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Youth in Gospel: Canaan Coffman

Youth in Gospel: Canaan Coffman

By Lyndsey Chandler

I am excited to introduce to you this month’s featured artist, Canaan Coffman, of gospel music artists, the Coffmans.

Canaan Coffman lives in Danville, Kentucky, and is 17 years old. While she is the only one who travels with her parents, Canaan has four older adult brothers. She sang her first solo at three years old and her parents said it was actually on pitch. 

Canaan has a passion for acting and she hopes to use that one day for God’s glory. It is a scary passion, but she is crazy about characters, costumes, and theatre. 

“I also love Broadway,” says Canaan. “There’s so much creative genius on Broadway, it’s amazing. Besides my passions, I like a good puzzle and youtube video.” 

When it comes to instruments, Canaan shares, “I have taken piano (lessons) on and off my whole childhood, but I’ve never learned enough to play whatever I want or play publicly. I also played the trumpet in public school. Not to brag, but I was first chair.”

Her favorite fast food is Chick-Fil-A nuggets or Culver’s burger with cheese. Her days off of the road are never really days off. Canaan is homeschooled, so when she gets home, she typically finds herself catching up on work she wasn’t able to do on the road before her deadlines. When she gets a real day off, she’ll let us know how it feels.

One of my favorite questions to ask of my featured artists is about the funniest thing that’s ever happened to them on stage, because after a while, something funny and/or crazy is bound to happen. 

“For some reason, I always knock my teeth with my mic trying to take it off the stand,” Canaan confesses. “At Dollywood one year, my lip bled through our whole set and you could see me trying to make it stop. Also, my mom once fell backwards on stage during our set. Everyone was so quiet, but then we all were dying laughing. Other groups were there too, and we all had a big laugh about it later that night.”

Canaan’s parents were a part time duo when she was little and she traveled with them. When she was nine years old, her parents decided to start the ministry up again and officially add Canaan to the mix. This March, Canaan will have traveled with her parents for nine years. 

“We moved back to Kentucky from Tennessee where my mom had been a worship leader at Mountain View Baptist in Johnson City. I can’t speak for my parents who make up 2/3 of our group, but there was something missing. We were finally with our whole family in the same town. My dad had a fantastic job, so we were financially stable. Yet, we knew God was calling us to something bigger than ourselves. We started practicing music and booking dates. With a lot of growth and favor from God, we became the Coffmans.” 

Canaan shares how the group stages songs. “Mom and I have pretty close ranges, but she’s still the higher singer. We can trade in and out on leading songs. I’m not totally confident in my range, which I’m working on. So, for now, I sing alto when I don’t lead.”

Canaan does Dual Enrollment courses through Liberty University homeschool program. When she graduates this May, she will have her Diploma and Associates Degree. She does plan on attending college on a campus, and she and her parents believe that God is going to keep their ministry going through that. 

“When I sing straight to Jesus and not to people, I feel humbled and motivated to keep going. Discouragement hits me often like a truck. But usually, that happens when I’m thinking about my goals, my wants, and my abilities. I know God has given us our gifts to help other people. But, if I think of it as worshiping with them, I feel more connected to the Lord.”

A special message that Canaan Coffman would like to get out to young people and a life goal that she would like to complete is, “Read your Bibles! I cannot stress this enough. Read it all. Read the good parts, the scary parts, the confusing parts, and the really confusing parts. Twitter and Facebook aren’t the Bible, and we need the true Word of God more than ever. I hope God will give me the opportunity to lead someone to Jesus one-on-one. To see a true, saved all over salvation. Careerwise, I would love to worship in an arena and take part in a movie.”

Lyndsey Chandler

I hope you have enjoyed reading this interview with Canaan. For more information about The Coffmans’ ministry and booking information, you can contact Lori Wise with Dominion Agency. Facebook HERE

By Lyndsey Chandler

First published in SGNScoops Magazine March 2020

The Coffmans visit Alabama

Several years ago, God allowed Louis and Tamra Coffman the opportunity to travel singing Southern Gospel Music. They ministered in churches across KY, TN, NC, VA, and WV. They were very happy in their endeavors and their ministry was growing. But God had another plan.

In 2007, God moved them to TN where Tamra served as a minister of music four years. Their singing ministry was put on hold while God used them in the church setting. During those years many changes took place with their older children—graduations, marriages, and… grandchildren! So, in 2011 they moved back to their home in KY to be near their family.

With the addition of their daughter, Canaan, as a vocalist, The Coffmans are now, once again, singing and booking dates. They are excited about what God has in store for their ministry and family. Tamra sings most of the lead vocals. Louis brings in the harmony. Canaan adds fullness to their sound and a youthful perspective. Their style is Southern Gospel mixed with Worship, humor and testimony.

Lasr night, The Coffmans were in Alabama.

Vonda Easley from SGN Scoops shares a video clip from the service.  “I truly enjoyed this awesomely anointed group, states Vonda.”

Gospel Music Today For August 18th On SGNScoops.com

Gospel Music Today August 18th

Mike LeFevre of The LeFevre Quartet is the guest on Gospel Music Today for the week of August 17.  Ken and Jean Grady host southern gospel news and concert updates, the Feature Group is The Coffmans, and Jean reviews a new recording by High Road III.  An article about Steve Hess is the subject of this week’s Singing News Notes.  The show includes a new music video by Red Roots, exclusive video of The LeFevre Quartet, recorded by Gospel Music Today’s cameras at the AbsolutelyGospel.com Music Fest, in Smyrna, TN, and a visit to the Gospel Music Today Archives for an exclusive concert video of Gold City, at First Assembly of God, in Owasso, OK.

Exciting Summer For The Coffmans!

The Coffmans

(Sharps Chapel, TN) – In the world of Southern Gospel music it is hard to beat tight familyharmonies. The Coffmans are the newest family to burst onto the scene and are making waves at many gospel events.

The Coffmans, who consist of, Louis, Tamra, and Canaan, are a family who love each and their Lord. It is evident as they sing that they want to tell the world about his love! They call Chapel Valley Music Group home, as they record on the Church House Label. Their second, and highly anticipated new CD, “Unconditional”, will be released this summer.

“We are so excited about the songs that have been offered to us by some of the greatest writers in Gospel music: Dianne Wilkinson, Ronnie Hinson, Joel Lindsey, Gerald Crabb and Rodney Griffin. What a blessing and responsibility it is to be able to sing the Good News as written by these folks.”, states Louis Coffman.

The family has been invited to be the musical guests on Atlanta Live on Friday, August 8th. The program is the flagship program of WATC 57 and broadcasts to over 2,000,000 homes. Chapel Valley Music, will be releasing their first radio single entitled, “He Just Kept On Loving Me”. For more information go to www.chapelvalleymusic.com

The Coffmans can be found by going to www.coffmanmusic.com. They will also be singing at the Creekside Gospel Music Convention in November!