Bio

Hey, my name is Joel. I’m a musician, writer, and teacher. For the past two years I’ve been serving as a missionary around the world.

Growing up I was "the small kid,” and was teased constantly for it. As a result I came to the conclusion my life didn’t matter. But halfway through high school things changed.

I stopped trying to do life my way and asked God about his way. In the mornings I prayed that God would use me to show His love to others. And things started to happen. Peoples’ lives began to change around me, and they were saying it was because of me. I couldn't believe it.

In college, during a time of worshiping God, the Holy Spirit sat me down and told me to open my Bible. He directed me to 1 Timothy 4:12 where Paul wrote to Timothy, “Set an example for all the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.” I could feel the Holy Spirit speaking those words directly to me.

Throughout my life while learning to trust God and changing my focus from myself to loving Him and loving others He's made it clear that the plans He has for me are far from small or insignificant. But it isn’t what I do that makes me feel “significant.” It’s Him.

Since I graduated from college I’ve served in missions on the six livable continents. I've spent time with youth living in streets and helped men and women left to die on sidewalks and train platforms. I’ve shared my relationship with God in the States and abroad, in churches and schools, on planes and taxis, in offices and the wilderness. Now from Sept. 2010-June 2011 I'm receiving a stronger Biblical foundation through Youth With A Mission to prepare myself for what's ahead.

I know that we cannot save the world; we cannot end poverty, disease, loneliness, war. But we do have the open arms of a God much bigger than our comprehension inviting us to become a part of an eternal hope, love and redemption He offers. I hope that together, in putting ourselves aside, we can allow God to do His work of transformation through us in our communities, our schools, our workplace, and the world.

Thank you for your time and your prayers. Grace and peace be with you.

Things I've Made to Sell

Music CD

I recorded a music EP titled SUNSHINE about a year ago.

Unfortunately I sold out, but I can send you the songs directly through the internet (8 tracks).

Just let me know how much you'd like to donate and I'll send it your way. You can contact me at jmlemaire@gmail.com.

To get an idea of what my music sounds like you can check out Open Mic Night in Australia or go to my Music Website.


T-Shirt

I designed a t-shirt that will be selling in a week or two. The design is built off of this picture and is titled "we are the branches".

Soon you'll be able to order the shirt on-line at www.iamundignified.com. If you click on "TEAM" and then on my picture you'll get to the shirt I designed. You get a free music EP if you purchase a shirt : )

How I Came to YWAM Montana

When I got to South Korea in August 2009 I started to feel a strong desire to know God more through studying the Bible. I began, for the first time, to read the Bible through from Genesis to Revelation.

While I was in Australia with Youth With A Mission I saw some people in a training program focused on studying the Bible. My initial reaction was, "Wow, I'm so glad I'm not in that school." Later I was told about another training program YWAM provided that was devoted to studying the Bible even more in-depth. This is the School of Biblical Studies (SBS).

Though I was nervous about it, I was drawn to ask questions about the program. First I learned that the students read the Bible at least six times in the course of 9 months. I then learned that it was focused on teaching the big picture as well as important details found in every paragraph of each book integrating historical and cultural background. For a few months my fears of getting overwhelmed in the academics of studying the Bible in such an intensive program kept me from accepting it as a possibility for the next step.

Finally, one week that was particularly stressful God told me to tell a few specific people to pray for me about the SBS. Later that week I woke up with an unexpected peace.

Since then I've applied for the School of Biblical Studies have been accepted.

I'm excited to be in a program that will strengthen my foundation in my relationship with God and help me prepare to be used in more ways to fulfill Jesus' calling for as His disciples and God's children.