Southern Gospel News SGNScoops Digital

Beyond the Song: Dusty Wells, Gospel Music Industry Insider

Written by Staff on November 6, 2020 – 10:50 am -

Beyond the Song by Jantina Baksteen

I caught up with Dusty Wells who has been writing for SGNScoops for years and works for Daywind Records. We hope you enjoy reading his story.

Jantina Baksteen: You are no stranger to the Southern gospel industry and you wear many hats. Can you share what hats you wear? 

Dusty Wells: Well, first of all, I love love hats; both real hats, to help keep my bald head warm and I love being able to wear many different hats in my job and career. I have always loved being a part of this wonderful industry in all genres of music. Southern gospel is at the top of my list, and I also love and have worked in Contemporary Christian music as well.  My job responsibilities cover everything from working with our major accounts, with sales and marketing of the artist’s projects, to picking out songs, producers, helping maneuver and navigate marketing plans with my great team, listening to new artists and making sure that I communicate strongly with all of our artists, to going out on the road with them and seeing what all they are doing in concerts and in their services. I am involved with many aspects of the distribution and record company which encompasses so much. I love the fact that I am able to start at the beginning of an artist project or career and help to healthily exploit them in most any way we can as a record company, that will help get their music and ministry out to the masses.

JB: You currently work with Daywind Records. What exactly is the work you do?

DW: I will refer back to my answer from question number one. My job title is Director of Artist and Label Relations,  and that is exactly what I do. I work alongside of all of our artists, labels, key retailers, marketing, radio, sales and all. I help lead and direct all of it. I have been with New Day Distributors,  which owns Daywind, for three years, and had been with Word/Curb Records for 23 years before that, so this transition has worked beautifully.

JB: How does this job fit your personality?

DW: Love that question! I absolutely am crazy about Christian music and great artistry and ministry. Christian music touched my life when I was a 14 year old, very troubled teen. To this day, helping get it out is one of my greatest passions in life. It helps me so much and it truly is the backbone of my life, along with Jesus Christ. I am a people person and I love to share heart about the music, so it is a tremendous fit for me. Anyone who knows me well, knows that I strive to be the real deal and I truly believe in living the songs out loud.

JB: What is your definition of Southern gospel music?

DW: Easy question. For me it is simply heart music…music that touches the heart. Music that reaches deep into our souls, and moves our heart.

JB: Who do you think are the best new, up and coming groups in SG?

DW: Oh, that’s a tough one. There are so many groups that I am loving to watch and I love to cheer on…love what they are doing and singing. I love the Sound, High Road, and The Erwins. She’s not new, but I love Lauren Talley and now that she is stepping out on her own, I think there will be some strong, wonderful opportunities for her. I love 11th Hour, the byall Brothers, Joseph Habedank, Riley Harrison Clark, the Taylors, and the Hayes family. Okay, I am going to get myself in trouble…I also love the Wilbany…I better shut up now!  I love so many of our artists and the legacy that we have and that will be carried on.

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Beyond the Song: Michael Combs sings, “They’ll Never Take Jesus Out Of My Heart”

Written by scoopsnews on November 2, 2020 – 11:19 am -

 

Beyond the Song by Jantina Baksteen

 

Michael Combs is no stranger to gospel music, and the song “Drinking From My Saucer” had reached me years ago. Now I got the chance to interview Michael Combs. I hope you enjoy reading his testimony and the story of his great ministry.

Jantina Baksteen: Everybody in gospel music knows you, but perhaps not all the readers of SGNScoops. Could you please give a short introduction?

Michael Combs: Of course. Michael Combs Ministries was established in 1989 when I, Michael Combs, was gloriously saved at a Revival meeting in Jacksonville, Florida. I became a new creation and God placed a new song in my heart. Since then, I have had the privilege of sharing my story, writing songs, recording those songs, and sharing the gospel through song and testimony for over 30 years. I have been so blessed.

 

JB:  I’ve been listening your album “Tell Me That Story.” Could you share how this project came together? Please also share with us your testimony, since you lived a whole other life before 1989?

MC: Well, Jantina, we could probably write a book on that. The “Tell Me That Story” project was a collection of songs that I had written, which of course, included the title song. I had a lot of things on my heart that I wanted to share and God was giving me all of these wonderful melodies as I would noodle around on the piano. I was able to go into the studio and with the Lord’s help, and some very talented musicians, complete the project. “Tell Me That Story,” “Almighty God,” and “They’ll Never Take Jesus (Out Of My Heart),” were all on that project. It was a huge boost for our ministry.

My story is that I was raised in a good Christian home by godly parents that loved the Lord and we loved each other. I had a wonderful childhood. My mother loved music. She loved to sing. We sang in the home. We sang at church. We even sang in the car.  Mom was also the choir director at the church we attended when I was a boy.

However, even with that background and upbringing, I was like the children of Israel. I became rebellious, and chased after other gods. I became a drunk and a dope addict. A lot of people gave up on me (and I couldn’t really blame them). However, God showed mercy on me. Saved me. Made me His own!

 

JB: What happened on that Monday night in 1989 at the revival in Florida? Who invited you to join? What was the message that changed your mess into a message?

MC: A neighbor down the street from my wife, Denise, and I, a guy named Ray McSwain, invited us to Westside Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida. It was there that I began to hear God’s word again. But this time I heard it with my heart. All the same things that I had heard as a child began to resonate loudly in me. I knew that I needed (and wanted) Jesus in my life. I knew that he was all I needed. My heart broke into a million pieces and I cried out to Jesus. I told him how sorry I was that I ran from him (and his love) for all those years. I asked him to forgive me. To save me. He did. Hallelujah!

JB: You are such an inspiration to the gospel industry; you’re a singer, songwriter, and musician. Could you share about your success? 

MC: God changed sorrow into joy. I have been so blessed, Jantina. Never dreamed that night when I gave my heart to Jesus that I would become a full time gospel music evangelist. Never imagined that I would stand on stage with some of the biggest names in Southern gospel music. I just wanted to do something for the Lord. I just wanted to be used of God. I’ve always loved music, as I stated earlier. I began to take notes when our pastor would preach at church. I would then go home, sit down at the piano, and write a song about it. Then, come back to church the next Sunday, and share it with my Sunday School class. Then other classes. Then in the church. Then a businessman in the church, by the name of Warren Coker, told me that I needed to do an album. He said if I would do it, that he would pay for it. That’s how my recording career started. I called a toll free number in an ad in a Singing News Magazine and a gentleman by the name of Dave Wilcox answered the phone. He was the A&R person for The Eddie Crook Company/Morningstar Records. I did three albums there and they did a great job for me and helped get off to a good start. My first single out to radio charted on The Gospel Voice Magazine charts!

 

JB: What is your mystery that you can pack a crowd bigger than any other artist?

MC: I don’t know if it’s a mystery or even one specific thing. I think it’s a combination of things. I know that God has always had an unusual anointing on me when I sing or share. I believe people hear that in my voice on radio. They then have to see this guy with the unusual voice. Then when they come to a concert/service, they not only see but they feel something that compels them to come again. And again. We have a large faithful following that has followed our ministry for years. A lot of them say it’s like a one night Revival service. We’ve had countless people saved in our concert/services over the years. It has been a tremendous blessing to see.

 

JB: How does God give you the lyrics of your songs?

MC: Oh boy…I knew you would get to that one eventually. It’s hard to explain in just a few words. Sometimes it’s easy. Sometimes it’s hard work. I’ve written some in minutes with hardly any effort. I’ve agonized and taken months to write others. The inspiration can come at any moment. A sermon. A book. (The Book!). An event in my own personal life or someone else’s. World events. The news. And when it comes, it’s best to stop everything and work it out (even if it’s only a little). The inspiration can come and go very quickly. I was very fortunate when I first started out in gospel music. I was invited to sing at some of the largest bible conferences in the country in those days (1992-2005). I had a front row seat to hear some of God’s greatest preachers and I had my notebook with me. That’s where a lot of inspiration came from in the early days, and a good Sermon still gets my creative juices going.  Sometimes a melody will speak words to me. Maybe just a few words. I hear the words just as they will be sung. Like “Not For Sale,” or “Carry Me Jesus,” which I will develop a whole story line around. I don’t have a certain way of writing. It’s happened in different ways.

 

JB: You released a new song to radio “They’ll Never Take Jesus Out Of My Heart.” What’s the song about? What does it mean to you personally?

MC: Great question. This is another preacher/sermon story. A dear evangelist friend of mine and I were ministering together as a team at a revival meeting. He did all the preaching that week and I handled all of the special music and played the piano. My preacher friend, Evangelist Rick Coram, has a son, Jonathan, who was very small at the time. Jonathan had a little bible tucked under his arm when we walked him to the nursery one night. After the service, I walked with Brother Rick back to the nursery to retrieve Jonathan. When we arrived we saw Jonathan down in the floor playing with one hand and still clutching that little bible under his arm with the other. I said, “Brother Rick! They just can’t get that bible out of his hand!”  Brother Rick responded immediately, “Brother Michael, I pray they’ll never get it out of his heart!” That stuck with me.

 

JB: You’ve been through a lot of health issues. Could you share with us your testimony?

MC: Sure. I was diagnosed with Liver Cirrhosis in 1988. I was told that somewhere down the road (maybe 10-15 years down the road) I may be looking at a transplant. I was young and not real concerned about it at that time. I was saved in February of 1989. Went to work for the Lord, singing and sharing my testimony at bible studies in people’s homes, nursing homes, Prison Outreach Ministries, and had even done my first album. Things were going well. Then I got very sick. Had emergency abdominal surgery on Christmas Eve, 1990, to repair a ruptured artery in my stomach cavity. I was having blood circulatory problems due to the Liver damage. Nine months later I had a liver transplant on 9-9-91 in Omaha, Nebraska at UNMC. Years later, in November of 2014, I had emergency surgery again when my lower intestine flipped/twisted during  the night. This was caused by old internal scar tissue that had attached itself to my lower intestine and over time had pulled it over. After taking anti-rejection medicine for 25-plus years, my kidneys were next to go. The early years of anti-rejection medicine was very toxic to my kidneys and did a lot of damage. I could not travel and sing and preach, tied to a dialysis machine, so we began to pray for yet another miracle. In January of 2017, I got a new kidney at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. God is so good to me.

 

JB: Is there a song you wish you had written?

MC: I’ve always looked up to and admired Squire Parsons. He’s my hero. I love the song, “He Came To Me.” I love the line that says, “Oh, when I could not come to where he was…He Came To Me.” Now that’s good stuff.

 

JB: What is ahead for you in the near future?

MC: Whatever the Lord allows, I suppose. I feel great. People seem to still enjoy our music and still come out to see us. I would love to keep going for a little while longer. Of course, I wouldn’t try to do as much as I’ve done in the past. I think I still have a lot to do and want to do. I’m writing some new songs and hope to have them ready soon. Would love to do at least one more project. Hard to believe we’ve done 20 recordings. What a wonderful journey!

 

JB: What message of hope do you share to the crowd, especially to those who have no hope?

MC: Ah. Our hope is in the Lord. He won the victory over death, hell and the grave. By placing our trust in him, we too have victory. Call out to Jesus. He will save you. He is your only hope.

 

JB: Is there a wish on your bucket list you would like to see fulfilled?

MC: Boy, you saved the toughest question for last, now, didn’t ya! However, believe it or not, I have never been to the Holy Land. That would be a dream come true. To see where he lived, where he walked, where he performed miracles! To see that empty tomb…

We hope you enjoy listening to Michael Combs sing, “They’ll Never Take Jesus Out Of My Heart.”

 

Find out more about Michael Combs and his ministry here:

https://www.michaelcombs.com/

On Facebook

www.facebook.com/michaelcombsministry/

Thank you, Michael, for sharing your story with SGNScoops. It was a pleasure to sit around the table, in a social media way. May all you do continue to be a blessing to the crowd you sing to.

By Jantina Baksteen

Jantina Baksteen is a gospel music writer and a regular contributor to SGNScoops magazine and website.

Jantina Baksteen – biography:

I live all the way overseas in the Netherlands. I’m married and I have three adult children. I grew up in a Christian home and knew in my early years that I wanted to belong to Him. I surrendered my life to Christ was baptized one day before I turned 11 years old. Somehow, the seed of loving gospel music was planted by the style of music my parents played at home. Around 2006/2007, I was listening to Gaither homecoming music that I found on the internet. The song, “Oh, What A Savior,” by Ernie Haase hit me with the so-called Southern gospel bug. From there, I’ve been reading /studying all I can find. I found the digital SGNScoops Magazine. I started praying for God to please give me a job in the Southern gospel industry. Now I do the “Beyond the Song” article that really has my heart as I am reaching out to artists, asking about a current song and having a sneak peak behind the scenes.

For more news read the SGNScoops Magazine Here

Phone Friendly SGN Scoops Magazine Here

Find SGN Scoops Magazine On Facebook Here

Download SGN Scoops Magazine PDF Here

Listen To Today’s Southern Gospel Here

Tags: Beyond the Song, Jantina Baksteen, Michael Combs
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Beyond the Song: New Ground sings Let’s Carry On

Written by Staff on October 25, 2020 – 7:33 am -

 

Beyond the Song by Jantina Baksteen

It was the song “Let’s Carry On,” from the group New Ground, that caught my attention for this edition of Beyond the Song. I got in contact with Robbie Fortner Maxwell, who is one of the founders of New Ground, and she agreed to join me in this interview. Robbie is joined by Dale Maxwell and David Owens to form this exciting trio. Read on.

Jantina Baksteen: Please share a little background on how you got started with New Ground.

Robbie Fortner Maxwell: On June 19, 1993, we started our group New Ground as a quartet with a full band. Our first singing was held at our home church, and needless to say, we (were) a bunch of scared individuals on a new journey to share our music. After just singing where we were called locally, we began to venture out a little further with our message. During this time, we saw our group go from a quartet to a trio, and full band, to piano and tracks. We have been traveling this way for the past 23 years.

JB: Who are your music influences?

RM: The McGruders, Hinsons

JB: Do you have a testimony to share?

RM:  My testimony was when Dale was traveling with the groups, I wanted to be a part of a group – I just wanted to sing. I couldn’t carry a tune, but I loved the music. I was reading my Bible one day and read the verse Psalm 37:4 “Delight thyself also in the Lord, and He shall give thee desires of thine heart.” (KJV). Wow. I got ahold of that verse and began to believe that the Lord would do that for me, and at 26 years old, I just began to sing! What an awesome God we serve.

JB: How is it like to travel as a couple and with ýour longtime friend David Owens?

RM: David is on year 23 (of) traveling with Dale and I. He has been a part of our family for many years. We love David and his entire family (wife – Stacy, children – Brandon, Chelsea and Celeste). David is an only child and he says that if he had ever had a sister it would have been me!

JB: You have Mickey Bell back on board again?

RM: Mickey has been a friend since New Ground first got started in 1993. He has been with us on three different stints. Mickey still plays piano for us on special occasions but he has embarked on a Christian Comedian Tour and is doing great. Check him out at www.themickeybell.com.

JB: You already celebrated 25 years of singing. Can you share a little about that?

RM: Well we are working on year 27 now. When Dale and I started the group many years ago, we had said that we were gonna sing as long as the Lord allowed (and He) is with this group. I’d never dreamed that it would have been going this long, with no breaks. He keeps blessing us more each day to sing His songs. Who knows where I’ll be at age 80. I hope it is still singing for Him!

JB: You have a single put out to radio that’s called ‘Let’s Carry On’ that caught my attention, and I’ve requested it almost every day. Can you share the message of that song?

RM: The message actually tells us that the path was paved before us through the Word of God that we received by the many pastors/preachers/instructors – and we should be found faithful carrying on what we were taught to a lost and dying world.

JB: Who is the writer? What does this song mean to you personally?

RM: A great friend of ours by the name of Tim Fugatt, co-wrote the song with Regina Walden. We were at Tim’s church a little over a year ago and he sat down and sang the song to us and we knew then we wanted to record the song. We have known Tim for probably 20 years. He was a 13-year-old young man and he was at our studio and told Dale that he wanted to be able to work in music when he grew up, and at 20 years later he has written some phenomenal songs (as a matter of fact, we have recorded four of them) and is an unbelievably talented musician. He is a music minister in a church near Mobile, Alabama sharing his talents. The song encourages us to keep singing and carrying His message!

JB: You travel all over the country and made it even to Scotland. Is there a difference in how the audience receives the message or in how they respond?

RM: We have been so blessed to travel to many different places to sing. One of the biggest events in our lives was to be a part of the Scotland Music Convention. We were chosen to come and share our ministry with fellow Christians in Scotland. When fellow Christians unite to worship, it is the same no matter where you are. We had so much in common being His children and just inviting Him in with us. Everyone has a common connection – no matter where we are at.

JB: What is on top of your bucket list?

RM: My bucket list: Just continue to sing, sing, sing wherever He sends us!

JB: What is your favorite Bible quote to hold on to?

RM: Like I already mentioned, it is Psalm 37:4 – that’s my promise.

JB: What is ahead for you?

RM: Every singing is a special time for us! Just looking at many more great days in the Lord.

JB: Where can we find you on the web?

RM: You can find us at www.newgroundministries.com on the web and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NewGroundMinistries

We hope you enjoy New Ground singing “Let’s Carry On.” You can hear it on Facebook HERE.

Thank you Robbie for taking time out of your busy schedule to share your wonderful ministry. Hope God keeps blessing you and New Ground to “Carry On” and reach out to those who are lost and share the Gospel with them.

 

By Jantina Baksteen

Jantina Baksteen is a gospel music writer and a regular contributor to SGNScoops magazine and website.

Jantina Baksteen – biography:

I live all the way overseas in the Netherlands. I’m married and I have three adult children. I grew up in a Christian home and knew in my early years that I wanted to belong to Him. I surrendered my life to Christ was baptized one day before I turned 11 years old. Somehow, the seed of loving gospel music was planted by the style of music my parents played at home. Around 2006/2007, I was listening to Gaither homecoming music that I found on the internet. The song, “Oh, What A Savior,” by Ernie Haase hit me with the so-called Southern gospel bug. From there, I’ve been reading /studying all I can find. I found the digital SGNScoops Magazine. I started praying for God to please give me a job in the Southern gospel industry. Now I do the “Beyond the Song” article that really has my heart as I am reaching out to artists, asking about a current song and having a sneak peak behind the scenes.

For more news read the SGNScoops Magazine Here

Phone Friendly SGN Scoops Magazine Here

Find SGN Scoops Magazine On Facebook Here

Download SGN Scoops Magazine PDF Here

Listen To Todays Southern Gospel Here

Tags: Beyond the Song, gospel music, Jantina Baksteen, Let's Carry On, New Ground, Robbie Fortner Maxwell, Robbie Maxwell, Southern Gospel Music
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Beyond the Song: Chronicle sings “City of Gold”

Written by Staff on October 21, 2020 – 4:26 pm -

Beyond the Song by Jantina Baksteen

For this interview, we step into the lives of Tim and Missy Kinchen, who we know as Chronicle. They met each other at a very young age at a revival service. Missy shares she was around 12 or 13 years of age, and Tim must have been 15 – 16 years old when the first saw each other. Little did they know, they would actually meet again five years later at a revival in Watson, Louisiana, beginning a romance that continues today.

The Kinchens are the proud parents of Tim, Jr., and Christie, their daughter-in-law, and are also proud grandparents of Kolson. Missy and Tim reside in Denham Springs, Louisiana.

     

 

Jantina Baksteen: So Missy, lets get started.You are a singing couple that form the Chronicle ministry. When did this come to life and why the name Chronicle? 

Missy Kinchen: We have been Chronicle the past 11 years since April, 2009, and have been in ministry approximately 24 years. The name Chronicle came from a gospel group Greg knew of from the 80’s that had disbanded. He called one of the members and asked if we could have permission to use the name and they agreed.

Chronicle started in 2009 with six people. Over the years, (we) went down to five, four, then a trio in 2013 made up of Tim Kinchen, Greg Sullivan and Missy Kinchen. We share many happy memories of (traveling) on the road, sharing the gospel with many. Chronicle became a duo in October of 2016 after Greg had to leave due to unforeseen circumstances.

JB: Who are your musical influences?

MK: Tim’s musical influences as a child was his uncle that lived next door, Hilary Turner, and his older brother, James L. Kinchen, Jr., (Bubba). (I) wasn’t in music much as a child, but would sing gospel songs with (my) grandmothers, Eva McDonald, and Martha McLin.

 

JB: When we hear Chronicle, we also hear that unmistakable, smooth sax sound. How long has Tim played the saxophone and does he play other instruments?  

MK: Tim has been playing the saxophone 40 years. He started in school. (Tim) also plays lead guitar, bass guitar and acoustic guitar.

JB: You just released a song to radio, “City Of Gold,” written by Shirley Cohron; on what album is that recorded? 

MK: “City of Gold,” is off of Chronicle’s “Sunday Morning Red Back Hymnal” album (from) 2018. This song was in Tim’s family a long time. He remembers hearing his brother sing this song many times.

JB: What is the message in this song?

MK: This song talks about a city of gold where no one will ever be in pain, no sickness or death in this beautiful place.

JB: What is your message you share on stage?

MK: Chronicle shares the message that there is hope in Christ Jesus. He is the answer for anything you face in life, for truly all of our hope is in Him.

JB: Do you have a personal testimony you’d like to share that could be of help to others?  

MK: God healed me twice. Once with a health problem; she had someone pray with her and was healed from that day (she was in her 20’s). Then another time, when she was faced with surgery, she was healed the day before the surgery; another test revealed that she was healed. Missy remembers praying before she went into the room for the test, and saying, “Lord, by faith I am touching the hem of your garment.” She didn’t want to have surgery. The doctor called her and said “miracles still happen”

JB: We all go through stuff and feel as if we are down in a valley. When you feel yourself in that situation, you still have to perform on stage. Do you use that on stage or do you step outside of that? How does that work for you? 

MK: Sometimes before a concert, when we may be down about something before a singing, we just have to pray before we go and ask the Lord to take over and minister through us. Because sometimes you haven’t had a great day, or may not be feeling well, but God is still God, and deserves to be the main focus of what we do.

JB: You quoted Psalm 21:3 on your website. Why this verse?

MK: The reason we quoted that verse is because it is His power that we want to exalt through our singing; it’s not about us but about Him.

JB: If a church would like to book you, how can they reach you? 

MK: You can reach us at our website http://www.chroniclegospelgroup.com  and all of our contact information is on there.

We hope you enjoy the song “City of Gold,” as sung by Chronicle.

 

Thank you, Chronicle, for sharing your ministry with SGNScoops. We pray that your ministry blesses and brings the message of hope to those who have no hope, or who may need a special touch.

By Jantina Baksteen

Jantina Baksteen is a gospel music writer and regular contributor to SGNScoops magazine and website.

Jantina Baksteen – biography:

I live all the way overseas in the Netherlands. I’m married and I have three adult children. I grew up in a Christian home and knew in my early years that I wanted to belong to Him. I surrendered my life to Christ was baptized one day before I turned 11 years old. Somehow, the seed of loving gospel music was planted by the style of music my parents played at home. Around 2006/2007, I was listening to Gaither homecoming music that I found on the internet. The song, “Oh, What A Savior,” by Ernie Haase hit me with the so-called Southern gospel bug. From there, I’ve been reading /studying all I can find. I found the digital SGNScoops Magazine. I started praying for God to please give me a job in the Southern gospel industry. Now I do the “Beyond the Song” article that really has my heart as I am reaching out to artists, asking about a current song and having a sneak peak behind the scenes.

For more news read the SGNScoops Magazine Here

Phone Friendly SGN Scoops Magazine Here

Find SGN Scoops Magazine On Facebook Here

Download SGN Scoops Magazine PDF Here

Listen To Todays Southern Gospel Here

Tags: Beyond the Song, Chronicle, City of Gold, gospel music, Jantina Baksteen, Missy and Tim Kinchen, Southern Gospel Music
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Beyond the Song: Bob Sellers sings “Wonderful Story of Love”

Written by Staff on October 16, 2020 – 2:19 pm -

Beyond the Song with Jantina Baksteen

We all know Bob Sellers who sang with the Kingsmen. As Bob stepped down to start a solo career, I kept in contact with Bob and interviewed him about his solo career.

Jantina Baksteen: You grew up in a Christian home. Could you share a little memory of the time you got saved?

Bob Sellers: I was fortunate enough to have been raised by wonderful, Godly parents. If the church doors were open, we were there. We were there for Summer Revival 1984, when I was just eight-and-a-half years old, and although I don’t remember the sermon or the song, I very vividly remember kneeling in repentance and asking Jesus to come into my heart. My grandfather, Rev. Paul Sellers, who remains such a huge part of my testimony, was my pastor, and Rev. Jackie Adcox, was the evangelist. Before he was saved, my grandfather was an alcoholic. After he was saved, he never had the urge to drink again, and he surrendered to the call to preach the gospel just a few years later.  

JB: When did you discover your interest in singing?

BS: I don’t really remember, because I’ve been singing all my life. I grew up singing with my mother, Helen, and sister, Stephanie, in a little church trio. Mom played piano by ear, so she’d hear a song on gospel radio that she liked and she’d learn to play it and teach us our parts. Mom was a stickler, so it had to be correct. I think that played a big role in developing my ear for harmony. I hit a really shy stage in my tweens and teens however and quit singing altogether. I got back into it thanks to the urging of my late mother-in-law, Becky, once she found out I could sing a little. She was always a huge supporter of mine, and I owe a big part of my marriage and my career to her. 

JB: A long time ago you started your own first group called Capstone Quartet. What age were you and who were your singing buddies?

BS: I was actually hired in that group in the early 2000s, and that was my first quartet. I had hair! It was begun in 1992, in Tuscaloosa, (home of the University of Alabama campus known as “The Capstone”) by Joe Brown and Charlie Howard. A few years later, I wound up owning the group through attrition. Joe Brown hired me, so I still give him a lot of credit for my start in gospel music and he’s still one of my best friends in the world. That first lineup consisted of myself at lead, Joe on bass, Dale Taylor at tenor and Jimmy Latham at baritone. The lineup right after that, which included Danny Scott on baritone, recorded an album at Crossroads Studios in Asheville, N. C., and really set a new bar for that quartet from a sound perspective. The final lineup that I was a part of was myself, Dave Ezell (baritone), Dave Waldrep (bass) and Kevin Hodges (tenor). I have a lot of great memories from my Capstone days and many of those guys are still some of my best friends. 

JB: I read your influence groups were the Cathedrals, Gold City and Kingsmen. How was it to receive that call to join the Kingsmen, the group that influenced you in your early years?

BS: Oh, it was just as surreal as one might imagine. The year after my grandfather passed away, I promoted a gospel concert called The Rev. Paul Sellers Memorial Sing, which was sponsored by my home church, and was going to help towards the down payment on a new fellowship hall (we hoped). I emailed dozens of gospel artists asking for a reduced flat for a Saturday night concert to help us with our goal, and the Kingsmen was the only group willing to come for what was probably half of their normal Saturday night flat. I certainly never forgot that, and I started to really keep up with them whenever they were in this area, and got to know some of them individually through social media. Bryan Hutson asked me to fill in for him in south Alabama one Thursday night, and I thought my life had been made. My whole church and family came down to see me get to sing one night with the Mighty Kingsmen, and it was a dream come true. Little did I know that about a year later, they would need a lead singer, and it still humbles me that I was the first call Ray Reese made. Other than my salvation, my marriage and the birth of my children, it was the greatest thing that ever happened to me. 

JB: What wise lessons did you learn traveling with Hall of Famer Ray Reese of the Kingsmen? 

BS: That is actually an easy question for me to answer. The one lesson that Ray taught me over any others, is to trust the Lord. And it wasn’t anything he ever told me, but what he showed me in his daily actions. The best example I can think of came in Westfall, Ohio. We were there singing at the high school when the transmission literally fell out of the bus. We had to be towed all the way back to Asheville from there and after it was all said and done, I think the bill for that and a new transmission was around $25,000. If I’d have owned the group and been responsible for the bus, I think I’d have had a heart attack right there, but Ray was cool, calm and collected. He said (as he often would whenever adversity came), “Boys, these things just happen. We will just trust the Lord to help us get it fixed and paid for and go from there doing what God has called us to do.” And he was just always low-key and even-keeled like than no matter what ever happened. After his wife Carolyn passed away, I’d witness him crying alone in the front lounge of the bus and calling her phone repeatedly just to hear her voicemail message, but then I’d witness him get himself together, get dressed and go do what God put him here to do, which was, sing the gospel and put a smile of other people’s faces. That made a huge impact on me, since I was (and probably still am) a lot more high strung when everything doesn’t go just right. 

JB: You experienced some shyness in your early years. How did you overcome this?

BS: All I can say is that God helped me to overcome that. There was a stage in my life when I would literally turn three shades of red if something happened like a girl approached me or someone teased me about something. I wanted to drop out of college when I found out that Public Speaking was a prerequisite and I’d have to give several speeches in front of the class throughout the semester. I couldn’t have gotten up in front of 10 people to talk without being a ball of nerves, much less sing in front of 18,000 at Freedom Hall. When I got back into singing in my 20s, I truly believe it was a calling from God, and, as the old saying goes, I believe it’s true that “He equips the called.”

JB: What advice would you give artists who deal with the same issue, to overcome stage fright?

BS: Imagine the audience in their underwear. I’m kidding. I’ve heard that one before and always thought it was ridiculous. I’d say just pray about it and try to relax. Don’t worry so much about who’s in the audience or how many are in the audience. Focus on the things you can control, and on working to be the best you can possibly be, each and every time you step on stage. When you are your biggest critic, what other people think will be secondary, and when you aren’t so worried about what all the people looking at you think, then you won’t be as nervous or shy.

JB: What made you resign from the Kingsmen?

BS: The Kingsmen was the first full-time singing job I’d ever had, so I didn’t really know what to expect. I loved most things about it, but found that the one thing I didn’t love about it, was being away from my family so much. After six or seven years, I realized that my kids were still babies when I started, and suddenly they were about grown and it felt like I’d missed it all. The reality is, I did miss a lot of it. I lived 480 miles from the bus, so for a typical week, I’d leave on Wednesdays about 2:00 p.m. to get to Asheville by midnight, and I’d get home sometime on Monday of that next week. The only day I could really count on being home was Tuesday, and as sure as I planned something, it seemed we’d end up being on the road even then. I had an experience with my son that last year of my tenure that really affected me. It wasn’t really a big deal; he just had this huge meltdown when I went back on the road after my summer vacation of being home a couple of weeks, and that’s really when being gone so much began to eat at me. I didn’t want to leave. I told Ray when I gave my notice that if he could slow down to about 100 dates a year and could still afford to pay us, he’d never run me off, but that’s just not a reality. It’s not his fault, it’s just the nature of the business. Groups with a bus, payroll for six or seven people, etc., in this day and time of fewer ticketed events (or “flats”), just about have to sing every opportunity they get. I prayed about it a long time and got the peace I needed one day while painting a bedroom. My line where the wall met the ceiling was shaky and I was trying different methods to help get it straight. I finally figured out that if I looked just ahead of the brush, then my line would be straight. I’d been praying that whole day and at that time, Proverbs 3:5&6 came to me: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart. Lean not unto thine own understanding, but in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Just as sure as the day I was saved, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and told me that my life was just like my painting technique. I had to quit worrying about where I was or where I’d been, and put my future in God’s hand and he’d set everything straight, just like the paint line on that wall. That’s when I decided to resign. Thankfully, I was able to leave on good terms, and I still count Ray and Brandon Reese as dear friends, as well as Randy Crawford, Chris Jenkins and everyone associated with the Kingsmen organization. 

JB: How did you get to join the Old Time Preacher’s Quartet?

BS: Les Butler called me about two days after my announcement to leave the Kingsmen was made on Facebook. He said that he’d just told his wife the week before, that if I ever left the Kingsmen, he was going to ask me to sing lead with the Old Time Preachers Quartet. My first thought was that I didn’t want to be one of those who left one group “to spend more time with his family,” just to jump to another group the next week. I wanted to avoid that image, but more than that, I really wanted to spend more time with my family. I also had determined at that point to try my best to establish a solo ministry. I shared all that with Les and we talked a lot after that. After more talk and praying about it, eventually it seemed like the right thing to do. After all, the plan was to sing only 50-60 dates a year (about one weekend a month). I felt like that would be a good way to scratch the quartet itch and have some weeks that I didn’t have to fill with solo dates. I did wait five or six months, but after the first of 2019, we made it official. Those are great guys, also. We had a good run and made a good album, but the dates picked up to over 100 a year and balancing both my solo schedule and the quartet’s schedule eventually became too much. 

JB: For a couple of years now, you’ve traveled as a soloist and recently brought out your first solo album since leaving The Kingsmen, “Wonderful Story of Love.” Please share how this project came together?

BS: I first thought about doing an album of all original songs and then another one of songs I’ve been singing a while but had never had a chance to record, but I already had one that’s a collection of my gospel favorites, “Preludes.” In the end, I just decided to mix it up on the new album, so I put a few of those favorite songs on there and added a few originals or relatively current hits. The songs as a collection bless me, and I pray that they’ll bless others. That’s all that I what I want my music to always do. 

JB: You’ve put out a solo by the same name, “Wonderful Story of Love,” to radio. What’s the message of the song?

BS: “Wonderful Story of Love,” is a great song by Lee Black and Gina Boe. I had actually placed this song on hold when we were looking for songs for the last Kingsmen album of which I was a part. It didn’t make our final cut. (When you’re with a label, you pick a few songs and they pick the others…with publishing carrying a lot of weight. I’m independent, so I could cut whatever I wanted to!) The message in the song is pretty much my personal commitment to God to sing His praises – “The Wonderful Story of Love” – for as long as I have breath and He will equip me for it and open doors. After I cut the song, I realized the feel of it vaguely reminded me of Battle Cry (which was also a co-write of Lee Black’s), which was such a huge song and album for The Kingsmen. It’s an upbeat, feel-good song, but don’t miss the message – “I will sing of the wonderful story, I will tell of his love so great; I will shout ‘til I’m home in glory, when I’ll sing a new song of praise to the Lamb who was slain, the King who will reign, the Author of this wonderful story of love!”

JB: Have you ever tried to write your own song?

BS: Yes. I’ve tried and so far I have failed miserably. I think I have some good ideas sometimes, and come up with some pretty good hooks every now and then, but I definitely think I would make a better co-writer, if anything, than writer. I have been blessed with a pretty good ear for recognizing good songs, (I brought “Battle Cry,” among others, to the Kingsmen and had placed a hold on another song that also didn’t make our final cut called “Come Sunday Morning,” which turned out to be pretty good for The Old Paths). When listening to demos that I’m not particularly sold on, I sometimes find myself re-writing lines in my head. Who knows if that would make them better or worse, because the verdict is definitely still out on that one! 

JB: Have you ever experienced violence during a concert, and if so, how did you handle that? 

BS: Congrats! You are the first to ever ask me that question in an interview like this! (Laughing!) That’s an interesting question for a gospel music interview. As for an answer, thankfully no, I’ve not experienced any violence during a concert, at least not yet. Hopefully I can retire one day and still answer this the same way. Interestingly enough, I did get somewhat verbally assaulted one night during my record pitch for the Kingsmen when talking about the Singing At Sea gospel cruise we took every year. To this day, I don’t know what the man thought I said or what, but a guy stood up in the audience and just started railing me out over it. I finally said, “Sir, I’m trying to do a product pitch here, would you please be quiet!?” Again, I don’t have any idea what he got the bee in his bonnet about, but it took some big ole’ guys from the audience actually physically removing him from the building to settle him down. Some strange things can certainly happen. 

JB: If you’re not traveling, what do you for work, and where do we find you in your off time?

BS: If I’m not traveling working, I’m at home working so that I keep traveling. Mondays are usually office days when I do my books, go to the bank and try to return any missed emails or phone calls from the weekend. Later in the week, I’ll send off any product orders I may have, do radio liners, interviews, social media updates, website updates, DJ follow-ups, product inventory, pay bills, keep up with stats and insights on different sites, update my newsletter subscribers, etc. Then, of course, a large part of my time is spent thinking about who, from a logistics standpoint, I can contact about a specific date that I need to fill. That is a full-time job in and of itself. Whether I am eating breakfast, working around the house, watching the news, laying in the bed or whatever, the wheels are always turning. I still manage to create plenty of off-time for myself, as well. That’s when you’ll usually find me either with my family or fishing. For years, I didn’t have much off time, so now I fish a lot. Getting out and enjoying God’s creation, especially on water, is my therapy.

JB: You‘ve shared once that you had your earplugs in when you’re not traveling with a group, with the sound of white noise to fall asleep. Are you still using that?

BS: When I was on the bus, I usually put in earplugs and had some noise playing on a Bose speaker by my head. It was supposed to be the sound of an engine of some sort. We kept it cold on our side of the bus and it was usually about 58 degrees in my bunk. So I was wrapped up to the top of my head with a sheet, fleece blanket and a thick comforter had that noise going which blocked out anything, and rocking to the bus motion…that was the best sleep in the world and probably one of the things I have missed most about road life. And of course, we stayed up half the night and slept half the day, because there was nothing much else to do inside a bus. So now I usually get up when my wife and kids leave for school. And I have a fan and light blocking curtains in our bedroom, but it’s not the same. I certainly don’t sleep with earplugs and block out the world, because I’m afraid I might sleep through an emergency or something. It took me many months after coming of the bus to be able to get a decent night’s sleep!

JB: How do we get hold of you to sing at a church service or concert?

BS: I try to book every Sunday morning and every Sunday night that I can. I live in west-central Alabama, and if overnight travel is required, I try to book additional nights that week. I don’t have a set charge for any church service. Someone asked me recently how I’m able to do that and still make a living. All I can say is that’s just how I’ve done it since I started solo, and God has always met my financial needs. I also work hard to keep my overhead and expenses low. To book me for a church: I’d love to go any place that would love to have me! I can be reached by phone at (205) 331-9997 or email at office@bobsellersministries.com or through social media. On Facebook, find me at Bob Sellers Ministries. On Twitter, Instagram and YouTube – @BobSellersSings. 

Website HERE.

 

We hope you enjoy “Wonderful Story of Love” by Bob Sellers:

Thanks so much Bob for sharing  your ministry with SGNScoops.  Blessings on your ministry, as you share the good news with the ones who need encouragement, and with those who have never heard the gospel of salvation.

 

By Jantina Baksteen

Jantina Baksteen is a gospel music writer and regular contributor to SGNScoops magazine and website.

Jantina Baksteen – biography:

I live all the way overseas in the Netherlands. I’m married and I have three adult children.

I grew up in a Christian home and knew in my early years that I wanted to belong to Him. I surrendered my life to Christ was baptized one day before I turned 11 years old.

Somehow, the seed of loving gospel music was planted by the style of music my parents played at home. Around 2006/2007, I was listening to Gaither homecoming music that I found on the internet. The song, “Oh, What A Savior,” by Ernie Haase hit me with the so-called Southern gospel bug.

From there, I’ve been reading /studying all I can find. I found the digital SGNScoops Magazine.

As I was spending so much time reading and listening about this industry, I started praying for God to please give me a job in the Southern gospel industry. Sometimes, I commented to Lorraine Walker on her posts. How could she know the longing of my heart?

But last year she asked me if I wanted to do something for SGNScoops: the Wacky Wednesday posts online. Now I do the “Beyond the Song” article that really has my heart as I am reaching out to artists, asking about a current song and having a sneak peak behind the scenes.

Phone Friendly SGN Scoops Magazine Here

Find SGN Scoops Magazine On Facebook Here

Download SGN Scoops Magazine PDF Here

Listen To Todays Southern Gospel Here

 

 

 

 

Tags: Beyond the Song, Bob Sellers, gospel music, Kingsmen, Old Time Preachers Quartet, Southern Gospel Music
Posted in artists, Beyond the Song | Comments Off on Beyond the Song: Bob Sellers sings “Wonderful Story of Love”

Beyond the Song: The Chitans sing “Set Apart”

Written by Staff on October 13, 2020 – 2:59 pm -

Beyond the Song by Jantina Baksteen

I reached out to the Chitans who are a family group from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Members are: Layne, Karen, Kaiziah, Kayandra, Jessy  L, Jayden and Karlainah.

They have a wonderful family harmony sound. The new song “Set Apart” made me want to learn about them.

Jantina Baksteen: Please share with us a little history of how your ministry got started?

Chitans: From the time we were born, all we ever heard in our home and van was gospel music. We started singing and learning to harmonize in family worship. We eventually began singing in churches and nursing homes. People started inviting and referring us to different churches and events. Thus the growth began.

JB: What is it like to travel full time as a family and being on the road on a bus where space could become crowded at times?

Chitans: It might come as a surprise, but we actually don’t travel around in a bus. We travel around in a 2008, nine-seater conversion van.

We enjoy being in full-time ministry, but at times it can be very hectic when we have to travel 10 to 12 hours between appointments. For example, Saturday in Connecticut and Sunday morning in North Carolina or Indiana. It can get a bit tense (there’s no such thing as personal space), but we have learned to survive..

JB: How do you find a little privacy on those long hours? 

Chitans: There is no privacy. Headphones are all that’s needed.

JB: Who’s the joker in the family?

Chitans: Jesse is the joker in our van.

 

JB: As you travel full time, how do you match this with your fulltime study?

Chitans: We’ve always been homeschooled. This has been our life. We minister mainly on weekends and sometimes during the week, but like any other student, we do our school work Monday to Friday.  

JB: In your Bio, I read that you have shared the stage with many different groups. Could you share with us what that is like?

Chitans: It’s quite something to watch and admire ministers of the gospel, (singers and preachers) while growing up, and still at a very young age find yourself on stage ministering alongside them. It’s rather humbling. But we believe that God has orchestrated our path and will lead us to places that we have not yet even imagined. 

JB: You are originally from Toronto, Canada, but you travel all over the United States, and even abroad to Europe and Kenya. Is there a story from your travels that is close to your heart that has impacted your life?

Chitans: Seeing the deplorable condition of schools in Kenya and just thinking about how children in North America take school facilities and education for granted. 

Our family embarked on a project to renovate The World Light School in Thika, Kenya and to also put in water tanks and bathrooms for the first time. We still have the lunchroom, two more classrooms and an administration block to put in, but Covid-19 happened and put everything on hold. 

 

JB: Your current radio song is “Set Apart;” what’s the song about? 

Chitans: “Set Apart” is about a deep desire to be the vessels God want us to be. The first verse in the song describes the specific use for the vessels in the Temple. They were consecrated and sanctified to be used for worshipping God. God has a plan for our lives. We are made for a specific purpose. We are not mistakes. We are not casualties of some experiment that God was doing. We were made with purpose. He has blessed us and set us apart for that purpose.  King Belshazzar thought he could use the vessels of the temple for his own purpose, but like our parents taught us, once God sanctifies something, no man, no time, nor devil can change that. 

 

JB: How do you practice standing bold in your faith, in your daily life?

Chitans: Trying to live our lives the way God expects us too. We want others to see Christ in us daily.

JB: Who does the lead on this song?

Chitans: Kaiziah and Kayandra.

 

JB: How does the crowd respond when you’re on stage?

Chitans: People usually say they are blessed by our songs. 

 

JB: What is the message of hope you would like to bring, especially in this turbulent world we live in today? 

Chitans: That Jesus is still in control and He’s willing and able to save anyone and everyone who will call upon His name. 

 

JB: On your website, you quoted  Mathew 28: 19-20, where it says, 

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:   Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.”

Why is this verse so special to you?

Chitans: We have seen Him fulfill His promise at the end of this great commission. He said, “If you go… I will be with you always,” and He has been with us. He carved paths, opened highways, calmed the storms, provided food, transport, accommodation, protection and finance. We have made His work our priority, so, He has made our upkeep His responsibility. 

 

JB: To wrap up this interview, how can we get in touch with you when a church or event wants to book you for a service?

Chitans: You can reach us by email at: thechitans7@gmail.com Phone at 929-360-8328 (US) or 416-839-3488 (CAN). Our website is www.thechitans.com and you can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube @TheChitans

We hope you enjoy this song by the Chitans called “Set Apart:”

 

 

https://youtu.be/ytxTlxElpKg  link to ‘’Set Apart

 

Thank you to all the Chitans for sharing your ministry with SGNScoops. Many blessings on the road, sharing the gospel to a nation who needs to hear the message that brings peace and comfort.

 

By Jantina Baksteen

Jantina Baksteen is a gospel music writer and regular contributor to SGNScoops magazine and website.

Jantina Baksteen – biography:

I live all the way overseas in the Netherlands. I’m married and I have three adult children.

I grew up in a Christian home and knew in my early years that I wanted to belong to Him. I surrendered my life to Christ was baptized one day before I turned 11 years old.

Somehow, the seed of loving gospel music was planted by the style of music my parents played at home. Around 2006/2007, I was listening to Gaither homecoming music that I found on the internet. The song, “Oh, What A Savior,” by Ernie Haase hit me with the so-called Southern gospel bug.

From there, I’ve been reading /studying all I can find. I found the digital SGNScoops Magazine.

As I was spending so much time reading and listening about this industry, I started praying for God to please give me a job in the Southern gospel industry. Sometimes, I commented to Lorraine Walker on her posts. How could she know the longing of my heart?

But last year she asked me if I wanted to do something for SGNScoops: the Wacky Wednesday posts online. Now I do the “Beyond the Song” article that really has my heart as I am reaching out to artists, asking about a current song and having a sneak peak behind the scenes.

For more news read the SGNScoops Magazine Here

Phone Friendly SGN Scoops Magazine Here

Find SGN Scoops Magazine On Facebook Here

Download SGN Scoops Magazine PDF Here

Listen To Todays Southern Gospel Here

Tags: Beyond the Song, Chitans, gospel music, Southern Gospel Music, The Chitans
Posted in announcements, artists | Comments Off on Beyond the Song: The Chitans sing “Set Apart”

Beyond the Song: GloryWay Quartet sings “Nobody”

Written by Staff on October 9, 2020 – 2:50 pm -

Beyond the Song with Jantina Baksteen

This edition of Beyond the Song highlights GloryWay Quartet, who has released the song, “Nobody,” to radio. It was the sound and title of the song, “Nobody,” which got me curious to find out who was behind this song. I got in touch with GloryWay Quartet. The group is made up of Justin Crank (Lead), Bryan Langley (Tenor), John Cole (Baritone), and Justin Sayger (Bass). I interviewed Justin Crank for this feature. I hope you enjoy reading more about GloryWay Quartet!

Jantina Baksteen: Please give us a short introduction about GloryWay Quartet?
Justin Crank: We are a full-time Southern gospel male quartet based out of Mansfield, Ohio. The group is made up of four strong and unique individual vocalists that take great pride in combining to form a smooth blend. We travel over 60,000 miles a year throughout a large part of the U.S. and occasionally into Canada to minister at over 200 concerts, events, and church services. We perform a mix of traditional, new, and original songs with the hopes of being a blessing to both young and seasoned audiences. We are honored to share Jesus where ever the Lord opens up a door for us to do so whether that happens to be in a church, a theater, or a flat-bed trailer in a field. As our current radio single says, we truly are a “nobody trying to tell everybody about somebody who can save anybody.”

JB: What was your vision to form this group 18 years ago in 2002?
JC: To spread the Gospel through song to a lost and dying world.

JB: Does each group member have a Southern gospel background?
JC: Yes, we have all been rooted in Southern gospel. We all started singing at church and in family groups.

JB: Did you know each other before launching GloryWay? How did you get together?
JC: Three of us are from Ohio. John, our baritone, is from West Virginia. Justin Crank started the group in 2002 and the configuration we have now has been together for the past three years.

JB: You have an awesome album out called, “God, You’re Amazing.” Could you share how this album came together?
JC: We had been wanting to put out a new project for a while. With our busy schedule, we just couldn’t find the opportunity to do it. We took the time we had off due to Covid-19 regulations and were able to get in the studio and put the time we needed into it.

JB: Are any of you songwriters?
JC: Yes, John Cole. He wrote two songs on this new album, “Just A Little While,” and “Welcome Home.”

JB: What message does this album convey, and how did you pick the songs that are on there? Is there a special theme you had in mind for this album?
JC: We had over 400 original songs sent to us from many writers, that we listened to and narrowed down to the 12 that are on this album. While we didn’t necessarily have a theme in mind, we wanted to pick songs that ministered to us and fit us musically, that we felt we could put our all into, to be a blessing to our listeners. We looked for songs that had lyrics that reach out and grab you, and we feel that the songs on this recording do just that. Some very well-known songwriters contributed to this album, such as: Matthew West, Kenna Turner-West, Marcia Henry, Rebecca Peck, Diane Wilkinson, and Lee Black. We have some close friends that also happen to be artists themselves that are writers of some of the songs, such as Diane Needham, Philip Kolb, Paul Bolen, and our own baritone, John Cole. A few of the songs that seem to really be resonating with our audiences already, with incredibly strong lyrics, are: “Nobody,” “God, You’re Amazing,” “End of the Story,” “Nothing He Cannot Do,” “They Still Know His Voice,” and, “I’m In Good Hands.” Justin Sayger is featured on a little different, upbeat tune called “Jailbreak,” which is quickly becoming a crowd favorite as is the patriotic ballad, “I Still Love the Flag.” We have performed all 12 songs at some point in our concerts and church services and each one seems to be able to stand on its own to minister to folks.

JB: “Nobody” is the song you’ve put out to radio. Who’s the songwriter?
JC: The songwriters for “Nobody,” are Mark Hall of Casting Crowns, Matthew West, and Bernie Herms.

JB: What is the message of this song?
JC: This song has such a tremendous message to both the Christian and the non-believer. To the Christian, it is a reminder that God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things in furthering the Kingdom. You don’t have to be the most talented, smartest, or best, for God to use you. As a child of his, he has a purpose for you! For the non-believer, the message is that God can save anybody, and no matter how far you may think you are from him, he can still reach you, change you, and make you a fit vessel for Heaven.

JB: How does your audience respond to this song?
JC: The crowd response to “Nobody” has been amazing. Nearly everywhere we have performed it, we end up having to encore it. We have noticed folks of all ages singing along immediately as we start getting into the first chorus. We have also noticed a worshipful response with many hands being raised and some folks standing and clapping along as they sing with us.

JB: What does this song mean personally to you?
JC: This song is a reminder that God has a purpose for me and GWQ to share Jesus on whatever stage of opportunity that He sets before us. It’s humbling that God would choose us and use us, doing something that we absolutely love to do, to be a blessing to others, and reach the lost for Him. I’m glad to be a “Nobody.”

JB: What makes the bass singer, Justin Sayger, the fan favorite?
JC: Justin is a fan favorite for several reasons. One, he has a phenomenal voice, both in his bass range and in his upper tones which allows him to sing in a lead range at times. Additionally, his small frame (we tease that he only weighs 99 ½ pounds), and his kid-like demeanor on-stage, seems to resonate with both kids and adults. Justin truly has one of the best bass voices in Southern gospel music.

JB: GloryWay has achieved a lot over the past 18 years. Could you share something about that?
JC: We are humbled for any accolades or achievements we have earned along the way. The most important thing to us is getting the message out in song that Jesus Christ is still the King of Kings!

JB: What is your personal favorite song on this album and why?
JC: “God, You’re Amazing,” is my favorite. To think, he was thinking of me as his son died that day. Wow! How amazing he is!

Please enjoy the song, “Nobody,” as sung by GloryWay Quartet:

The way to reach GloryWay Qt is through the website glorywayquartet.com
On Facebook gloryway20quartet
https://youtu.be/fIKqAdM-O1k link to Nobody

Thank you Justin for sharing the in and outs of GloryWay Quartet with SGNScoops.

 

By Jantina Baksteen

Jantina Baksteen is a gospel music writer and regular contributor to SGNScoops magazine and website.

Jantina Baksteen – biography:

I live all the way overseas in the Netherlands. I’m married and I have three adult children.

I grew up in a Christian home and knew in my early years that I wanted to belong to Him. I surrendered my life to Christ was baptized one day before I turned 11 years old.

Somehow, the seed of loving gospel music was planted by the style of music my parents played at home. Around 2006/2007, I was listening to Gaither homecoming music that I found on the internet. The song, “Oh, What A Savior,” by Ernie Haase hit me with the so-called Southern gospel bug. 

From there, I’ve been reading /studying all I can find. I found the digital SGNScoops Magazine.

As I was spending so much time reading and listening about this industry, I started praying for God to please give me a job in the Southern gospel industry. Sometimes, I commented to Lorraine Walker on her posts. How could she know the longing of my heart?

But last year she asked me if I wanted to do something for SGNScoops: the Wacky Wednesday posts online. Now I do the “Beyond the Song” article that really has my heart as I am reaching out to artists, asking about a current song and having a sneak peak behind the scenes. 

Phone Friendly SGN Scoops Magazine Here

Find SGN Scoops Magazine On Facebook Here

Download SGN Scoops Magazine PDF Here

Listen To Todays Southern Gospel Here

 

 

Tags: Beyond the Song, GloryWay Quartet, gospel music, Jantina Baksteen, sgnscoops, Southern Gospel Music
Posted in artists, Beyond the Song | Comments Off on Beyond the Song: GloryWay Quartet sings “Nobody”

Beyond the Song with the Porter Family singing Lord Send Me A Mountain

Written by Staff on October 8, 2020 – 3:22 pm -

 

Beyond the Song by Jantina Baksteen

Today we go Beyond the Song with “Lord Send Me A Mountain” by the Porter Family. This was recently highlighted on the  Strictly Southern Show with Vonda Armstrong. I caught up with Shawn Porter of the Porter Family to learn about their ministry. Thank you Shawn for joining this interview. 

 

Jantina Baksteen: Can you introduce yourselves to the readers of SGNScoops?

Shawn Porter: We are The Porter Family from Waynesville, North Carolina. The group members are Shawn Porter (myself), along with my parents Will and Betty Porter. My daughter, Maddie, who is an amazing singer, is starting to take on more of an active role with the ministry with some appearances during our concerts when her busy schedule permits. We have been singing for over 20 years as we are now. We are with Chapel Valley on their Inspire Label.

Along with singing, I am the Full-time Associate Pastor of Dellwood Baptist Church in Maggie Valley, N.C., and my parents, Will and Betty, have been child care workers for the Baptist Children Homes of N.C. for over 30 years now, taking care of abused and neglected children. In October 2019, Will and Betty were invited to Little Rock, Arkansas, to receive the National Child Care Worker of the Year award, which is the highest award in their ministry of child care.

The Porter Family love working for the Lord and using their gifts to share the love of Christ to this lost and dying world. Our main goal, whether it’s standing behind a pulpit preaching the Gospel, ministering to children, or standing on a stage singing, is to share the love of God, and give hope of a perfect eternal home someday!

Along with everything else this family is doing, Shawn also hosts trips to The Holy Land every year. There is nothing that will change your ministry any more than walking where our Savior walked.

The Porter Family’s view of their busy lives in ministry is that we can never do enough to repay Christ for what He has done for us, so we are honored that He allows us to do what we do.

JB: I guess you basically grew up in Southern gospel music as your parents are Southern gospel artists as well?

SP: I grew up around SGM all my life. This family started singing back many many years ago as The Midkiff family, which is Betty’s family name. The group originally consisted of my mother Betty, Aunt Charlotte, and my grandmother Doyle Midkiff. Betty and Will married and then Will joined the group. They traveled for several years with this lineup. Being natives of West Virginia, they often say, “We’ve sung all over the hills and hollers of the wild and wonderful West Virginia!”

JB: I heard your song, “Lord Send Me A Mountain,” on the Strictly Southern Show with Vonda Armstrong. What a beautiful song! I believe that you, Shawn, are featured in this song. Can you share with us the message of this song?

SP: “Lord Send Me A Mountain,” is a song that will change your prayer life when you get a hold of the message. A lot of times we want to sit back and do nothing and ask God to do everything, when the truth is, we need to have enough faith to say “God, you send me a mountain; I’m ready for the climb.”  Those mountains in our life are hard at times, steep, and long, but if we will have enough faith to strap our boot laces up and keep putting one foot in front of the other, God will help us get to the mountain peak. When we do, our strength in and through the Lord will be amazing.

JB: What does this song mean to you personally?
SP: This song has revolutionized the way I pray. Of course, I don’t like hardships, no one does, but this song has helped me to understand that I’m no longer afraid to face them. If we don’t like where we are in life, or the circumstance we find ourselves in, then get up and do something about it!

JB: The writer is none other than Shane Roark. How did this song come to you?

SP: Shane Roark is an amazing songwriter, and he, along with his brother Travis, and their mother Jetta, are some of our greatest friends in the world. Shane is also our producer as well. This family, and the whole Chapel Valley staff, has the best work ethic of any record company I have ever worked with. They truly put their artists first in every aspect. With that being said, when we went in the studio for pre-production of this album, I told Shane that I would love to have a big, meaningful ballad, which is something we have never recorded, mainly because we have always been known for leaning to the country side of things. Well, we had all the songs picked for the project, and I was very excited about it, but we still didn’t have that song, so as we finished up that day, Shane said, “I have a song that I wrote, and I’ll play it for you if you’re interested, but I’m telling you it’s a big one. Not just anybody can sing it, but I think you can.” So, of course, I wanted to hear it, so he began playing it on his keyboard and singing, and we had some church right there in the studio. The rest, as they say, is history.

JB: Where can we find the recorded version of this song?

SP: This song is on our new album entitled “Rise”.

JB: How is this song received by your audience?

SP: This song is resounding with people everywhere. I’ve had people tell me how they have struggled with sickness and other circumstances in their personal lives and almost given up, but this song has given them a renewed strength to keep moving forward and to keep climbing that mountain.

JB: Is there something more you’d like the readers to know?

SP: I would just like to thank you and SGNScoops for this opportunity, and for all you do for Southern gospel music. It takes all of us staying in our lane, working together, to make a Kingdom impact!

JB: Where can we find you on the web?

SP: You can find The Porter Family here: www.porterfamilymusic.com 

Or contact us by phone at Office# (828)456-1009; Cell# (828)734-1528

You can also email us at porterfamilymusic@gmail.com

 

Enjoy the Porter Family as they sing, “Lord Send Me a Mountain.”

https://youtu.be/LgmVYUQhRwE 

 

Thank you Shawn Porter for sharing your ministry with SGNScoops. Blessings on your calling, reaching out to those who need to hear the gospel!

By Jantina Baksteen

Jantina Baksteen is a gospel music writer and regular contributor to SGNScoops magazine and website.

Jantina Baksteen – biography:

I live all the way overseas in the Netherlands. I’m married and I have three adult children.

I grew up in a Christian home and knew in my early years that I wanted to belong to Him. I surrendered my life to Christ was baptized one day before I turned 11 years old.

Somehow, the seed of loving gospel music was planted by the style of music my parents played at home. Around 2006/2007, I was listening to Gaither homecoming music that I found on the internet. The song, “Oh, What A Savior,” by Ernie Haase hit me with the so-called Southern gospel bug. 

From there, I’ve been reading /studying all I can find. I found the digital SGNScoops Magazine.

As I was spending so much time reading and listening about this industry, I started praying for God to please give me a job in the Southern gospel industry. Sometimes, I commented to Lorraine Walker on her posts. How could she know the longing of my heart?

But last year she asked me if I wanted to do something for SGNScoops: the Wacky Wednesday posts online. Now I do the “Beyond the Song” article that really has my heart as I am reaching out to artists, asking about a current song and having a sneak peak behind the scenes. 

Phone Friendly SGN Scoops Magazine Here

Find SGN Scoops Magazine On Facebook Here

Download SGN Scoops Magazine PDF Here

Listen To Todays Southern Gospel Here

 

Tags: Beyond the Song, Country Gospel Music, gospel music, Lord Send Me A Mountain, Southern Gospel Music, The Porter Family
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Beyond the Song: Heart2Heart sing “Happy Glad Day”

Written by Staff on August 14, 2020 – 12:05 pm -

Beyond the Song by Jantina Baksteen

It was great to talk to David Kiser from Heart2Heart. Enjoy reading all about their ministry in this Beyond the Song edition.

Jantina Baksteen: Heart2Heart is a singing trio. Can you introduce yourselves to SGNScoops?

David Kiser: Thank you SGNScoops! The group consists of myself, David Kiser, and Deana Kiser, a husband and wife team from Cherryville, North Carolina, and our longtime friend, Rhonda House, from Belmont, N. C.

 

JB: You have been 20 years on the road. What is it like to travel so long together?

DK: Very Interesting. Well, the group has been through several personnel changes over the past 22 years, but for the last 10 years or more, we have really enjoyed the road together as the current roster. We all love to have fun and there is never a dull moment.

 

JB: What message of hope does Heart2Heart share, from your heart to other hearts, when you are on stage?

DK: It seems today there are more hurting people sitting on church pews. In 1998, we started out with a mission to always make Jesus the center of what is seen on the stage, and to encourage the body of Christ. Our focus still remains strong today: To let the church know that Jesus still saves, heals, delivers and sets free those that are bound and captive. We love people and we love loving on people. Showing the love of Christ and praying with people is just what we do. Keeping the real thing still the real thing.

 

JB: You have a great song out to radio called, “Happy Glad Day.” If I’m not mistaken, there’s a video made. Can you share the story about that song?

DK: Well, the song was pitched to us by our friend Tery Wayne Wilkins. It was co-written with Reba Faye Rambo. We had been after Tery for some time to let us record a song of his. Once we heard “Happy Glad Day,” we were in love with the message and melody. We didn’t plan on recording it originally with the old Southern gospel sound, but we are glad our producer, Les Butler, agreed this would sound great with an old fashioned sound. So, it is led with a old flat top piano sound. We were blessed to be able to shoot a video of “Happy  Glad Day,” as a part of the Great American Gospel TV program, down in Savannah, Georgia, just a few months back. If our plans don’t change before September, we hope to perform “Happy Glad Day” this year at NQC 2020. We hope gospel music fans enjoy listening to this song as much as we love singing it.

Here is the original video with Heart2Heart singing, “Happy Glad Day.”

 

JB: What is the response from your audience?

DK: We feel very favored to have a very loyal and energetic fan base. Some of that, we feel, is from the energy we put off, and worship we engage in, from the stage. Normally, our concerts are very high energy, high emotional services. It is very common for us to see or have responses to the altar during our concerts or services. We always end our services with altar time and prayer, and it is a norm for us to have crowd response at that time, and us meet and pray with people in the altars.

 

JB: How do you get motivated when you are the road and your day doesn’t go as you hoped it would?

DK: Well, as we all know, this can be quite a challenge, when the enemy seems to rage all out war on ministries when they are being effective. I must say our team does an excellent job putting aside our struggles, battles, and pains, when we step on the stage. We all have the same heart and mind when it comes to ministering to people. At that moment in time, there is no one else more important than the souls sitting in front of us, and we have a commitment to deliver the gospel in an excellent and timely fashion. I have seen my team struggling through life’s problems, moments before we took the stage, and then watch God not only show up and do something beyond our thoughts in a service, but also calm the storm for us and work a miracle because of the sacrifice. That’s what he does for his children.

 

JB: Who are your musical influences? 

DK: We love Karen Peck and New River, the Bowlings, Jeff and Sheri Easter, the Perrys, and the Talleys. They all have been a big blessing to us over the years. In the past few years, we’ve been able to work with a lot of great artists in venues all over. One of our favorites that we have come to really love are the guys of Triumphant Quartet. They are great encouragers. We are thankful for all of the Main Street artists that have encouraged our ministry and sowed into us over the past 22 years.

 

JB: If you could sit around the table with a legend from the past,  who would that be?

DK: Well, I know you said one, but these are a combo. I must say I would love to sit down with George Younce and Glen Payne. Oh, the stories and wisdom I would love to gather from those two iconic and first class gentlemen.

 

JB: Do you have a testimony you would like to share with the readers of SGNScoops?

DK: Probably the most dramatic blow that we ever faced as a ministry came a few years ago when Rhonda House lost her mother and husband on the same day. Our ministry was hit very hard with this news. God was so faithful to us through that time. Our families, local churches, and fans, held us up as we moved through that valley. Rhonda was faithful to continue to minister. We only missed one weekend due to the funerals, but Rhonda felt like both Jimmy and her Mom would have said, “Don’t you stop singing because of us. Sing, sing, sing.” So, we continued to press forward knowing we were operating in our calling. In the words of Rhonda, “When you don’t know what to do…do what you know to do.” We did. (We) leaned on God and watched him work. Rhonda continues to minister and share her story, so others can know that God is faithful, and he will see you through the times of life that feel unbearable. He has a plan because he is the author of the plan.

 

JB: What is the most funniest thing that ever happened in the past 20 years of Heart2Heart?

DK: Wow. Too many to list. We almost have a funny story every weekend. No kidding. Probably some of the funniest, is us forgetting our lyrics on stage. I (David) almost never forget a lyric, and when I do, I’m usually good at making something up. One of the first services when Rhonda was back with us in 2011, (I think), we jumped up on the first song all excited, and opened our mouths, and for the first line of the song…(silence, crickets) nothing but music, and David humming some kind of gargling mess that wasn’t words. Nothing came out. We got such a huge laugh out of that. Luckily, it was a church we had sang at many times and they love us. We have several funny lyric hiccups like that which are just hilarious. Thank the Lord for grace.

 

JB: What is ahead for the Heart2Heart ministry in the near future?

DK:  We think that the time is now for our ministry. There are so many great things happening, it is really hard to put it into words. We say all the time, we feel like we are God’s favorite children. He just keeps doing great stuff. Watch out for more great radio releases from this new project, “Pray.” We are going to keep putting out great music and be sensitive to gospel music fans on what they want to hear. Look for us at NQC 2020, and Dollywood at the 2020 October Harvest Fest.

 

JB: Where can people reach you if a church or event is looking for some good gospel music?

DK: Call Heart2Heart at 704-802-4634 or email us davidk@heart2heartmin.com. You can find more info on us at our website: www.heart2heartmin.com or connect with us on Facebook.

 

Thank you so much for sharing your ministry with SGNScoops. Wishing you God’s rich blessings as you get back on the road to share the greatest message that will give peace and comfort to those who are hurting. 

 

 

Tags: Beyond the Song, gospel music, Happy Glad Day, Heart2Heart, Jantina Baksteen, Les Butler, Southern Gospel Music
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Beyond the Song: Wisecarvers sing “Go Down Again”

Written by Staff on June 13, 2020 – 6:40 am -

Beyond the Song: the Wisecarvers sing “Go Down Again” 

By Jantina Baksteen

I got in contact with Dustin Wisecarver of the Wisecarvers, a Southern gospel family group that consists of: Vince and Tammy, Chase and Kasie, and Dustin and Kaila. They tell us about their group and explain the background of “Go Down Again.”

Jantina Baksteen: Please introduce your group to our readers. 

Dustin Wisecarver:  Mom and Dad got us started with a dream and a calling. So we’ll start with them! Mom, Tammy, she can have you blessed, crying, and reaching for tissues before you know it. She has a powerful testimony of healing from cancer that has encouraged countless folks in their own battles with it. Dad, Vince, has a country style voice and some of the smoothest rhythm guitar you’ll ever hear. There’s nothing much he can’t do. Above what you see on stage, he keeps the bus running and taught Chase and I to sing and play. Which leads to Chase my brother. He’s our versatile powerhouse lead vocalist. He can go from power notes in ballads to the sweetest sincere moments that grab your heart. Chase has the gift to write songs that are so completely different than the norm. He sees things when he reads the word of God others miss and often you’ll find that in his writing. Songs he’s written such as “Turn Back Time,” which is really the that first song that got us noticed in the Southern gospel world, will make even a saint cry and want to make sure their walk with the Lord is where it ought to be! His wife’s name is Kasie and she is our prayer and faith warrior. Though she’s not on the platform she’s there with a kind word or can be found praying with folks at the altar. They have a little boy named Jake who, for about the past year, has started coming up and singing a little bit with us here and there. He’s taking my “choo-choo” song, as he calls it, and playing his little harmonica and singing it. He turned four in February and is stealing the show. Then there’s my wife Kaila. She’s truly special and ever so anointed. She definitely holds me together and I couldn’t do what I do without her. She’s got the voice of an angel and looks like one too. She’s very versatile in both the styles she can sing and write. She goes from peaceful worship moments to the big powerful songs that’ll have you shoutin’. We have an awesome one year old named Whalen, who has totally changed our world. He’s got a little smile and just like we prayed before he was born, he brings joy everywhere we go. Finally, I like to say, ‘I’m just here.’ I play a little harmonica. I write and sing a little bit. I just consider it a privilege to be surrounded by such an amazing family with such talent. I’m not worthy to be in their midst nor to work for the Lord, but I’m awful glad He called me, and He called me to where I am and who I am with.

JB: When did you start to sing as a family group?

DW: We always sang in our home church, and would put on concerts at our family reunions. Chase and I grew up with aunts and uncles as our biggest fan base. They always flattered us and made us feel like we were big time. They would even tip! But then somewhere along the way, we felt God tugging at our hearts for more than just music. He said He had a job for us to do with our gifts, and in 2005, The Wisecarvers was officially born.

JB: I met you at first in 2016, at NQC, where you won the showcase and debuted on main stage that same evening. Tell us about that experience.

DW: Wow, the shock of actually having our name called in itself was unbelievable! I remember huge smiles at each other on that stage, as if our eyes said, “Wow! Can you believe where we are standing?”

Up until that point we had only been on one sided stages. NQC has this four sided stage and I remember us jokingly on the side asking each other, “Where do we go?” Then we were like, “No seriously, which side?”

One of my favorite things was coming off the stage, there were fans who knew us from our travels who were standing at their seats waving, giving us thumbs up, saying things like “Way to go!” We are awful thankful they keep inviting us back year after year!

JB: Did that experience give a boost to your ministry?

DW: It certainly did! It introduced us to many new friends. New doors were opened and dates added to the following year’s schedule. There were also D.J.s who either hadn’t heard us live, or hadn’t even heard us at all, until that point. We are very thankful for that experience.

JB: I know you have a testimony in the song, “It Was Jesus,” on the  “Armor” album. Please share about that.

DW: This is Momma’s testimony. Twelve years ago she was diagnosed with Stage Four cancer and given only six to twelve months to live. God intervened and as the song states there was no chemo, no surgery, just  a whole lot of prayer and faith. God healed her and she is still alive and well, serving the Lord today, 100% cancer free. The song is also about things that can not be explained other than to say, “It Was Jesus!” Sometimes we get to those points in life where He is our only way out. We encourage those who might be in the most hopeless situations that there is still hope in Him.

.JB: You have a CD out called “Sillouette.”  When I checked the information on this album, I saw that your group penned all, or almost all, of the songs. Where do you get the inspiration to write?

DW: Sometimes inspiration comes from where we’ve been and what we’re going through ourselves in those moments. Those songs go back to what God is doing in our lives or trying to teach us personally. It’s always surprising when you put those songs out, how many other people happen to relate so closely to your message. Then, that inspires more songs because you realize that people need to hear what God has done for us, letting them know He can do the same for them. There are songs that are also birthed straight out of a scripture from the word of God. Then there are those you just start writing that seem to come out of nowhere, but it’s the Holy Spirit giving you something the people need to hear. In all those scenarios, the short answer would be, “God!”

JB: You launched a song to radio that’s called, “Go Down Again.” Can you share the message of that song?

DW: If God said it, it will happen! It doesn’t matter what circumstances or people say, God’s promises are true and will come to pass because God cannot lie. Naaman was told to go dip in Jordan seven times. The song asks the question of whether Naaman might have gotten discouraged on times one through six with no partial healings or signs, just the promise. The song shifts to our personal lives with things we pray about. Sometimes we don’t have signs. Sometimes there’s no evidence that our prayers will be answered. All we have are the promises in God’s word and that’s enough! The song defines faith and is intended to encourage people to not waiver in theirs!

JB: Kaila wrote this amazing song. How did that came about?

DW: A lot of times songs have an amazing story about how they developed or the journey to the final lyrics, but with “Go Down Again,” Kaila said it kind of just happened. The Lord gave her the words, the melody, it all came together from very personal experiences but not without some hesitation. At one time, she wasn’t even sure if anyone would like the song or understand what she was trying to say. But once we got in the studio and started to record, we knew it was something special. The enemy was just fighting to keep the message from being heard.

JB: What is it to travel on the bus with the entire family and with the two little boys, Jake and Whalen?

DW: Oh, those two are the life of the party! They keep us laughing and smiling the whole time. It’s been fun to watch them begin their lives this way. Jake’s a smart little guy. He knows that bus inside and out. He is always eager to help and wants to work hard for Jesus. Whalen is just taking it all in. He’s just getting to where he can move around and getting harder to keep up with. The best part, we get to all do something we love to do together as a family.

JB: What is ahead for you in 2020?

DW: Well, we are writing new songs for a new project. Nothing is scheduled yet, but we have a few that are coming along nicely. We are also on pace to have our busiest year to date. God is definitely opening up new doors!

JB: Where can we find you on the web?

DW: You can visit our website, www.thewisecarvers.com, and also find us on all major social media platforms – Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

JB: What is your desire for your ministry?

DW: I want to be more effective. I want a double portion. Above all, I want to see Christ high and lifted up!

We hope you will enjoy hearing the Wisecarvers sing “Go Down Again:”

 

Thanks to Dustin Wisecarver for sharing your family ministry with SGNScoops. God’s blessings and guidance for your ministry in the days and months ahead.

 

Tags: Beyond the Song, Faith, Go Down Again, God, gospel music, Prayer, Southern Gospel Music, The Wisecarvers
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