Monday, December 29, 2008

How Does One Write a Bio?

Hi everyone! It's good to be back home and blogging, although it's just for a couple days. On Wednesday we head to my parent's house in northern Indiana to ring in the new year and have a belated Christmas with my family on Thursday. Then the festivities will officially end and things will get back to "normal." (Normal being the regular insanity instead of holiday insanity.)

Anyway, Frank and I received an email from our church pal Larry the other day. He needs a bio from us to put on the church's new website. The rest of the site is up. It's as www.healingpointe.com, if you want to check it out. But our info is noticeably absent if you look at the church leadership link. Larry was kind enough to say we're fantastic and talented...but Amy and Eric have quotes and everything, and I've never even written a bio before. In fact, I'm still a little queasy about the fact that we're listed as "Worship Pastors." The "P" word makes me nervous....call me a leader, co-leader, teammate, worship dudette, that girl who sings and plays the piano thing, anything...anyway...

Here's what I have so far. I need help. Too long? Too generic? Too cheesy? What would you want to know if you were going to visit a church and wanted to make sure the "worship pastors" weren't completely clueless? Should I let people know what type of music we have? So many questions...

With that I give you the draft of THE BIO:

Frank and Beth Sabelhaus grew up in different parts of Indiana, but met each other as students at Indiana State University in Terre Haute. They got to know each other through the Campus Crusade for Christ worship band, and have been playing music together ever since. Shortly after they got married in 2001, Frank and Beth started serving at Crossroads Community Church in Sullivan, Indiana in the areas of youth and music. They led their own Christian band, Behind Four Walls, for a couple years and then were a part of a local worship band, Thirsty. Through these ministries, they found a passion and calling for leading others in worship through music.

Frank graduated from ISU in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music. He currently works for the City of Terre Haute as a Systems Administrator and is working towards a Master's Degree in Personal Evangelism and Church Planting from Liberty University. Frank loves recording music, playing drums, and a good home repair challenge.

Beth graduated from ISU in 2001 and has worked for various non-profit organizations over the years. However, no job has ever compared to her current challenge of being a stay-at-home mom to their three children, Annabelle, Joey, and Jay! Beth loves volunteering at Ryves Youth Center, blogging, and kicking back with a good book.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sounds good to me. I'm so glad I could give you a new word to show up your husband with. If that doesn't work, I've got dozens of them!

Helen said...

Great job, Beth. I am especially glad you included information about your children. Church people ought to be interested in you as people, as well as your music credentials, and the fact that you are parents are very important to who you are as people. I hope I am making sense. It makes sense in my head....

Annie K said...

Beth, that sounds fabulous. Now you have your first Bio under your belt.

wv: ovedes

I like those uns ovedes uns.

Amy said...

Sounds like you.

katdish said...

You forgot, "Will soon be sporting matching Snuggies." Monktastic!

wv: dringle - the sound a wet bell makes.

Beth said...

Ooooo....Jay Leno talked about snuggies in his monologue the other day. He says they're the opposite of lingerie. What?? Snuggies aren't sexy??
And I finally saw the commercial on TV at my in-laws over the weekend.

Really...no serious critiques? Where's Sherri when I need her?

Mary Ann said...

I'm allllll about offering some critiques when necessary but you nailed it. I would definitely feel comfortable worshiping under your pastoral authority. =)

Seriously, very well written. Light hearted but gets the facts across. I like it.

I had to write my first bio last year when I was starting to speak different places about my upcoming trip. I felt so clueless about what to say about me. I wanted to say...I'm just me! Mine was horribly generic. "Graduated with this from here in this year and am now doing this. Now you know me." ha. I'm quite impressed with yours!

Chris said...

Umm...so I don't even rate a single MENTION??? Nothing at all in there about your fabulous college roommate??? I was basically your personal muse for three years and this is the thanks I get???

Oh well. Now, I do have to say that you get high marks for NOT saying something like, "...and Frank and Beth have been making BEAUTIFUL music together in all parts of life ever since then." Definitely not exceeding the "cheese" factor. Well done.

Beth said...

Christianne-
Haha. I was thinking about that sentence as being a little on the cheesy side...because it started in my head as something way over the top like that. :)

And I'll have to add something about you putting up with listening to me try to play the guitar for three years and giving me an appreciation for 80's love songs...

By the way, do you have a blog on here??? It won't let me see your profile. Must be some top secret info in there...

Larry Swank said...

Wonderful and talented definitely qualify, but what you came up with is significantly better!