Music has long been part of Linda Harper’s life, and now she is sharing her passion through a YouTube channel for children’s ministry, focusing on original songs written to teach children God’s word.
“I want to be a resource for parents, grandparents and teachers,” Harper said, “to help them build a foundation of faith in their children and reinforce critical truth. There are some truths that are getting lost, like that God is our Creator. A lot of my songs talk about that God made you and God made me. I want them to know that He made them and that He loves them.”
Harper has been teaching children for more than 40 years. When she started writing music, her children’s pastor was grateful for her help. He would share what was being taught the next few weeks, and Harper would write songs for those topics, giving her a lot of experience and quick feedback on how well her songs were received.
Through her ministry, Linda Harper Music, Harper continues to write songs that teach truths about God and help children memorize His word, with the goal of “infusing the word of God into the next generation through song.”
‘Creative learning’
“Quality music for children is very difficult to find. Scripture memory songs are hard to find,” Harper noted. “When parents and teachers play these songs, it gives them creative learning opportunities.”
One of Harper’s favorites is “Thank You Jesus for Your Love.” One year she was invited to a church to hear it sung by their children during the annual Hanging of the Greens.
“That was just the thrill of a lifetime — to see this very traditional church with a whole string of children all the way across the front. They were all singing my song, and my heart was just rejoicing that something that God had given me for them was being used and that they were learning how to have a heart of gratitude.”
Harper adds motions to her songs whenever possible. During that performance, one plaid-shirted child stood out to her by swinging his imaginary baseball bat hard. After the performance Harper found him and expressed her appreciation for singing her song.
“He looked up at me, and he said, ‘Thank you for writing it,’” Harper recalled. “Now you think about that — a preschool kid looked me in the eye … I’m tearing up now just thinking about it. It was a word from the Lord from this little boy. He said, ‘Thank you for writing it,’ just as thoughtful and as serious as he could be. That made my day.”
Many of Harper’s songs are born through her own worship and quiet time, and she loves it when Scripture is brought to life through music. She keeps guidelines in mind when writing: be simple, write a melody children will enjoy and, most importantly, be biblically sound.
After coming up with a tune, Harper moves to her keyboard and records a rough draft on her phone. She then decides if it’s guitar friendly. She types up the lyrics and chord sheet and makes up motions that “little ones can do and the older ones aren’t bored with.”
For any songs slated for release, she works with a producer to find talent to record it.
Global reach
Harper then uploads the song to her online store and to CD Baby, which allows the song to be streamed or downloaded through sites such as Amazon, Spotify and YouTube Music.
“That’s how I’m able to reach the children. This is the way I can be international and global with this ministry — and I am. The songs are all over now. I think it’s awesome that children on the other side of the world can hear my songs. I just thank God. All the way from California to Australia, parents are downloading songs,” Harper said.
She is working on getting her music into the hands of even more parents, grandparents and teachers so they can help children learn about the Lord. She is passionate about her ministry and willing to go through any door God opens to get the word out.
“It gives me incredible motivation to get up and get busy and continue to infuse the next generation through song,” Harper said. “I have all of these songs in me. Children are in need of a way to connect with the Father, and music is such an awesome way to connect.
“I want to make a positive difference. I want to leave a legacy of love — where the children know that the Father made them, that Jesus loves them and that the Holy Spirit can be their best friend. I also want them to know that they can enjoy His presence on a daily basis.”
Individual songs can be downloaded at LindaHarperMusic.store. For more about Harper’s ministry and a free download of the popular “The Fruit of the Spirit,” visit LindaHarperMusic.com.
