Rebecca St. James is widely known for having been the voice of purity among Christians since her hit song, “Wait For Me,” was released in 2000. Now, with her recent marriage to Jacob Fink, she will be a voice for marriage.

The Sydney-born singer, who married Jacob Fink in the presence of family and close friends last Saturday, has been as vocal about the importance of unity in marriage, according to her website.

In her website she said of marriage, “I believe both people can be stronger in their calling because of each other. I really see that in Jacob and my individual lives—we are stronger together. We have a real desire to be glorifying to God in our life and marriage.”

The wedding took place at the Junipero Serra Museum in San Diego, California, which is situated near California’s first mission founded in 1769 by Spanish Francisco missionary Fr. Junipero Serra, Christian Today said.

Purity rings

During the ceremony the bride and groom exchanged the purity rings that they had each worn before they married. There was also an exchange of personal, spiritual vows as they committed to serve each other in marriage, followed by the washing of one another’s feet, according to the bride’s website.

The music during the wedding ceremony included the song “You Make Everything Beautiful,” which was performed by the brothers of St. James, namely Joel and Luke. The song, which the bride co-wrote, is included in her newly-released worship album, I Will Praise You, according to her website.

Evie Tornquist Karlsson, longtime spiritual mentor and friend of St. James said, “This was a glorious day of celebration! A marriage ceremony where from beginning to ending Jesus was the absolute focus and the special guest of honor of the bride and groom,” the website reported.

Queen of contemporary Christian music

St. James had been for some 10 years the queen of contemporary Christian music. However, for the last five and a half years she took an informal hiatus. Her album, I Will Praise You (under Reunion Records), marks her musical comeback, Christianity Today said.

During her five-and-a-half year break, St. James focused on writing books such as Wait For Me, S.H.E. and Loved. She is about to finish her ninth book by September, entitled What is He thinking, Christian Today said.

St. James also ventured into acting, and played the lead in the film Sarah’s Choice, a movie with a prolife theme, Christianity Today said.

St. James told Christianity Today that Fink proposed marriage to her on Christmas Day last year. “It was the first time I’ve ever brought a guy home for Christmas; I had spent Thanksgiving with his family,” she recalled.

St. James added, “He kept on saying, ‘This is going to be the best Christmas ever,’ and I was like, ‘Well, I hope you enjoy hanging with my family, and I hope you’re not disappointed.’”

Fink proposed in the backyard of the St. James family’s farm located in Franklin, Tennessee, Christianity Today said. Of the event, St. James said, “It was absolutely magical.”

On her wedding day St. James posted on her Facebook page, “Today has been a very special day for which I waited a long time. I married the love of my life, Jacob. Thanks so much for your prayers and support,” Christian Today reported.

Fink worked as a missionary in South Africa for two years, after which the groom pursued a college degree in film and creative arts at a university in California. He works as a bass player with a band, according to St. James’ website.

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Grammy Award winning singer and bestselling book author Rebecca St. James expressed recently her firm support of a call by Pope Benedict XVI for people around the world to pray against abortion.

St. James, an Australian born singer who now lives in the U.S., has always been outspoken about her pro-life beliefs, and has lent support to Crisis Pregnancy Centers around the country by holding concerts to raise funds and to affirm life, according to Christian Newswire.

Last year St. James starred in the film, Sarah’s Choice, where she played the part of a young career woman who discovers she is pregnant and unmarried, and struggles with the decision on the life of her baby, Christian Newswire said.

The role was very meaningful for St. James, who is also an advocate of abstinence. She told Cross Rhythms, “We live in a very real world where scores of young women every day are being impacted by the heart wrenching issues and life changing choices that my character is suddenly forced to come face to face with. I feel it’s an important film with a Godly message that I am praying will profoundly touch lives.”

Crisis Pregnancy Centers nationwide have been showing the film since its release, to help women deal with very real issues that are present with an unexpected pregnancy, and to explain their pro life message, Christian Newswire reported.

Although St. James is a Protestant, she said that the pope’s call for prayer for the unborn on Nov. 27 is an imperative action that should be done by all people of faith regardless of their denomination, according to Christian Newswire.

She told Christian Newswire, “I applaud Pope Benedict for this call to pray for abortion to end. I applaud him for standing for life with strength, as he continually does, and I respect him and stand with him in this battle against abortion. Abortion not only steals life from an innocent child, but it invariably wounds the mother.”

Additionally, St. James told Christian Newswire, “I dearly hope and pray that Protestants and Catholics alike will draw together in unity, especially as it pertains to protecting life. I, as a Protestant, have been able be partner with many Catholics to promote the pro life message together. It’s a true joy for me to do this.”

St. James is a powerful voice in this call, in light of the extent of international sales of her books and music. Of Crisis Pregnancy Centers, she had said in her website, “These are the real heroes of our time. Every day, 3,300 women wake up believing there is no hope, and they tragically end their pregnancies. But there is hope through the compassionate network of pregnancy centers who are every day empowering women to choose life through their expression of practical support and love.”

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Pro-Life Movie Already Having Profound Impact

“Sarah’s Choice”, the pro-life themed film starring longtime and multi award-winning Christian pop music sensation Rebecca St. James officially hit retail stores across the country earlier this month: November 17, 2009. Although rumors of the film surfaced in early March of this year, it is already having a profound impact on churches, communities and families. For more on this, see my article entitled “Sarah’s Choice: Christian Songstress Rebecca St. James to Star in Upcoming Pro-Life Film.”

St. James plays the role in the film of Sarah Collins, a “young, unmarried junior account executive at a major advertising agency who becomes pregnant while climbing the ladder of success,” according to The Christian Post. The film, which bypassed movie theatres altogether, going straight to DVD, centers on the choice Sarah must make concerning the life of her child.

Commenting on the film before its official release, St. James said, “I think the biggest thing the film imparted to me-both in researching the role and in portraying the character-was a real sense of empathy for women who find themselves in the situation my character found herself in.”

She also noted, “My heart goes out to them as I have seen the extreme amount of pressure and fear that can come from outside sources at a vulnerable time such as this.”

According to The Internet Movie Database, “Sarah’s Choice” also stars Christian Comedian Brad Stine, Dick Van Patten of “That Seventies Show” fame and Staci Keanen of “Step By Step.”  Christian movie and media company Pure Flix Entertainment is the driving force behind the production and is also known for helming such Christian films as “The Wager”, starring country music singer Randy Travis.

The DVD will also include special bonus content, including “The Making Of”, “Commentary” and “Trailers.” “Sarah’s Choice” is available at Christian bookstores and movie retailers across the country, as well as online at:  www.store.purflix.com.

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