Staff writer Victoria Bowlin sat down with up and coming group Master’s Promise. Get to know this talented group that’s already been nominated for Absolutely Gospel Music Awards and Singing News Fan Awards!
Victoria Bowlin: How did Master’s Promise come to be?
Rachael Sancricca: Hannah and I grew up with Gospel music. Our grandparents and uncles traveled and sang for years as a mixed group called The Dobbs Family. As a kid, I always thought I would one day end up traveling with them; but by the time I was old enough to travel, my grandfather had come off the road to pastor a church. Little did I know, that’s where God would start our ministry. My sister, Hannah, our next-door-neighbor, Katelyn, and myself started singing together at that church every week.
Between my family, who all served there, and our musically brilliant music directors, Grover and Sue Kahl, we were surrounded by people who taught us, challenged us, and nurtured our love for music and ministry.
We were eventually offered some opportunities to sing in other churches around the community, and we prayed really hard about it before we did anything. Well, to be honest, it was more like our parents prayed really hard. At 13, 15, and 16 years old, we were just excited about the opportunity! But our parents knew how much life would change for all of us if we really got serious about traveling.
Thank God, our families were overwhelmed with peace about it. We trusted the Lord, and decided to give it a try for one summer. After that summer, doors continued to open for us, and in 2013, we released our very first album, “Not Alone,” at our very first concert ever as Master’s Promise.
VB: Who are the group members, and where are you all from?
RS: Master’s Promise currently consists of Hannah and I. (Rachel and Hannah Sancricca.) We are sisters, from Southeastern Michigan.
VB: What is your goal as an artist?
RS: Our goal is to meet individuals where they are with the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, through music and testimony. Our heart is to create an environment that cultivates worship, surrender, God-given purpose, redemption, and restoration.
VB: Do you write any of your own music?
RS: I write most of our music, but we have also cut many songs over the years which were written by other writers and friends, whom we treasure.
VB: What’s new with Master’s Promise? Any exciting things coming up?
RS: Well, just about everything is new with us this year! We released two new albums—Still the Blood and Repainted—in February, and we are currently traveling for the first time ever as a duo.
This season feels like the bridge between where we’ve come from, and where we’re going. We don’t know exactly where that is, but we know it’s going to be good. We’ve seen some tough times this year, but through it all, God has been ever-faithful and strengthening. He has planted some seeds in us and in our ministry that we are excited to see come to fruition very soon.
VB: What is your favorite song that you sing?
RS: Ahhhhhh. This question is impossible. There is no way around the three-way tie between “We Need The Blood,” “He Knows My Name,” and “Through It All.” To me, they are different, but equally powerful moments each night.
“We Need The Blood,” brings an indescribable presence to the room, often bringing us all either to our feet, or to our knees.
“He Knows My Name” is one of the most powerful crowd reactions I’ve ever seen—every time. It is so monumental to me, watching precious souls come to the realization that their Creator knows who they are. Often, even believers look as though they are coming to this understanding for the first time.
“Through It All” pours out this amazing spirit of unity. We have all had to endure difficult, and even terrible things, and when all we come together as one voice, lifting praise to the One who brought us through, there is so much power. When I pause and hear all those voices singing “I’ve learned to trust in Jesus, I’ve learned to trust in God,” it always encourages me.
VB: What’s the funniest moment you’ve had on the road?
RS: We were traveling to sing at a state park in southern Ohio, super late at night. There was absolutely no street lighting, and the only hope we had of getting where we were going, was following the GPS. It tells us to make this sharp right turn, that we immediately realize has us going nearly straight-up some kind of mountain. Once we have our entire vehicle AND trailer going up this thing, the GPS says out loud, “Park your car and walk TWO MILES to your destination.” We stop the car in dead silence, long enough for me to say, “What?” And then we were all in tears. It took our slaphappy selves several minutes to recover, and then we realized that on the driver’s side was an enormous cliff, plummeting down who knows how far. We had to slowly back down the slope with our trailer, onto a 55-MPH highway, on a curve, in the pitch dark. Thankfully, we survived. And we laughed the entire rest of the way to our destination.
VB: Who are your vocal inspirations?
RS: We have had a very diverse collection of artists who have influenced our sound over the years. From Christy Nockels and Kari Jobe, to The Booth Brothers and The Kingdom Heirs, to Lifehouse and The Civil Wars. The list goes on and on, spanning several genres and several styles of vocalists.
VB: What has been your most rewarding moment?
RS: Every time we see someone respond to the message and the Holy Spirit is the greatest reward. Most recently, a lady came up to me after a concert, and said through tears, “I want you to know that this concert changed my life tonight. I am going to let God repaint me. I have things that I need to let go of—and I’m going to.”
VB: How can people get in touch with you and keep up with your tour schedule?
RS: We are on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Our website is www.masterspromise.com.
