Azotus Church Homecoming - August 27th

The Echoes returned for the 35th year to participate in the once-a-year church service at the old Azotus Baptist Church, in the Azotus community in a very rural area south of Bay City, Illinois.

Azotus Church was established in 1848, but has not had regular church services for many years. However, once a year, descendants of the church congregation and families of those buried in the church cemetery gather for a worship service, dinner on the grounds and afternoon Gospel singing.

The morning message was delivered by Twila's husband, Mark. After a delicious pot luck lunch, the Echoes sang under the shade of a huge oak tree for about an hour. Just as we were finishing up our last song, it began to sprinkle rain. Not long after we loaded up our equipment, it began raining harder, and eventually came a deluge of over 3 inches in less than an hour. But the skies had held off pouring out the deluge until after another Azotus afternoon was complete.

Saline County Singing Convention - August 6th

The Echoes travelled to Pankeyville, Illinois (near Harrisburg) and the Pankeyville Baptist Church, for the monthly Saline County Singing Convention. This event has been going on since the early 1900's and is a good opportunity for regional and local groups to share the Gospel in Song with others.

A number of soloists sang between our two sets of music and the Blessings of the Lord came down during the service.

We appreciate Alma Young, President of the Convention, for her dedication to helping sustain Gospel Music in the Southern Illinois area.

Rend Lake Visitor's Center - August 5th

For the second summer in a row, the Echoes travelled to the Rend Lake Visitor's Center, near Benton, Illinois, to sing at their Summer Concert series. The Corps of Engineers sponsors this summer music event.

Held outside in an amphitheater setting, a number of people sat out in the warm, summer evening, to listen to the Gospel in song. Beginning a little before sundown, we sang until well after dark.

Our friend, Alma Young, sang a couple of songs to give us a little break, and we all enjoyed the evening under the stars.

We appreciate the Corps of Engineers for their sponsorship of this summer series and look forward to participating again next year.