Adriana

"Before we start, I need my meladinho (meaning sticky)," says Adriana as we enter a small room at Holy Family Church, in Fort Myers, Florida. "You want some?" She asks as she mixes powder milk with a few drops of water. "I can’t go on without my meladinho," she says and laughs.

Adriana was in Fort Myers for three days for the I Aclamai Florida along with the Louvor & Glória Mission and Sister Zelia. Adriana also performed a concert on the night of March 19. The singer, who is passionate about music since childhood, has recorded six CDs, a DVD and has won several gold records. She is a strong presence at various Brazilian Catholic events.

The Louvation Mission was also present in the I Aclamai Florida, and we took the opportunity to interview this example of professionalism and dedication to serving the Lord.

L: We can say your musical career began when your father gave you a guitar, when you were 7 years old. Do you have musicians in your family?

A: Yes, but none that stood out. However, the musical heritage is my family. I was attracted to church through music. When I was 7, I used to go to rebanhões (Catholic events that occurs during Carnaval weekend) in Cruzeiro (her hometown in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil), where everything started. The renewal movement began with rebanhões in my town. I was one of those kids who stood on the stage’s edge, eager to see the musicians. So I joined the musical vein that I got from my father with church music.

L: Did you start singing or playing?

A: I started playing the guitar in mass. When I was eight years old, I was already responsible for the Sunday Mass in a small chapel where I attended. I used to spend the whole week preparing the music for the mass.

L: When and how did you join the Canção Nova Band?

A: I had a Band called Força Jovem (Youth Force) in the youth group I attended. But the band was dissolving. So, one day talking to Dunga, who was in the Canção Nova band, he said, "Why don’t you sing with us here?" And so I got in. I already knew Dunga from before because we had done shows together in our region, when he was not even the part of Canção Nova Consecrated Community.

L: How long did you stay in that band?

A: I was working there for four years. I've never been part of the community. I worked as a volunteer, and then as a Canção Nova employee.

L: How did you make the decision of forming your own ministry?

A: The Canção Nova band ended.  The former group dissolved. Today we have Dunga’s ministry, Ricardo’s ministry… and before, everything was just one. It wasn’t planned, God was preparing me for what I live today. I have never aimed to sing alone because I was very shy, I'm still shy, but I was much more before. So I never planned this but God was in charge, and I threw myself into His plans, with fear, but I did.

L: Did you ever think you would be so recognized one day, and what you think about it?

A: No, I never imagined, and most of the time I don’t have the whole picture. I’m staying in a house here in Fort Myers, where the owner told me: "Adriana you were part of my life at that time so and so when I came here ..." And then I told my husband: "My God, we have no dimension of where we reach." In a way, it’s good that we don’t have dimension because it helps to keep our feet on the ground. But it’s also good to know that once I announce Jesus, there are no limits, no barriers, no boundaries that restrict Him to come forward. And I'm very grateful to God for that.

L: If you weren't a singer, what would you be?

A: I was preparing myself to be something else but God took me in a different path. I particularly wanted to be a veterinarian because I love animals; I am a protector and defender. But I didn’t afford that course so a started to study business.  And then God totally changed everything. I was walking in this one path working alongside with church music. I served in my parish, always helping whatever the church needed. Then God made a revolution. I noticed that the music calling was growing at a moment I joined the Canção Nova band. There, I saw that things were getting serious because the dimension of work was much greater. I did not plan it, didn’t long for it, and didn’t know I would get here. God prepared everything.

L: What is the importance of music in evangelization?

A: I think it’s very important, and I speak for myself. I was evangelized through music, and thus I can talk about it because it happened to me. Music was my door to open up for God. And that's why I try with all my strength to give my music, my best. The anointing, of course, comes from God.

L: A song that marked your life.

A: There are many, but there is a song of Monsignor Jonas Abib that I heard when I was still very small and that marked my story. It is a composition that says, "Everything I gave you, nothing was left of me, I was then free to love you my God ..." This song was very strong for me because it came at the moment when God asked me for that something more. It was a strong moment that I had to leave everything to be obedient to His voice.

L: What is the biggest challenge of evangelization today?

A: In Brazil we are very fortunate because the church is very rich and they put a lot of effort in evangelization. Unfortunately, we don’t value things when we many much of it. So it’s good to get out and see another reality... The world invests a lot to take the youth away from the path of God. So the challenge that we live as ministers is roll up our sleeves and go to the battle. We have done this with great determination and ensured great commitment about everything. The word of God, regardless of how it arrives - if it is through music, through a play, a dance or a lecture - needs to be faithful. The route by which it reaches must be loyal by the one who seeks God. We live these challenges. The youth faces the challenge of receiving an avalanche of proposals for not being of God, and we try to come up with an avalanche of proposals to be of God.

L: A dream that came true.

A: Singing for the Holy Father, the Pope.

L: A dream to come true.

A: Being a mom.

L: A message for the Louvation ban, and others, that are on the same mission to evangelize through music.

A: First, I want to tell you, Louvation, that it was a great pleasure to see your ministry’s work and to see that God chose to make a difference here in America with the gift He gave you, your calling. So I am very grateful to God for allowing me meet your work and the mission God has entrusted you. And I want to tell you that we are very privileged. I feel extremely privileged for the duty that the Lord gave me. I believe that we, who are called to serve through music, are separated, specifically chosen. It is a challenge because it is a battle we fight against hell from the moment we go on stage or when we plan a Mass. The enemy wants the children of God to perish. And we do the work of redemption through music. So the challenges arise. To this day, I live the challenges of being a music minister. If you think that I've gone through all, I haven’t. It is a constant. But what makes me persist is the certainty that God has not called me for nothing, God called me to serve someone's life in someway. So I want to tell you, Louvation, that if one person in this world is changed by your music, through your commitment, it was worth everything. All of the crosses have vanished, the challenges, ordeals, the ministry we have, the loneliness we often experience in ministries, it was worth everything. Do not give up because it is a beautiful challenge, which is made for a few. So I feel privileged. Take possession of this: we are privileged! And assume that we are chosen with the authority that God himself will enable us to live through all obstacles and difficulties so that His name will always be honored and announced by us. We are together in this. Let's fight, announcing and singing to the Heavens. Big kiss to all of you.

To learn more Adriana and her work, visit her official site: www.adrianaonline.com.br

Message from Adriana to Louvation: