Azotus Homecoming

The Echoes at Azotus Missionary Baptist
Church

The Echoes returned for their annual singing at the Azotus Missionary Baptist Church Homecoming.  The Echoes have been singing at this once-a-year event every year since 1972, so one could say it's pretty much a tradition -- and one that we cherish.

The church was established in 1848, so it has had a long-time impact in the Azotus community of very rural Pope County, Illinois.  

The annual homecoming on the last Sunday of August each year is the only service held at the old church building.  The remainder of the year, it sets beside the gravel road as a continuing testimony to God. 

The yearly service at Azotus gives the long-time members and relatives a time to gather each year to talk about old memories and renew old acquaintances -- as well as to walk the grounds of the adjoining cemetery to pay respects to those gone on.  

Pastor Mark Staton leads the congregation in singing old hymns, as Twila provides the music on the old up-right piano in the church.  The pews rough-hewed and certainly not padded, and the floor hasn't been level for years.  But God is still worshipped.

The day began with a church service in the old church building at 11:00am, with Calvary Baptist Church Pastor Mark Staton (Twila's husband) preaching from Genesis to Revelation.  Then, the people moved to the church grounds under the huge maple tree to enjoy a delicious potluck dinner-on-the-grounds.  As the eating subsided, the Echoes set up their sound equipment, these days powered by an inverter running off one of our vehicles, and sang a selection of songs to those resting up from the bountiful meal.

The day always brings back memories of earlier times; we're booked to return next year to do it all again, unless Jesus comes between now and the last Sunday in August 2016.

Glory Bound Gideons Benefit

The Echoes from Calvary

We had a great time of Gospel singing, as we traveled to Stella, Kentucky (Murray area) for a singing to benefit the ministry of the Gideons.

Also appearing during the evening were soloist Jesse Farmer, of Murray, and the popular Liberty Boys, of the Benton, Ky area.

Jesse Farmer

It's always a great time at a Glory Bound event, and this evening was no different.  Each performer was in top form.

Liberty Boys

And God blessed the event through the raising of over $800 to support the on-going work of the Gideons as they distribute Bibles all over the world.

Gospel Mission Tabernacle

The Echoes took part in the Sunday morning worship service at the Gospel Mission Tabernacle in Golconda.  We usually don't schedule singings on Sunday mornings, as Twila is a key "player" in the worship services at Calvary Baptist, where her husband, Mark, is pastor.

But the Gospel Mission has a special place in our hearts, not only because GMT is the church where Sharon and her husband, Dorris, attend, but also because one of our founding members, Billy Green, was a long-time pastor at GMT before his retirement from the ministry.  And it was great seeing Billy at the church today.

The Echoes have sung at GMT a good number of times through the years, especially in those years that the congregation was building the new building on Route 146 West in Golconda.  We participated in numerous benefit singings, not only for the church itself, but also for other causes which used the church facilities to host other benefit events.

But today, it was just a great time of singing, worship and praising, with Pastor Tim Green and his GMT congregation, followed by a bountiful potluck meal in the fellowship hall afterward.  You can't get much better than that!