The liner notes of Sandi Patty's new album, Hymns of Faith … Songs of Inspiration, go beyond typical mentions of thanks. They provide a glimpse into the heart of the singer, who admits to having felt far away from God in times past. Her praises to the God of second, third and fourth chances reveal that changes have taken place.

Twenty-five years have passed since Sandi's Song came out in 1979. In that time, she amassed five Grammy Awards, 39 Dove Awards, four Billboard Music Awards, became a Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductee and sold 11 million albums. Yet, eleven years ago, shock waves jolted the church when she admitted to an adulterous relationship that ended her marriage. Now married to Don Peslis, their blended family consists of eight children, ages seven to 19. They adopted Sam, the youngest, together.

Patty recently spoke with us about the ups and downs of her past 25 years.

How is Hymns of Faith … Songs of Inspiration a reflection of your 25 years in Christian music?

Sandi Patty: It goes back to the very foundation of why I'm involved in music in the first place. My dad was a minister of music and my mother was the church pianist. We were at church all the time. Those hymns that I heard as a child have really become a foundation for my faith these past 25 years. Also, our kids go to a separate youth service and don't know a lot of these hymns. There are some wonderful, new worship and praise choruses, but I wanted them to understand their heritage as well. That was another catalyst for this project.

What noticeable differences do you see in Christian music in the past 25 years?

Sandi Patty: Under this umbrella of Christian music, there are so many varieties of music from rap to R&B to Southern gospel and everything in between. That great variety is the biggest change I have seen. From the musical standpoint, the technical capabilities that are available now are just wonderful. They help make the projects more professional.

Let's talk about your memories, high points and low points of the past 25 years.

Sandi Patty: Working with Bill and Gloria Gaither and traveling with them for a few years was definitely a big high point. Watching them work felt like I was going to school. I learned so much about how to relate to an audience. Singing "The Star Spangled Banner" for the rededication of the Statue of Liberty was a big high. I enjoyed being part of that. Being on The Tonight Show was special.

Starting out, did you ever dream you'd have moments like those?

Sandi Patty: Never in a million years. I always thought I'd be a schoolteacher. It's where I thought my music would take me. Everything that I've been so privileged to do feels like extra and I'm so grateful.

What were the low points of the past 25 years?

Sandi Patty: For many years, I thought I had to portray that life was perfect, I was perfect and my family was perfect. That's just ridiculous because nobody is. You try to portray that, and then it all comes crashing in. That [her adultery] was a very rough season in my life. It was nobody's fault but my own. I learned things about myself that I'm not real proud of. I learned things about God that I don't know that I would have learned any other way.

What did you learn?

Sandi Patty: I have learned that I'm not perfect. I've learned that I am always a choice away from going down the wrong path. Every day, there's a choice to be all that God wants me to be. I've learned that God is faithful in the midst of it. I've learned that God's people are loving, caring and supportive.

How have you changed from learning these things?

Sandi Patty: The biggest way is that I don't try to be fake. I try to be real, to be who I am with all the good and bad and ups and downs of life.

How has learning these lessons affected your music ministry?

Sandi Patty: I used to worry at concerts if my shoes were too wild or my shirt wasn't right. Now, I don't worry about little things. I now think about whether I treated the stagehand the way Christ would have treated him, if the bus driver is feeling as valuable as anyone else on this tour. When somebody asks me to come do a concert now, I know they are saying they want me to come, bring my battle scars with me and share God's goodness and faithfulness. That means the world to me.

Your battle scars contain a story of repentance, forgiveness and restoration. What has that been like?

Sandi Patty: My church was very important in my restoration process. I surrounded myself with people who were part of an accountability system. With love and support, they helped me own my mistakes and failures. They challenged me to move forward and make good choices. God's word says the truth will set us free. Sometimes, that truth is hard to bear, especially when it's truth about ourselves. The first step to freedom is saying, "Look, I messed up. I'm not proud of it, but I'm not going to ignore it. Here's how I messed up."

What was involved in sharing that truth with other Christians?

Sandi Patty: I had shared a lot with my pastor and church family. I told my pastor that even if I never sang again, I wanted to be right and clean before God. I knew that God would be in the midst of it and make it okay if I never sang again. I canceled several tours and was ready to be a music teacher. My pastor fielded phone calls from radio stations and bookstores that wanted to validate the story through my church family. As painful and embarrassing as it was, I knew that if someone invited me to sing at their church, they invited me knowing the worst.

Were you nervous about singing in churches again?

Sandi Patty: Extremely. I couldn't believe churches wanted me, and I had no idea how it would go. I'd ask my manager to make sure they knew about everything, because I didn't want to get there only to be rejected again. For a long time, there weren't a whole lot of people coming to the concerts. But, the people who were there offered their love and support. It meant the world.

Do you feel welcomed in churches now?

Sandi Patty: Not by every church. But I totally understand it. I disappointed a lot of people. Some churches may never have me come to sing. But that is part of the consequences of sin.

Has the church overall welcomed you back?

Sandi Patty: I was with Women of Faith in Fort Lauderdale about a month ago. I couldn't believe they invited me. After I sang to a room full of about 10,000 ladies, there was such a sweet response with applause and tears. They weren't clapping about my singing—they were welcoming me home. It was one of the most sweet, tender things that has happened to me.

How has the Christian music industry responded?

Sandi Patty: Some radio stations won't play my music and some bookstores won't sell my CDs. It hurts, but I blame myself. They feel like I let them down. Those feelings are very justified and valid. I don't blame them—I caused a lot of hurt and disappointment. A lot of healing has taken place, though, and hopefully, we are building some bridges.

How hard has the road back been for you?

Sandi Patty: It is hard. Once you reach the point where you don't care about the consequences and begin to make it right, making things right pervades everything. I had to go back to [the apostle] Peter who really messed up big time, yet he was the man who preached the gospel and was crucified upside down for it. People could have stood up in those gatherings and said, "Let me tell you what he did." Peter would have been the first one to say, "You know what? You're absolutely right, but I stand here today because I know who I am in Christ and am forgiven." Like Peter, I had to realize who I am in Christ and that when God says he forgets our sins, he meant mine, too.

Is it possible to be fully back?

Sandi Patty: A person can absolutely be fully restored. I have to believe that God forgives us of our sins and doesn't remember them.

How would you define being back?

Sandi Patty: Being back meant that the doors were open for me to sing in Christian settings again. That might be a church of 50 people. You can't force things. God has to be the one opening the doors.

How does it feel to be back?

Sandi Patty: It means the world. God's grace is not cheap grace—it's wonderful grace that frees me. The church body is where my heart is, so it feels like I am home.

For more information about Sandi Patty, visit our artist page for her. There you'll find past interviews and reviews, including a look at her latest album, Hymns of Faith … Songs of Inspiration. Visit Christianbook.com to listen to sound clips and purchase your own copy.

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