Laurel is a Metro-Chicago area native who has been singing and dancing on stage and then screen since the age of 5; a 70’s Jesus Freak, rescued by the Love and Blood of Christ from a life of “drugs, sex and messâ€, to a member of Jesus People USA for 28 years, a pastor’s wife, counselor, missionary, evangelist and blessed mother of two gifted and grown children, Adriel Denae Harris and Jacob Simon Heiss.
As a singer, songwriter, dancer, actress, teacher, worship leader, church planter, director, producer, writer and the proud wife of Stu Heiss (former lead guitarist of the legendary Christian Rock group Resurrection Band, and now worship pastor at Lombard Bible Church) Laurel has toured much of the world and been involved in the Christian music scene for 30 years.
In her most recent trips to Belarus, Ukraine and Moscow performing with eastern Europe’s awarding winning group Spasenie Band, and with an international team of artist, Laurel served as music missionary and evangelist, and was honored to be used greatly of God to sing and preach of the sacrificial love of Jesus in personal testimony to countless people, young and old, who responded to Christ’s call on their lives.
Laurel was a member of Columbia College’s Chicago Free Theater, under the direction of Bill Russo, lead singer in numerous rock, folk, jazz, rap and contemporary urban gospel groups from age 14, including GOD’Zone, Grace & Glory Choir, Grace & Glory Ensemble and others. She has sung and acted on numerous recording projects, videos and commercials, performed for President and Mrs. Jimmy Carter, ministered in song and deed in homeless shelters, schools, prisons, hospitals, colleges, churches, Cornerstone Festival, seminars, concert halls, conferences and for every Honorable Mayor of Chicago from Daley to Daley.
Laurel has been very honored to minister with Steven Curtis Chapman, Michael Easly, Kathy Triccoli, Luis Palau, James McDonald, Glenn Kaiser, Dan Willis, Sandy Rios, Charlie Peacock, Jill Briscoe, Eddie Tucker, Orbert Davis, Chuck Webb, Mary Whelchel, and Dameris Carbaugh, among others and is currently a founding member of Chicago Voices of Worship (C-VOW) under the co-leadership of Pastors Charles Butler and Stu Heiss; a group comprised of Chicago area worship pastors, leaders and musicians to model cross cultural worship to the Body of Christ, most recently appearing with Israel Houghton and New Breed.
As a certified Biblical Counselor, through Arlington Heights Biblical Counseling Center, and lead worshiper at Lombard Bible Church, Laurel brings a “Speaking Truth in Love†approach to the task of judging for TLN's Emmy Award winning show, INSPIRATION SENSATION.