Scottish singer, author and presenter
Musical artist
Sheila Walsh (born 5 July 1956) is a Scottish-born American contemporary Christian vocalist, songwriter, evangelist, author, inspirational speaker, and talk-show host.
Life and career
Born in Ayr, Scotland, Walsh began her career as a contemporary Christian singer after studying theology at London Bible College (now the London School of Theology) in 1979 and music at the London Academy of Operatic Art.[1] Walsh worked as an evangelist with the British chapter of Youth For Christ and sang with a group known as "The Oasis" until going solo in 1981.[1] She also worked closely at this time with keyboard player Chris Rolinson, who contributed extensively to the sound of her first "new wave" style album, Future Eyes. He also worked with her on her first United States tour, where she opened for Phil Keaggy.[1] As Walsh enjoyed some success both in the United Kingdom and America as a CCM musician, she was asked by minister Pat Robertson to serve as a co-host of his television talk-show, The 700 Club in 1987.[1] Walsh served in this capacity into 1992 and also hosted her own talk show, Heart to Heart with Sheila Walsh.
Walsh's differences in outlook with Pat Robertson and general feelings of depression prompted her to consider her life's direction.[1] After leaving Pat Robertson's enterprises in 1992 she sought therapy for her depression, eventually returning to college at Fuller Theological Seminary in California to embark upon doctoral studies in theology. Pat Robertson explained her departure from CBN as the result of a "nervous breakdown" brought on by the tremendous demands of her work with CBN. He asked his viewers to keep her in their prayers and ask God to give her the strength to continue doing his work.
Walsh went on to write a book exploring her struggle with depression and her experiences with her faith as a Christian, entitled Honestly. While Walsh had previously written several books on theology, this autobiography would become the wellspring of her later work on personal aspects of faith and would set the tone for her introspective, personal, but evangelical approach to affairs of modern theology.
Over the course of the later 1990s, Walsh's work concerned women's issues within the church and the relationship of the contemporary woman with God. She has written over seventeen books including Honestly, Living Fearlessly, and Life is Tough, but God is Faithful. She has also written several books for children recently. In addition, Walsh has continued her musical career as a songwriter and singer, recording several albums of new Christian music and traditional hymns arranged to a Celtic sound.
In 2005, Walsh partnered with Tommy Nelson publishers to create the Gigi, God's Little Princess line of children's books and DVDs.
Walsh, with her family, is now an active attendee of Prestonwood Baptist Church, in Plano, Texas.
As of 2007, Walsh has appeared on many TV programs such as: Life Today, Hour of Power and The Rock Gospel Show (BBC) among many others.[citation needed] She was a member of the team "Women of Faith" with Kari Jobe on the second season of The American Bible Challenge on GSN. Their charity was The A21 Campaign, an anti-trafficking organization that aims to abolish slavery.[2]
