Artists

New Ground

New Ground - Oct 2003

Hi Everyone,

It's been a hectic September 2003 for New Ground - but we wouldn't have it any other way - on the road - singing for Him - what an awesome calling!! We are so blessed.

We started out the month with David's former classmates - yep, David did graduate in the 80's and some of them still admit that they remember him - LOL. We were at the First United Methodist Church in Albertville, AL where we enjoyed a dinner and then we were the special guests of the Sunday School Class. Singing and eating - they seem to go hand in hand. David really enjoyed seeing his "old" classmates (Sorry Carrie) - just kidding - what I would give to be 35 again. Then we were off to Nettleton, Mississippi and Ardmore, AL. This was our weekend that we were working our way to NQC. Robbie Strawbridge and congregation at the Victory Baptist Church in Nettleton and Mike Clark and his congregation from Mable Hill Baptist in Ardmore helped to encourage our spirit for our long week away from home in Louisville. Needless to say - we had great services at both churches and we were ready for NQC.

We got into Louisville about midnight on Sunday night and had to be at a Paul Heil Interview at 9:30am - it was good to sit and talk with Paul and Shelia - so be listening for our interview in the near future. Then it was off to the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center - as we appeared on the Artist Spotlight Showcase. There were about 20 groups that sang a showcase on that Monday afternoon and everyone had a great time kicking the week's activities off. The rest of the week was spent working the booth and attending meetings and talking to everyone and getting new songs and meeting friends from the list and eating and ï¿½.. well, you know the rest of the story.

We left NQC on Saturday morning because we had to sing our way home. Our first singing brought us back to our hometown of Scottsboro where we sang at the Ridgedale Baptist Church. Our friends, Southern Image, from Tupelo, Mississippi also sang and did a great job. They are some of the best friends we have in the industry. We love these guys and their spirit. Sunday morning found us in Ooltewah, Tennessee for Homecoming at the Ooltewah Church of God. This is our third time to sing for Pastor Stallings and his congregation - these people love Sand Mountain Singing - considering they are from Sand Mountain probably has a lot to do with it. We loaded up and headed to Summerville, Georgia with Mr. Bobby Groce and everyone at the West Summerville Baptist Church. We were so blessed to have our friends, Jessie, Verlene, Wallace, Ressie, Lou and Ethel to visit with us - they are just our extended family. Uncle Wallace brought Chow-Chow - it was soooo good and we are waiting on our fruit salad from Aunt Jessie - can these people cook - you better believe it!!! Also, we saw Gene & Glenda Norris and Mr. & Mrs. Hoyt Cox. These are some of our friends that we have met through Jim Hefner - I'm glad to call them "our" friends.

After recouping for a couple of days it was onto Alabaster, Alabama to the Southside Baptist Church. This church has the sweetest spirit and some of the best homemade spaghetti sauce you have ever eaten. They were so receptive and we surely appreciated meeting each of them. Bessemer Church of the Nazarene had us as their guests on Sunday morning. Pastor Ron and his church family were so cordial and accommodating. Matter of fact, they even called a special meeting while we were tearing down and voted to have us next year for their Homecoming - I told you it was a great church!! We ended the weekend at the Bethlehem Baptist Church in Laceys Spring, Alabama. David was the Music Minister at this church when he first started singing with New Ground. It was like old times - he was hugging and smiling and even his wife Stacy and children Brandon, Chelsea and Celeste were able to attend this Homecoming with him.

As we finished the month on a trip to Cape Girardeau, Missouri - we met lots of new people. We sang for Gene & Ann Young at the A.C. Brase Auditorium there in Cape Girardeau with Michael Combs. This was a great concert and we also got to meet Pastor John Archie from the Elm Street Baptist Church in Charleston, Missouri. He took us out to eat and then booked us for his church in November. So we thank the Young's for giving us this opportunity to take our ministry into new areas. We loaded up and headed for Pulaski, Tennessee for a great night of gospel singing held at the Parks and Recreation Center. Mack Thomas and Shelia Holden worked to put this singing together. It was a great night of good fellowship and singing. We finished the month in Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee at the Living Waters Church of God. Pastor Jason Mize welcomed us with open arms and this was an awesome singing to finish the month.

Make sure that you come and see us in October. We will be in South Carolina, Mississippi, Tennessee and Alabama!!! Love to see you!!

Until He Comes,

Robbie Maxwell
New Ground
[url=http://www.newgroundministries.com]http://www.newgroundministries.com[/url]