How a Jewish Folk Singer Became the Matriarch of a Christian Music Group

Teresa Neumann : Feb 24, 2008
Will Hall - Baptist Press

"I just got down on my knees, and I cried and I cried. And I didn't know what to say because I'd never prayed before. I couldn't ask God to save me 'cause I didn't know I was really lost. I couldn't ask God to forgive me of my sins 'cause I honestly didn't even know that I was a sinner. But that night, when my flesh hit that floor ... that's when I invited God to come in and live in my heart."

(Nashville, Tenn.)—Reporter Will Hall has penned the remarkable story of Lily Isaacs, once a New York City, German-born, Jewish folk-singer and now a Christian mother of three living in rural Tennessee and the matriarch of an award-winning Christian music group.

According to the report in the Baptist Press, Lily's amazing transformation happened when Columbia Records landed her a gig in a popular club, Gertie's Folk City in Greenwich Village, as the opening act for a bluegrass band, The Greenbrier Boys, from Kentucky. (Photo: BP)

"Well, there was a young man in that group by the name of Joe Isaacs," she said, "and he caught my eye. He was a Kentucky hillbilly through and through." The two started dating without knowing some of the particulars of each other, such as the fact that Joe was the youngest of 17 children born to a preacher. "Talk about two different backgrounds, it was just unbelievable," said Lily. "It's the miracle of God."

The two married in 1970. At the time, Joe—though raised a Christian—hadn't committed his life to Christ, and Lily wasn't interested in religion at all. But, notes the report, shortly after their marriage, a tragedy led them to their destiny: Joe's brother died in a car crash. Lily didn't want to go to the church where Joe's brother had worshipped, a converted garage in the middle of the country that held about 100 people. But, she did.

"The Spirit of the Lord that night… I didn't know what it was, but the singing was so amazing," she said. "I guess you could say the conviction gripped my heart and I didn't know what it was...The Lord was already dealing with me. And I don't know how it happened, but I just know that the preacher didn't even get up to preach. Conviction was so great that all he did when he got up on the pulpit was he made an invitation to come pray. He said, 'If you need the Lord in your life or if you have a need before God, let's all have prayer.'"

"I just got down on my knees, and I cried and I cried. And I didn't know what to say because I'd never prayed before. I couldn't ask God to save me 'cause I didn't know I was really lost. I couldn't ask God to forgive me of my sins 'cause I honestly didn't even know that I was a sinner. But that night, when my flesh hit that floor ... that's when I invited God to come in and live in my heart."

Joe dedicated his life to Christ that night too.

To read more of Lily's testimony and the powerful music ministry she birthed, follow the link provided.