Meet Tori Gay | Singer/Songwriter/Comedienne/Actress

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tori Gay and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tori, what do you attribute your success to?
The absolute most important factor to the success (progress) I’ve experienced is the calling. I never set out to be a professional singer/songwriter/comedienne/actress, but that’s exactly where I’ve ended up (at Biblical Times Theater) – all because I felt the Lord calling me into music ministry, 20 years ago.

I will never cease to be amazed at the people I’ve met and the places I’ve been able to go with this ministry. It hasn’t been fast, and it certainly hasn’t been easy. I can’t even comprehend the amount of patience, perseverance, and dedication I’ve developed while doing this Kingdom work. If it were ANY other sort of business endeavor, I would’ve quit many years ago. But, because of the call to ministry, I’ve been able to keep going! Every time I would get disheartened enough to want to walk away from singing, the Lord always sent encouragement, always reminded me that He completes the work He starts, and that includes ministry. Because of that, I’m now actually able to say that ministry is my career.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
When I was a kid, I had two sets of aspirations: teacher/lawyer and singer/actress. As I got older, I realized I didn’t have the patience to be a teacher or the tolerance for injustice to be a lawyer. I also didn’t think I had the talent to be a career singer or actress, so I set my sights on some sort of management position, which is why my degree is in Business Administration. Thankfully, the Lord had other plans, and they included seeing that singer/actress dream come true.

The road to where I am, today, started in 2005. That’s when the ministry really began, when I picked up the phone to make booking calls. Building a schedule is the absolute hardest part of ministry! So, that right there is enough to say no, the road to “here” has NOT been easy! When you add in things like discouragement, feelings of inadequacy, competition, jealousy, self-pity, impatience, apathy, etc., ministry life becomes even more difficult. I feel like I’ve lived out 2 Corinthians 12:9 as I’ve gone through these different phases, lol – “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

A lot of my progress is attributed to things of a spiritual nature, but I have been fortunate to get quite a bit of education and training, as well. Not long after this music ministry began, I got the chance to work with a company that specialized in developing the “ministry” part. They helped take me from just a singer to someone who could communicate the songs and the Gospel message with the people I had the honor of sharing them with. The two most impactful opportunities were working with a vocal coach and a performance coach. In recent years, I have been able to work with some of the top people in Nashville/Southern Gospel, and I’ve learned a lot from them! I’m also a graduate of the Stamps-Baxter School of Music and the Charles Novell School of Music (3 times), both of which had knowledgeable and experienced staff.

My story is full of details and examples that give me assurance that I’m right where I’m supposed to be, doing exactly what I’m supposed to be doing. It’s always my prayer that people will be encouraged by it! I know that there are people out there who are trying to figure out what their purpose is in life, or they’re running from the call that they know the Lord has put on their lives, or they have a dream in their hearts that won’t go away, but they just haven’t found the courage to attempt it…I want them to find some sort of boldness to take the step they need to take when they hear about some of my steps!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I live in Sevier County (Pigeon Forge area), so there’s always something to do…but I don’t do much! It’s hard living in a tourist area when you have an aversion to crowds, lol. But, I’ve found a few favorite spots in the 11 years that I’ve been here:

Places – Cades Cove, Wears Valley, Townsend, Foothills Parkway (especially the “Missing Link” section), Clingmans Dome, Dollywood (before busy season), Great Smoky Mountain Railroad (Bryson City, NC), The Island

Food – Pottery House Cafe, Old Mill, Local Goat, Elvira’s, Mel’s Diner

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My greatest cheerleaders were my mother, my grandmother, and my aunt. They’ve all been in Heaven for years, so they haven’t gotten to watch their many prayers come to life. My church family at Holly Springs Baptist Church, where I grew up, also played a big part in this musical journey. I started singing in church when I was about 4, and I never quit, lol. Everyone there was so supportive and always told me how well I’d done on whatever song I’d sung. In my mid-twenties, I had the opportunity to record my first album, and after listening to it, I realized that I really didn’t sing all that well! (Fortunately, I was able to start working with a vocal coach who helped change that, lol.) But, if they hadn’t been so free with their compliments and encouragement, I never would’ve had the confidence to keep singing and never would have even gotten to a point of being trained. The same sort of recognition goes to the White Bluff Baptist Church family, too…it was my second home church.

Another very important group of people were the monthly supporters who helped carry me through the first 3 years or so of my ministry. It was a time of development from just being someone who sang to being someone who could actually minister to others. It was also a growth spurt for me, spiritually, which was really the most vital component of ministry development. I won’t even begin to try and name them all, but I will always be thankful for the various ways they helped me get through that stage!

There have also been other friends who have supported me and helped keep me going, through the years. I don’t want to leave anybody out, so they shall also remain nameless.

Website: www.torigay.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/tori_gay_

Facebook: www.facebook.com/torigaymin

Youtube: www.youtube.com/torigayministries

Image Credits
Pat Hutchings Stacie Lederfind Denise Oakley Unknown