Elizabeth Hunnicutt Summers

New Album and Exciting Life Update

elizabeth — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 23:57:14 +0000

It’s been awhile so I wanted to give you a quick update on some big and exciting changes in my life!!

I got married!!

In 2015, After 6 years in the San Francisco Bay Area I decided to take a sabbatical year & moved to Redding, CA to attend a ministry school where I was able to receive, be refreshed, & grow as a worship leader.

While attending school I got a call from Twin Lakes Church in Aptos, CA (near Santa Cruz) asking me to consider becoming their Associate Worship Pastor.

Meanwhile, I started being pursued by a guy named Andrew Summers, an employee of Mount Hermon Camp & Conference Center in Santa Cruz.

Naturally, I started wondering what God was doing in Santa Cruz!! In summer of 2016 after much prayer, I decided to accept the job offer, move to Santa Cruz, and start dating Andrew.

After 9 months of dating we got engaged, and 5 months later on August 27, 2017 we got married!!

I am so incredibly thankful for all that God has done and for this amazing new season! You can read more about our story at summerslove.com

New Worship Album

I am thrilled to be releasing some new music in collaboration with my new church, Twin Lakes Church, and fellow worship pastor Trent Smith.

Also available here:

Rest for Weary Travelers

elizabeth — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 18:34:09 +0000

The rain is steadily coming down outside and there is a beautiful covering of clouds over the rolling hills. We have arrived in England and have gotten settled in a home in the English countryside where we are staying for the next couple days. This is the beginning of a two week adventure here in the UK and we are excited for our time ahead, not knowing exactly what is ahead, but expectant for whatever God has in mind.

As we begin our two weeks, I’m looking back at the past month in wonder of all that have I seen and experienced, much of which was unexpected. My second day in Spain I sprained my ankle, causing me to be fairly immobile during my time in Altea. Even now, almost 6 weeks later, my ankle still has not fully recovered. Thankfully I am now walking around without crutches, but I’m not yet back to complete motion and stability. Even with this setback I was able to see God move in me and through me in beautiful ways.

Due to my injury I was mostly limited to traveling within a two block radius of our apartment. But that’s all I needed. Students would stop by our home to meet with me and I was able to help mentor students from my own sofa. Students would bring their guitars and we would play music and talk about songwriting and worship leading. I would sometimes walk downstairs for dinner at to the little Italian restaurant beneath our apartment. It was there that I became friends with several of the wait staff and a Norwegian family on holiday for the entire month of July. The family would dine there each night so we would often stop to chat as we passed by and one evening I played a song for them at their request. I was delighted when they came to a little concert of wine at the AlteArte, the mojito bar/art gallery down the street. I shared music there with various locals and a number of people visiting from other countries. It was a blast getting to share myself and my music that evening.

There in my neighborhood I also became friends with Allan and Greggo, owners of a funky little restaurant specializing in gourmet burgers. We all had a beautiful and unique bond almost instantly and I always looked forward to running into them on the sidewalk or visiting them in their restaurant. Sarah and the rest of the staff at AlteArte also became friends of ours, as I would often sit at one of their patio tables to make phone calls and access their internet. During my time limited to my neighborhood I was able to see that I didn’t need to be in all of Altea. In fact, it felt like God had strategically placed me in Old Town to get to love and bless those who were my neighbors. In many ways my relationships with those individuals would have been diluted if I would have been spending time throughout the entire town. Instead I was able to have almost daily interactions with many of my friends there. It was fun to watch the students join in and also become friends with these restaurant staff, frequently dining at these places that had become favorites of ours.

I also found a higher concentration of care when it came to the students. My usual M.O. is to get to know everyone and become friends with everyone around. However, my injury caused me to get to know a smaller number of students, allowing me to spend more time with these few individuals and pour into them at a greater level. Many students arrived with pain and brokenness in their lives, and over the course of our time there we were able to begin to see breakthroughs and steps in the right direction. We experienced students stepping out of their comfort zone and seeing God show up in beautiful ways as they extended love to Alteans. Students created beautiful pieces of art, served the community, built relationships with locals, and loved each other well. It was really a beautiful thing to see.

Towards the end of my time in Spain I was able to get around a bit more and see some different areas of the town. I also got the chance to swim in the sea on a few occasions, which were beautiful and special memories! We ate delicious food and on our last evening in town we went on a sunset cruise off the coast of Altea. We celebrated together all that God did—much more than we could have asked or imagined.

Now two friends and I are spending two weeks adventuring in the UK. We have a few stops planned along the way where we are staying with friends or friends of friends, but the rest of our time is uncharted. We feel like we are on a treasure hunt, excited to see all the surprises that God has long the way. Our first big treasure has been Jay and Teri, friends of friends who have taken us in for 2 nights. They are warm, beautiful, hospitable people who have a lovely peaceful home. It feels like an enormous gift to be under their home receiving rest, nourishment, and refreshment after a month of pouring ourselves out. I am struck by the beauty of hospitality and generosity in watching people we only met today open up their home and lives to 3 strangers. i hope to be someone who lives with my life that open and free.

Here in the English countryside I feel a bit like I’m living in a storybook. I can’t wait to see the story that is being written all around me. May my eyes, heart, mind, and soul be open. May I be ready to receive and ready to give. May I love freely and step into all that awaits me.

Brokenness and Beauty

elizabeth — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 10:24:44 +0000

I’ve been in Altea, Spain for one week now and it hasn’t been anything like I imagined it would be. Since injuring my ankle 11 days ago, my world has been turned upside down. The trip I had been looking forward to for months has looked very different than I planned. I guess in some ways it’s a microcosm of life in general. You envision life going one way and oftentimes you get sideswiped by something you didn’t see coming. It’s not necessarily bad, and oftentimes you can see the positive in it, but it still is unexpected.

Now that a week has passed, my spirits are higher than my first couple days here. It’s still really hard to get around the cobblestone streets and steps on my crutches, I’m still in pain, and I’m missing out on several things that the larger group is participating in. During my first days in Altea I felt extremely overwhelmed and disappointed, and now I feel like I’m in a place of accepting what IS. No this isn’t ideal and I’m still struggling to see the good in my situation, but I’m beginning to see glimmers of hope. So much of me wants to write a blog post that ties everything up in a bow and says “Ta-da! Now I know the grand design behind why my ankle got sprained! Isn’t God good?” But I don’t have a neat and tidy explanation. Even still, I’m seeing good more and more and encouragement seems a little easier to find.

The street we live on is in the Old Town section of Altea. You can only walk through the cobblestone streets, as they are narrow. There are a variety of cafes, restaurants, shops, and just beneath my bedroom window is a lovely Italian restaurant. As i write this I can hear someone strumming beautifully on a classical guitar—it really feels like a scene from a movie. Here in Spain people often eat dinner and 10pm and it is not uncommon to see people out until 1:00 or 2:00. Most nights I fall asleep to the sound of glasses and silverware clinking, and Spaniards talking and laughing with one another 20 feet from me. These streets are extremely picturesque with flowers, terraces, and history around every corner. From the terrace on our roof we can see the Mediterranean as it meets the lower section of town. It all is truly stunning. In some ways it’s very strange to be in such a beautiful and romantic place, and yet be hobbling around on crutches. It’s become comedic for me to watch the stares, pointing, and comments from people as I slowly pass by. I can see the empathy on their faces as they wonder in confusion how in the world I am navigating these streets and this town on forearm crutches, and some of them stop to inquire about the accident as I walk by. One of the blessings I am experiencing is that my ankle truly has become a conversation piece. Just as you find with someone walking a dog or carrying a baby, they somehow seem more approachable. I have met several people in our little neighborhood for this very reason. So far I have become friends with 3 different restaurant owners on our block and I have my bum ankle to thank. These are people who I literally see everyday. I’m looking forward to seeing what friendships are forged from this injury.

The students we are working with arrived on Saturday. They are incredible and they are all very hungry for God. Many of them are in places of transition or brokenness in life, and they have come hoping to draw closer to God and receive what He has for them. I’ve begun to meet with a couple of them and I am blown away by how mature and open they are, desiring God’s best for their lives. I’m disappointed to have to skip out on several of the group activities because of accessibility, but I’m trusting that God will pave the way for the right relationships to still be formed.

My ankle and “missing out” on things has meant a lot of solitude and quiet for me. We don’t have internet at our apartment (except for a sketchy wifi signal from the Italian Restaurant below us), which means that it’s a lot harder to be “productive” or feel connected to the outside world. It has resulted in a lot of time alone. I’m calling this time “forced rest.” Often times even on my weekly Sabbath I will go on an adventure or a hike, and rarely am I truly still. During these last 10 days I’ve had a lot of being in one place and my options are limited: read, sleep, play guitar, pray, journal, or sit on the terrace in the sun. My natural tendency in settings like this trip is to want to “go go go,” get to know everyone, sleep very little, and not miss out on anything. None of those things are an option in my current scenario. This is a time of quiet, reflection, and solitude. These things are good. They’re not always what I naturally choose, but they are good.

So I continue to sit in a place of receiving — trying to soak in what God has for me during this season, and trying to accept help from others. I truly believe that our God is a God of redemption and He will redeem this. I’m thankful to be seeing bits of the redemption already, and I will sit with arms open ready to receive whatever is coming.

An Honest Word

elizabeth — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 10:55:59 +0000

I made it safely to Altea last night. It was quite the adventurous journey with some close calls, but I am really thankful to be here. This place is beautiful–really beautiful. The sea is a beautiful blue and the temporary apartment we are in today is overlooking the water with a beautiful terrace.

Last night I got to meet our staff team over dinner. They are all incredible and I am looking forward to the couple days we have together before the students come on Saturday. Part of me is really excited to see what is ahead, but if I’m honest I’m not in the best of spirits today. I am generally an extremely positive person and I am notorious for finding the good in any situation. But today I’m feeling frustrated, sad, disappointed, and worried. I’m at the point where my body is starting to hurt in new ways from the stress of my injury. My right ankle, which I injured, has always been my good ankle, so now my left ankle is starting to hurt from all the strain on it. On top of that my hands and arms are aching from my forearm crutches. As we talk about our schedule in the days ahead, it’s sinking in how much I really won’t be able to do. I love to walk and explore and for these first couple weeks I’m going to be restricted mostly to the house that I will be staying in, which is in the upper part of the city, away from the water.

I know that everything will be fine and I will make it through. In time my ankle will heal and I will be able to join in with everything here in Altea. It just sucks right now. And in the midst of it all I’m realizing that it’s not very often that I’m in a state of helplessness or despair. I don’t often stop to mourn and admit sadness, but I’m facing it head on right now. As I read this post back I immediately start judging myself and think “come on, get it together. Trust God.” I also get worried of what others might think about my outlook and assume “Gosh, she doesn’t have much faith. Doesn’t she know God works everything together for good? She’s such a downer.” But I know that if I am to share my joy and triumphs, then I also must share the discouragement along the way.

Thank you for your prayers and encouraging words. I mean it when I say that they are both welcome and needed right now. Love to you all!

Learning to Receive

elizabeth — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 16:25:05 +0000

When I mentioned that I thought I was entering a season of receiving, I didn’t think that it would look like this.

Yesterday morning, my friend Emily and I headed out for churros con chocolate and then on to a Sunday open air market filled with handmade goods, Spanish traditional items, and plenty of tourist items. The market was set up in the middle of a street that was blocked off for the occasion and it was buzzing with energy, packed with people. I picked out a lovely leather purse at a steal of a deal and we continued on. I remember looking down for a moment to adjust the items in my purse and secure it to avoid pick-pocketers, when I suddenly found myself on the ground. On the stone street there was a step down that I hadn’t seen and I fell, hearing a loud crack as my ankle gave way. I knew that what happened wasn’t good, but given my history of many ankle injuries I was hoping that maybe if I sat there for a few moments I would be able to just walk it off and be fine. Not the case. We hobbled out of the market and hailed a taxi to take us back to Emily’s apartment. I limped up the 4 flights of stairs and we immediately iced and elevated my ankle. We let a couple hours go by and my ankle appeared to only be getting worse. We scoured the internet looking for home ankle remedies, and how to recognize a sprain vs. a break. Just when I’d be convinced that I had a sprain, there would be a line that said “many breaks are mistaken as sprains.” Not helpful. After a couple hours my friends Emily and Katya decided that we really should go to the ER. So down the steps we went and into another taxi.

They rolled me into the ER in a wheelchair and I was immediately extremely thankful to have 2 Spanish speakers with me as they talked with the receptionist and got me checked in. We waited and all had a great laugh as we heard them call my name over the intercom “ehlihzabehth Hooneecoot.” After a consultation, they decided to X-Ray my ankle. We all let out a sigh of relief as they relayed the news that my ankle was not broken and was just a bad sprain. The doctor told me to mostly stay off of my ankle for the next 2 weeks, continue to elevate it, compress it, ice it, and take ibuprofen. We headed back to the apartment, hobbled up the 4 flights of stairs again, and the girls went out to the Farmacia to fetch me crutches and a compression wrap. When they got back to the apartment it was a constant stream of getting me pillows, blankets, snacks, drinks, books, my laptop, etc. We had been planning to go to a bar to watch a Spain futbol match, but I knew that I couldn’t do those stairs again today. I encouraged them to continue on with their plans while I stayed behind but instead they decided to stream the game and have friends over to the apartment. So thoughtful. We ordered pizza and had a relaxing evening huddled around a laptop. This morning I woke up and was met with coffee and breakfast prepared for me and brought to my bedside. Such a blessing and so…difficult.

There is nothing more humbling than having to rely on others. I pride myself on being an independent woman who can take care of herself. This past week has been full of things that I couldn’t do myself. A week ago today I packed up all my stuff and headed north to Redding. I needed help packing and moving furniture, and I needed my friend Alison to make the trek with me so that I wouldn’t be alone. When we arrived in Redding we needed help unloading the van and 2 guys we didn’t even know showed up to help. As I have prepared for this summer and the coming school year I have needed financial help, and my friends have showed up, with one of them setting up a ministry fund for me and others contributing to it. When I landed here in Spain I didn’t know where I was going and Emily met me at the airport to escort me back to her place where she would be hosting me for 5 days. And now with my injury I have needed constant help with food, ice, pillows, books, and getting around. In 2 days I will need to travel from Madrid to Altea, where I will spend the next 5 weeks. I have no idea how this is going to work. I am on crutches and I will be traveling with a suitcase, handbag, and guitar. I will need help. And once I get to Altea I will be homebound for awhile since walking is our only mode of transportation there. I will need help.

When Emily or Katya ask “do you need anything?” or “can I help?” I want so badly to say “no thanks” or “I got it.” But the truth is that I actually do need help. And getting help takes both someone offering it and someone receiving it. So I’m learning how to say “yes, can you get me some water?” or “would you mind grabbing my laptop and bringing it in here?” or “yes, I’m hungry, thanks for offering to make me dinner.” I know that Jesus is caring for me through these people who are serving me and through others who are praying for me back home and being an emotional support. I’m slowly learning to say “I need help” and “thank you,” knowing that I won’t be able to repay people for their kindness. I am very aware of my need and as I receive help I’m becoming more and more acquainted with the beautiful undeserving nature of grace.

Lord, help me to receive. Help me know that it’s okay to not have it all together and not be strong all the time. Help me receive love and care, and help me rely on others. Open my heart to what You want to do in this season and what you want to teach me and grow in me.

Spain, School and Sabbatical

elizabeth — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 23:11:02 +0000

A lot of changes have been brewing for me this spring and I am excited to share them with you!

The short version: I moved to Redding, this fall I’m going to a ministry school, and this summer I am in Spain.

The longer version:

School

Last year I began to experience a stronger desire to receive more training and schooling. God has been doing a lot in my life and for over a year I have been praying about the possibility of attending Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry in Redding, CA. After many months of discernment, finally this Spring I felt like I finally got the green light to pursue school for this fall. As I look to the months ahead, I’m excited for a season of personal growth and further ministry training. In many ways I don’t know what to expect, but I know that God has good things ahead.

Move

The decision to go to school has meant moving 3 hours north. I have learned over the years that with every “yes,” there is a “no” that also accompanies it. In this case it has meant leaving Open Door and the Bay Area. This was a very difficult decision given that this community holds a dear place in my heart and has been a place of significant formation for me over the last 6 years. However, I’m confident that God is leading me on into this next chapter. Open Door was very much part of my processing and I have been overwhelmed by their support and love over the past few months as we have prepared for my transition off staff. This past Sunday was my last day and on Monday I packed up and moved to Redding.

Spain

While I was discerning my decision to go to school, there also arose a ministry opportunity for this summer in Spain. My good friend, Cari Jenkins, is directing a month long discipleship/immersion/arts program for U.S. college students in Altea, Spain and she invited me to come be part of her staff for the summer. With my upcoming school transition, I felt like this was a wonderful, unique, and timely opportunity to wrap up my job and go be part of this ministry in Spain before school begins.

Sabbatical

After 13 years in vocational ministry, I am excited for a sabbatical year of sorts. This is a great opportunity for me to step back and have a season of adventure, receiving, and learning. Throughout this coming year I will continue to write, perform, and lead worship, but it will be on a smaller scale given my school and ministry commitments. I am extremely excited for this coming year and thankful to many who have partnered with me to make it possible.

I will be posting periodic updates on both my time in Spain and at school, and I would love for you to join me for the ride! There is quite the adventure ahead! You can follow my blog here or check out my pictures on Instagram.

Thanks again for all your support! I’m so very thankful to be in this with you. Praying God’s blessings on your summer.

Elizabeth

The Release of My New Album – The Arrival

risa — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 05:14:29 +0000

For as long as I can remember I have dreamed of recording a collection of songs specifically for this season. For the last few years I have been writing songs that tell the story of the coming of Christ with hopes of recording them. Finally the right time came and this past summer I was able to record “The Arrival” in Minneapolis with talented producer Matt Patrick.

As I planned for this record I had a desire to not only sing Christmas songs, but also songs for the season of Advent – a season of longing and waiting. Though Christ has already come, we remain in a world that is not yet perfect. We long for things to be made right, and for the day when Christ will come again. “The Arrival” is a mix of both songs that cry out for things to be restored, and songs that celebrate that God is now with us. Half of the songs on the album originals and the other half are remakes of some of my personal Christmas favorites, including “O Holy Night.”

My hope is that these songs would accompany you through this season– one that is often of mixture of celebration, disappointment, remembering, loss, and hope. Our God is “Emmanuel”–He is with us!

elizabeth

Giving Up

elizabeth — Mon, 06 Jan 2014 23:05:34 +0000

It’s really humbling when you come face to face with your own humanity. There are days when I think I’m doing pretty well on this difficult journey of life and I find myself looking like the person I want to become more and more. And then there are other days where the reminders of my flesh seem to slap me in the face. I see my selfishness, insecurities, fears, judgement of others, self-protection, and greed. I’m finding that when hints of these come up I’m given a few different options:

I can try to deny these ugly realities and do my best to ignore them, pretending that these things have no place in my character and doing my best to cover them up. “Who? Me? Be selfish and insecure?? Nonsense!”
I can dwell on them, feel defeated and wondering if this is just my true colors showing. This can lead to a feeling of hopelessness, wondering if I will ever truly change. For me this leads to questions like “Would people really love me if they knew this about me?” or worse, “Does God really love me and care about me in the midst of my failings?”
I can try harder. I can make myself busy and fill my schedule with things that look and smell like good things. I can exhaust myself trying to do everything in my own power to be “good” and hope that this good outweighs the bad. The hope in this is that I will be loved as a result.
I can give them up to God and set my mind on what is true. This includes the truth about my identity and mission. The truth about me is that I have been redeemed. Yes, I am not perfect, but I am loved. The core of who I am is no longer “failure,” but “beloved.” And He has actually empowered me with His Spirit to live into my true identity and calling as a citizen of Heaven. This looks like someone who embraces hope, love, and trust. I’m less concerned with who I once was and more focused on who I’m becoming. I choose to believe the best about others and have eyes to see who they are becoming. I allow myself to lean on Jesus and trust that He is who He says He is: a good, gracious God who cares dearly for His children. I am transformed by this revolutionary love and it compels me to love others. I give up my own plans, trading them in for God’s vision. I listen for His voice and follow where He leads.

So today as you find yourself stumbling, remember that there is One who is there ready to embrace you and help you take the next step on your journey. You can’t do it on your own, but then again, you were never asked to.

Poland Update

risa — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 18:18:39 +0000

I regret to announce that due to unforeseen schedule and financial circumstances, I have felt led to back out of this year’s Poland tour. I am disappointed that it won’t work out to be part of the tour this year, but I am hopeful that I will have the opportunity to be part of another Poland tour sometime in the future. I am grateful for my experience in Poland last year and I will be praying for the rest of the team as they prepare to go. I continue to be passionate about ministry both here in the States and abroad. I am excited and prayerful for what doors God might open up next for me and my music. Thanks so much for your ongoing support and prayers. You are a vital part of this ministry and I am grateful to get to partner with you!

I’m going to Poland again!

risa — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 23:48:39 +0000

This May/June I have the opportunity to once again tour in Poland as part of a music and ministry experience with a handful of other music groups. Last year’s trip was a powerful experience, watching God work through music and relationships in a foreign context. We played music for a variety of audiences at festivals, cathedrals, clubs, schools, and parks. We met countless people, shared our music, and watched God build bridges and form friendships in a different culture. It was beautiful getting to witness what God is up to in the unique soil of Poland. As a post-communist country, many of them are being introduced to God for the first time. Many have grown up going to a catholic church, but haven’t heard the good news of Jesus. I’ll never forget sitting on a bench one day outside of a Cathedral before Mass reading my Bible when some curious teenagers came and began talking to me. They were fascinated that I not only owned a Bible, but was sitting and reading it. They were captivated by Jesus and the idea that they could actually know Him. Last year I believe that our team was able to plant seeds and help till the soil where God is at work.

I am one of only a few people from our team who is able to return this year, and I’m excited for the opportunity to continue in some of these relationships that began last year. There will be many new people joining our team, including a large number of college students. I’m also really looking forward to pouring into these students during our bus rides and time together.

I would be honored if you would pray for our team while we are preparing to go, and during our time there. While we have an itinerary our trip, we long to be sensitive to God’s voice and HIs leading as we make decisions and have conversations with people. And if God leads you, then I invite you to consider giving towards our team. Thanks to airline miles and people’s purchase of Undone (all the proceeds go to my overseas ministry work), the majority of my expenses will be covered (about $2800). But there is still a deficit of about $700. If you want to give, you can do so here. All gifts are tax-deductible.

It is an honor getting to partner with you in the work that God is doing around the world. Thanks for helping to spread the good news through music!

elizabeth