Soul of 78: Starla Darnell

Pastor and Worship Leader, Cornerstone Church

Words by Jenny Lynn Davis | Image by Justin Hunter

Music has always been the language of Starla Darnell's faith.

She vividly remembers the moment she first committed her life to God. "I was six years old," she recalls, "and I told my mom I wanted to go down during the altar call to receive Jesus into my heart."

That early decision marked the beginning of her faith journey, but it wasn't until she was a teenager that she truly felt the depth of what it meant to walk with Christ.

At sixteen, on a youth trip to the WinterFest conference, Starla experienced what she describes as a life-changing moment. Standing in the crowd, she watched the prestigious A Capella choir, The Voices of Lee, perform. "I stood there in the nosebleed seats, and I prayed, God, if I could ever do something like that, use my voice in that way, I'd do it all for Your glory," she recounts. That prayer ignited something inside her a deeper, more personal relationship with God, and a sense that her voice was a gift to be used for His purpose

That prayer would come full circle when Starla enrolled as a student at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee. Although initially unsure of her talent, she auditioned for The Voices of Lee. Despite her doubts, Starla made the group. "I sang as low as I could because they needed an alto," she laughs. "I had nothing to lose, but I never expected to make it."

Over the next four years, Starla traveled the country with the ensemble, performing everywhere from small towns to The White House. "It was surreal," she says. "I saw all of the states except Alaska and Hawaii while I was with Voices, and I just kept thinking, "God truly met me in that prayer back at WinterFest."

But Starla's love for music started much earlier. "My parents said I would sing constantly, which would drive them crazy sometimes," she smiles. Her grandmother, a singer herself, had a profound influence on Starla. "When I was 14, a worship leader at church who knew my grandmother came up to me and said, 'I bet you can sing like her. Come sing with us." By 15, Starla was leading worship on her own.

Now, as the administrative pastor and worship leader at Cornerstone Church in Jasper, Starla feels at home leading worship every week. "God gives us specific gifts to use to enjoy Him," she reflects. "Every time I sing, it's refreshing. It's an experience with God, and I've learned that if I use my talent with the right heart, God will bless it."

More than anything, Starla's journey has been about faithfulness — trusting in God's timing and using the gifts He has given her. Now, she hopes to inspire others to do the same. "I want to help others find their voice, just like God helped me find mine." 78