FACES IN FAITH

Marianna Greb's birth was a mixed blessing for her father.

His wife died shortly afterward on that April day in 1935, and he placed the blame on Marianna, she said.

The 74-year-old Davenport woman recalls years of self-loathing and resentment because of it. In her prayers to God, she told him that she had never asked to be born.

Initially, she lived with her gather in Michigan, then with her grandparents in Ohio. When she was 13, her grandmother died and Marianna returned to her father's care.

Her life was chaotic and she began to drink at the age of 19 or 20.

The one blessing in her life was music, she said. Her participation in the Moline Youth Chorus gave her great joy and introduced her to churches of different denominations. But she was struggling over a conflict with her own church, which kept her from addressing her spiritual needs.

She continued drinking on and off when she was not singing, even while holding responsible jobs. At age 28, she married a man she would divorce several years later. They remarried and stayed together for 38 years until his death. She gave birth to their only child, a daughter, when she was 30. Through the years she tried, but failed, to stop drinking permanently.

At the age of 41, she finally succeeded. She has been sober since June 21, 1966.

A: I did it because I had faith he (God) would help me. I didn't hear a voice, per se, but I'd get these 'ideas' and they would work.

Q: What kind of ideas:

A: I wanted to buy a home. I thought, 'I should have a home now,' and (with God's grace) I bought a home… I went back to music, and decided (with God's help) it would be gospel music for me because I had been watching it on TV.

Q: Why did gospel music appeal to you?

A: When I was with other people, I always managed to socialize with ministers of Protestant churches and their wives. I had gone to (church) camp with them. We'd sing and be happy, and it would be a real happy time. I thought, 'If I can be happy winging gospel; music, I ought to get into this.'

Q: You took voice lessons and had to work very hard at it because surgery had weakened the muscles in your abdomen. But you persevered. What did gospel music do for you?

A: It made me feel better about myself, and it made me healthy spiritually, emotionally, and physically.

Q: You began getting ideas for tunes in your head and wanted to give testimony in song to your newfound faith. You contacted Cindy Persinger, who writes song lyrics, and just happened to be a neighbor. How did it work out?

A: The words were perfect… 'I See the Cross' is my testimony in song.

Q: Eventually, the two of you began coordinating a gospel benefit concert to raise money for people who are homeless. What was the inspiration for “Sounds of Love?”

A: I'd been watching the TV news, and they were commenting on homelessness… a little problem I'd had when I was drinking was that I wouldn't have any place to stay (because I couldn't pay my rent), so I used to take a dorm room at the Lend-A-Hand for 25 cents a night. It made sense to me, 'lend a hand.' I thought, 'Why can't we lend a hand to these (homeless) people?'

Q: This year marked the 12th fund-raising concert. Why do you choose to have the money go to the Miriam House, which provides meals to people in need and overnight shelter to homeless men?

A: When I was working at CASI (The Center for Active Seniors Inc.), Sister Miriam worked there doing calligraphy and other things. I was working in the same room with her. She inspired me to do things. (Sister Miriam Hennessey, a human rights activist, died in a pedestrian-car accident in 1990.)

Q: You believe God told you to help the homeless. In your prayers to God, what do you talk about?

A: Anything and everything that comes to mind. If something good happens, I talk to him about that, too.

Q: You have struggled with several illnesses over the years, including cancer. How have those struggles impacted your faith?

A: That's where my strength comes from. I read my prayers (in a devotional booklet) every day. Sometimes I read my prayers ahead of time (if I am going through a particularly difficult time), and I have a book on God's promises.

Q: You belong to Edward's Congregational Church in Davenport. Do you go there often?

A: Church is important, but I don't get there very often. Would you believe my car is sicker than I am? I hate to call people all the time to pick me up and go there. I do occasionally go with my daughter to Trinity Lutheran Church in Davenport. I really believe in interfaith.

Q: What does interfaith mean to you?

A: I believe that if you're Presbyterian and I'm something else, we can sit down and talk about tell each other about our faith, and each one of us will take home something from that conversation that will help us and mean something to us.

[Marianna Greb is a wonderful 74 year old lady who is also the sponsor of the annual "Sounds Of Love" homeless benefit concerts in the Quad Cities area. These concerts, featuring Christian and Gospel music, raise funds and awareness for the Miriam House and John Lewis Coffeehouse, two homeless shelters in the Quad Cities area. New Anthem is in our 8th year of coproducing "Sounds of Love" concerts with her.]