Honouring a heritage of holiness and hope: Mia’s Easter story

Australian-born, Nashville-based, Grammy-award nominated songwriter and singer Mia Fieldes laughs as she tells a story of a recent trip to London. Her husband Joren jokingly asked if she was sure she didn’t want to do any specialty shopping, instead of taking their baby daughter to a cemetery. Far from being morbid, Mia wanted to take their daughter — they have named Booth — to visit Abney Park Cemetery, the final resting place of Salvation Army founders Catherine and William Booth. This Easter, Mia shares her journey to peace, faith and hope in God, with Salvation Army support. 

For Mia Fieldes, Salvation Army founders Catherine and William Booth and The Salvation Army have had a profound impact on her faith, her sense of hope, her song writing, and her passion for generosity.

Love, hope and peace in life’s storms

Mia’s life began full of challenges as the youngest triplet, born to her 22-year-old single mother who was struggling with addiction issues. Mia and her sisters grew up in small towns in Victoria (Australia), at times living in cars, shelters, and government housing. 

Mia’s mum, who had experienced a desperately difficult childhood herself, loved her girls deeply and, despite the triplets spending some time in foster care, fought hard to keep her family together. 

They were supported for many years by The Salvation Army, through food parcels, vouchers and Christmas gifts. The girls also attended Salvation Army Sunday school from the age of five, staying connected to Salvation Army corps (churches) well into their teens.

Mia says, “We were always at a disadvantage, because not only did my mum have substance abuse problems and alcohol problems [at the time], but she didn’t have to provide for just one — it was always three — three birthdays, three at Christmas, three for school events. We missed out on so many school excursions and trips because my mum just couldn't afford it.”

Mia still remembers the excitement of having gifts on Christmas mornings, that she now knows came from the care and generosity of donors.

She says: “Honestly, waking up on Christmas morning to have a gift there that my mum (or Santa) would get the credit for, was just beautiful. Because of the kindness of others, we would wake up and think, ‘Santa hasn't forgotten. I’m remembered like every other kid.’

“Now, every time I see a Christmas Angel donation tree (USA) or every time I see The Salvation Army doing something for a Red Shield Appeal, I am so mindful that it impacts real lives in real ways. Giving is now part of my DNA.

If I see a need, or someone collecting, I’m the first one to give because I'm a living testimony to the power of generosity. God literally shifted my whole life trajectory through the kindness of strangers and the kindness of The Salvation Army.

Singing songs to God

Mia also credits her childhood years in Salvation Army Sunday schools and churches for her love of worship music. Today, as a worship leader, musician, singer and songwriter, she is listed as a writer or co-writer of more than 180 songs on streaming service Spotify. Many of her songs have been recorded by Grammy award-nominated and winning Christian artists.

“[At The Salvation Army] we used to sing all these songs about Jesus and who he was. One day they said, ‘He can live in your heart and be your best friend,’ and I remember thinking, ‘I want Jesus in my heart.’ It was so real for me — the songs, the stories, everything,” Mia smiles. “Many years later, nothing much has changed for me in that understanding.” 

Despite the odds and what seemed like an inevitable trajectory into disadvantage, Mia says, “I would write these letters to God when I was 13 or 14 saying, ‘One day, I’m going to write songs about you that go all over the world.’ I [gave my life to Jesus] through generosity and through songs, and it's become my life mission to live generously and help people know God through songs.” 

A family transformed by the love of God and the Salvos 

After being told by fertility experts they could not have children, Mia held onto a dream given by God. Eventually she and husband Joren welcomed their miracle child, Booth, into the world.

Both believers in speaking, praying and singing over their daughter, Mia says, “William Booth has a quote that we like to speak as a banner over her little life: ‘I'm not waiting for a move of God, I am a move of God.’ Booth is named after these generals of the faith really, who essentially changed Christianity through courage, generosity and living out their faith.” 

As well as her triplet sisters, Mia has two younger sisters, and the entire family has a Christian faith.

Mia laughs and says the Salvos gave her even more family.

“My dad, who I have never called a stepdad, is the man I believe God destined to be my dad. He is the kindest, steadiest man and actually taught us at Sunday school when my mum first found Jesus! They got married when I was nine.

“For everyone in our family, the biggest thing is that we’ve learned to make God the first place we go to no matter what we are walking through,” she says. “God has every answer, every miracle, every breakthrough we could ever ask for.”

Easter hope and love

As Easter approaches, Mia sees it as a special time of reflection, saying: “Easter is such a reminder that even if it looks like every promise and every hope you ever had was dead, if you just wait, resurrection, new life and hope will come. Because of Jesus and what he's done, there's nothing that can't be redeemed, healed, saved or restored.

“No other religion offers a God who was willing to become human, lay his life down, and identify with us in our humanity, so that he could save us from all of our failings and shortcomings,” she says. 

“The kind of a God who says, ‘If you feel betrayed, I understand how you feel, if you feel forgotten, I understand how you feel. If you feel hard done by, put to shame, I understand,’ because every road that we walk, he's already walked it out and that is the most encouraging and beautiful news!”

Reach out for practical support, read people’s transformation stories, or learn more about Easter here.