Jana

Jana Alayra is an artist with whom many can identify. She is a wife, mother, and friend, busy with the daily routine of tending to the lives of her three daughters and producer husband, Ron. Together, Ron and Jana also answer the call to a unique ministry of leading worship, both to adults and children. Whether leading a small group with her guitar, or singing for a thousand children and their families, Jana's enthusiasm and love for Christ are evident, sincere and inspiring. When people leave one of Jana's concerts or testimonials, they often say that not only were they entertained and encouraged, but they felt they made a new friend. Jana shares openly about the pain and sorrows in her life, as well as Christ's victory through it all. Her humor and hope are truly encouraging.  To know her story and to watch her lead people in praise is a true testimony of God's power and faithfulness. 

One summer while killing time on a hot Indiana day, Jana found a guitar in her mother's closet and taught herself to play. She became a Christian in high school through Young Life, and was involved with the youth ministry at Willow Creek Church in Illinois. While attending San Diego State University, she began leading worship for college students. Working later as the children's director at a Forest Home Christian conference center, Jana met popular Christian children's artist Mary Rice Hopkins, and served as her musical partner for 6 years. Simultaneously, she led worship for a college ministry in Orange County, CA, and began recording collections of her original adult praise music in 1989. Her projects today in the adult genre include: "Free Indeed" (1989), "Here in Your Hands" (1992) - both produced by Denny Bouchard; and "There Will Come A Day" (1995) - produced by John Andrew Schreiner. "No Place Like Home" (2000), was produced by Jana's husband, Ron Alayra, as well as Jana's "Christmas" CD (2010).  

Jana has an inspiring and natural connection with children, and a knack for writing catchy, biblical songs designed just for them. Ron is a gifted producer dedicated to giving the songs fresh originality as well as depth and quality musically. Jana and Ron have recorded six collections of original children's praise music--"Jump into the Light (1995), "Dig Down Deep" (1997), "Believin' On" (2002), Look Out Now (2006), Totally Transformed (2010), and "Livin' LOUD 4 You" (2018). Ron and Jana's songs are not only enjoyed by countless children in the world, but also used in churches and groups all across the country and internationally.  Their Youtube channel has 40 million views and counting, and those entries have proven to be a special help and blessing to churches during the pandemic. They enjoy and miss doing live concerts, but when the pandemic shut most of that down, while Jana kept busy serving the Lord in creative ways online, Ron and Jana were blown away and blessed to see their songs and DVDs bringing so much joy to so many shut-ins around the world. For now, their three live concert DVDs serve to remind us of those great times of live ministry, and hopefully of days like this ahead.  These Live in Concert DVDs  feature their band performing for an audience of hundreds of kids and families at Mariners Church Irvine and Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA. 

Jana is a mother of four children--Haley, Lynnie, Brittany and Chandy.  Lynnie died suddenly in a car accident in May of 1996 (at the age of 4) and now resides in heaven, keeping the whole family mindful of the gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ. The others range from married to their youngest, a college student.

Jana makes an instant connection with women. Jana's testimony touches just about every heart as she shares, with humor, scripture, and her original songs, about the joys and challenges of parenting, the value of friendships, her own conversion to Christianity, addiction, loss and tragedy, and of the power of Jesus Christ, the Word of God, and our solid hope of eternal life in Him through it all.

MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) groups nationwide have invited Jana to come and share her music and testimony, often followed by a mini-concert for the preschoolers (Moppets).  Jana was the worship leader for the MOPS, Int'l regional conferences, and their National Convention in 2000 & 2001. She is a frequent guest speaker/singer at women's conferences, retreats, and banquets, and conventions. Jana's music can be heard on various Christian radio stations across the country, all streaming platforms, Youtube and is available in Christian bookstores and online as well. Jana and Ron live in Irvine, California, with one or two of the girls at home...which they see as one of many blessings of the pandemic.