Karen Lafferty

Karen Lafferty is an American Christian singer, songwriter, worship musician, and missionary born in Alamogordo, New Mexico, in 1948. She earned a degree in music education from Eastern New Mexico University, where her training emphasized choral directing and included oboe. Lafferty later recalled that she was working as a nightclub entertainer when a Christian friend helped renew her commitment to daily Christian discipleship. After moving to California, she became active at Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa during the early Jesus Movement.

At Calvary Chapel she joined a community of young Christian musicians connected with the emerging Maranatha! Music ministry. In 1971, during a period when she had left entertainment work and was struggling financially while teaching only a few guitar students, a Bible study on Matthew 6:33 prompted the song that became “Seek Ye First.” Lafferty said she went home, wrote the tune, recorded it on a tape recorder, and added the characteristic descant before teaching it at church the following week.

She remained with Maranatha! Music for about eight years and later became involved with Youth With A Mission. Through Musicians for Missions she trained and led musicians in cross-cultural Christian ministry, including work in Europe. The international circulation of “Seek Ye First” helped support that missionary work and made her Scripture song her most widely recognized contribution to congregational worship.