Hallels Gets Up, Close, and Personal with Southern Gospel's Full Life Trio

Full Life Trio, from Savannah, MO, has been spreading the gospel through song since 1994. Their concerts include something for everyone. They sing many original songs written by group members Debbie Davis and Becki Parker, but also do some older songs as well. They are Southern Gospel with a country flavor!

The Full Life Trio ministry team consists of: Debbie Davis (vocals/keyboard), Becki Parker (vocals), Lea Parker (vocals), JC Wiley (lead guitar), and Michael Sipes (Drums). Each group member has a part in the ministry, whether it's on stage, working the altars, or behind the scenes. Full Life Trio has ministered in East Tennessee, Ohio, Kansas, Illinois, Nebraska, southern Missouri, as well as locally. 

Hallels:  Thank you so much for your time.  For our readers who may not know much about you yet, tell us how the Full Life Trio begin?

In the summer of 1994, me, my sister, and two other friends had the opportunity to sing at a couple of churches in our hometown. We needed a group name, and having sang the last year or so at our home church, Full Life Fellowship, we decided to call ourselves "Full Life". A year later, there were some personnel changes and we changed the name of the group to Full Life Trio.

Hallels:  Unlike many other Southern/country gospel groups, you write many of your own songs.  Does songwriting come easy for you?  

Where do you find inspiration to write? Me and my sister-in-law Becki both write songs for our trio. For me personally, I've been writing for over 25 years, and most of my songs have come through personal experieces. I also get a lot of inspiration from sermons my dad (who is my pastor) has preached over the years. Sometimes the songs come as quick as I get the insiration for them, but a lot of the time, it's a process that can take months or even years.

Hallels:  Congratulations on the release of your new album "Grace."  One of the songs that I really love while listening to it is the title cut "Because of Grace."  What's the inspiration behind this song?

One day I was thinking about a situation in my life that happened when I was teen-ager... something that I knew God forgave, but I could never seem to forgive myself. I prayed that day, "How could you love me God? I'm so undeserving. I'm not even worthy to be called your daughter because of what I've done. Please, forgive me, please forgive me, Daddy God... I'm so sorry!". Well, God had already forgiven me, but that day, I finally forgave myself. The song "Because of Grace" was born that day.

Hallels:  You have also included a number of hymns and older songs, why do you think it's good to visit these gems again?

I was raised on the hymns and still have a place in my heart for them. But, it thrills us to see the older crowd get blessed when we sing them. And when we go into nursing homes, some of these precious men and women have a hard time remembering things, but when we sing the hymns, their faces light up and they know every word!

Hallels:  As a group, you have been together around 20 years, what were some blessings and challenges over the years?

For the first few years, we travelled with tracks only. Adding a band was a blessing. Having a live band gives us more freedom than we had with only tracks. It can also be a challenge because there are more of us than just the 3 girls and more equipment to load in and load out. But we love it, and as far as we can tell, the folks we minister to love it as well. Another challenge is not charging a set fee. We have always come on a "love-offering" basis, but sometimes the offerings are not enough to even pay for our gas. The blessing part of that is, God has met every need. If not one way, then by other means. He has always been faithful in seeing that our financial needs were met.  

Hallels:  For our readers who would like to purchase "Grace" and/or find out more about you, where can they go?

They can go directly to our web site at www.FullLifeTrio.com, or visit us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/FullLifeTrio. We are also on Twitter www.Twitter.com/FullLifeTrio.

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