Arise

Sally Klein O'Connor

Sally and Michael met in a songwriting class hosted by writer Jack Segal (When Sunny Gets Blue & Scarlet Ribbons). They were attracted to each other’s songs and began collaborating. Having graduated Berklee College of Music, Sally was the melody of their partnership. A native of Los Angeles, she originally moved to Boston to pursue a Theatre Arts major at Boston University. But two years into the program she realized that music was closer to her heart and enrolled at Berklee. Returning to Southern California a couple years later, she wanted to work on her songwriting and registered for Jack Segal’s class. During the course of the class Michael and Sally realized the deep dream in each of their hearts was to write “songs that mattered.” Although Sally started piano lessons at 5 she stopped playing during her time in college, with the exception of writing songs. It wasn’t until she moved back to L.A. and came to faith that the Lord brought her back to playing the piano. She led worship at Ahavatzion Messianic Synagogue in Beverly Hills, she did concerts for the Rock of Israel Ministries, and periodically was part of the worship team at the Valley Vineyard Christian Fellowship. After she married Michael, and sometime after Dusty Rose was born, God began to open a door for their songs to be heard. As Sally shared in her concerts for the Rock of Israel Ministries, located then in Van Nuys, she was encouraged to give her testimony as a Jewish believer in Jesus, and sing some Messianic worship songs, along with one or two of the songs she and Michael had written. But it wasn’t until Moishe Rosen, founder of Jews for Jesus, heard Sally at one of the Ingatherings (ministry retreats) that the Lord opened a door for their music. She played one song Improbable People for Impossible Tasks and Moishe offered to fund their first album, Hey God, Are You Talkin’ To Me? Moishe then encouraged them to begin an independent ministry together. As a result, Improbable People Ministries began July 15, 1990.

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