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The Echoes returned to Aurora, Kentucky to sing "on trailer" at Aurora Days. This annual singing takes place during the community's Fall celebration (Aurora Days) and is sponsored as an evangelistic outreach by Aurora Baptist Church.
Thousands of people converge on Aurora during this annual event and thus the fields are ripe for harvest. The people of Aurora Baptist Church take advantage to provide a popular food booth (as a fund raiser for the church) at their location along the main road (and parade route). They also pass out Gospel tracts as people walk by their location. A friendly smile is readily offered. Tables and chairs are provided for folks to enjoy their food purchases. At this "outdoor diner," various Gospel groups provide the Gospel of Jesus Christ in song while the diners eat.
The Gospel groups or soloists sing to an itinerant audience, many times to very few people, who mostly appear interested only in eating their food or maybe taking a break to rest their feet. Are they listening to the Gospel? Are the efforts of the various singers worthwhile?
One of the songs that the Echoes sang this year is "Just One More Soul." The lyrics include "If just one more soul were to walk down the aisle, it would be worth every struggle; it would be worth every mile." We don't see people "walking down the aisle at events like Aurora Days. Is anyone listening? Does anyone care?
We sing because we have been called by God to minister to hurting people, to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a hurting world. Are our efforts worth it? Yes, yes, yes!!! We may never know what impact we may have on a life until it is revealed to us in Heaven. One of Rodney Griffiin's songs, "Faces," perhaps says it best. It talks about dreaming of arriving in Heaven, whereupon Jesus greets us and then "He showed me the faces of the ones who'd come because of me."
That's why Aurora Baptist Church hosts their event each year at Aurora Days. That's why the Echoes from Calvary and others from the WKGMA volunteer their time each year to sing at Aurora Days. We may never know here on earth what our impact may have on a life. But we're not doing it for rewards here. We know by faith now that our efforts are not in vain. We'll know in good time, first hand, the particulars of those who have been touched in some way by our ministry. That's enough for us.
If you have been touched by a song through the ministry of a singing group, or by the words of an individual, perhaps you might share that with them or as a testimony about how God has touched you. In that way, you, too, can pass on how good God is and fulfill your small part on the mission field.
Feel free to comment.
