It was magical.

Six-year-old Francesca sat mesmerized—eyes glued to the Broadway stage as The Secret Garden came to life before her. Spellbound, something extraordinary resonated deep within her. “It was then that I set my sites on the stage,” Francesca recalls. “Both of my parents have a theatrical background, so they completely understood the connection I felt.”

Francesca began musical training and dance lessons that landed her in the Orlando-based pop group Bella. She honed her skills even further, and instead of being devastated when the group disbanded, Francesca attended a youth ministry conference where God’s direction for her life became clear. “I felt Him specifically leading me into Christian pop music. Instead of using what He’s given me for applause and accolades, I want to point people to something beyond me. My heart’s desire is to point listeners to Christ. I want them to know there is hope—and it’s found in Him,” she says.

The Teen Years Are a GOOD Thing!
Francesca was home-schooled much of her life and loved it. “I’m an only child and have always been very close to my parents,” she says. “My family prayed together often. I had an honest, trusting relationship with them. I shared all my struggles with my mom. She was my best friend when I was growing up. I didn’t want to keep any secrets from her. My parents consistently prayed for me and with me, and they believed in me. That gave me a lot of security and confidence.”

Although Francesca groomed herself in theater, dance and voice, she says her identity isn’t in those things. “My folks never made me feel like I was only important because I happened to be talented in a few areas. They definitely encouraged me in what I was doing, but at the same time they kept me totally grounded. I definitely knew there was a balance and that I had boundaries. I still had chores to do. Our talent never determines who we are. Our identity has to be grounded in Christ.

“If it was all taken away tomorrow, I’m still a child of God,” she says. “I’m still a daughter of the King. Nothing changes that. Talent doesn’t have anything to do with who I am in Christ.”

Francesca’s greatest desire is to simply be in the center of God’s will. “He’s more important than anything He gives me,” she says.

Her Testimony Isn’t Splashy
Francesca wants teen girls to know that they can get through high school and college while maintaining a life of integrity. “You truly can be a light in a dark place,” she says. “You don’t have to delve into drugs or sex to come out of high school with an exciting testimony. Let God keep you away from all that.”

We sometimes think that the testimonies of those who have come out of a dark world are the most powerful. But allowing God to create a testimony from a life of integrity and His power to keep you from those things is just as powerful!

“Your testimony is simply your story,” Francesca says. “And your story doesn’t have to be dramatic to be used by God. I really am free to be me. I don’t have to imitate someone else’s testimony or try and measure up to someone else’s standards. I’m free to be who God created
me to be!”

Francesca gave her heart to Christ at an early age. “It was through His grace that I was able to stick it out and remain obedient to Him,” she says. “Though I never got into drugs, sex or alcohol, I still struggled with sins that are just as bad: pride and selfishness. God is still in the process of making me a new creature. Though my testimony isn’t dramatic, it’s my story, and God is using it.”

Leaving Her Comfort Zone
Francesca attended the University of Central Florida and majored in English and creative writing. “I’m a word nerd,” she says. “I loved my English classes. I also took a lot of poetry workshops and learned a tremendous amount through this avenue.”

After graduating from college, Francesca left home. “It was tough to leave everything that was comfortable to me and move to Nashville,” she says. “I had to say goodbye to a wonderful past. It was scary. But it’s always been during these times of feeling inadequate that I’ve learned the most.”

As Francesca said goodbye to college friends, being a leader in local youth ministry and to her campus environment, she welcomed exciting opportunities in the music world and brand-new friends. She has performed with Big Daddy Weave, tobyMac, Hawk Nelson, Brandon Heath and others. Her music features an amazing blend of jazz, rock, gospel and R&B—just another example of how Francesca is living out free to be me. Instead of copying or striving to imitate someone else’s sound, she truly is herself.

We’re giving away 10 of Francesca’s CD My Paper Heart. See next month’s issue on how to win!
Go to “More on Francesca” at susiemag.com for her advice on how to make it in the music biz and thoughts on finding your true identity. Check out Francesca’s web site: www.francescamusic.com.

“Free to be Me”

At 20 years of age I’m still looking for a dream
A war is already waged for my destiny
But You’ve already won the battle
And You’ve got great plans for me
Though I can’t always see

’Cause I got a couple dents in my fender
Got a couple rips in my jeans
Try to fit the pieces together
But perfection is my enemy
And on my own I’m so clumsy
But on Your shoulders I can see
I’m free to be me

When I was just a girl I thought I had it figured out
See my life will turn out right,
And I’d make it here somehow
But things don’t always come that easy
And sometimes I would doubt

’Cause I got a couple dents in my fender
Got a couple rips in my jeans
Try to fit t the pieces together
But perfection is my enemy
And on my own I’m so clumsy
But on Your shoulders I can see
I’m free to be me
And you’re free to be you

Sometimes I believe that I can do anything
Yet other times I think I’ve got nothing good to bring
But You look at my heart and You tell me
That I’ve got all You seek
And it’s easy to believe, even though

’Cause I got a couple dents in my fender
Got a couple rips in my jeans
Try to fit the pieces together
But perfection is my enemy
And on my own I’m so clumsy
But on Your shoulders I can see
I’m free to be me

Written by Francesca Battistelli © 2008 Word Music, LLC (ASCAP)