Heather Payne has left Dove Award-winning, multi-platinum group Point of Grace (POG) after 17 years to devote more time to her family.

"The Lord has been slowly preparing me and it is time," Payne, who has four children, wrote last month on the group's Web site. "So, with no regrets but with overwhelming sadness, I am retiring from Point of Grace. This has been a very difficult decision, but it is the right one. There are some very exciting things ahead for POG. As hard as it is for me to swallow, I won't be a part of those exciting things … at least not in the same way I was."

On the group's Web site, Point of Grace members Shelley Breen, Denise Jones and Leigh Cappillino noted that Payne is "irreplaceable." "We are excited to continue with our ministry for as long as God allows, and it will be as a trio," they said.

The trio is currently working on three new songs for an expanded version of the group's latest album, How You Live, which will be released by Word Records in September. In November 2003, Terry Jones left the group to spend more time with her family after giving birth to her third child.

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