A Special Surprise!

Gary Franklin, Steve Faison

When I went to the Tribute Quartet concert in Vero Beach recently, I ran into a buddy of mine and immediately stopped at the pew where he sat and visited a while. It wasn't long into the conversation that I pulled out my phone and asked if he minded a selfie with me. Of course, I told him then it would find its way to the web.

 

Former Trust Quartet tenor singer, Gary Franklin was in the house! It was good to see him and spend some time catching up. He, of course, was forced to leave the group in 2011 due to health issues. There are still some struggles, but he is getting those things under control.

We were able to reminisce about some of our friends we made while traveling together and just had a good visit. I guess the only thing I forgot to ask him about was whether he'd had pizza lately! For those who don't know, Gary and I were known to speak up on the bus in favor of stopping for pizza while on quartet trips.

I'm sure Gary would appreciate your continued prayers.

Circle the Date!

I love football! In fact, sports in general is pretty high on my priority list. Especially when I have a chance to go to a game and watch it live. The local high school football team is undefeated this season and Friday night opened the first round of the playoffs - at home. I'm not sure who sat in my seat on the 48 yard line, 12 rows up for Round 1, though. Friday night, November 14 had been circled on my calendar for quite some time for a different reason. Tribute Quartet was coming to town!

The first time I went to a Tribute Quartet concert, I was not in the best of moods. I remember sitting in the back of the auditorium with my arms folded, as if to say, "Bless me if you can." I went away that night impressed. I went back the next year, and the next. This is at least the fourth or fifth Tribute Quartet concert I've attended at the little Baptist church just down the street from my home. This time, I was on the front row!

Gary Casto, Josh Singletary, Steve, Anthony Davis, Riley Harrison Clark

Tribute Quartet brings an infectious energy and enthusiasm to their concerts. After the concert was over, and I was talking to lead singer / manager Gary Casto, I told him how sometimes as a minister you are constantly in the giving mode during a service. Whether singing or preaching, it can be very emotionally draining. Tonight, it was so good to be able to be ministered to! I left the concert rejoicing that God is still God! God hasn't changed; He's still in control and He's still on the throne! It seemed like over and over with the songs that were sung or the testimonies that were shared, God was speaking directly to me with His still, small voice, "It's OK. I've got your back. I'm going to carry you through the difficult times. I'm going to help you carry your load."

It was so good to be able to visit with Gary, Josh, Anthony, and Riley tonight. If Tribute Quartet is ever anywhere close to you, you owe it to yourself to go hear them. You absolutely will not regret it!

Encouragement Through The Slumps

Athletes sometimes go through difficult stretches in their game. Hitters go through slumps in baseball. Sometimes a receiver drops a few easy passes in a football game. Or maybe its the basketball player who can't seem to buy a free throw. Similarly, any honest pastor will tell you that some Sundays he just doesn't feel like he's done a good job presenting his sermon. Singers are the same way. There are times when we fight discouragement from forgetting words, or sound system issues. Satan tries his hardest to come between God's man and his best intentions.

I think it would be safe to say that through the excitement of the good things happening with Trust Quartet right now, Satan has tried his hardest to throw numerous monkey wrenches into God's good work. I'm constantly amazed at how God works. I'm amazed at how He is always right on time with His encouragement and confirmation of events in our lives. And the thing that amazes me the most is HOW He continually accomplishes that!

At a recent concert, God's presence was very obvious. It seemed each song we sang was used to meet the needs of the people there. Whenever we have the opportunity, we try to have a rehearsal before our first concert of the weekend. This past Saturday, as we sat together for prayer before practice, Spence talked about how God had been ministering to him this week. Although not feeling well, this recent concert had just not left his mind. We prayed. We began to sing.

We had prayed that God would first minister to us so that we could be a full vessel, overflowing to the people who may hear us. The more we sang and worked on implementing new segments to our concerts, the more God began to deal with our own hearts. Our hearts overflowed with the reminder that our God is still on the throne! He is still the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Christian friend, maybe you need to be reminded of that today. Maybe you have been in sort of a spiritual slump. Maybe you feel like you've hit a brick wall of sorts. Be encouraged that God is still on the throne. He has not kicked you out to pasture and left you to wander aimlessly through this life. He is very much alive and active in your life! Paul reminded the Philippians that He who began a good work in you will complete it! Trust Him to do His work in your life today!

Trust Quartet Website Makeover

The silver lining of the cloud is getting a bit brighter! Last week, our website  had some major issues. OK, actually it just essentially disappeared! After initially being in panic mode, we went to work to at least get a website back up and functioning. Although there are still some loose ends to repair, we're proud to unveil a new and improved trustquartet.com!

Feel free to click the link above and check out news about our newest family members, Ernie and Sandy Altman. Go to our schedule page and find out where we're going to be and when. If you're hosting Trust Quartet and need a couple extra posters and time is running short, check out the media page and print one there. You'll also find a press release with an accompanying photo that's also suitable to use on a power point slide. You can also check out some videos from past Trust Quartet performances in the video section of the Gallery page. And if you've not gotten your copy of our latest CD, Going Home or our Trust T-Shirts, check out our product page. You can also listen to a sample of the CD there! You haven't connected with us on Facebook? You can click our page from the new website, too!

Thank you for your patience. It's truly amazing how God works in the little details, even when we initially fret about them and are concerned while entering the unknown. Now, go . . . go visit the new and improved trustquartet.com!

Website Issues

Hey Trust friends, I wanted you to be aware that our website is a bit under the weather. I'm aware of the problem and I'm working to get it fixed as quickly as possible.

Here's a few things you need to know since you can't find it at trustquartet.com.  We have concerts coming up Sunday morning in Homeland at the Homeland Baptist Church. The concert is at 10:30 AM and you can find the church at 208 Church Street in Homeland.

If you're into advance planning, the following Sunday, November 9, we'll be at the Okeechobee Church of God at 10:30 AM. The address for that church is 301 NE 4th Avenue in Okeechobee.

Again, I apologize for the inconvenience regarding our website, but hopefully sooner rather than later, it will be back up and running at full speed! Thanks so much for understanding!

Trust Quartet Welcomes the Altmans

Last week I posted that Trust Quartet would have some BIG news to tell. One person asked if we were about to release a new CD. Not quite, but hopefully we'll be back in the studio to record another one soon.

Ernie and Sandy Altman

We have a personnel addition to tell you about. The Trust Quartet family is welcoming Ernie and Sandy Altman to the family. Ernie and Sandy live in Okeechobee where they each work for the school system. Ernie will be our new keyboard player and will also be working as a vocal coach and occasional vocalist in the group.

More will be published soon on the website, but we wanted to let you know what was happening and invite you to come to a Trust Quartet concert near you soon to meet our newest additions to Trust Quartet. Welcome to the family, Ernie and Sandy! We're glad to have you aboard!

This is BIG!

One of my favorite episodes of The Andy Griffith Show features a scene where Andy and Opie are at the pond fishing and Barney comes running toward the bank screaming, "Andy, Andy! Andy, this is big!! Oh, this is really big!!" As it turned out, there was a shipment of gold that was supposedly coming through Mayberry and the local law enforcement was needed to help escort this gargantuan amount of money through town. It was supposed to be kept secret, but leave it to ole Barn, word got out and a whole parade of folks came to see the money truck.

I have some BIG news of my own! But I'm not going to release it just yet. Trust Quartet has some big news that we'll announce in the next few days that is probably some of the biggest news we've had in a few years. Yes, I said YEARS. I'm having a hard time suppressing it, but I wanted to send a little teaser to keep you wondering! I mean, this is BIG!

Be sure to watch our website and this blog in the next few days. Oh, it's BIG!

Prayer Request Updates

At the risk of sounding whiny, I've been hesitant to write a lot this summer. It has been a trying summer to say the least. Through various struggles and difficulties, life goes on. In the midst of trials and tribulations, we're called to remain joyful! Sometimes I wonder why James had to include that in his letter to Christians so many years ago!

Having said that, I was on a phone conversation with Beverly earlier this week and she was telling me she had just completed an e-mail to me and wanted me to pass it along. Some of you may remember some prayer needs she brought to us last spring. Here is an update on some of those needs:

"Back in May of this year I had asked for prayer for a few of my cousins. There was Ricky that was very ill with cancer, and when he received a call from God to come home he was already prepared for that journey and is now resting in the presence of Jesus with no more pain and no more worries. Another cousin, Joe, suffered a heart attack and has also gone home to be with the Lord. The families miss them tremendously, but they are at peace by the assurance that Ricky and Joe are happy and they are at peace.

After all the sad news we have a PRAISE THE LORD! I received information that my cousin Tommy, who had been placed on a top priority list for a heart and kidney transplant (I can hardly type this because of the excitement) NO LONGER NEEDS A HEART TRANSPLANT! The doctors, after extensive testing told him his heart has improved to the point that he can be removed from that list. Praise God! However, he will remain on the top priority list for kidney transplants so please do not remove him from your prayer list. The family continues to covet your continued prayers. As you read this rest assured that God is still in the healing business and “He is still in the Listening business” so we should never fail to pray when someone asks us to do so. Let’s keep on keeping on!"

Yes, We Need To Still Hear From You!

Trust Quartet will not be quite as visibly active for the next few weeks. There are quite a few items that are on our agenda, though. We're looking to repair and maybe even replace some equipment, learn some new songs, and spend some quality time with our families. I'll still keep you as updated as I can. In fact, you may want to keep checking our schedule on the webpage to make sure when we'll be where. For the record, I just got an e-mail today about a couple new concerts that I've not had a chance to put on the web yet (as of this writing).

We do value your prayers as we continue working to improve our ministry. We'll still be logging miles and working hard to represent Christ in the best way we know how.

And lest I give a false impression, if you're interested in having Trust Quartet in your area, please do contact us! This is not a complete shutting down by any means. While we have scheduled some time off, we are more than willing to fill some of our open weekends to spend with you! You can find our contact information at the website, too.

Trust Quartet Welcomes Chaylee

Mamaw (Rhonda Mohr) with grandbaby #5
Chaylee

Our Trust friends and family needs to meet Chaylee! She finally arrived June 5 and we are thankful that everyone is healthy!

Trust Quartet welcomes Chaylee Ricky!  Chaylee was born June 5, measuring 20" and weighing 8.1 pounds.

Both mommy and baby are fine ~ and Mamaw and Papa Mohr are ecstatic and Grandma and Grandpa B (Buzz and Beverly) are as well.

Trust Concerts in Georgia

Trust Quartet is about ready to board the bus and head for Georgia. I'm so excited I can hardly stand it! All three stops this weekend are in churches that are very special to me.

Saturday night, we'll be with Cedar Springs Free Will Baptist Church just outside Blakely, GA. My dad pastored this church back in the 70s, and I was fortunate to pastor the church at the turn of the century. The concert is scheduled to begin at 7 PM. Please pray for the pastor, Keith Horn and his family. I received a call from him earlier Thursday and he will not be able to attend. He is on his way to conduct the funeral of his uncle in Ohio.

Sunday morning, we'll be with the Bellview Free Will Baptist Church outside Colquitt. This is Bellview's annual Homecoming Day and it traditionally is a huge day for them. My dad pastored this church back in the 60s-70s and they've graciously asked me to come back to preach Homecoming 2014. They wanted Trust to come provide the music. What an honor to be able to be there for this special day! Their current pastor, Royce Horne was a college classmate of mine, so I'm looking forward to visiting with he and his wife as well. The quartet will be singing at 10AM in lieu of the Sunday School hour and I'll be preaching during the 11AM Worship service.

Sunday evening, we'll be with the Midway Free Will Baptist Church in Moultrie. My dad grew up in the Moultrie area and there are still lots of family here. In fact, this was the first church my dad pastored when he graduated Bible College. I wasn't around then, but I did work at this church back in the 80s when I was very young in the ministry as well. I led the music and youth here, so I'm looking forward to going back.

Since these churches are all close to our family's heart, it will be good to see lots of family members this weekend. Some will be driving great distances to help celebrate. Please pray that God would do a mighty work in these three concerts!

Please help us pray

Pat sent a prayer need to me and asked that I pass it on.

Edna Howard is a friend in Ohio battling congestive heart failure. She is 86 years young and is in the hospital for the second time in the past couple of months.

Thanks for praying!

Would You Please Help Us Pray?

From time to time we are asked to share prayer needs from our friends and families. It is our honor to pray for these needs and when asked, we certainly are privileged to pass them on to you, our Trust Quartet friends. Please, do take these requests seriously and take them to the Father during your quiet time with Him.

These particular requests came to me today via e-mail from Beverly. Most of them are members of her family. I'll pass along the specifics as we're able, but please remember, each of these are very real needs to these people.

Please pray for Ricky, Edward, and Lee. Edward and Lee are brothers, and each of these are cousins of Beverly. Each of these are facing medical needs. Also, remember Jeff in Texas. He is a kind of adopted son of Pat. He's in the hospital with a serious infection in his foot. He is improving, but still has a ways to go.

Another cousin of Beverly is Tommy. He has been on the waiting list for a heart and kidney transplant for quite some time, but due to some recent problems, has moved to the top of the list. Please pray that God would provide for him and his family during these days.

Thank you so much for allowing us to share these needs with you. As you pray, please do remember to take them to the Father.

What Its All About

God has been so good to Trust Quartet! Over the course of the last few weeks, we've seen the incredible hand of God working in our services.

There have been several people showing interest in becoming Christ-followers. We're sure hopeful they are following through with those desires and commitments to Him. This past week, in a sparsely attended setting, a young lady, 18 years old, decided she needed to recommit her life to Christ.

I'd met this young lady at a previous couple of concerts, and have been impressed with her openness about serving God. She was involved in a pretty serious auto accident the Sunday before we were at her church. When she showed Spence and me the pictures of her vehicle, and heard her say she only got one little piece of glass in her finger, I was amazed! It was only by the grace of God that she simply walked away from that accident!

As we sang that morning, it was hard not to watch her. As I mentioned, the crowd was a bit low. It was easy to watch everybody! When the invitation was given, there was no response ~~ at first. We were just about to pray the benediction, when a voice behind me spoke up. "I know we've already gone past it, but can I still rededicate my life to Christ?" There were more than a few sobs I heard from those sitting around me as this young lady got up from her seat and went to the front of this little church and recommitted her life to Christ. My throat was getting a bit lumpy, too!

After lunch, I had the opportunity to sit and talk with her. I had driven my own car to the concert due to the location, so I had the time after the loading work was done. Listening to how this young lady is responding to her life situations encouraged me. I'm looking forward to going back to that little church outside Okeechobee and seeing how this young lady is continuing to respond to God's plan for her life.

That's why we do what we do. For Trust Quartet, it's far more than singing a few songs and packing up and going to the next place. We know God can do incredible things in the lives of His people. We simply want to be used by Him to encourage those with whom we come in contact to lock in to His purpose for them!

Will you help us pray for more people like this young lady? Will you help us point people to Jesus? This, friend, is what it's all about!

A Needed Respite

I've stood in front of lots of people to give presenations of all sorts. Whether preaching a sermon, singing a song, teaching a lesson, moderating a business session ... I've seen lots of people from a platform. The legendary bass singer, George Younce of the Cathedrals Quartet said it when I heard it first, and I've quoted him a few times, "Some folks just look back at you like a mule looking at a new gate!" I've seen quite a few of mule-like people in my day. I'm thankful that's not the majority, though!

One particular concert, we'd had a bit of a difficult time and the communication was harder than most. We've all experienced it at some point or another, but it doesn't make it any easier. Normally, when we look for a restaurant after a concert, we gravitate toward Golden Corral, Sonny's Bar BQ, Steak n Shake, etc. If we're in a bit of a hurry or money is really tight, we'll head to a McDonald's or Wendy's. You get the idea.

After this concert, though, we didn't have a particular place in mind, we weren't finding one of the above named restaurants and we had a little time to kill before getting to our next stop. On the bus, we were seeing all kinds of restaurants and just naming them one right after the other. Someone said, "There's an Olive Garden," about the same time I pointed out the Outback. The Olive Garden was on the right hand side of the road, and Buzz made a bee-line for it.

Rhonda and Jeff were on the couch across from me, and our eyes met and I could feel my eyebrow raise up. Sure enough, that's where we went. Buzz must have known something we didn't know! Buzz parked the bus as we went into the restaurant. We were seated before he even got to the door. They sat us in a little alcove to ourselves. It was much quieter and we were set a bit away from much of the restaurant.

William was our server and he did an incredible job! In fact, when the manager came around to ask about our experience, I told him that I didn't know what he was paying William, but it wasn't enough!

After the difficult concert, it was so nice to be able to have a room all to ourselves where we could re-energize ourselves for the next concert. We were extremely thankful for Olive Garden that day. Oh, and lest anyone think we're financially set since we ate at a nicer restaurant, we each ordered off the special menu ~ got full for less than a meal at Golden Corral!

Concert Cancelled

Unfortunately, we need to announce that the concert scheduled for Sunday morning, April 13 in Clewiston has been cancelled. We apologize for any inconvenience and ask that you continue to pray for us as we prepare to sing in the Daytona area the week after Easter.

Remember, He Is Risen!!! He Is Risen Indeed!!!

In The Midst of It All

Beverly sent this to me and asked me to post it for you to read. 

             God’s presence is still surrounding us with His unfaltering love, by providing multiple avenues of evidence that Trust Quartet is still chosen to travel on, ministering through song and preaching.  We have been very busy this season with many concerts on the schedule.  We are thankful for all our friends and neighbors and full time residents, and our northern/southern friends who are here on winter break, who keep us encouraged by attending our concerts and supporting us monetarily. With neither, we would not be able to continue on the road. God is still providing in all areas and by listing below just a few you will get the idea of what we are experiencing.  

            First, Spence was called upon to preach after one of our scheduled concerts, and the spirit of the Lord walked right in and controlled the service from beginning to ending.  Buzz is always kidding about having two preachers on the bus, Steve and Spence.  Well, let’s just say, it is the most rewarding, refreshing and fulfilling time of fellowship we could ever share, because Jeff is never without a question or statement that gets the “ball rolling” for a good “ole time” Bible Study. Okay, we have Baptist, Church of God, Assembly of God, and often times we switch to non-denominational so that we can get down to the “nitty-gritty” of what God is teaching us through His Word.

            On our way to LaBelle, FL we stopped at a local convenience store to meet up with Steve and there was a hitchhiker standing on the corner when Buzz turned into the driveway and made the statement that we should pick him up.  We all laughed because we really thought he was kidding.  Buzz just does not do something like that, ever!  After Steve got on the bus we were turning to go on our way and Buzz again said we should pick him up. He asked for a survey of yeas and nays, if everyone was okay with it.  It was unanimous to pick him up!!! Jeff had gotten behind the wheel and Buzz was in the buddy seat.  Jeff stopped and opened the door, and they asked him where he was going and he wanted to know what it would cost, since we were in the bus.  Buzz said a thousand dollars but he could ride with us anyway.  They asked him where he was going and he said La Belle. Well, we all laughed because that was exactly the direction we were headed.  Of course we were all a little anxious, but in conversation we found that he was a person who had, and still is, experiencing many problems. With over an hour of conversation we all felt overwhelmed with what had transpired, not only with him asking us to call his mom to let her know he was okay, but praying and thanking God for allowing him to be with a group of Christians.  Earlier, before leaving we had made sandwiches and had one left over, and for some unknown reason even stuffed a napkin into the Ziploc bag with the sandwich.  When we stopped for him to get off, we grabbed the sandwich, a banana, and a bottle of water and gave it to him. He was appreciative, and with a big smile on his face he got off the bus at a park. We waved goodbye to him and went on our way. That was on Saturday evening. We were still about 20 miles from our destination. On Sunday after the morning concert a couple (the same family Steve spoke of in our Trust-Worthy News) told us they would like to provide lunch for us and asked us to meet them at the park in La Belle.  You guessed it, the same park where we left our new friend. We all looked for him to still be there but he had left.  We will always remember him, and pray that he finds life with the Lord worthwhile.              

            Believe me, there are no real complaints to speak of, but when on the road on the weekends with a heavy schedule, a heavy workload on our daily jobs, family, homes, and just everyday responsibility the load seems too heavy to lift…

            Buzz picked up his phone one evening recently and found he had a message that had been there since morning. He listened for a couple of minutes and then turned with such a startled expression on his face I was sure there was something wrong. He then handed me the phone and said, “Listen to this”!  A gentleman from out of state said he had come across our website and liked what he read. He said he did not know us, but God had laid it upon his heart to call and encourage us to continue in our ministry, and not give up because he knew it was tough. He went on for several minutes with encouraging words while Buzz and I just stood there with tears flowing.

            We received a beautiful card a few days ago full of encouragement from a couple who have been true friends with Trust and they never fail to let us know how much they love us. They have gone to their summer home now but we are already planning for their return so we can see their fantastic smiles. We love them, too.

            We attended a Mark Trammell Quartet concert last evening, Awesome!  We are a little prejudice since we have known Mark for many years and had opportunity to visit with him after the concert and give him a copy of our latest project “Going Home”.  Yeah, as Steve says, when we aren’t singing we are on our way to hear someone else sing! Anyway, Mark, in his talking spoke of being a preacher’s son, and now he is a preacher, and oftentimes the load becomes “too heavy to lift”. He extended encouragement to anyone in the audience who was in a ministry to basically; keep on keeping on, In The Midst of It ALL! 

Prayer Updates

I wanted to share an update on Gary Franklin and also pass along a prayer need that just came to me today (Sunday). Gary's surgery went as expected. He had 5 bypass surgery and has been moved to a regular room (from ICU) and will be transported later to a hospital rehabilitation facility. He wanted to share his message of thanks to you for the continued prayer support.

I also received word today from Beverly that former Trust Quartet baritone singer, Jerrell Green has passed along this prayer request. His mother is scheduled for open heart surgery Tuesday in Orlando to repair two heart valves. Further concern is for his father's care. Jerrell's wife, Phyllis, is still recovering from some physical issues, as well.

Trust Quartet thanks you for your continued prayer support of these dear servants.

Praying for our friends at Midway Road Baptist Church

There are some churches that tend to be an annual stop for Trust Quartet. Such is the case with Midway Road Baptist Church in Ft. Pierce. We enjoy being with these good folks and have built quite a rapport with the pastor and the good people there.

We learned late in the week that the pastor's mother had passed away. It would obviously be a people who needed encouragement and love. Much of our sharing during the service dealt with words of comfort and encouragement.

It was after the service, however, that we learned not only had the pastor's mother been promoted to glory, but two other dear saints had met their eternal reward in the past couple of weeks. While Heaven may be sweeter, our hearts are certainly heavy when we endure the separation of friends and loved ones.

Our hearts and prayers are going out to our friends at Midway Road Baptist Church during these days. Sometimes, even as believers, we go through periods of bewilderment at the loss of a loved one. But when there are multiple deaths so close together, it can shake us to the very core. No doubt there have been times when you've dealt with similar struggles. Would you please help us remember to pray for our brothers and sisters at this particular church during these days?

Cynthia, The King is Coming!

Trust Quartet was privileged to be at First Baptist Church of Alva, FL this past Sunday morning. It was an incredible time of worship with these dear friends. We'd not been to First Baptist Alva in about three years, and it was good to be reacquainted with them.

The pastor paid Trust Quartet a very high compliment as he introduced us yesterday. He talked of how we remembered people and asked about them before the service began. He said we remembered things about him from three years ago that he had forgotten. Let me share with you a special experience that will help you understand why some folks are just easy to remember.

The crowd was one of multiple races and ages. There were some who enjoyed southern gospel music and some who likely had never heard this style of music before. In fact, there were some there who may not have been accustomed to anything church-related. We were overjoyed with the pastor as he shared how many guests were attending. We are praying that those dear ones will return and worship with our friends there. 

And then there was Cynthia.

I remember Cynthia from our visit three years ago. She's a forty-something lady who has lived her life challenged with physical struggles. Her hands are gnarled, making it difficult to grasp anything. But don't tell her that! She held and played her tambourine while we sang just fine, thank you very much! She used a walker to help steady her as she moved around. She, with her mom and dad, took the quartet to a park and we ate pizza and salad together. She handled herself quite well with her pizza and tea, too!

As we ate, I asked Cynthia what she liked to do besides eat pizza and watch Gaither videos. Her response was quick and to the point. "Sing," she said with a big grin! I asked what her favorite song was. Without much hesitation, she looked at me and said, The King is Coming! Of course, that song is one of Bill and Gloria's songs from the days long before the Gaither Vocal Band.

A few minutes passed, and I began, 

"The marketplace is empty, no more traffic in the street                                                                             All the builder's tools are silent, no more time to harvest wheat                                                                     Busy housewives cease their labor, in the courtroom no debate                                                           Work on earth has been suspended as the King comes through the gate"

By now, Cynthia had joined me singing. Softly at first, but she began to get a little more confident as I kept singing with her.

"Happy faces line the hallway, those whose lives have been redeemed
Broken homes He has mended, those from prison He has freed
Little children and the aged hand in hand stand all a-glow
Who were crippled, broken, ruined, clad in garments white as snow"

Her smile was contagious by now and the whole quartet and her mom and dad were singing with us.

"I can hear the chariot's rumble, I can see the marching throng
And the flurry of God's trumpet spells the end of sin and wrong
Regal rolls are now unfolded, heaven's grandstands all in place
Heaven's choir is now assembled, start to sing "Amazing Grace"

By now, a worship service has begun at the park and we didn't really mind if anyone heard us.

"The King is coming, the King is coming
I just heard the trumpet sounding and soon His face I'll see
The King is coming, the King is coming...."

By this time, Cynthia is raising both hands high in the air with a sense of victory! She knows full well that Jesus is coming back and she is looking forward to seeing Him in all His glory. Singing at the top of her lungs, the last phrase has resonated with me all afternoon and evening, into the night. Perhaps you'll want to shout it out today with Cynthia ~~

"Praise God, He's coming for me!"

Prayer Concern

Trust friends, I will be sending at least this and two more updates today. I try to not inundate e-mail inboxes etc with unnecessary items, but this is a bit of an unusual week. Each of our concerts this weekend merits its own post and I need to also share this prayer concern with you.

Many of you who have followed Trust Quartet through the years would remember Gary Franklin. Gary sang tenor with the group from 2009-2011. We learned just before our concert last night that Gary is in a Melbourne hospital and is scheduled to undergo open heart surgery this morning, Monday, March 17. I do not know any further details, but will be sure to pass along what I can as it can be released. Obviously, please remember Gary's two most important needs right now; prayer and rest. We will not be releasing intimate details to respect his privacy.

Thank you for remembering Gary and his family during these days.

A February Review of Trust

The month of February went by rather quickly. Time flies when you're having fun, eh? We were able to enjoy concerts in Canal Point, Wauchula, Okeechobee, LaBelle, Pahokee, Satellite Beach, Rockledge and Indiantown. (OK, so Indiantown was technically in March, but I wouldn't want to leave them out during this newsletter!) For such a short month, that sounds like a lot, doesn't it? That's a good thing! We have been delighted to be busy during the month and want to say a big THANK YOU to those whoh have shared services with us!

The Lord has been gracious to us. We've been able to share in communion services, an ordination service, we've seen people respond publically during altar calls and had the opportunity to pray with multiple people after services were over. We've been able to be with our friends, Gulf State and Simple Faith ~ always a highlight! To God be the glory! If that sounds like something you'd like to be a part of, please be sure to call us and let us come and minister to your group.

As we were in service at the Oceanside Community Church in Satellite Beach, the pastor shared some thoughts with his congregation before we sang. He likened a worship service to a person who enjoys drinking tea. There are lots of flavors of tea one can choose from. There is tea with lemon, tea with honey, tea with sugar ~ you get the idea. Different people have varying tastes when it comes to the flavor of tea they like. Such is the case with music in a worship service. Some like the old hymns, some like the newer contemporary choruses. Some like anthems, while still others may enjoy the Stamps Baxter style of music.

The main goal of Trust Quartet is to sing songs that honor and glorify Christ. We happen to do it with a southern gospel flavor. But within that genre of music, there are several songs we sing that highlight a different style. The pastor went on to share from Colossians 3 about Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. He reminded us that the Word of God teaches us to use a variety of styles to accomplish the goal of honoring and glorifying Christ. Each of these different types of music is intended to teach us about the God who created music.

We desire your prayers as we continue in the ministry of sharing the gospel in song. We desire that you be encouraged and strengthened in your walk with God. If you've not yet come to the place in your life to commit to a growing relationship with Him, we long to share with you how you can have your life transformed by the grace of God! Please let us know if we can help you in that area of your life.

The Nelons Do It Again!

The Nelons
Jason, Kelly, Autumn, and Amber

Those who have kept up with this blog know that I enjoy southern gospel music. No doubt a regular reader would also know that I enjoy attending concerts even if I'm not singing in them. And I dare say that even a casual observer knows that I have a handful of artists that I do everything within my power to attend a concert if they are near me. Such is the case with the Nelons. I've followed the Nelons for the majority of their ministry and they just keep getting better and better.

Friday night, I had the opportunity to attend a Nelons concert in Okeechobee. This is the second such opportunity this month! This particular concert, though, was extraordinary. I've heard the phrase before that Jesus showed up and showed out. Although I understand the sentiment, I personally can't stand the phrase. (Jesus doesn't show up ~ He's already present. He doesn't show out ~ a five year old shows out, before a spanking.) But what we experienced at this Nelons concert was a family of ministers ushering a congregation into the very throneroom of God! We were carried into His presence in an attitude of worship that was nothing short of incredible!

The song selection is always great and the musical ability of each member of this family is quite unique. Jason masterfully coordinates and improvises in a way that blows my mind. Not only does he write many of the songs, his ability to facilitate the musical nuances from the stage is nothing short of miraculous.

Kelly brings a rich alto voice that soothes the soul like no other. From the classic O, For a Thousand Tongues To Sing, to the more recent Settled At The Cross and everything in between, she has the ability to reach the heart of the listener with the love of Jesus. It beams on her face! Her father, Rex, would be proud of the way his legacy is continuing.

Amber is one of the most talented singers anywhere ~ bar none! Amber sings the soprano part with power and conviction. A young veteran of the concert stage, Amber's voice resonates with enthusiasm. The part that impresses me the most about this young lady is not necessarily what one sees on a concert stage or hears on a CD. I follow this family on Facebook and Twitter. More often than many would imagine, Amber shares thoughts from her personal devotional time with God. For a young lady in her age bracket, that impresses me!

We had a special treat tonight, because Autumn joined the family for a couple of songs. The picture above was taken when the ladies sang a song about yesteryear. "Grandpa, tell me 'about the good ole days . . . " Yes, I'm sure Autumn's grandpa's face is beaming as he looks down from Heaven! If you've not heard Autumn sing, she's just as talented as the rest of the family!

At the product table after the concert, the ministry continues. Oh sure, one can purchase CDs and DVDs of this great music ~ and we should! That helps not only financially, but it continues the message and ministry long after the Nelons have left the building. But the opportunity to visit and build personal relationships with this family is another thing that sets them apart from many other artists. I've visited with many artists down through the years ~ at concerts, on the phone, in a radio studio ~ you'll not find any others more personable and real than these folks. If they are ever in driving distance of where you are, please make it a point to go and participate in a concert with them. Tell 'em Steve from Trust Quartet sent you!

A Trust Quartet Update

While I'm sitting at my place of employment waiting for a staff meeting to begin, I thought I'd write a note to let you know what's going on in Trust Quartet's world.

Last weekend, the group got together and sang at Canal Point United Methodist Church. This is one of those annual trips for us, so I've now been with them four times. They are a great bunch of folks and we're always delighted to be able to sing for them.

This weekend, we are looking forward to being with our friends, Gulf State Quartet and Simple Faith Quartet at the Northside Baptist Church in Wauchula. That will be Saturday night at 6:00 o'clock and if you've ever been to one of these events, you know we have fun! I can honestly say, that although we did one together just a couple of weeks ago, some of the same songs may be sung, but I can guarantee it will not be the same concert! In fact, I don't know if we could do that if we tried! These things just cannot be scripted, and that's what makes it so much fun.

Sunday morning, we'll be with the folks at Treasure Island Baptist Church in Okeechobee. Of course, that church has a lot of history and fond memories for Trust Quartet and we always enjoy going there, too.

If you're in the Wauchula area Saturday night, or do not have a church home in Okeechobee, please consider this invitation to come and be with us. We'd LOVE to see you there!

Promoting A Concert

This is going to be a bit of a two-pronged blog post. If you've been following me at all here at Trust-Worthy News, you'll know that I obviously post about things that are going on with our group, Trust Quartet. You'll also have noticed that I blog quite often about a concert that I have attended. Today though, I want to have you consider the importance of promoting your concerts well.

There are a number of inexpensive or even FREE ways to promote a concert that you are hosting. By all means, word of mouth is FREE! Have people in your church tell other people who are not in your church about your concert event. The absolute best way to get anyone to come is to invite them. (Incidentally, that's true about your church services or your relationship with Christ, too!)

Most groups will send to you, or make available to you online, a poster that you can put the time/date/place information on to place in your facility or around town. The more of these you can place in public places, the better you are. Again, this is FREE promotion. It just may take a little time and effort on your part.

Also, the more concerts you host, the more successful you will be at promoting them. Here's a couple of examples. Trust Quartet regularly sings at The Red Barn in Clewiston, FL. Before we started doing those, Billy and Judy would only have a handful of people to show up and were on the fringes of quitting. We encouraged them to keep on keepin' on and to continue to have quality groups come to their place. Now, very few concerts have less than 100 people there and it has grown to be a thriving place to have a concert event. The groups I'm familiar with love going there, and as we watch the ones who attend the concerts, they like 'em, too!

Another prime example is the Faith Baptist Church in Vero Beach, FL. Trust Quartet sang there several years ago, before I had even heard of Trust Quartet. But every year now, between November and April, usually a couple of Friday nights per month, there's going to be a concert. They have used the longevity and consistency of providing Southern Gospel music to an area that doesn't get a lot of it to their advantage. There is no radio station that plays exclusively Southern Gospel music in our listening area. Yet, because this church has been consistent with providing the area with this genre of music, if you want a seat at a concert, take my advice and GET THERE EARLY! I've seen personal friends who've driven almost 3 hours to get to a concert get turned away because there were no seats available.

The way I learned of this venue and attend as many concerts as I do is their church sign. If you've already put up a church sign with a changeable message, this is now another FREE way to promote your concert. Here comes the second prong to this blog. Notice, too, this is advertised fully two weeks ahead of the concert in this manner. If you have a concert coming up, go ahead and let folks in your community know about it so they can plan to attend it!

Signs like this in visible places do wonders to promote your concert!

While driving home this past Friday, I passed the church and had to turn around. I've known about and looked forward to this concert for several months! When I saw their sign I had to turn around and go back to take a picture ~ specifically for this blog post. The Nelons are among my favorite groups in the Southern Gospel industry. I followed them from the very beginning when they were the Rex Nelon Singers. In fact, I was at a concert in Thomasville, GA right after Amber was born. It was one of her first ever appearances, and now she's singing soprano with the group and does a phenomenal job! It will be well worth your investment to hear her sing More Than Wonderful. Or the Hallelujah Chorus. Or I Stand Amazed ~ you get the idea.

The Nelons are one of the more personable groups you'll ever be around. Because I've been involved in some form of Southern Gospel, whether radio or singing it, for the better part of the last 30 years, I've had the privilege of being around quite a few of the artists from time to time. Please understand, very few of them know me or would remember the contact that I've had with them. But I'm excited to tell you of a group who is who they claim to be. In speaking with a person in Nashville who does know many of the groups on a personal level, I asked him (without hinting why) what he thought of the Nelons. He couldn't say enough good things about this family. He emphasized they are the real deal.

And so, Jason, Kelly, Amber, Autumn, and even Stacy Newbern the bus driver ~~ we are looking forward to seeing you guys in Vero Beach! Oh, and I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Sam and Buddy, too! Friends, if you're in the Vero Beach area on Friday, February 7, come to Faith Baptist Church to hear this group sing. You will not be disappointed ~ I guarantee it. But the concert starts at 7; GET THERE EARLY!!

Twentieth Anniversary Concert - A Recap

Wow! What a day! Trust Quartet got to the church about 11 AM and did some rehearsing before Gulf State and Simple Faith arrived about 1:30. After they got their equipment moved in and set up, we had a fantastic lunch at 2:30.

Let me give a shout out right now to Maggie Williams, Jimmy and Sue Kemp, as well as some outstanding servers, Kelsi, Christian, and Abby - members and three of the youth from Okeechobee Church of God. The first three did a lot of cooking, and the latter three did a lot of serving! There were some additional students who came and served during the after-concert fellowship time, and I apologize for not having your names. You did great, too!

After lunch, we had a brief meeting with all the groups to finalize some plans. We enjoyed some much needed down time for about an hour before we were back for our pre-service prayer time. That few minutes is always so special - and VITAL! Spending time with the Father usually ends with singing some songs; just a capella, spur-of-the-moment type things.

We were fortunate to have enough time this year to be able to spend some quality time greeting our friends who had come to help us celebrate. We are thankful for all our friends, and especially are grateful to the ones who came and shared this momentous occasion with us this year.

The concert started at 6 o'clock and from there was wall to wall music! There was a little bit of POPCORN concert that even broke out. Trust sang nine songs during the evening - all from our new album, Going Home. Both Gulf State and Simple Faith have new projects, so they sang some newer songs as well.

We were able to keep a surprise from Buzz and Beverly! We were able to have some gifts for them and they

didn't even have a clue! In fact, Buzz was almost speechless! We gave them roses, a plaque and a huge framed piece containing all ten of the Trust Quartet CDs. A big thank you to Tom Ridley and his staff at Ridley's Custom Frames in Palm Bay for putting that together for us!

Six people went home with new CDs that they didn't have to pay for. Each group gave away a couple of CDs and we're thankful for their generosity.

When the music ended, the fellowship kept right on. There were beans and cornbread, cake and ice cream for any who wanted to stay and enjoy it with us. It was so good to sit and fellowship with new friends and renew acquaintances with some we've known a while.

By the time we got our equipment loaded back on the bus and headed out, it was midnight when I got home. It was a long day, but one that is worth it every year. Honestly, we look forward to our anniversary concerts. Yes, it's a lot of work. Yes, we get tired. Yes, its a labor of love. Thank you for celebrating with us!

Trust Quartet Is In Celebration Mode!

The Original Trust Quartet 1994

It was during a Wednesday night prayer meeting in March of 1994 in an Okeechobee church that the name Trust was confirmed for a new quartet. The pastor of the church was speaking from Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding..." There have been many who have passed through the 'Halls of Trust Quartet' since then, but through it all Buzz and Beverly Beasley have remained focused and committed to spreading the Gospel through music.

That was 20 years ago! Back then, the average cost of a new house was just over $119,000 and the average annual income was $37,000. A loaf of bread was $1.59 and a dozen eggs were 86 cents. A gallon of gas was ~ wait for it ~ $1.09! Bill Clinton was President of the U.S, and in the hot news / political arena: NAFTA and the Whitewater scandal investigations began. It was 1994 when America watched the pursuit of the white bronco being driven by O. J. Simpson in Los Angeles. What movies did you see? You might have watched The Shawshank Redemption, Forrest Gump, or The Lion King on the big screen.

In the world of Southern Gospel music, odds are, you listened to the Cathedrals Quartet. They were voted America's favorites then. In fact, not only were they voted the Singing News Favorite Artist, all five members of that group won the Singing News Fan Award for their respective parts: Ernie Haas, tenor; Glen Payne, lead; Scott Fowler, baritone; George Younce, bass; and Roger Bennett, pianist. Gold City did take the favorite album (Pillars of Faith) that year and the McKameys came away with the favorite song (Arise).

We all know what Buzz and Beverly were doing in 1994. They were busy trying to get this quartet off the ground. I asked Spence and Rhonda what they remember doing in 1994. During the early part of the year, Spence, his wife, Karen, and their daughter Elaine and her husband, Bobby were on the evangelistic field full time. They were traveling across the country singing and preaching to anyone who would listen. It was later that year they decided to get back into local church ministry and Spence began work in New Smyrna Beach, FL as Associate Pastor of a Assembly of God church.

Rhonda tells me she was waiting tables at a local Okeechobee restaurant while chasing three kids under 10 years old.

As for me, I was involved in my first pastorate just outside Nashville, Tennessee. My youngest daughter, Abby, joined our family in 1994, so we were making lots of transitions.

Trust Quartet gathering for our Going Home photo shoot

But today, we are all together ~ and in Celebration Mode! Saturday night, we'll celebrate Twenty Years of Trust Quartet! I hope you're making plans to be with us at the Okeechobee Church of God on 4th Street behind McDonald's. We'll start the celebration at 6:00 PM. Come early for a good parking place and a seat!

Trust Quartet Celebrating Twenty Years

I  hope you're planning to be with us Saturday night at 6:00 o'clock. Buzz says we're gonna have a hoot! Seriously, you'll enjoy the night and we would be so honored to have you with us.

The Lesters In Concert

The Lesters in concert: Justin Wells, Jon Lester, Brian Lester

I remember growing up, gathering around the piano and singing with my dad and sister. Some of my fondest memories were singing with them. On Sunday mornings, without fail, while getting ready for church we'd watch the Gospel Jubilee on television. The Goodmans and Speers were always a part of our Sunday morning routine. There is just something about family harmony that is special.

One group that has carried on a family legacy of gospel music is the Lesters from St. Louis, MO. For nearly 90 years, this family has been a beacon of Jesus Christ in sharing through music. This past Saturday night, the Lesters carried that message of hope to the First Nazarene Church in Okeechobee. Trust Quartet got together and sat front and center in the auditorium and shared a worship experience that we all needed.

As I've followed the Lesters over the years, from playing their music on radio back in the 80s, to being able to meet them in person a few years ago in Vero Beach, I've appreciated their heart for ministry. They, like all groups, have had several different personalities down through the years. Brian Lester readily acknowledged he is not an original member! They currently put the third and fourth generations of Lesters on stage full time. Brian, his son, Jon are joined by Justin Wells to make up the current group. It was mentioned during the concert, this is the first time in the long history of this group that there has not been a female to grace the stage with them.

The Lesters are full of energy from the first note to the last. Their smiles are infectious and before we left the building, everyone had shared a laugh or three. As entertaining as they are, and as much fun as we shared, there was also definitely a time for thought-provoking, heart-searching ministry. We were challenged by the Holy Spirit as much as we were encouraged. 

Another thing I really liked was their song selection. As much as I love songs that have a 'label' of southern gospel, I really love the hymns of the church. The Lesters sang songs like When We All Get To Heaven and Victory in Jesus. Two songs in particular that spoke to my heart were the Fannie Crosby hymn, My Savior First of All and Amazing Grace. To me, the congregation's response to Amazing Grace was legendary. As Jon introduced the song with the reminder of the Salvation Army's television commercial, the song went from an old standard to a personal reminder of God's grace to each of us. As they began to sing, the crowd stood to our feet. No applause, no whistling, no shouting. Some lifted hands in worship, but it was a reverence as we stood in awe of God's Amazing Grace to each of us. It was as if we were listening to the National Anthem ~ standing in respect to what we felt in our hearts.

The concert culminated with the Lesters' signature song, He Didn't Throw The Clay Away. What a message! That is one of those songs that never gets old. It's one that the Lesters no doubt have requested each time they take the stage to sing.

Truly, Trust Quartet was blessed and encouraged. Thank you Brian, Jon, and Justin for sharing with us this past week. If you have the opportunity to hear the Lesters, make plans to do it. You'll laugh, you may even shed a tear, but if you approach the time with an open heart, you will surely be blessed. I guarantee it!

Trust Quartet poses with The Lesters after the concert:
L to R: Spence, Buzz, Rhonda, Steve, Brian Lester, Jon Lester, Justin Wells