"My dad left right before you sang the song... his emotions had taken all they could take... however, as soon as you started [it] I dialed his cell phone and held mine up. ‘I heard every word!’ He said, ‘I could not have taken it if I'd been there."
The above excerpt was taken from a note given to Singer/Songwriter Fernando Ortega following his May 14 concert at UPC. The song, “Give Me Jesus,” is a prayer song that Fernando performed near the end of the evening, in honor of a UPC family. “…You have no idea of the ministry that ‘Give Me Jesus’ had at my mom's death…” the note writer shared, a statement well understood if you’re the least bit familiar with this work. I think that all who attended that Friday night would agree that “ministry” is a fitting word for what we experienced.
There was laughter, tears and prayerful meditation as Fernando’s music and story telling filled the air. We were taken on a journey from East Orlando, to the Arizona Canyons, down the Pacific Highway, in a big red car, and into God’s presence. This is where you find yourself when you hear the music and heart of this dear brother. He paints beautifully memorable landscapes of a world that he would still gladly give away in exchange for the only true treasure, our Savior.
“Give me Jesus, give me Jesus.
You can have all this world,
but give me Jesus.”– from “Give Me Jesus” by Fernando Ortega