Shortly after becoming a Christian as a sixteen year old high school student in 1969, Marsha Carter wrote the song "For Those Tears I Died (Come to the Water)". Taking the advice of her school's choir director, she copyrighted the song.
For Those Tears I Died eventually became widely known and sung by Christian youth groups and churches across the United States. Over time, it was included in Christian songbooks as well as church hymnals. As Carter further utilized her musical and songwriting talents with sister Wendy Carter and friends Peter Jacobs and Russ Stevens, the group formed the
Jesus music group "
Children of the Day". The group played regularly at their home church,
Calvary Chapel in
Costa Mesa, California, and made appearances at other churches in Southern California. As their popularity and what was known as
the Jesus movement grew, Children of the Day sought to record an
album of their music. After borrowing $900 for the project from their pastor,
Chuck Smith, Carter and her bandmates recorded
Come to the Waters; the album included songs she penned along with the others in the group. The album was released in 1971 on the Maranatha! Music label. More albums by the group followed, along with the individual band members making appearances on other Maranatha! projects such as
The Praise Album in 1974. Prior to the release of
Come to the Waters, Marsha Carter and bandmate Russ Stevens married, with Carter taking Stevens' last name. Because of the widespread distribution and success of
For Those Tears I Died, Stevens received an entry in the
Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music. In it, her impact on the early Jesus Music scene is recognized, with Stevens being referred to as "The Mother of Contemporary Christian Music". == Personal life and later music career ==