was taking off.... but circumstances intervened. " My husband started to pastor a church, and I was doing the road thing plus playing in the church every week and raising a little boy", Boosahda said. ' So I've really pulled back for the last eight years. Although she continued to do occasional performances and speaking engagements, she avoided recording altogether. Fans of her 80's Hits like " I will rejoice in Him" and "A Child is Born" may have thought she simply disappeared. " Now that I've got my Son in Collage, I'm out there actively doing it again", she said. Like many Christians Music Artist, Boosahda sees her music in terms of ministry. Besides being a performing Artists, she is also a Speaker at seminars and workshops, often weavings messages around her songs. " I have a desire to help women particularly with the practicality of living" she noted. "How to enjoy life and incorporate the balance of work and worship, rest and play". Boosahda is also a church worship leader, and was a speaker, Performer at some international worship conferences with fellow artist Ron Kenoly. Stephanie has recorded on four different records labels. And although she may be signing with yet another.... she may instead release her next project independently. "There is a tendency with a label to have intense control" the artist said. " I don't want to be something that is manufactured and marketed. People have responded to my music, because I'm being myself and sing songs that mean a lot to me. I think people are hungry for that". Boosahda attended Oral Roberts University on a Piano Scholarship, intending to be a concert pianist. But when she won a Miss Oklahoma City pageant, she discovered a wider platform to perform her original gospel music. A demo tape made its way "The 700 Club" television program, where Boosahda became a regular guest. That was the early days of CBN(the former Christian Broadcasting Network) when the set backdrop was aluminum foil with Christmas lights sticking through it" the artist said of the "70's- reformative years of the Pat Robertson hosted program. This national visibility boosted her music as well as her career!!! Boosahda's fortunes were still on the upswing when pulled in her reins for her self-imposed sabbatical from the fast track.... But NOW..... she says the time seems ripe for another run. Bolstered with her renewed outlook, the Oklahoma Native has also resumed pitching her songs to other Christian and country artists. She reports that Carman and CeCe Winans are preparing to duet on one of her songs on Carman's next album. " One thing about baby boomers is we're learning o diversify said Boosahda "you've got to plant a lot of seeds 'cause you never know which ones are gonna grow." The artist waxes philosophical about her varied career: " The Reason I've lasted so long without a major record contract is really the calling of God" She explained. " A lot of people who started out when I did are long gone, I've been kind of in the background, but that's been by choice. "But now I don't have to prove myself, I can do something because I like it" STEPHANIE BOOSAHDA The Grand Rapids Press Grand Rapids, Mich