Helen Smallbone - Behind the Lights

K-LOVE Books

5700 West Oaks Blvd

Rocklin, CA 95765

Copyright 2022 Helen Smallbone

All rights reserved. Except as permitted by the US Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted without prior written permission from the publisher. For information, please contact .

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation. Copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from THE MESSAGE. Copyright 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

Songwriters: Ben Glover / Joel Smallbone / Kyle Rictor / Luke Smallbone / Tedd T Its Not Over Yet lyrics Warner Chappell Music, Inc, R1way Music Publishing

Printed in the United States of America.

First edition: 2022

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

ISBN: 978-1-954201-24-8 (Hardcover)

ISBN: 978-1-954201-25-5 (E-book)

ISBN: 978-1-954201-26-2 (Audiobook)

Publishers Cataloging-in-Publication data

Names: Smallbone, Helen, author. | Stillwell, Lisa, author.

Title: Behind the lights : the extraordinary adventure of a mum and her family / by Helen Smallbone with Lisa Stilwell.

Description: Franklin, TN: K-LOVE Books, 2022.

Identifiers: ISBN: 978-1-954201-24-8 (hardcover) | 978-1-954201-25-5 (e-book) | 978-1-954201-26-2 (audiobook)

Subjects: LCSH Smallbone, Helen--Family. | Smallbone family. | St. James, Rebecca. | For King & Country (Musical group) | Contemporary Christian musicians--Biography. | Christian living. | BISAC RELIGION / Christian Living / Personal Memoirs

Classification: LCC ML420 .S63 2022 | DDC 782.25092--dc23

Cover and interior design by Dexterity, in partnership with Brain Design and PerfecType.

Cover photo by Mitchell Schleper.

Praise for Behind the Lights

Ive known Helen Smallbone for over thirty years and have watched her navigate her journey as a wife and mother of seven with grace and determination. She has been committed to allowing God to order her steps in unconventional yet wholesome ways in order to love her family well and live fearlessly.... This book will dare you to be different so you and your children can fulfill your destiny and do greater things than you could ever imagine.

Jackie Patillo , president and executive director of the Gospel Music Association

Helen is a reflection of strength and relentless perseverance. The story of her life has encouraged me to never stop fighting for my family, my faith, and my joy. Her character is rooted deep in Gods truth, and her kindness for others is infectious. Behind the Lights reflects her raw authenticity of truth and always choosing whats right over what is easy. You will be challenged in your faith, relationships with others, and living a life above reproach. The world will read Behind the Lights and be encouraged to see how Helen walks through hard things and yet comes out looking very different than most do on the other side.

Heather Houle, cofounder of MUMlife

Make sure youre buckled in, because it was quite a treacherous and miraculous journey as we, the Smallbone family, fumbled our way toward learning how to sing harmoniously in the lights and, even more importantly, behind them. We believe this book tells the story of all the lessons we were taught growing up with heart and courage. Behind the Lights truly demonstrates that life is a remarkable adventure.

Joel and Luke , for KING & COUNTRY

Helen and her entire marvelous family have been dear friends of mine since we first met at the Sydney Opera House for a couple concerts back in the 70s. Theyre family to my husband Pelle and me! It is a joy to see how God has directed each one of them in life and in music ministry. Jesus has always been the focus, and for that, I salute and thank them.

Evie Karlsson , Dove Awardwinning music artist

Helen was my first mentor almost twenty years ago, and I have watched her be brave, wise, joyful (that laugh!), trusting in the Lords provisions, and always prayerfulall behind the scenes. What millions see on stages around the world is possible largely because of the stable and happy home Helen created around the dinner tableeven if that dinner table was on a tour bus. I am genuinely delighted for you to get to meet her and learn from her. Youll be inspired to surrender yourself to the amazing adventure God has for you. I know I have been.

Heidi Reeves , mother of three and mentee of Helen Smallbone

To the legacy given us by our parents:
Geoff and Jean Francis
Jim and Betty Smallbone

The greatest legacy one can pass on to ones
children and grandchildren is not money...
but rather a legacy of character and faith.
Billy Graham

Contents

Foreword

P rayer hugs to calm my nerves before going onstage as a teenager. Talks about anything and everything while sitting on Mum and Dads bed. Folding washing, doing dishes, cleaning houses together. Asking for parenting advice in the kitchen at the farm during a drop-in visit. Watching Mum in the role of grandmother to my children. The thousands of memories I have of the woman who wrote this book are priceless! Prepare to be blessed and inspired by herlike she has blessed and inspired me. But before you embark on her remarkable journey, Id like to say a few thoughts about my mother, thoughts that hopefully give you extra insight into who she is.

My mum is real. This book reads like Mum is sitting in her living room sharing her story with you over a cup of tea. This is truly who she is. After being second mum in our family and her right hand, I feel like I can read Mum very welllike a book, actually. I love that Behind the Lights invites you to read her heart, our story, in such an authentic way. Reading parts of our journey in this book brought me to tears as memories came to mind that I havent thought about in decades. Our story has never been documented like this before now, and the fact that Mum has shared so honestly and authentically speaks to the true person. You are reading her .

My mum is servant-hearted. On family holidays when the family gathers, she is in the kitchen for hours, cooking, preparing a tasty meal for the family she loves. Im not sure how she is available for all of us seven grown kids when we need her for advice, grandbaby-sitting, or care of any sort, but she is. She has sown faithfully into her family, and now, in recent years, into other moms lives and their families. She has passionately poured herself into Mom to Mom meetings, then MUMlife, and now the masses with her podcast through AccessMore. She has viewed each as a privilege to serve, and her energy for it comes from purposeher God-given mission.