Album Notes

Not Our Own is Chris & Jenny Kokenos, a husband and wife duo from Livonia, Michigan, whose primary goals are to use their time, talent, and resources to exhort the Body of Christ in their Christian walks and to reach the lost with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Coming from highly disfuntional families, becoming part of the reckless rock-n-roll subculture of the 70s, having a child & getting married at the age of sixteen, on the verge of divorce three years later, then getting saved and turning their lives over to Jesus Christ. That, in a nutshell, is Chris & Jenny's life story.

Their involvement with Christian music has spanned over twenty years and includes being members of several worship teams & music groups, having a family band, and performing solo on many occasions. They have performed together at various churches, coffeehouses, festivals, outreach events, weddings, nursing homes, etc., mostly throughout the greater Detroit area in Michigan.

In 2000, they felt God's leading to form their current group, "Not Our Own" (derived from 1 Corinthians 6:19,20) and to begin writing and performing their own music. In 2001 they released their first CD entitled "Would You Be Ready?" which contains all original music. Several of the songs on the album have themes dealing with some of the struggles that Christians face today. Don't Look Back is a song about overcoming the doubts and fears associated with doing God's will when it gets tough. Would You Be Ready?, the title cut, asks the question we should all know the answer to...if Jesus returned right now, would you go? Other songs address issues like discouragement, commitment to Christ, and having a heart for evangelism.

Early in 2004, Chris & Jenny felt that God was directing them to go into full time music ministry which they have begun pursuing. Their itinerary for this year includes having already played at 30+ events, with more scheduled, and they are set to begin recording their second project this fall with a release date expected early next year.