| When Philippa met the love of her life |
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When Philippa met the love of her life Talented singer/songwriter Philippa Hanna has always had a passion for music.  But it’s her passion for God that has changed her life. ‘Off the rails’ as a teenager, Philippa’s life began to turn around when her friend became a Christian. Currently on her UK ‘Work in Progress’ tour, Philippa’s music draws on her own experiences of life, the universe and everything. Her style is infectious, bubbly and fun – and she guarantees a great show. Philippa didn’t grow up in a Christian home. She was never taken to church and says she didn’t even meet a Christian until her late teens. Music has always played the staring role in her life. Her dad is a professional entertainer and her brother has made his mark as bass player for Jamil Jamiroquai and Mark Ronson. ‘It all comes out of my life-long dream to become a superstar!’ she says. ‘Ever since I was little I’ve been getting up on stage to sing. It took a bit of a back seat when I was in my troubled teens but I always thought, “You know, some day I’m going to do something in music”.’ ‘Me and school never really got on,’ she admits. She was more interested in staying up all night writing songs or going out with ‘the wrong crowd’ than getting up at 7am to go to school. ‘After leaving school this depression hit me from nowhere. It was a kind of mixture of things, the lifestyle I’d been having, no real qualifications and really questioning my whole purpose. I was really scared of putting myself out there. ‘I found myself in Preston because I met a boy at the audition for Fame Academy.’ This proved to be a volatile relationship, ‘we were always breaking up; we were both very insecure’. ‘It was then that I met a Christian called Reu, who was a great musician. We became friends and played music together. I started to feel really alive. One day he texted me to say he’d become a Christian. I was really worried because he was such a normal guy. What would someone like Reu want with Christianity?’ Philippa’s only contact with church had been weddings and funerals though she’d dabbled in new age spirituality. ‘I was quite a spiritual person. During my teenage years I’d been interested in new age stuff, crystals, horoscopes, tarot and palm reading. I was quite hungry for the supernatural, I think, being creative and musical.’ When she next met Reu, they compared notes on their experiences. ‘He was really coming up trumps with his ideas. I was starting to think that maybe Jesus was quite central to all of this. Maybe I could fit Jesus in to my belief system somewhere?’ Reu took Philippa to his baptism and introduced her to his friends. ‘I was really blown away by all this. These amazing young people I met were telling me about Jesus. First of all I felt I wasn’t good enough to be like them. They seemed so pure, focused and friendly. I had all this baggage from the past. I went off the rails, clubbing at a young age, experimenting with mild drugs and drinking a lot. I had all this in my mind. Whilst I enjoyed their company, I felt not good enough.’ Then at a Christian meeting as the musician sang the refrain: Cast all your burdens on the Lord, because Jesus cares for you, Philippa came to a decision. ‘I think I had a bit of a light bulb moment, or perhaps just a bit of a desperate moment, where I thought if Jesus is real I would love to start over. I had lots of burdens. I feel old for my age. I was 21 and tired of life. ‘So I prayed. No one asked me to, I didn’t go to the front or anything. I just prayed and said, “Jesus, if you are real then please come into my life and show me that you’re real”. I went home that night and went to bed as normal and woke up just feeling different. I felt like I’d met the love of my life. I remember getting out my New Testament and Psalms from school that had been gathering dust on my bookshelf and I read it and the Scriptures just started to come to life. ‘I felt God was speaking straight into my life. It was like wow, something’s being unveiled here. I’d picked up the Bible before and thought it was a load of rubbish. But after having asked for Jesus to show up, it was like he had. That was the beginning of the journey really.’ ‘The following week another friend, Andy, offered to take me to church. I absolutely hated it! I felt at this point that God was getting on my case. It was spiritual the reaction. God was doing something and the devil was doing his best to take it away.’ Philippa persevered with church. The next step was an Alpha Course, a 10 session introduction to the Christian faith. ‘I took my mum with me,’ says Philippa. ‘We went every week to see Nick Gumbel on DVD. Throughout the week me and my mum would chat about things and battle with questions of faith. And every week Nicky Gumbel seemed to prophetically pick up everything we’d been talking about! It really just answered all my questions. ‘From that point onward I was sold out for God. My mum recommitted her life from her childhood faith and she was rescued as well.’ Philippa moved to Sheffield. She picked up a guitar and started to write new songs about God. Though not looking for a husband, she met Joel Cana, drummer of fellow Sheffield-based indie group The Gentlemen through her housemate. Joel was sure God had called them together. The couple married last September after a four-year courtship. ‘It’s yet another testimony of God’s grace to me because through this, I feel I’ve been really healed because it has turned around a lot of relationship conceptions I had. It was God’s way of righting some wrongs.’ Andy Baker, the guy who first took Philippa to church, has encouraged her talent. Together they have made two albums and relaunched her musical career. ‘I’m growing as a Christian still. I’m really interested in being honest and sharing my faith through my songs. ‘I’ve got a really high standard when it comes to performance. I always want to put on an outstanding show that people will enjoy.’ Philippa’s nationwide February/March ‘Work in Progress’ Tour features a brand new stage show. Along with her music, she’ll be sharing her story and tell of her recent trip to Haiti with international charity Compassion. See her website for details www.philippahanna.co.uk London date: 12th February Kensington Temple, Notting Hill, W11 3BY If you want to know the love, help and forgiveness that comes from faith in Jesus Christ, you can use this prayer. Prayer Dear God, I confess that I have sinned in thought, word and deed. I want to turn from my sin. I believe that Christ died for me and rose from the dead. Please forgive me and take control of my life. I want to serve you as best I can. Thank you for hearing this prayer. I ask it in the name of Jesus. Amen. If you have said this prayer, you might want to let the person who gave you this paper know or tell a Christian friend or get in touch with a church or Christian minister. Complete the coupon on page 8 or visit www.christianity.org.uk. |
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