A native of Bakersfield, Calif., Williams grew up in a musical family, singing in churches with her parents and two older sisters from the time she was old enough to hold a microphone. Her voice was so powerful that she was invited to join the worship team at her home church at the tender age of ten.

Despite such early exposure, she admits singing in front of people did not come easy. "I had horrible stage fright. I was terrified to be in front of people. But I discovered that when I entered into worship, everything else just faded away. Suddenly, singing in front of people wasn't scary at all."

While Williams loved to worship and to lead others in worship, she never seriously considered singing as a full time gig. In fact, there was a point in her life where she took her remarkable God-given voice for granted — until it was damaged in a mini-stroke brought on by a freak accident. Thankfully, God healed her body and she made a full recovery, promising to use her gift for the Lord. Still, when the call came from a church in Las Vegas, Nev. looking for a new worship leader, she was hesitant to accept.

"I already had a job at my church in Bakersfield that I was happy with and I didn't relish leaving my home, family and friends to move to a city that, let's face it, doesn't have a reputation for being particularly spiritual," Williams explained. This was definitely a Jonah moment for her.

After much prayer and counsel with her pastor, Williams recognized the opportunity to lead the worshippers at Valley Bible Fellowship Las Vegas as a legitimate call from God to be a light in a dark place.

"Las Vegas is a pretty crazy city. There is some serious spiritual warfare and you feel that when you come here," Williams says of the city she now calls home. "I really believe that God has protection over me. If I weren't supposed to be here, or if I came here on my own accord, maybe I wouldn't have that kind of protection and it would be a little harder for me."

Williams' vivacious personality, glorious vocal ability and obvious grounding in the Lord created such a buzz in the community that record labels soon came calling. N Season Records offered her a recording contract within a week of meeting the young singer, but Williams says she wasn't sure that was the direction the Lord had for her. It would be another six months of prayerful consideration before she felt the nudge of God's hand, urging her out of her comfort zone once again.

Williams has approached recording her debut CD with prayerfulness, seeking to produce music that will encourage believers while also attracting those who may not yet know Christ as Savior. In addition to soaking up musical influences from her native West Coast, Williams immersed herself in the Nashville music scene, recording with Dove Award-winning songwriter, Joe Beck. The result is a bright and effervescent collection of worship songs from top songwriters including Beck, Brian White and Charlie Peacock, highlighting in Williams' unique sound, which has been compared to a cross between Joy Williams and a young Gloria Estefan.

"I have a burden to be an artist who is a genuine follower of Christ and to create music that can be accepted in the mainstream to help draw people to God," she explains. "My heart is both for people who are in church and those who are not in church. I want everyone to listen to my music and experience God."

To connect with Beth Williams, visit facebook.com/bethwillsing.