Illinois State Quartet Convention

The Echoes opened the first night of the 44th Illinois State Quartet Convention at the beautiful Marion Civic Center.  The Convention continues each evening through Saturday.

Once again, we went back to some of our older songs, beginning with "Wouldn't Take Nothin' For My Journey Now."  And since we were among a number of singers this evening, we continued with "God Wants To Hear You Sing."  We then picked up the tempo with "Gettin' Ready To Leave This World," followed by our only "new" song of the evening, "Like I Wish I'd Lived."  Our set ended with another Rodney Griffin composition, "Just One More Soul."  After all, our main purpose in our singing ministry, as I'm sure it is with the other groups there, is to see more people come to a personal understanding and acceptance of the message of Jesus Christ and what He can mean to their lives.

It was good to see long-time friends we've come to know through the years of our ministry, and also to hear the comments from those taking the time to tell us how much they enjoyed our song selection and singing during the evening.

One of Dee Ozment's legacies that he left with us upon his passing in March is the Illinois State Quartet Convention.  His family plans to see that legacy continue in the coming years, and the Echoes look forward to being part of that for years to come.

WKGMA Spring Convention

The Echoes once again were participants in the West Kentucky Gospel Music Association's Spring Convention for 2013.  The organization was organized in 1976 to help promote and sustain Southern Gospel music in the Western Kentucky area.  Membership today includes groups and soloists from several surrounding states.

For our part, the Echoes joined the organization in the early 90's and have been participants since that time.  Our own Twila Staton serves as Secretary of the organization.

At this 3-day convention, held at Trinity Baptist Church, in Paducah, KY, the Echoes went back in the archives on the final night of the convention for our song selections.  Since the Echoes are in their 44th year of continuous ministry, we started out with "I Wouldn't Take Nothing For My Journey Now."  From there, Twila was featured on "What Judas Didn't Know," which talks about the saving Grace of Jesus Christ.  We concluded our set with the rousing "My Name Is Lazarus."

We also enjoyed listening to a number of other WKGMA artists as they presented the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the best music in the world, Southern Gospel.

You can find out more about WKGMA by visiting their website at:
http://wkgma.com/blog/

Saline County Singing Convention

Every year since 2009, the Echoes have been the featured group at the 1st Saline County Singing Convention of the new year, and additionally, doing so at Rudement Social Brethren Church.  So it was also on the 1st Sunday of 2013.

Don Haney also started the year as the official head of the Saline County Convention, taking over from Alma Young.

As always, the convention started with a congregational song, after which the Echoes sang a selection of numbers.  Then, other talent presented in song, and even a few sign language songs, where sign language was utilized in a very flowing manner to worship Jesus Christ.

After a few more songs by the Echoes, the convention concluded with a rousing up-tempo congregational song to send everyone off with tapping feet, clapping hands, and soaring hearts.

The Saline County Convention is one of the few left these days in Southern Illinois, and may it continue to be a beacon of the Gospel in Song until Jesus returns,

WBCE Radio Benefit

The Echoes traveled to Wickliffe, Kentucky, where we joined 12 other WKGMA groups and soloists to raise funds for WBCE Radio.  WKGMA always enjoys our relationship with WBCE and counts it an honor to help keep the Gospel going out over the midwest tri-state area.

The congregation was ready to worship, and our first song, "I'm Not Giving Up," got our set off to a fantastic start.  We then reminded people to just keep praying when things might not be going well for us, with "I Keep Praying."  Our final song was a recent addition, "Like I Wish I Had Lived."  We all have made mistakes in our past, but this song reminds us to learn from those mistakes and live our lives today forward like we would have liked to have lived them in the past.  Think about it.

Fall Harvest Festival

The Echoes returned to the Elizabethtown 1st Baptist Church in Elizabethtown, IL to participate in an afternoon of Gospel Singing.  This was one of the events culminating a month of Harvest celebration.  The church had been collecting articles to give to the Baptist Children's Home in Carmi, IL.  

After a noon luncheon, Roy Jackson led off the afternoon of singing with some solo selections of old-time favorite gospel songs.  Then, the Echoes continued with a mixture of our older songs, along with some newer ones.  It was a time of reflection, celebration and thankfulness for God's goodness.

May we always keep that in our minds -- that God is good, He is faithful, and Everlasting -- the same yesterday, today, and forever.

WKGMA Fall Convention

The Echoes had another great time at the WKGMA Fall Convention.  Held at Trinity Baptist Church, in Paducah, there were a good number of singers, singing to an enthusiastic audience.

We debuted a new song for us, "Like I Wish I Had Lived."  It's going to be a good one; there's a great message there.

Nothing much left to say.  God is good; He loves us; we should want to live for him each day.

Glory Bound Christian Entertainment

The Echoes always enjoy singing at the Glory Bound Christian Entertainment events at the Goshen Methodist Church, in Stella, KY (rural Murray).

On this return visit, we sang with soloists April Arnold and Ms Mathias (sorry, the brain does not retain as much the older one gets).  

Pat and Renee are carrying on the tradition that the late Joe Lawrence started a number of years ago.  They sponsor these monthly events to offer an opportunity for the community to hear the Gospel in Song and to fellowship with finger-food refreshments.  They also present a weekly radio program, utilizing excepts from the live singings.

The Echoes have been participating for several years and look forward to being a part of Glory Bound for years to come.

Trader's Mall

After singing at the Aurora Fall Festival earlier in the day, we traveled down the road to Trader's Mall, outside of Paducah, Kentucky.  First planned as a WKGMA Mini-convention, the evening ended up as we joined "For Heaven's Sake," from Murray, KY and "Yours Truly," from Clarksville, TN.  It was not a large crowd that we sang to, but they were enthusiastic and very receptive to the Gospel in Song by the three groups.

We always enjoy the opportunity to sing about Jesus.

Aurora Fall Festival

The Echoes returned to sunny Aurora, Kentucky, to climb up on the trailer once again and sing to those sitting around tables eating lunch.  

The Aurora Baptist Church is right along the parade route and busy thoroughfare, and have a very popular food booth, which usually draws a good crowd of hungry patrons.  The church arranges for various groups and soloists  who are members of the West Kentucky Gospel Music Association to sing to those eating at the tables (or in some cases just there to hear the music and songs).

It's one of those times where we don't know how many are listening, which words of the songs might be speaking to someone in a special way, or what impact our efforts might be having on someone.  

We're just there to help sow the seeds; we leave the rest up to God. 

Azotus Homecoming

For about the 40th consecutive year, the Echoes once again spent the last Sunday afternoon of August on the grounds of Azotus Baptist Church.  The church is no longer active, but former members and friends return once a year for a homecoming celebration.

Mark Staton, Twila's husband and pastor of Calvary Baptist Church of New Liberty, IL, brought the morning message.  Then, after setting up tables on the grounds under the big maple tree, people enjoyed an abundance of food of all types.

Then, prior to the Echoes' singing, the people gathered in front of the old church building for a photo to commemorate the day.

Then it was time to sing.  And sing we did.  The day was somewhat humid, so we kept moving to stay in the shade of that maple tree.  But the heat and humidity didn't interfere with enjoy singing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We'll continue doing that as long as God says "Go."

Gospel Mission Tabernacle

The Echoes made a return visit to the Gospel Mission Tabernacle, near Golconda, for an afternoon of singing and fellowship.

After their morning service, the congregation enjoyed a bountiful meal of many delicious items.  It's really difficult to get up and sing after being exposed to the temptation of so many delicious dishes, and this day was no different for the Echoes.

But, after the meal, sing we still did.  And, as always, one could see on people's faces the blessings being received through the messages in the songs as we sang.

At the conclusion of the worship in song, the Echoes were blessed to have the congregation gather around us, as they prayed for our continuing ministry that people might be transformed through the words of the songs as we travel from place to place.  That's our prayer, also. 

Dixon Springs Baptist Church

The Echoes had a great time as we returned to and had the opportunity to sing to and visit with long-time friends at Dixon Springs Baptist Church.

It was especially good to see Billy Green, a founding member of the Echoes in 1970, along with his daughter, Theresa. During the Echoes' break, it was like old times as David played the piano for Billy to sing "Who Am I."

After singing a number of songs, many of them themed around the need for, and power of, Prayer, a time of fellowship took place, where we enjoyed home made ice cream and other delicious desserts.

As the old saying goes, "A good time was had by all."

Elizabethtown, IL First Baptist Church

The Echoes helped celebrate the anniversary of our Nation's birth, as we sang for the folks at the Elizabethtown First Baptist Church, in Elizabethtown, Illinois.  First Baptist, originally known as Big Creek in its early days, is the oldest active Baptist church in Illinois, in fact being founded in 1806, before the creation of Illinois in 1815.


We have sung at First Baptist a number of times in the past.  But it was especially good to return to see how beautifully the church had been restored after extensive damage during the extreme flooding in the Spring of 2011.  And the church was even more beautiful as it was decorated for the July 4th patriotic theme.


The Echoes don't have the traditional patriotic songs in our repertoire.  But David did weave a story of true Freedom as revealed in a number of songs we sang.  While honoring the many who have died for the many freedoms we enjoy in America, true Freedom can only come through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  That was our message that evening.  What better place to celebrate our Nation's birth than in a church that is almost as old as our nation itself.

WBCE Benefit

The Echoes were blessed to be able to participate in a benefit for WBCE Christian Radio, of Wickliffe, KY.  Held at the House of Prayer Church in LaCenter, Kentucky, the evening featured a large number of WKGMA-affiliated soloists and groups.


Well over $1000 was raised to keep Southern Gospel music and other religious programming going out over the airwaves in the Western Kentucky, Southern Illinois, Northwestern Tennessee, and Eastern Missouri.


Thanks to the members of "For Him" for coordinating the benefit.

Pleasant Hill General Baptist Church

Another good day for the Echoes, as we spent the afternoon singing to the folks at Pleasant Hill General Baptist Church, in rural Hardin County, Illinois.  It was good to return to Pleasant Hill and see friends from way back, as well as some new friends.  There were even a couple of people who had never heard us sing before -- pretty amazing after 42 years of singing.


The Holy Spirit was present, and the smiles on the faces of the congregation, and lips moving as some silently sang along with us, was proof that blessings were being received from the messages in the songs we sang.  


Some of our best times are at the small country churches where people are still faithfully claiming the promises of God, through Jesus Christ.  We'll keep on encouraging those faithful saints as long as God wants.

Illinois State Quartet Convention

It's called a "Quartet" Convention, and there were some great quartets there.  But there were also a number of trios and even a soloist participating.  


The Echoes sang Friday night as part of the 43rd Annual Illinois State Quartet Convention.  This 3-day event, held each year in Marion, Illinois, is arguably one of the most significant Southern Gospel singing events in the entire state of Illinois..


But irregardless of how many members a group had, the message of Jesus Christ was strongly proclaimed by  each of the participants.  


Ralph Brandon once again served as emcee for the evening, lending his humor and insight to the event.  Ralph can have you laughing 'til you cry one second and then immediately hit you between the eyes with the truth of the Gospel.


Our hosts, the Glorylanders and the Nehkorns, made us feel right at home.  And The Lester Family, the St. Louis-based and longest-tenured professional  family group in the Southern Gospel field, blessed the rest of us with their selection of songs, such as one of their recent hits, "Rocks Droppin'."


If you were there, you know the blessings that poured forth.  If you weren't there, then be sure to make plans to attend next year.

Good Hope Baptist Church, Hampton, KY

The Echoes travelled to Good Hope Baptist Church, near Hampton, Kentucky, to sing at that church's homecoming celebration.  This was the first time we had been to this church, but hope it won't be the last.

Good Hope Baptist is celebrating its 170th year as a church this year, and the message of Jesus Christ is still being proclaimed in that community.  The Echoes also proclaimed the Gospel, as we sang a number of songs to weave a message of salvation, hope, grace, and promise through the songs we sang.

Songs included two new ones that we have been working on -- "When He Calls Us Away," which we recently sang for the first time at the WKGMA Spring Convention, and "That's Enough," which was the first time we had sung this song in public.

It was a great afternoon of blessings, including the blessing we received from being invited by the congregation at Good Hope Baptist.  Perhaps we can do it again before too long.

WKGMA Spring Convention

The Echoes enjoyed an evening of great Gospel singing, as we participated in the 2012 WKGMA Spring Convention.  The event, held once again at Trinity Baptist Church, in Paducah, KY, presented the Gospel of Jesus Christ as numerous soloists, trios and quartets sang during the evening.

The Convention has continued to grow through the years, with groups participating from Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois and Indiana. 

With the large number of groups appearing, each set was limited to 10 minutes.  For our 10 minutes, the Echoes chose an established song and debuted a new song.  We started with "I Rest My Case At The Cross."  It's a song about the Intercessor each Christian has in Jesus Christ -- a powerful song which received a strong response from many in the congregation who no doubt have called on that Intercessor many times in their lives.

The second song was a new one for us, as we sang "When He Calls Us Away" for the first time in a concert setting.  This song looks toward the time when Jesus will return for the Church.  Once again, the message was well-received by the Bride present at the convention.

You might want to make plans to attend the 2012 WKGMA Fall convention, usually held during the first weekend in November.  You'll be sure to receive a blessing -- especially if you come prepared to receive one.

Saline County Singing Convention

The Echoes once again "kicked off" this year's series of Saline County Singing Conventions, as they were the featured singers at the February Convention.  Since there was no January Singing Convention, the string of "kick-offs" was maintained, as the Echoes have been the first group of the year each year since 2009.

Once again, this "first event" was hosted by Rudement Social Brethren Church.  Convention President Alma Young had everything in order, as the Convention began with congregational singing.  Then the Echoes sang a number of songs to encourage a stronger faith in Christ.

While the Echoes took a little break, others in attendance offered musical selections.  As requested, David played the piano on a number, accompanied by Dorothy Williams on the organ.  They had feet tapping and hands clapping on a peppy number.

After a few more songs by the Echoes, the Convention concluded, having once again having presented the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the timeless manner of an old fashioned Singing Convention.

Glory Bound Christian Entertainment

The Echoes visited once again for another Glorybound Christian Entertainment event at the Goshen United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall in Stella, Kentucky. 

Founded by the late Joe Lawrence, the event still continues, even after Joe's recent promotion to Heaven, through the on-going efforts of Renee Taylor and Pat Lea.  April Arnold, a local United Methodist pastor, has taken over Joe's duties of delivering a short inspirational message during the break in singing.

The Echoes presented Renee and Pat a plaque in memory of Joe, which we hope will serve to remind people of Joe's love for gospel music, the Gospel itself, and above all his love for Jesus.

We shared the evening with several soloists, including April Arnold.  Since it is the Christmas Season, several Christmas songs were sung.  But since Christmas songs aren't usually a part of our repertoire, we decided to go caroling.  This took the form of inviting a few of our friends, including the other singers and the Erwins (of the WKGMA) to stroll to different tables (houses) and sing carols to the inhabitants at each "house."  It was fun to go caroling again, and most of all to sing about our Saviour's birth. 

And while we miss Joe, we're happy to be a small part in keeping his legacy going in the form of the Glorybound Christian Entertainment events.

May each of you have a very blessed and Merry Christmas, from the Echoes from Calvary.