www.lexingtonsoutherngospel.com
www.lexingtonsoutherngospel.com
"Promoting Southern Gospel Music & Christian Unity"
*Concert History*
The Lexington Southern Gospels Concert Series started with a trial concert on Palm Sunday in April 2000 at the Lexington Masonic Temple. The group "The Sammons Brothers" were scheduled to perform that evening. Their tenor, Jamie Pittman, was ill and Tom and Jack Sammons "drafted" their wives in that emergency. Out of this situation, "Sammons Brothers and Company" was formed. A total of 35 persons enjoyed that Concert and all agreed that they would like the series to continue.
We started the Concert Series on September 10th, 2000, at the Masonic Temple with the all-male quartet "New Destiny". Lexington Police Officer Pat Dawson attended our October 2000 Concert and she was so impressed with the program that she volunteered to assist in getting it going. Pat also got Pastor Linda Jo Powers of the Lexington United Methodist Church interested and at the November Concert, Pastor Linda Jo on that date offered the Methodist Church to the group for further Concerts. The Concert Series was not moved until May of 2001 to the United Methodist Church. That first concert drew 26 people. The following month, June, saw the Concert Series change direction. "Hope's Call", a new female trio at that time, came for a concert and we had our newest record of 75 in attendance. July came and we had 90 come to see "The Grimshaw's". Larger crowds started coming to these concerts.
April 2002 was our next milestone when 150 came to see "Hope's Call" return to Lexington. July 1, 2002 came and Pastor Linda Jo Powers, who was then our Co-Chairperson, was transferred to Beaverton and Pastor Betty Blair assumed the duties at Lexington UMC. She, too, has been a beacon of light for the Concert Committee. From April through September the series attracted an average attendance of 103 persons. October 2002 saw us hit our peak when 199 patrons filled the Sanctuary of the Lexington United Methodist Church to see "The Calvarymen Quartet." October, 2003 brought new records again when the "Calvarymen Quartet" sang to a record crowd of 233.
A highlight came when on April 11th 2003 when we hosted a National Group. Two weeks prior to that date we received an offer to have "The Weatherford's" in Concert on that date. The Weatherford's have appeared on many of the Gaither Homecoming Video's. After much scrambling, with our committee working as a team, we were able to pull this one off. The Weatherford's were very pleased with the turnout (120)and Love Offering and mentioned maybe they could come back in 2004. And come back they did on September 5, 2004. They are beautiful people singing beautiful Christian music.
Our goal is to feature the finest in Southern Gospel Music and to Promote Christian Unity throughout the Thumb. We had people representing at least 69 different Church's attend our Concert Series during 2002. We have had persons from at least 201 different Church's attend our Concert Series since we started keeping track in 2002. We recently had the Pastor from Prairie Du Chren, Wisconsin visit us. Even more recently we had a gentleman from Ashland, NE in attendance.
All concerts are held at the Lexington United Methodist Church which is located at 5597 S. Main St., In beautiful downtown Lexington, MI. just two blocks south of the light. We thank the members of the Lexington United Methodist Church for allowing us to host these concerts for well over eight years now.
• Last Concert and Upcoming
LAST: Concert #108 with "The Calvarymen Quartet" is in the books. What a showing they made. It seemed funny to see "The Calvarymen Quartet" with a woman singing Tenor. But, there she was and what a great job she did. Their recently hired Tenor had voice problems appear and he had to resign. a New Tenor has been hired and he is currently doing sound while learning the Tenor songs. The young lady did an excellent job. "Shannon Allen" from Caro (actually Deford) opened and what a great job she did in her 15 minutes segment.
COMING UP: Concert #109 will feature "Mark & Andrea Forester." Not only do they do a fantastic job singing the Gospel of Christ, they add some great humor to the program. If you've never seen this group, you'll love their testimony on their first Son and they will be showing off their brand new second son. Last fall at a UMM Rally, Mark & Andrea were scheduled to appear as the entertainment. Andrea was sick and Mark carried the load. I have many men who seen that performance say they will be at Lexington to see the two together.
More on our upcoming concerts on our schedule page.
PRAYER CONCERNS:
Jake Messman, the promoter up in Forester County Park, has informed me that he is having health problems again and if things don't Straiten out he will have to have surgery and have a hole cut into bladder or kidney. Can't remember exactly which one it was. Please keep Jake in your prayers.
We have to say goodbye to Pastor Betty Blair who has served on our committee for a few years. She and her husband Coulson are re-tiring and she has left The Lexington United Methodist Church. We have many memories of Pastor Betty working with us and we want all to keep her and her husband in our prayers as they embark on retirement.
Carol of "Rejoice" is having several health issues and she can use many of our prayers.
All members of the Armed Forces serving around the world as they continue to keep our country free.
Monday, May 4, 2009 9:59 AM EDT
OWOSSO - Just over three months ago, Dennis Byers of Stronghold was in concert at Owosso Nazarene Church and found himself in emergency at Memorial Healthcare.
Soon after, he was transported to Hurley Medical Center Neural
Intensive Care Unit, where it was discovered he suffered an artery tear, known
as a vertebral artery dissection.
Sunday night, following weeks of recuperation, he was back in
concert at Owosso Nazarene.
Although he sang only a handful of songs during the concert, listeners were
happy to see him back onstage.
“This kind of injury is often due to trauma,” Byers said. “But in this instance,
I was doing nothing. All of a sudden I was near death.”
He was in neural ICU for about 10 days. When he was well enough to go home, he
continued to recuperate there.
At the end of February, his doctors told him it appeared the dissection was not
healing well.
“Something happened somewhere between the end of February and the third of
April,” Byers said.
It was April 3 when doctors examined him again.
“They found no evidence of dissection at that point,” Byers said. “It took 10
weeks for the artery to heal.”
Byers returned to work April 7.
“The Lord taught me a lot of things,” Byers said. “The thing I gathered the most
from all of this is that I learned there are times I have to rely on Him. I'm a
person who has always been self-sufficient.”
Byers said his doctors never told him what the survival rate of this condition
is, and that if the dissection had been located in only a slightly different
area, his story might have ended far worse.
“All I knew is that it is rare,” Byers said.
He said he knew people were praying for him in churches all across the country.
Byers said at the time of the dissection, he also lost hearing in the ear on the
same side as the tear. He had a hearing test and was told it was time to
consider a hearing aid.
However, some further testing revealed there was fluid in his ear. His ear was
treated with antibiotics, and a tube was placed in his ear to drain the fluid.
According to Byers, he can now hear better out of the ear that was drained than
out of his other ear, and he does not wear a hearing aid.
Byers said Sunday night's concert had been originally scheduled as a benefit
concert for himself, when no one was certain how he might progress. However,
Byers was present in the audience for the concert and sang some selections with
the group.
The concert, instead of a benefit, became a celebration.
“We don't need a benefit concert,” Byers said. “The Lord's already supplied the
benefits. Let's have a celebration.”
Byers said his recovery does not amaze him.
“It's not surprising to me.” Byers said. “God can do anything. Time and time
again, I've seen that.”
Committee:
Tom Drake, Chairman (email)
gospelman713@att.net
Co-Chair Ollie Spencer 810-648-2496
Barbara Drake 810-385-9037
Russell & Minnie Leibler 810-648-2817
Joyce Coon 810-359-7618
David Sonck 810-679-3301
Jerry & Marilyn Weyenuth 810-679-3481
© 2007 The Lexington Southern Gospel News