Singer's story connects her to audiences

Sandi Patty may sing like one, but she's no angel.

And that's precisely why so many women identify with her.

At the top of her game, she was the golden child of contemporary Christian music, with a three-decade career that includes 39 Dove Awards, five Grammys and induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

But there's a slight gap in her resume.

She and her husband, Don, director of outreach for an energy company, were married to other people when they got together in the early 1990s. He had three children; she had four. Given that she was a role model in the Christian entertainment world, an adulterous affair was a real career killer.

They divorced their spouses and married 15 years ago and adopted a child. At that point, Patty had no illusions of being welcomed back into the fold.

"I figured I was at the end of my journey. I said goodbye to my career and concentrated on restoration with God and my church," she says in a phone interview from Oklahoma, where the couple live. "Most important was getting right and clean with the Lord again and learning how to forgive myself."

Taking a break and rebuilding her personal and spiritual life proved to be her salvation. Although she no longer performed publicly, she didn't give up her music. She channeled her emotions into her lyrics and her singing. Her craft became even more real to her.

Then the unexpected happened. Churches started issuing invitations for her to come and share her testimony through word and song. She was hesitant at first. "Do you know my whole story? Do you really want me in your sanctuary?" she'd ask.

The answer was yes and yes. Patty, 53, says when those doors starting opening, "I realized the power of God's grace and forgiveness. I will be forever grateful for that."

One of her most memorable moments came when a fan looked at her and said, "I've always loved your music. Now I love you."

Five years ago, a Christian conference for women contacted Patty about joining its star-studded lineup of inspirational singers and speakers. Again she asked her manager: Don't they know my story?

That's why Patty got the invitation. Having gone through restoration, she could speak openly about her missteps, her sins and her sometimes painful journey with her family. She could share how she learned to face the truth and how she had to find a way to quit beating herself up for mistakes she had made.

Her story, human and humbling, resonated with audiences. Patty now is a staple on the Women of Faith tour. Her music career is back in full swing. Her blended family is still a "work in progress," she says, but things get better all the time.

"I'm in a great place now," she says. "The conferences are aimed at real women with real-life issues. I'm one of them. I've been there. If there's anything I've learned, it's that we've got to support each other to get through the bad times. And that's what Women of Faith is all about."

WOMEN OF FAITH

WHAT: Inspirational conference for women

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Aug. 14, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 15

WHERE: St. Pete Times Forum, 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa

INCLUDES: Singers Sandi Patty and Steven Curtis Chapman, "American Idol" finalist Mandisa, former "Facts of Life" TV star Lisa Whelchel and other performers-speakers.

ADMISSION: Starts at $79

INFORMATION: Call (888) 493-2484 or go to womenoffaith .com