Singer Mark Schultz headlines benefit concert May 7 for women’s clinic

Many people don’t realize that popular Christian singer Mark Schultz was adopted.

The Dove Award winner  has a passion for babies, moms and adoption and believes that giving to orphans in need is part of his life’s purpose.

That passion leads Schultz to Kansas this week when he holds a benefit concert for LifeCare Center of Ottawa. The concert will be held at the Ottawa University Fredriksson Chapel, 1001 S. Cedar St., Ottawa, Kan. on Tuesday, May 7 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are available at www.lifecaregivers.org for a suggested donation of $10.00. Seating is limited.

Because Schultz was adopted, he understands what LifeCare is all about when it encourages women to choose life for their babies. Had his biological mom not made that choice, the world would have been deprived of his incredible voice for Truth. Now, he and his wife have adopted a child of their own.

During the past decade, turning real life experiences into heartfelt anthems of hope and redemption has made Mark Schultz one of the Christian community’s most acclaimed singer/songwriters, earning the top spot on Billboard magazine’s Christian Adult Contemporary Songwriter list.

The Best of Mark Schultz features 17 songs that have defined the Dove Award winner’s artistry, among them “He’s My Son,” “Letters from War” and “Walking Her Home,” which were hits on mainstream adult contemporary radio as well as Christian stations. “Back in His Arms Again” was named BMI’s Christian Song of the Year in 2003. “Letters from War” was the centerpiece of the Army’s “Be Safe- Make It Home” campaign. The collection features music from Schultz’s five previous studio albums and includes such poignant classics as “What It Means to Be Loved,” “I Am” and “Remember Me.”

In addition to writing and recording some of the industry’s most memorable songs, Schultz has also earned respect for putting the rubber to the road literally when he rode his bicycle across America – from CA to MA in 2006 – to raise money for the James Fund that aids widows and orphans.

Schultz would stop along the way to do concerts as fundraisers for the cause and raised more than a quarter of a million dollars. Such ministry is a way of life for Schultz and his wife, Kate. After she graduated from medical school, the couple spent several months in Europe seeking God’s will for the next chapter in their lives, looking for ways they both could use their gifts for the kingdom.

Music will continue to be the vehicle driving Schultz’s ministry efforts. It’s a calling he’s embraced, and he’s thankful for the experiences it has provided. Schultz looks forward to creating new music and many more memories as he embarks on the next chapter in his career. The accomplished pianist recently completed Renaissance, his first-ever instrumental album, which is rapidly becoming a fan favorite. But he admits music is about more to him than sales and industry accolades.

“Selling a couple million records doesn’t mean as much as being there for someone during the toughest times,” Schultz says. “Being there for people and creating songs that become a part of their lives, those have been my highlights, and that’s what I want my career to be all about.”