Despite enormous popularity and success on the touring circuit for more than a decade, the musical group FFH felt the Lord leading them to explore new territory — literally.
After much prayer and consideration, Jeromy Deibler and his wife, Jennifer, took a hiatus from performing concerts in 2006. During this time, they moved to South Africa to train musicians and mentor worship leaders at a small church south of Cape Town.
“Our time in Africa was a major life change and a huge personal shift,” Jeromy Deibler said. “It was an amazing time of drawing near to the Lord and leading others into His presence.”
When the couple returned to the United States six months later, they could not have imagined how their lives were about to change. Shortly before the birth of their second child, Jeromy Deibler was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
“After the initial diagnosis wore off, the heaviness of the reality of the disease began to set in,” he said. “We realize now that joy and sorrow can coexist together at the same time and that’s where Jesus is — in the realness of those moments. We’ve learned not to just put on a happy face but to be honest and real with each other.”
Although the diagnosis has filled the Deiblers’ lives with many uncertainties, they have remained committed to sharing their story as a way to encourage others who are dealing with personal struggles. They recently resumed their touring schedule and have released a new album, “Wide Open Spaces,” which chronicles their emotional journey.
“Several of the songs were written during a time of great pain, both physical and emotional,” Jeromy Deibler said. “We’re finding that the songs about brokenness really seem to have struck a nerve with people.
“We have gotten so many e-mails from people who have been introduced to Jesus for the first time at our concerts and that’s really exciting. I hope people leave our concerts being encouraged, and I hope they leave with deeper and bigger things to think about.”
For more information, visit ffh.net.
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