From The Desk of Pastor Jerry

What an exciting opportunity to write on the worldwide inner-net!

Thanks for visiting the cyber-page of Cross My Heart, the band I recently formed with great help from the Lord. And I'd be remiss if I didn't credit my son Eli and my wife Mitzy for their undying belief in my mission to create the best Christian band in all the contemporary music scene.

(Mitzy... now may I lick the beaters?!?)

We want to publicly thank all the fans for supporting Cross My Heart and making "Save the World" a number one song. You can see our efforts in progress by watching the film JESUS PEOPLE. (I didn't pick the name, but it seems appropriate as these kids have a real heart for God.) The camera crew has been following us EVERYWHERE. Hope you enjoy it.

Yours in Him,

Pastor Jerry Frank

Senior Pastor, Christ Christian Church

The Band

Cross My Heart began as a vision of Pastor Jerry Frank, senior pastor of Christ Christian Fellowship in Torrance, California. Best known for penning the great-selling book The Jesus Diet, Pastor Jerry was blessed with the funds to start a new pop group that would reach teens his son's age.

He discovered two fantastic guys - Zak Crowner, a gifted tenor who with white soul and Ty Raney, a great, enthusiast hype man. Cara Bosch is an adorable blonde girl with lots of heart.

Gloria Hamming had an esteemed Christian music solo career in the early to mid-90's. Ready for her own "second coming" of sorts, Gloria graciously agreed to join Pastor Jerry's new band, adding plenty of celebrity appeal to the group.

Gloria Hamming

Move over Sandi Patti and Amy Grant and Debby Boone - that's what I said when I released my first album "Glorious Gloria!" Within two years, the project went gold!!! Then I followed that up with "Hymns & Whispers." Which also went gold (that's 500,000+ copies!). Yet with all the accolades, I decided to take some time off to deal with family issues. Now I'm back!!! And can you believe it? This time I'm lending my time and talent teaming to Cross My Heart.

Zak Crowner

Random tidbits: I found the Lord at Vacation Bible School when I was 4 years old. I was immediately baptized, making public my commitment to follow Christ, in front of the entire congregation at Bonnie Brook Baptist Church.

During high school my Dad gave me a promise ring that guaranteed I'd save myself for marriage.

I got heavily involved in the puppet ministry. Every Sunday morning I'd crouch in the baptismal tank and perform the church's weekly announcements through my friends Winky and Wakaboo to the delight of the congregation. So ministry has always been my focus. But now I feel the Lord leading me towards using my musical talents.

Cara Bosch

After winning Miss Yucaipa, I was approached by this priest named Pastor Jerry. Let's just say meeting this jolly man has CHANGED MY LIFE!!!!

I never sang before joining Cross My Heart, other than in the shower of course. I've always worked in my mom's beauty salon, Sylvia's. (But my mom's name is Jenna... so confusing... don't ask!!!)

This whole experience of being a music star has been a roller coaster. There's even a FILM crew shooting us like a documentary. It's sooooooooooo fun.

Ty Raney

I was raised by my grandfolks. They're amazing people. Gramps worked for Consumers Power Company his entire life and got an engraved lamp for his 40 years of dedication. Grandma stayed home and raised me. She was into gardening and knew the name of every kind of plant. She had bookshelves of those gold-bound National Geographic magazines and always had an open Readers Digest on the coffee table. And don't get me started on coffee. The smell of Folgers coming from the kitchen every morning... that sums up my childhood.

Anyway, I was working at Coldstone when this whole music opportunity kind of "fell in my lap." Of course, that's not the truth. God's purpose is never random, it just seems like that sometimes.

Muffin Recipe

Back by popular demand, here's my recipe for Mitzy's YUMYUM Carrot Muffins... enjoy! MF

2 medium eggs

1 1/2 cups of flour

1 cup of grated carrots

1 cup of sugar

1/2 cups of oil

1/4 cup of orange liqueur (non-alcoholic. Look for virgin liqueur)

1/4 cup of raisins (Beware! Teens don't always like raisins. Eli says they look like rabbit droppings... well, he doesn't say "droppings," but you get my drift... teenagers!)

1/4 cup of chopped pecans.

1 teaspoon of baking powder.

1/2 teaspoon of baking soda.

1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon.

1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg.

1/4 teaspoon of salt.

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350^F (175^C).

Prepare muffin tins with paper liners.

Heat the orange virgin liqueur to just boiling.

Add the raisins and remove from heat.

Set aside and allow to soak.

Place the pecans in a food processor bowl to chop them. Remove and set aside.

Cut the carrots into chunks and chop coarsely. (Watch your fingers!!!)

Add sugar, oil and eggs.

Process until thoroughly blended.

Sift the dry ingredients together and add to processor bowl with the chopped pecans.

Process until the ingredients are moist.

Drain raisins and fold in by hand.

Fill the muffin tins two-thirds full.

Bake for 40 minutes.

Lastly, don't let your husband eat all the batter before you get a chance to bake 'em. Ha, ha, ha - learned THAT the hard way...! Xoxoxo Mitzy