Sherry Konopka
Presented by Southern Ministry Agency
Sherry founded SMA as a Christian music consulting agency in 1990 while she was singing with the popular touring southern gospel music group Manna. A native of Tennessee, she was raised in the church and her father was a pastor. She displayed musical talent from a young age and began to sing gospel music in the choir. As a young teenager she felt called into the ministry. She studied business administration in college and worked in the public sector for several years, but felt unfulfilled in her spiritual life. She felt called to start a gospel group and Manna was established.
Leaving her job in government work behind, she dedicated the next phase of her life to music and ministry. Manna enjoyed twenty years of performing and established a reputation and rapport within the southern gospel industry. Sherry could soon see the next chapter of her life facilitating the kind of work she had done with Manna for years and the idea of SMA was put into motion. Sherry took her years of experience to lend her hand to a new generation of musicians and speakers.
Now, as a consultant for others in the industry, Sherry brings practical and spiritual applications to her clients on how to polish their performance, locating mentors for their music, working with record labels and other tips to navigate the industry. She is also a member of the National Concert Promoter Association (SGPA).
Sherry still keeps her own speaking and singing ministry alive. She speaks on a variety of topics including “Finding Hope and Healing in a Hurting World”, “Defining the Call, Fulfilling Your Destiny”, and “Bridging the Generational Gap; Mentoring Musicians for the Future”. She is also working on a book about her life that includes the story of her struggle with a cancer diagnosis in 2005. The disease has left her with some physical walking disabilities, but she has a story of hope and inspiration to tell the world. The message she wants to convey through her work is: “Don’t give up your dream. If you fail, start over, even if it’s the most difficult thing in the world; try again.”
