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With a blend of country and bluegrass gospel music, The Isaacs share the word of God and salvation through their own life experiences.
On May 12, this award-winning family -- consisting of mom, Lily, daughters, Sonya Isaacs Yeary and Rebecca Isaacs Bowman, and son Ben Isaacs -- will present a concert at Calvary Baptist Church, 810 Ruskin Drive. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets, $25 for Artist Circle and $20 for general admission, are available at Thompson Pharmacy in Altoona and Hollidaysburg, Music Emporium and the Roaring Spring Department Store.
The Isaacs, based out of Nashville, Tennessee, have many awards and accomplishments to their name, but that doesn't mean they're better than anyone else, Lily Isaacs said.
"Just because we have a microphone in our hands, it doesn't mean we don't go through the same things" our audience and fans do, she said.
Lily, a folk singer from New York City, and Joe Isaacs, a bluegrass singer from Kentucky, married, and after being saved, turned their sights to sharing the gospel with others through their music. While the two are no longer married, and Joe has branched out on his own, the testimony of the Isaacs continues with Lily and their children who were "kinda born into it," Lily said during a recent telephone interview from her home in Tennessee.
"The kids were born very talented and traveled with us full time since they were little," she said, adding they each picked instruments and learned to play as well as sing.
Today, the group also includes Lily's grandson, Levi Bowman, 20, Becky Isaacs Bowman's son. He plays guitar and sings. The group also includes drummer Nathan Fauscett.
About 80 percent of the group's songs are written by Sonya and Rebecca, Lily said, noting son Ben is a record producer, not only for the family but for other artists as well.
Whether they're performing for 10,000 or 100 or 500, Lily said the family shares their lives and tries to connect with people. "We share our personal experience of life and lessons we have learned."
"We share worship and praise and hopefully everyone walks away with something that will uplift them and make their day a little better," she said.
Lily, who comes from a Jewish background, is the daughter of Holocaust survivors and enjoys sharing her first-generation faith in Christ with others throughout the world through concerts. In addition, she conducts sightseeing tours of Israel, where the family takes more than 100 people on tours of the ancient lands depicted in the Bible.
"It's exciting. We love sharing the experience" of seeing first-hand the sites described in the Bible. Not only do the tours offer the camaraderie of believers seeing the sights, but they offer a chance for the Isaacs to show fellow travelers their favorite destinations in a safe environment.
"We can show them around and help them to be safe," Lily said of traveling in the holy lands that are the site of ongoing conflict.
The Isaacs participate in about 140 events each year, mostly on weekends, Lily said, due to family obligations and school.
While traveling each weekend may for some sound a little daunting, Lily said "it's been a blessing."
"We travel worldwide, and we love coming to Pennsylvania," Lily said. The family enjoys visiting different places and different cities, all with the goal of sharing the love of God with believers and those who may not yet believe.
With the annual homecoming event in North Carolina, billed by Lily as "two days of nothing but Isaacs" with a few special guests such as Mark Lowry, the Isaacs reach even more people through casual ministry and jam sessions.
There are shows with other bands, the Grand Ole Opry, Gaither Homecoming videos and concerts, and cruises in which the Isaacs find connections with people, too.
"We do different types of events, all based around sharing our testimony of salvation," Lily said. "We try to be very transparent with shows and the only thing different is we're holding a mic that day."
Through their music, the Isaacs hope to not only connect with people, but to show them God's love and the way to salvation.
"We all face the same problems," she said. "We let people know they are not alone."
The concerts are enjoyable and entertaining, Lily said, not only for the audience but for the family as well.
By sharing their lives, it opens a door in which they can share their message of salvation, she said.
"We invite people to join us ... everyone will have a good time."
More information about The Isaacs can be found at www.the
isaacs.com or on their Facebook page.