Want an example of the globalization of gospel music? Look no further than Paulis Sanchez.

The Latino singer was raised in Cali, Colombia, lives in Toronto, Canada, and sings black gospel music inspired by the work of U.S. artists such as Walter Hawkins, Israel Houghton, Yolanda Adams and Kurt Carr.

Sanchez's family decided to move from Colombia to Canada when Paulis was around seven. "My family is a pretty musical family, so music was just constantly around us. But I didn't take music seriously until I was in high school". Sanchez embarked on piano and voice lessons, and became involved heavily with the music ministry at her church, Rhema Christian Ministries in Toronto, where Orim M. Meikle is pastor. She participated in various church choirs and praise teams. "I thought the best way to serve God was to develop my gifting, which was music".

Her skills did not go unnoticed. For the past ten years, Sanchez has been leading the bi-lingual worship services at Rhema Christian Ministries. One of the largest churches in Toronto, Rhema is steeped in black gospel music. Even during a rigorous touring schedule, Sanchez still makes time for leading worship as often as possible, "once or twice a month, if I'm in town".

Sanchez's debut CD, 'Seguro En Ti' ("Safe in You") was birthed three years ago when a producer approached her after a church service. "He said, ‘I love what you do and it would be great if you could do this on a record", Sanchez recalled. "Two weeks later, we were recording in Nashville".

Oxigeno Musica released 'Seguro En Ti' in 2008. The album blends Sanchez' songwriting and lovely, rich voice with styles ranging from Latin neo-soul and urban pop to straight-ahead gospel. Papa San and Sean Simmons are featured guest artists on the album.

All of the songs on 'Seguro En Ti' are sung in Spanish. In fact, the album's big single, "Gracias," is a Spanish version of Walter Hawkins' "Thank You". The heartwarming praise ballad, "En Ti Jehova" ("In You, Jehovah") has turned into an anthem of sorts for the singer. "There's not a church that I go to that I'm not asked to sing this song," she said. "It's become that well known".

Touring for the album took Sanchez back to Latin America and across the ocean to Europe. She is now planning a tour of Brazil, slated for late fall 2010.

"The camaraderie of fellow gospel artists has been awesome", Sanchez said, citing encouragement she has received from Israel Houghton, Donald Lawrence, and Donnie McClurkin. "There's so many who have given me tips, advice, encouraging words, what to do, what not to do, what to embrace, what to avoid, and all the things a gospel artist should know".

Since Sanchez's songs are in Spanish, her main market currently is Latin Christian. Hispanic churches in Europe and the U.S. in particular have embraced her music. And with the growth of the Hispanic population in the U.S., all signs point to the Latin Christian market expanding.

"The Hispanic audience is an incredible audience that loves music, enjoys listening to and buying and consuming music," she explained. "The praise and worship culture within the Hispanic church is very vibrant, very dynamic. English-speaking artists who can cross over into the Spanish market will find it's just beginning to grow and expand".

Sanchez added, "Latin Christian music is also expanding because you have several styles within it. For example, you have music in Spanish that is very Latin-sounding, with the whole tropical beat of salsa and so forth. And then you have what I do, which is black gospel music, but in Spanish".

Sanchez and her team are recording a live album in Toronto. "This second album will allow me to expand more into the English-speaking market of the U.S. and Canada because it will be a hybrid record, meaning that it will contain songs in Spanish as well as English". The live album will include newly-written songs in both languages, although Sanchez plans to include "Thank You" as a bi-lingual duet with William Murphy.

The release is slated for April or May 2010.

Whether or not Sanchez is performing, she works for Kids Now, a children's charity. "I work for Kids Now pretty much wherever I'm at. Even when I'm on tour, I'm working for them. If I wasn't pursuing a music career, I'd be focused on social services, which has always been my passion".

Learn more about Paulis Sanchez at www.paulissanchez.com.