Bringing the word of God to the masses takes charisma and the sensibilities of a storyteller. These are qualities that congregation leaders have employed for centuries to inspire their flocks--but one of the most powerful tools given to them by God is that of music.

Enter the contemporary Christian artist. Able to both explore their spirituality and stoke the fires of faith, Christian singers and songwriters have an important job on their hands. And of all the prominent Christian musicians working in the recording industry today, Katy Troccoli is one of the most respected.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Troccoli rose to fame in the '80s, and was often compared to fellow Christian pop singer Amy Grant. She had been raised in a musical family, and by junior high was already impressing her peers and teachers by singing Carole King covers during school talent shows. Her debut record, Stubborn Love, gave her the opportunity to bring her gorgeous, sultry voice to the public. Not surprisingly, her talent was rewarded by a devoted listener base. A string of strong albums would be issued throughout the '90s, and even on her latest release, 2006's The Story of Love, she appears unwilling to ever let a less-than-stellar track touch one of her albums.

Troccoli has also branched into writing, penning several devotional-themed books, including Spaghetti for the Soul, Am I Still Not God?, Live Like You Mean It and the co-authored Falling in Love with Jesus. She's had 17 number one radio hits, two Dove awards and three Grammy nominations to her name. In 2003, Kathy Troccoli was celebrated by the magazine readers of Today's Christian Woman as one of the most influential Christian women in the country. Her music continues to serve the Lord and inspire.