Sheila Walsh (singer)
Sheila Walsh is a Scottish-born American contemporary Christian vocalist, songwriter, evangelist, author, inspirational speaker, and talk-show host.
Life and career
Walsh was born in Ayr, Scotland, and began her career as a contemporary Christian singer after studying theology at London Bible College in 1979 and music at the London Academy of Operatic Art. Walsh worked as an evangelist with the British chapter of Youth For Christ and sang with a group known as "The Oasis" until going solo in 1981. She also worked closely at this time with keyboard player Chris Rolinson, who contributed extensively to the sound of her first "new wave" style album, Future Eyes. He also worked with her on her first United States tour, where she opened for Phil Keaggy. As Walsh enjoyed some success both in the United Kingdom and America as a CCM musician, she was asked by minister Pat Robertson to serve as a co-host of his television talk-show, The 700 Club in 1987. Walsh served in this capacity into 1992 and also hosted her own talk show, Heart to Heart with Sheila Walsh.Walsh's differences in outlook with Pat Robertson and general feelings of depression prompted her to consider her life's direction. After leaving Pat Robertson's enterprises in 1992 she sought therapy for her depression, eventually returning to college at Fuller Theological Seminary in California to embark upon doctoral studies in theology. Pat Robertson explained her departure from CBN as the result of a "nervous breakdown" brought on by the tremendous demands of her work with CBN. He asked his viewers to keep her in their prayers and ask God to give her the strength to continue doing His work.
Walsh went on to write a book exploring her struggle with depression and her experiences with her faith as a Christian, entitled Honestly. While Walsh had previously written several books on theology, this autobiography would become the wellspring of her later work on personal aspects of faith and would set the tone for her introspective, personal, but evangelical approach to affairs of modern theology.
Over the course of the later 1990s, Walsh's work concerned women's issues within the church and the relationship of the contemporary woman with God. She has written over seventeen books including Honestly, Living Fearlessly, and Life is Tough, but God is Faithful. She has also written several books for children recently. In addition, Walsh has continued her musical career as a songwriter and singer, recording several albums of new Christian music and traditional hymns arranged to a Celtic sound.
In 2005, Walsh partnered with Tommy Nelson publishers to create the Gigi, God's Little Princess line of children's books and DVDs.
Walsh, with her family, is now an active attendee of Prestonwood Baptist Church, in Plano, Texas.
As of 2007, Walsh has appeared on many TV programs such as: Life Today, Hour of Power and The Rock Gospel Show among many others. She was a member of the team "Women of Faith" with Kari Jobe on the second season of The American Bible Challenge on GSN. Their charity was The A21 Campaign, an anti-trafficking organization that aims to abolish slavery.
Discography
Albums
Future Eyes No One Loves Me Like You War of Love released in the UK as Drifting with slightly different track listing - Best Female Gospel Performance nominee, 26th Annual Grammy awards Triumph in the Air Don't Hide Your Heart Best Female Gospel Performance nominee, 28th Annual Grammy awards Portrait '' reissued in 1988 on CD as Compact Favorites Shadowlands Best Female Gospel Performance nominee, 29th Annual Grammy awards Say So Simple Truth Hymns and Voices reissued in 2002, with bonus tracks, as The Hymns CollectionFor a Time Like This Hope Blue Waters Peace: A Celtic Christmas Love Falls Down All That Really Matters Celtic Lullabies and Gentle Worship The Best of Sheila Walsh You Raise Me Up Celtic Worship Find Your Wings Heart Wide Open Let Go God's Little Princess Lullabies I Hear Angels Beauty From Ashes Braveheart Worship''Singles
- "Here With Me"/"Burn On"
- "Star Song"/"Burn On"
- "Burn On"/"You’re So Important To Me"
- "Drifting" - UK No. 64/"Lonely When the Lights Go On"
- "Turn, Turn, Turn"/"Sleepwalking"
- "Growing Up to Be a Child"/"Private Life"
- "His Eyes"/"He Moved a Mountain"
- "Surrendering"/"Don't Turn Your Back On Jesus"
- "Jesus Call Your Lambs" /"We're All One"
- "Christian"/"Sand in the Hand"
- "What Do You Know "/"Never Give It Up"
- "I Hope and I Pray"/"Speak of Love"
- "Trapeze"/"Surrender"
- "Angles With Dirty Faces"/"Hope for the Hopeless"
- "I Will Run to You"
- "Time For You to Fly"
- "Beneath the Waters I Will Rise"
Compilation albums
- Sparrow Spotlight Sampler Various Artists 1983
- Look Who Loves You Now Michele Pillar 1984
- Do Something Now The CAUSE Various Artists 1985
- Fight The Fight: Rescue The Unborn Various Artists 1985
- Limelight Steve Taylor 1986
- Transatlantic Remixes Steve Taylor & Sheila Walsh 1986
- Sounds of the Summer Vol. 1 Various Artists 1986
- Take 'Em With You 3 Various Artists 1986
- Wired for Sound Various Artists 1987
- Shake: Christian Artists Face The Music 1988
- Soaring Volume II
- Adventures in the Land of Big Beats & Happy Feets Various Artists 1989
- 25 Songs of Christmas Various Artists 1989
- 25 Songs of Christmas Volume 2 Various Artists 1989
- The Myrrh Radio Collection Volume 3 Various Artists 1989
- Handel's Young Messiah Various Artists 1990
- Micah's Christmas Treasure 1994
- 26 All Time Classic Hymns Various Artists 1996
- Women of Faith Joy Various Artists 1998
- Women of Faith Overwhelming Joy Various Artists 1999
- Women of Faith Outrageous Joy Women of Faith Worship Team 1998
- Women of Faith Extravagant Grace Women of Faith Worship Team 2000
- Covenant Christmas Praise Various Artists 2002
- Living Waters: Haven Various Artists 2002
- Living Waters: Solitude Various Artists 2002
- Women of Faith The Artist Collection Various Artists 2003
- For Such A Time As This Various Artists 2005
- Platinum Series: The Best of Celtic Worship Various Artists 2006
- Created to Worship Live @ Malone University Circle of Friends 2010
- Women of Faith Hope and Grace Various Artists 2010
- The Best Celtic Worship Album In The World...Ever! Various Artists 2012
Publications
God Put a Fighter In Me - re-published as Never Give It Up Holding on to Heaven With Hell on Your Back Sparks In the Dark DevotionalHonestly Gifts for Your Soul DevotionalBring Back The Joy Faith Hope Love Gift BookLife Is Tough But God Is Faithful Stones From the River of Mercy Stories From the River of Mercy - re-published as Unexpected Grace Living Fearlessly The Best Devotions by Sheila Walsh A Love So Big All That Really Matters The Heartache No One Sees Outrageous Love Gift BookExtraordinary Faith Come As You Are Gift BookI'm Not Wonder Woman, But God Made Me Wonderful God Has a Dream for Your Life Embracing God's Design for Your Life: Women of Faith Study Guide Series Get Off Your Knees and Pray Let Go Beautiful Things Happen When a Woman Trusts God Angel Song NovelGood Morning, Lord: I Don't Know Where You're Going Today But I'm Going with You DevotionalThe Shelter of God's Promises Sweet Sanctuary NovelGod's Shelter for Your Storm DevotionalGod Loves Broken People Song of the Brokenhearted NovelThe Storm Inside Loved Back to Life AutobiographyMeet My Best Friend Children's5 Minutes with Jesus Devotional- "In the Middle of the Mess: Strength for This Beautiful, Broken Life"
- "It’s Okay Not to Be Okay: Moving Forward One Day at a Time"
- "Praying Women – How to Pray When You Don`t Know What to Say"
- "Holding on When You Want to Let Go: Clinging to Hope When Life Is Falling Apart"
- "The Hope of Heaven: How the Promise of Eternity Changes Everything"