Recordings
Although it seems like it has been out for so much longer, Dec. 2003/Jan. 2004 saw the launch of our first recording, Heaven’s Love. Response to it has been… amazing. We are in the beginning stages of trying to get airplay with it and have also talked about acquiring a label. Will it happen? I don’t know. Only the Lord knows His plans for the project. We are simply responding to doors that the Lord seems to be opening. Our prayer has been and will continue to be that God will use it powerfully as He sees fit and that through it He will change lives. If the Lord has ministered to you through this project or any ministry the Lord has allowed Heather and I to be a part of, please send us a letter or e-mail to let us know. It is encouraging for us to hear about those things.
We are now in the beginning stage of preparations for our next recording, so please pray with us about it. Recordings are a huge task to undertake and there is much to get done. We need the Lord to bring the right songs, musicians, producer(s), vocalists, etc. Not to mention that we need financial miracles to happen in order for us to even make it to the studio. But if God did it for the Heaven’s Love project, I know He will provide again if it is His will for us to do another recording!
A New Partnership!
This year also saw the birth of a partnership in ministry with Keith Duncan and His Call Ministries. In February, I was asked to be a vocal clinician at the East Coast Worship Institute in Richmond, VA with Keith. Then in July I went on a Mission trip to Germany with them. It was an amazing trip. The lady you see pictured in green is Rose. I took this picture moments after she prayed and accepted Christ as her savior at one of our outreaches. Yah God! Finally, Heather and I were on the worship team with Keith for INSP Network’s New Years Celebration. We were there for the moment that INSP turned their satellite on in 37 countries, including Israel and the Middle East!
Alaska Mission
I was back in Alaska in May of this year - this time on Prince of Wales Island outside of Ketchikan. Our church in Homerville sent a crew up to do some construction work on a Church of God youth camp at Coal Bay. I don’t think I have ever been so isolated from civilization for so long - it was a 20-minute boat ride to the nearest building or person outside our camp. So, where Heather and Hannah were during these mission trips? Well, unfortunately they were unable to accompany me this year. However, we are praying that will change soon.
Hannah
Hannah is wonderful! She is now 2 1/2 and is full of…IT! Whatever IT is, she’s got it. I realize that every parent thinks their child is smart and gifted, but I’m telling you, this child is too smart for my own good. She is VERY strong willed, loves to sing and dance, and has a command of language that shocks me. She already likes soccer but is in every way a girly girl! She loves frilly stuff, getting her nails “painted,” getting her hair done, and playing dress up. She also digs clothes, shoes, and shopping! I AM IN TROUBLE! The biggest event in her life this year was probably when she fell off of a chair she had climbed on and knocked out one of her front teeth. Somehow though she is more beautiful than ever!
Heather
Heather has had a busy year as well. Earlier this year she took on the task of arranging and organizing the nursery for our church. By the time she was finished, there was a fully equipped and functioning nursery with a check in system, call system, curriculum, parent information pamphlets, nursery worker guidelines, etc., etc. All I can say is that she has impressed me once again! I am still amazed that God would bless me with her. Thank You Lord! Now for the Holidays!
A Busy Christmas
As I stated at the beginning of this letter, the end of this year was the busiest time I think we’ve ever had. We celebrated Thanksgiving in Virginia Beach with Heather’s folks at their new home. That Sunday we had both Homecoming and District services at our church. The next weekend (December 6th), we had our adult Christmas program in Homerville. We then flew to Arizona where I sang in North Ridge Community Church’s Christmas program in Cave Creek Sunday morning (the 12th), and then Heather and I drove to Cottonwood to sing at a banquet held by a local church that evening.
The following Friday I was on a local broadcast in Phoenix and then Heather and I sang in the Christmas production at Cathedral Christian Center in Phoenix on Sunday the 19th. Christmas Eve I was at Cathedral Christian for the evening to lead worship and then Sunday the 26th we were back at North Ridge to minister. Finally, we headed back East to Charlotte, NC for the New Years Eve broadcast where we also met with Heather’s family for a quick Christmas celebration. We then drove back home on New Years day to get ready for services on the 2nd.
In the midst of all this, we also got to get away for a day and a half for our 7th anniversary and spent the week of Christmas (minus Christmas Eve night) with my sister’s family in Prescott. Unfortunately, that week 8 of our 10 family members also came down with the stomach flu at one point or another, including Heather, Hannah, and myself.
What's Next
So what’s next for this year? We don’t know for sure, but we sense something stirring in our hearts. We believe God is getting ready to do something in our lives, we just don’t know what or how. We have many hopes and dreams – not the least of which is the recording I mentioned - but we are leaving the directing up to Him. There are several mission trips in the works for this year as well. Please pray with us that we will seek Him diligently, hear His voice clearly, walk obediently, and that we will rest in His favor. If we can do that, the rest will all fall together.
In Closing
In closing, I would like to share this thought: The Bible declares that God is not a man that He should lie! If He promised it, He will do it (Gen. 28:15). If He said He would get you through, He’ll get you through. (Isaiah 43) If He said He’d provide, He’ll provide. (Matthew 7:24-34) If He said He’d open doors, He’ll do it (Isaiah 45:1). When you place your trust and faith in Him, He will not let you down.
