Taking the back roads. Sometimes we take them intentionally — other times unknowingly. Either way we end up avoiding the hyperactivity and hustle of the highway. It ends up more scenic and takes a little longer, but ‘the road less traveled’ is well worth the diversion.
The back roads are a great metaphor for how Tori Gay found her calling to music ministry. “I took a back way to ministry,” says Tori. “I initially started with a desire to ‘make it’ in the music industry. Out of that came making a CD. Eventually, out of that, came the call to a true ministry.” Tori started her journey toward a music ministry in 2004 but it took a few years of wandering on those back roads to end up at a point where she finally started to identify the specific mission God had for her.
Tori’s love for Southern Gospel music and a powerhouse voice reminiscent of Vestal Goodman make a great combination on the musical front. Audiences are moved by her strong performance skills and authentic personality and humor. But the missing pieces in the deeper ministry aspects didn’t start to fall into place until she began work with Incubator Creative Group. “The introduction to Incubator came only days after I questioned whether or not I was really meant to be in ministry,” says Tori. “I told the Lord I needed guidance from someone who knew the ministry culture and could help me get a good start. Just a few days later I connected with Incubator.”
Tori’s extended work with Incubator helped her dig down to a core ministry of helping believers deal with the conflict between motivations and outward actions. Her vulnerable communications about the inner turmoil faced by many Christians is a refreshing honesty that seems to break down walls. “It’s been a hard road for me to get really honest about the struggle between my heart and feelings and my compulsions to make others happy,” says Tori. “I’m on a journey of learning that I have to first let God truly change my heart and then act out of sincere motivation… not just do the right things to keep the peace. Bottom line — this is about the sin of self-dependency.”
With a firm missional foundation, Tori started building a ministry that expresses her purpose in various formats. Her concerts and songs are a very natural expression of her newfound focus. Through her online ministry office Tori also presents solid content from articles and audio teachings to in-depth interactive mentoring materials.
From her home base in Mississippi, Tori Gay is available for ministry opportunities throughout North America. No matter where your church or organization is located, she’s willing to travel. And, you can be pretty sure she’ll be perfectly content to take the back roads to get there.