Tuesday afternoon while in NYC I took  a  stroll  to W. 51st St.  and Broadway  to  the  location  of Times Square Church. This is the church  that  was  founded by the late Rev.  David  Wilkerson, most famous  for   writing  "The   Cross and  The   Switchblade".  I   have followed   this   man   of   God's ministry since the late 1970s.  He was  instrumental  in forming  my early and basic Christian  beliefs. When this church was founded in the late 1980s, friends Tim Wile and Russell Beatty sojourned together with me to  NY for the  grand opening.  Today the church is still growing strong! Multiple services and multiple outreaches to the poor and hurting in the NYC area. I went in  for a  time of prayer in their  prayer room, which is open daily from noon to 2.  For me, it was a touching, and historic moment as well, in my Christian life. God bless Times Square Church and World Challenge ministries!

Had  a  great  time  last Sunday  morning  attending  and singing at the community service held during the Ashville Fourth  of  July  Celebration.  A  couple  hundred  people from the surrounding churches come together to worship God under  the trees and sun on the Sunday  morning of the festival.  Pastor  Floyd  Hubbell  of South  Bloomfield UM delivered the  homily. Pastors  Ty Myers  and Kevin Pees also  participated in  the  service. The  Community Choir sang  a great medley  of patriotic  songs. I opened with the hand-clapper, "One Less Stone" and closed the service with the  congregation  singing "This Is the Day" with Carolyn Lutz  on keys.  The  highlight of the service for me was introducing friend and mentor Kevin Mabry to the stage to sing a beautiful acapella song.

Last Sunday night, I had the pleasure of attending a friends  gathering  for Diane Green. Diane and I started  singing  Gospel Music  around  the  same time at the same church. So, needless to say, we go  waaaaaaaaay  back!!  We  have  done  many concerts  together  over  the years,  and  recently recorded "We've Been Lovin' Jesus (Too Long to Stop  Now)"   for   my  "Change  the  World"  CD.  Diane and her  husband David, moved to Florida last year and her trips back to Ohio are few, so it was indeed great to see her again!

My good friend Eileen Howard, former worship director at our church, now New York City socialite and jazz artist, is out with a brand new CD entitled "Blues in The Green Room" which is a live recording of the show she did last year at The Garden Theater in Columbus. This is an amazing CD. As a fellow recording artist, to do a live recording and do it well is tough. Eileen handles it, truly, like a pro. The band, made up of musicians from the Columbus scene, as well as being the house band at the UM Church for all People, do a sparkling job as well. One take is all you get, both vocally and instrumentally...and it's nearly flawless. Eileen journey's through 11 things that give you the blues. Along the way you'll laugh and cry...both mostly be entertained by great blues numbers like, "Fever," "Body and Soul", the rowdy "I Need A Little Sugar In My Bowl" and many others. To find out more about this fabulous CD go to Eileen's website at www.singouteileen.com .

Last night was a wonderful time of inspiration, joy and song as several of us presented Christ in music at the First Baptist Church of Ashville. The group pictured here are the Gospel-Country Band, from the Ashville area. They were so good at bringing the message in a country way. Virgil's rendition of "Long Black Train" gave me chills! Also on the bill was Vicki Blosser from Columbus. I met her in 1997 when I was re-entering the gospel music field, after a 15 year hiatus as worship leader in my local church. She was so supportive of me during a time I needed it! Finally, the opener was Michael Sutherland, son of the pastor, who has an incredible voice and spirit about him. It's great to see someone from his generation with so much talent, using it for the Lord! Michael is headed to the University of Cincinnati in January.

Had a great time  tonight singing for  the folks  at Ashville Church  of Christ  in Christian  Union!  It was  my  first   concert  appearance  there,  and hopefully  won't be  my last. Sharing the ministry tonight were my friends Thurman and Gail Curry, better  known  as  "God's  Praise  Singers."  We spent nearly 2  hours, singing and praising God. There were a dozen or more from my mail route who came, which blessed me! Got to meet, Rev. Don Blankenship, the pastor of Ashville CCCU, a wonderful pastor and musician as well!

I met Kevin in the late 70s at the WMNI Country Cavalcade where he was a star performer with his band "Liberty Street" and I was a lowly stage manager with big dreams. I just kind of hung around him whenever I could, watching him, listening to him, simply learning from him about the country music business. After a couple of years, I launched into my first country album which became "I Love My Friends". Released in 1980, the lead track which I wrote, was played by Kevin and his band. It was called "It's Hard to Love A Country Singer" and can be heard on my YouTube page. I was honored that Kevin took his time and talents and lent them to me for free. Later on in 1981, my album and single, were a finalist for the Ohio Country Music Association Awards, and I was a finalist in the Male vocal category. I remember that October night, and hearing my name nominated time and time again...and each time Kevin Mabry was announced as the winner!! Anyhow, he and I have since become Christians and have our own unique sound and ministries.
       Last Sunday, I met Kevin and wife Nancy after the 4th of July service in Ashville. He and Nancy travel during the summer with iced tea stands, and were vending at the festival. It was so good to see him. Kevin attends the Marysville UMC where his current pastor is Aaron Brown who last led the congregation at Village Chapel UMC in Ashville. 
       Kevin is still recording and touring and making great music. You can reach him at 937-645-9424. Call him and let him bless your church or event.