"Steps to Glory:" With Good Gospel Music, Anything is Possible!

It's no secret that gospel music often provides the glue that holds a spiritual house together.

That's the case in Kingsport, where several gospel groups came together to perform at the first "Steps to Glory" gospel fest, held at the Kingsport Renaissance Center. The event was held on Saturday, May 10th.

Gospel playwright Helen Howard organized the gathering of well-known gospel groups.

"Every gospel song has a message in it," she says. "If you get the message and the Holy Spirit gets you, then you know what to do with your life, and what to live for. We want people to jump on their feet, we want them to shout, we want them to do whatever they can to praise the Lord."

She went on.. "The music has always been an extention of church.. it's the work of the Lord. People need to know that Jesus is coming back one day, and we need to be ready. We need to be prepared. Gospel music is a ministry, just like preaching. Today's ministry is getting the gospel out there, through music and plays."

CLICK HERE TO SEE AND HEAR THE SPECIAL VIDEO WELCOME FROM REV. DONNIE WADE


http://youtu.be/22CqZviNPOE

The gospel fest at the Renaissance Center was packed. Both New Beginnings pastor Billy Pearson and Rev. Donnie Wade of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Rotherwood welcomed the faithful.

"People here just like good, ole-fashioned gospel music," says Mrs. Howard. "It's one step closer to God. Anything we can do to bring Glory to God, and show who He is, and that He's Ruler over our lives, that's what we should do."

CLICK HERE TO SEE AND HEAR A VIDEO CLIP FROM THE NEW BEGINNINGS CHRISTIAN CHOIR


http://youtu.be/7opF7urWKk8


The groups that sang the praises of God were the New Beginnings Christian Fellowship Choir, from the New Beginnings Church in Kingsport... the New Vision Youth Dancers... the Devoted Gospel Group... the Mabry Singers... and Uncle Jesse Battle and the Sands of Time, the group that Mrs. Howard manages.

"The New Beginnings Church.. that's my home church," Mrs. Howard says. "What makes them special is that anybody who knows New Beginnings, they know it's loaded with love."

"When you come there, you're right at home, and you're loved."

Praise dancing was done by members of the New Vision Youth, headed by director Johnnie Mae Swagerty. The main group of more than 50 elementary, middle and high school students focuses on well-rounded, Christian fellowship, with an emphasis on friendship and community involvement. The praise dancers have performed all over the Tri-Cities in churches, schools, and community gatherings.

CLICK HERE TO SEE AND HEAR A VIDEO CLIP FROM THE NEW VISION YOUTH


http://youtu.be/_nzmGczdQj8

"Johnnie Mae does a wonderful job with these young people," Mrs. Howard says, whose 2 granddaughters are in the New Vision Youth group. "This group has got a message.. that you don't have to bow to peer pressure and do the wrong thing. They've got great attitudes and positive minds. When they dance, they put themselves into the struggles that all young people face."

Mrs. Howard says, soon, she'll be working with Swagerty and the group in performing plays that raise peoples' spirits and continue the blessings of the Lord.

She was particularly impressed by the talents of one New Vision Youth member.

"Javonte Lyons has an awesome voice," says Mrs. Howard. "Every time I see that gifted young man, he's singing the Lord's praises. He's not shy, and if you call on him, he's ready to give it his all."

CLICK HERE TO SEE AND HEAR A VIDEO CLIP OF JAVONTE SINGING

http://youtu.be/zpkykp9HlWw

"He's a good example of what happens when you encourage young people.. give them the opportunity to shine.. give them the chance to use the talents that God has given them. Giving them that chance, lets them shine."

Devoted is a gospel group that's familiar to audiences in upper East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. They're from Russell's Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church in Rogersville, TN.

CLICK HERE TO SEE AND HEAR A VIDEO CLIP FROM DEVOTED

http://youtu.be/yXklUZ2d6A8

"We did a program at the Lee Street Baptist Church in Bristol," says Mrs. Howard, "and that's where I met this talented group. I liked their voices and the way they blend together. What makes them unique is that the church pastor, Rev. Pamela Hoard, is a member of the singing group. That is always a plus when it comes to church singing.. when the pastor can sing, and puts their voice together with other great voices in the choir.. that's a special thing."

The Mabry Singers are a family of excellent voices. Literally.

This talented group from Hansonville, VA is composed of father, mother, and their two daughters.

CLICK HERE TO SEE AND HEAR A VIDEO CLIP FROM THE MABRY FAMILY

http://youtu.be/ntWnYZNk1Rw

"I met them not long ago," says Mrs. Howard.' I went to their church and listened to them sing, and they were awesome, awesome, awesome. The father is a songwriter, and they've been around for a long, long time.. everybody knows them and the messages they spread in their music."

"Their familiar blend of gospel music is well-known, and that's a good thing. Sometimes, you need the familiar to understand the Word."

Uncle Jesse Battle and the Sands of Time brought the crowd to its feet.

And that's a good thing.

CLICK HERE TO SEE AND HEAR A VIDEO CLIP FROM UNCLE JESSE BATTLE & THE SANDS OF TIME

http://youtu.be/rC7YP_t7AeM

"Jesse Battle is indeed a man of God," Mrs. Howard says of the man from Atlanta that she also serves as manager. "He's a man that believes that whatever talent the Lord has given you, you need to use it. Use it or lose it. He knows how to sing to an audience of the faithful. He brings life to his songs, and every song has a message in it. Jesse's singing is easy to write plays to, because he just motivates the people.

This was the first in Mrs. Howard's Steps to Glory Production, which specializes in Christian plays and musical concerts.

"Not only do I write plays that God gives me, I also take Uncle Jesse Battle's music and turn the songs into plays. We have a play coming up here at the Renaissance Center at the end of July. We're also planning a Fun in the Sun day, when we'll sell food, finger painting for the kids. We'll also have something for the seniors, plenty of gospel music, just a little bit of everything.

"We plan on giving back to the community and working with the youth, especially the New Vision Youth, and we also plan on working with the seniors in the area. Anything and everything we can do, to bring Glory to God.. that's what it's all about."

The money raised from the admission is going for that good cause.

"The $5.00 admission will help produce our next play," Mrs. Howard says. "Our plays inspire people to go out and do the Lord's Work. We want them to know that you can have a good time in the Lord, just like you can in the clubs. The difference is, when you leave this earth, we want to spent eternity with Jesus Christ."

"That's our main goal with the plays, and the music."


CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW TO HEAR MORE FROM THE GROUPS AT THE GOSPEL FEST:

http://youtu.be/_RX0hMye1ac  Uncle Jesse Battle & the Sands of Time

http://youtu.be/dhgjFEDSM8E  New Vision Youth

http://youtu.be/4ISXS1zVjK4   Devoted

http://youtu.be/Dmp1stgwMkA  Mabry Singers

http://youtu.be/NxMlB62D7m8  New Beginnings

http://youtu.be/IYGP73q46R0  Uncle Jesse Battle & the Sands of Time


CLICK BELOW TO SEE A SLIDE SHOW OF THE STEPS TO GLORY GOSPEL FEST

Created with flickr slideshow.

Mother's Day Dinner 2014: A "Central" Event

PHOTOS BY VICKI SMITH

"It was just a good day for the church."

The men of Central Baptist Church in Riverview stepped up, to show the women of Central how much they are appreciated.

On Mother's Day, May 11th, the women were first treated to a morning worship service put together and anchored by the men folk.

After that, the women were treated to a feast prepared by the men of the church.

On the menu was a huge Mother's Day cake honoring all the moms, and before that, beef brisket, 3 kinds of chicken (fried, lemon, and rotisserie), macaroni & cheese, vegetable trays with green and yellow peppers, onions, cucumbers, tomatoes.. green beans, glazed sweet potatoes, toss salad, rolls and iced tea and water.

"John Hardy was the chief chef," recalls deacon John Harrison, "and 12 to 15 other men of the church were involved in cooking the food in the Fellowship Hall kitchen and coordinating the event itself. Some of them ushered during the morning worship service, others cleaned up the dining area after the dinner."

"The men just stepped up that day."

Harrison says, the Mother's Day dinner was a way to pamper the women, whether they were moms or not, especially with the keepsake of the event -- a huge heartshaped box filled with Dove chocolates.

"We celebrated between 50 and 60 women on that day," he says. "There are moms whose children couldn't get back home, and there are those of us whose moms have passed away. As you know, there are moms who are moms to everybody in the community, not just their own children. They seemed to enjoy the attention."

"Moms are special, you know," Harrison says. "Here was a way that we as a church, could show the women how special they are, and how much we love them."

A special moment that Harrison noted, was the way the men who served the meal were dressed.

"The men in the choir, of course had on dark suits, but they also had red neckties," he said.  "When the women went into the Fellowship Hall to eat, there were all the men lined up ready to serve them, with maroon aprons on.  To see them lined up like that ready and waiting to serve the dinner to the women was a sight to behold.  It was very impressive and professional."

Sunday's dinner was actually revived from an old tradition at the Central Baptist Church, that sort of went away for a while.

"We got away from it around 2010," says Harrison, "but we sit down to do the church calendar for next year, this event will probably be something that we'll consider, because it was so well received. The women are already planning for how they'll take charge of even the upcoming Father's Day."

"Two days later, they were still talking about their Mother's Day."

Celebrating the Women of Bethel for Mother's Day

Sometimes, we just cannot thank the women in our lives enough.

One local church showed its appreciation, the way women might show their appreciation to others.

By making them breakfast.

At the Bethel A.M.E. Zion Church in Kingsport, the men of the church did all the cooking to honor the women of the church.

The event was held on Saturday, May 10, 2014, the day before Mother's Day.

"It's our Mother's Day present to the special women in our lives, in our church and in our community," says Reverend Charles Hawkins. "The women are invited to come out and eat a delicious breakfast, prepared by some of the best-cooking men around."

In fact, the cooks for this event are the brotherhood of Bethel.. more than 12 men and counting, led by Dale Arnett.

"The men who cooked the breakfast are Tim Kyle, Richard Hicks, Dale Arnett, Doug Releford, and other men, doing other needed things besides cooking," says Reverend Hawkins. "Frank Shepherd is out of town today, but he's a valuable member of the brotherhood.

Among the foods the men prepared were scrambled eggs, potatos, bacon, sausage, and bread with various jellies, along with orange juice and coffee.

The breakfast was free of charge, and is not a fundraiser, says Reverend Hawkins. The event has been held for several years.

"It's just an expression of love to the ladies of the church," he says. "They deserve it.. they are instrumental in the life of the church, and in every family, mothers are often the backbone of the family unit itself. They're the ones who oftentimes, are helping their children with things. Unfortunately, we have a lot of homes headed by single mothers. This is an opportunity for the men of the church to say 'thank you' to all these wonderful women in the Bethel A.M.E. Zion Church."


A SLIDESHOW OF THE BREAKFAST AT BETHEL FOR THE WOMEN OF THE CHURCH ON MOTHER'S DAY

Created with flickr slideshow.

Sons and Daughters of Douglass Board Meeting Scheduled

Please don't forget our regular scheduled meeting of the Sons and Daughters of Douglass Board, this Saturday, May 10th, at 1 PM.

The meeting will be in the Eastman Board Room, 2nd Floor, in the V.O. Dobbins, Sr. Complex tower.


Pres. Douglas S. Releford

Passings in Riverview

We are saddened to report two passings in the Riverview Community.

Mrs. Marie Thompson passed away in Kingsport on Sunday, May 4, 2014.

Also, Reverend Frederick Gordon, former pastor of the Central Baptist Church, passed away also on Sunday, May 4, 2014, at his home in Brevard, North Carolina.

Their funeral arrangements are posted on the PASSINGS AND OBITUARIES page.

Please pray for the families.

Congratulations to Douglass Descendant Michael Releford!

2013-14 Lynchburg College Athletic Awards Banquet Major Award Winners

Soccer standout Michael Releford, son of Andre Releford, took home top honors as the Lynchburg College athletic department honored its top-student-athletes at the annual athletic banquet.

Michael Releford earned the Male Senior Award.

He had a storied career in goal for the LC men's soccer team.

As a freshman in 2010, he led the Hornets all the way to the NCAA Division III Tournament's title game, and earned the tournament's Defensive Most Valuable Player for his efforts.

In six games against the best opponents in the nation, he allowed just five goals.

An All-ODAC and All-State first-team honoree in each of his three seasons, Releford was named the ODAC Player of the Year in 2012.

He also garnered first-team All-Atlantic Region accolades as a junior.

Quilting for a Cause

This is from Regina Bond Gray -- felt it important to our history in Riverview, to see a Civil Rights link

Quilters of Gee's Bend


Click here to read the history of Gee's Bend, Alabama (also known as Boykin, Alabama)