Today is your chance to get to know this year’s elected convention worship leader, Denise Sanchez! This Dr. Pepper fiend is the worship leader at Soma Christian Church in Clovis, and the founder of Da Capo Music (a studio music school for private piano, voice, and guitar lessons -with a musical theater component). Fun fact, Da Capo was just crowned the people’s choice winner by the Fresno Bee as the 2023 “Best of Central California.” Denise’s testimony is a life of highs and lows (just check out that ugly duckling answer below) but she has clung to Jesus and today is glowing from wedded bliss as a new bride. Be sure to say hi to her at the annual meeting. She will be the blond lady up front playing keyboard.
1. What book are you currently reading?
I’m diving into “Through the Looking-Glass” right now because it’s the play we are preparing for at my school. One of my favorite go-to reads though is “How to Worship a King; Prepare Your Heart. Prepare Your World. Prepare the way,” by Zach Neese. But truthfully, I’m not really an avid reader.
2. What biblical character (other than Jesus) would you want to meet, and why?
I would have to say King David, because he was such a screw up and yet…God used him. It shows me that even with all that he did to mess up with Bathsheba, and having her husband killed…. What people remember is that he was ‘A man after God’s own heart.’ That gives us all hope. That's why I love him so much.
3. How should bacon be cooked?
Bacon should be a little...chewy. It can’t be crispy. Even in salad it should be a little chewy.
4. If you could visit any place in the world, where would it be and why?
I have a fascination with waterfalls, so my bucket list is to visit the waterfalls…like, I want to see Niagara Falls on both sides. Water is not all that powerful until you see it falling like THAT…. It can still kill you. There are so any others that I want to see too. Just pick one and I’ll be happy.
5. Tell us something that nobody knows, a fun fact about you?
I grew up in Oklahoma and “twirled rifle” when I was younger. In college, I was the homecoming queen and then my theater department used that to cast me as the ugly duckling in our play. They made me the ugly duckling because they didn’t want to hurt anyone else’s feelings.
6. What is one piece of advice you would give to your younger self?
I would have told myself to let the competitive side of me fuel me to greater things instead of defeating me. In that scenario, you don’t lose. It’s what I try to teach kids now. It would have helped me cry less after leaving competitions in those early years.
7. When you think through all the names of Christ, what name resonates with you right now, and why?
Jehovah Jireh – After my divorce, I had to find a full-time job and right after that covid came… but God provided. Knowing I was supposed to leave and start my own business during covid was the scariest time ever. Someone asked me what I needed to launch, and I said, “40 students.” I only needed two more, so my friend prayed and the next day I got three more and I joked to myself, ‘okay, God is just showing off now.” I went to work and gave my notice. He is my provider. He has told me to do this. By the way, within one month I had doubled and now have 160 students! I knew then that He was going to provide for me as long as I took that one step of faith.
