 |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
Road 2005 |
|
| 2005 Events . . . |
| January 15th ~ 6pm |
|
Mack Reynolds is always a GRAND "host", and once again he was as we sang for him at his monthly SGM Concert at Christian Life Center in Merced. We enjoyed once again seeing "Family Tradition" from Oakdale, and met new friends in "Grace Unlimited" from Sacramento. If you are near Merced, be sure to mark your calendar for the third Saturday night of each month at 6pm for SGM!!! |
| January 20th ~ 7pm |
|
Hey folks! Those Canadians can sing!!! I am speaking of the group "Sweet Presence", a Mixed Quartet "Family Group" from the far north. We were privledged to sing at this concert (hosted by the California Melody Boys) at Bethel Assembly of God in Tulare. Next time "Sweet Presence" comes through your area, don't you dare miss the opportunity to hear them! |
| February 7th & 8th |
|
WE FINALLY DOOOD IT!!! After MONTHS of postponements, we "finally" recorded a new CD!!! Looks like it should arrive back from the factory by March 15th!!! Go to FAMILY PIX page for some in-studio shots. |
| February 26th ~ 7pm |
|
The Emen attended the 2nd Anniversary of our friends the California Melody Boys!!! Randy was the Emcee for the night, and he also joined CMB for the DOO-WAP QT!!! (Wilbur Daniels has asked for this number for his April 15th concert). |
| March 1st ~ 7pm |
|
We enjoyed another "travel night" as we went to Porterville to attend the concert of KEVIN SPENCER & FRIENDS!!! Kevin has been a true FRIEND to Randy over the years, and it was a blessing to see/hear them once again. |
| March 6th ~ 10am |
|
WHAT A JOY! The Emen were privileged to sing at the "Opening" of a NEW Church in Fresno (Family Christian Fellowship). Dave Crandall (of the Crandall Brothers) and the Martin Family also uplifted Praise in Song! |
| March 7th ~ 5pm |
|
THANK YOU CELEBRATION CHURCH!!! This night can only be called "the realization of a dream"! We recorded our first-ever PROFESSIONAL VIDEO, which we hope will be released by April 15th. We SURE want to make it available at the Great Western Fan Fest here in Fresno on April 28th/29th/30th!!! |
| March 11th ~ 7pm |
|
We visited Riverdale Assembly for the "LIVE" CD recording session of HIM 2005 (Holiness In Ministry). The 157-voice choir uplifted our Spirit and touched our Soul ! Randy Miller (former Kingsmen) was a guest instrmentalist (he plays a MEAN Harmonica) and a vocalist on one song. We eagerly await the release of this great CD!!! |
| March 23rd ~ YIPEE!! |
|
This date was exciting, as our 2005 CD "Still Singing" made it to our door!!! We were very glad to have it in time for the Lake Lopez Jubilee! (see below) |
| March 25th ~ 5pm |
|
RAINED OUT!!! We were scheduled to sing with Golden State Quartet and the Lighthouse Boys at an outdoor event at Lake Lopez in Arroyo Grande, but the weather (Near TORRENTIAL Rains) forced the cancellation of the event!!! |
| April 3rd ~ 10:45am |
| WHAT A TREAT to be in concert with Pastor Herb Henry and his fine family at Richland Faith Assembly of God in Ceres!!! Brother Herb is the Pastor of this fine church, and his folks treated us well!!! |
| April 3rd ~ 12:30pm |
|
You don't know the Evangelmen very well if you don't know we LIKE TO EAT!!! Following the morning service at Richland Faith we partook of a culinary FEAST prepared by church folks. Good food, good fellowship, good grief we were full!!! |
| April 3rd ~ 1:45pm |
|
Listen to that Herb Henry "tickle the ivories"!!! I first met Herb in about 1965 when he was Pianist for the Premiers with Arlis Avery. (Of course we were both just teenagers then). The last 20 years or so he has been known as Pastor / Promoter / Bass Singer, but for many years he stood his ground as a FINE Southern Gospel Music Pianist!!!!! Following the solo Piano concert, various members of Richland Faith sang, then came the Herb Henry Family. The "All Day Sing and Dinner on the Grounds" concluded as the Evangelmen did another 45-minute set. We look forward to repeating this WONDERFUL day again! |
| April 15th ~ 7pm |
|
It was our pleasure to be part of the program of the monthly Friday Night Southern Gospel SINGS at College Church of Christ in Fresno. (these are also known as the "Wilbur Daniels Concerts"). The Chordsmen were also on the program, along with our fine friends the California Melody Boys. Randy was tickled to join his former group (CMB) as they sang (and danced) to a medley of 1950's tunes set to Christian words. What a HOOT!!! Another special "NOTE" of the night was when Randy joined with Wilbur Daniels and Roger Bakkar (of the Chordsmen) and Jerry Saylor (of NC4) to form the Caruthers Scrap Iron Quartet!!! (all of these fellas graduated from Caruthers High). If you are not taking in these Friday night concerts, they take place the third Friday of every month: come on out! |
| April 24th ~ 6pm |
|
WHAT A WONDERFUL PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ! ! ! From the outset of the service at House of Prayer in Clovis, we were blest with a WARM feeling of the closeness of the Holy Ghost! We knew that meant we were in for an EASY singing time! Pastor Gary Cooper is a friend of long - standing (since it is past 45 years we could say an OLD friend) and he and his congregation always receive our ministry well. We look forward to returning ! |
| April 28th / 29th / 30th |
|
FAN FEST 2005 WAS A HUGE SUCCESS!!! YES! There WILL be another event in 2006!! The air was charged with excitement from the very beginning for the 2005 Event of the Year in SGM. TEN groups from the National scene and SEVEN from the West Coast joined to uplift Jesus in song to thousands of cheering fans!!! Of course for this fella The Beene Family held the most excitement, (unless you live in Rio Linda you will know that Chrysta Beene is my daughter) but the Pfeifers and the Dove Brothers were also extreme crowd pleasers. The only disappointment of the weekend was that Janet Paschal was unable to attend due to her treatments for cancer. Please keep Janet in your prayers. For information on Fan Fest 2006 go to www.GreatWesternFanFest.com |
| May 15th ~ 8:30am and 10:30am |
|
WHO WAS THE NUT WHO BOOKED INDIO AT 110 DEGREES IN MAY ??? ANSWER: Mr. Manager Randy B All kidding aside, we had a WONDERFUL trip south and everyone at Grace Chapel was SUPER to us!!! We have been going to that church for 8 years now, and anticipate another date in 2006. |
| May 22nd ~ 10:45am |
|
What a SPLENDID time we have each time we go to 1st Baptist Church in Avenal!!! They simply treat us like ROYALTY!!! We must be good with the "booking" date, because this was the second year in a row that we arrived for their Annual Missions Fund POT-LUCK!!! |
| May 29th ~ 10:45am |
|
How blest we were to see the numerical GROWTH of Dinuba 1st Assembly of God since we were there in 2004!!! The congregation received our ministry well, we all "bawled" much of the morning because the Spirit was so refreshing, and they fed us well following the service. How could it be any better??? |
| June 4th ~ 1pm |
|
WE FOUND IT!!! That is what we all said when we arrived at the Posey Community Church! About 75 minutes west of Delano (the last half of that on steep and winding roads) lies the Mountain Community of Posey, and that was the location of the all - out - bash called "Go Tell It On The Mountain". Others singing: Psalm 100 ~ Sanctuary Quartet ~ Johnson Family ~ Southern Journeymen ~ Lighthouse Boys ~ RSV ~ and we all had a BLAST!!! |
| June 5th ~ 6pm |
|
The new sanctuary of World Harvest Pentecostal Church is BEAUTIFUL (and it is actually only the multi - purpose room). We sang as a part of their Revival Services, and they worked us hard! The evening was topped off with food and fellowship at Marie Callendars, where the Emen enjoyed the company of the Pastors and several congregation members. Pastor Keith Walker has extended an invitation for the Evangelmen to return! |
| June 12th ~ 10am |
|
What a REFRESHING Spirit was at FCF this morning!!! Although we truly enjoy "going out to sing", it is a pleasure to be HOME!!! Pastor Steve fed our soul with the Word!!! The Martin Family also sang, and if you don't already know it, these folks can truly BRING IT!!! (come check it out at a 2nd-Sunday 2pm sing) After service and a tasty Spanish Food Meal, the Emen went "shopping"!!! (no joke) The guys got some new shirts for the TOUR, and Beckie got a couple new dresses too! |
| June 18th |
|
This day started out with such JOY and ended in such TRAGEDY!!! The Evangelmen arrived at San Jose airport just before 6am, to check in our luggage for our 8am flight. Our tickets were to take us to Chicago, then back to Tulsa, to began our much - anticipated TOUR 2005. At about 7:30am the attendant called our row number for boarding, and we started for the loading door, boarding passes in hand. Then the cellphone rang, and it was my brother Lyndell delivering the news that our Father had just died!!! Naturally the only thing we could do was to exit the airport and start a sad journey to Porterville. It was after all my Father; Beckie's Father - in - Law of some 36 years; and the Pastor to Bob and Jay for many years. Days that had been planned to be a vacation of Concerts and Fun instead turned to the making of Funeral arrangements and the holding of a "Homegoing Service"!!! We want to thank EVERYONE for the outpouring of Love and Prayers on our behalf. Once again I must ask: "How can anyone who does not know Jesus as Savior ever make it through such times???" |
| Additional TOUR Report |
|
I want to THANK every Pastor that was so understanding when we had to CANCEL our 2005 Tour after the sudden passing of my Beloved Father, Rev. Cecil O. Branson!!! We so appreciate that every Pastor said: "Please come next year"!!! PRAY with us that American Airlines will give us "air credit" to fly on the tickets we could not use!!! |
| July 9th ~ 6pm |
|
Saturday Night in the Valley is hosted by Dennis Curtsinger, and is held at Jubille Church in Visalia, Rev. Art Powers, Pastor. I have heard the expression "Rode hard and put away wet" as applied to horses, but honestly folks, this bunch caused that expression to be applied to US!!! I felt led to repeat "What Heaven Means To Me", then after the altar time (yes, altar time at a concert!) Brother Powers had us sing it again!!! Can hardly wait to return to Jubilee for a Church Service. |
| July 10th ~ 2pm |
|
WONDERFUL Spirit at our inagural FAM FEST concert series . . . just wish I could say the same about the size of the crowd!!! There were 25 folks in the building (counting all the singers) at Clovis Pentecostal Church of God, but the singing was simply grand. The Evangelmen and the Martin Family will co - host these 2nd Sunday at 2pm concerts each month, so they opened with 3 songs each. Then the Jim Davis Family MINISTERED in song!!! Pastors, if you want a family group who can forevermore SING, but that also will MINISTER to your folks, call and book the Jim Davis Family!!! |
| July 17th ~ 6pm |
| WHAT A JOY it was to travel to Laton to be in service with our friends Mike and Terri Franz! ~ In past years we have fellowshipped in song many times while these folks were in Clovis, but this was our first trip to Laton since they took the church there. ~ We were treated well, they sung us "hard", and we all enjoyed a "Sweets" fellowship in the Social Hall following the service. |
| August 5th ~ 7pm |
|
For over ten years Rev Ancil Aydelott has hosted "Southern Gospel Jubilee" in Fresno on the first Friday night of every month. Although the event has moved to various "host" locations over the years, it is currently being held at Living Word Fellowship on Dakota at Maple in Fresno. This month the Evangelmen shared the stage with the "Praise Team" of The Altar Church and a young man named Russell Burnett. The Spirit of the Lord was RICH the entire night, and we all look foreward to working together again with these groups. |
| August 13th ~ 11am |
| This one definitely falls into the "bittersweet" caregory! The Evangelmen were asked to sing at the Homegoing Service of Bob's Beloved Aunt (Dorothy Christian). It was a joy to see an extended family so FULL of the LOVE of Jesus, as they shared in memories of the life of "Aunt Dot". |
| August 14th ~ 10:45am |
| We were blest to be in service with Pastor Dan Zimlicka at Clovis 1st Assembly of God. We shared our Music in Praise and Worship, led the congregation into Prayer Time, then sat under the Ministry of the Word by Pastor Dan. |
| August 14th ~ 6pm |
|
It has been said that "One can not go Home" ... I am so glad that is not the case! Caruthers Full Gospel Assembly has been "home" to me since 1960, when as a lad we were Pastors there for 8 years. Beckie and I served there 1978-1981, and have returned in the ensuing years to fellowship many times. WHAY A JOY to be able to sing at "home"!!! That joy was compounded as the Lord gave me a "liberty" to Preach the Gospel after we sang. We eagerly anticipate returning to Full Gospel on October 23rd as a part of a big "Musical Reunion" to be held at 10am and 2pm on that day!!! |
| August 15th |
| This really is not an "on the road" event ... but I just want everyone to know how THRILLED I am to be able to say that on this day I celebrated 36 years of Marriage to my lovely lady (and Evangelmen Tenor) Beckie Branson!!! |
| August 21st ~ 1pm |
|
SACRAMENTO...we went...we sang...but did we conquor??? Over the 26 years of the Emen, this was our first trip to our Capitol City! (we have been as close as Stockton before)The Elk Grove Park Sing was a grand time of song and fellowship! We shared the stage with 6 others groups and sang to approximately 325 folks. We have already accepted a return invitation for 2006!!! |
| August 27th ~ 2pm |
|
You could smell chocolate in the air...literally!!! Home of the Hershey Factory, Oakdale was the location of the outdoor Family Gospel Festival. We sang with (hosts) 4HisLove and Grace Unlimited...and had one forevermore good time!!! |
| August 28th |
|
On my 55th birthday...I thought I was going HOME!!! I have a condition which occasionally causes me to wake from sleep 100% paralyzed. These "episodes" last from as little as 3 to as many as 30 minutes, during which I am unable to move or speak. On this day I awoke to find myself having an "episode"...& immediately saw that this time was different. This time I saw a room full of brightly-colored lights, and at the center a beautiful White Light. I was at such Perfect Peace I thought little about being drawn "into the Light"!!! In my mind I phrased the words: "Lord, I'm coming Home". Just about this time I was able to regain enough speech to "garble" something that woke Beckie up, and she came to my side. Immediately when she began rubbing my arm I started "backing out" of that bright Light!!! I do not know exactly what I saw, but I will say that my skepticism about "White Light Experiences" has vanished!!! When I regained full speech and related what had just happened to my Lovely Wife, I quipped: "Just think, had I gone, my headstone would have read August 28 1950 to August 28 2005". Somehow...she did NOT see the humor in that. What I do know is that I am STILL HERE and will continue to SING SOUTHERN GOSPEL for as long as I am able!!! |
| September 3rd ~ 6pm |
|
The 12th Annual Gospel Funtastic! Founded by Randy in 1994 while he served at Evangel Tabernacle, this gig was taken over by the ccsgma in 2001 after his health broke. The 2005 event was held at Community Faith Nazarene Church in Clovis...the crowd was up and easy to sing to...and every group sang to their best!!! Along with the Emen was the FIRST FAMILY of Southern Gospel Music in CA, The Herb Henry Family...Mercy River Band...The Southern Journeymen. |
| September 6th ~ 9am |
|
Randy went "under the knife" for a belly-button hernia repair. All went as expected and recuperation is ongoing. |
| September 11th ~ 2pm |
|
FAM FEST at Family Christian Festival. How WONDERFUL to be at our permanent "Home" (FCF is home to the Emen, and we moved from temporary quarters to our own physical site). Mack Reynolds and Mercy River Band did a grand job as our guests! |
| September 14th ~ 1pm |
|
Bob's turn to go "under the knife"! More serious than Randy's surgery, but not within the "Major" category, Bob had Miniscus work done on his left knee. All went well, and he too is in the "stiches out / recuperating" phase of recovery. |
| October 8th ~ 7pm |
| How wonderful it is to be able to sing with "Our Kids" the Beene Family! The 2005 HOMECOMING was held at Keith Walker's World Harvest Pentecostal Church. Also on the program that night were the Watchmen, and as always Dennis and the guys did a great job! A highlight of the evening was the premier of BEENEPATCH, the new group comprised by the 3 Beene brothers. |
| Ocdtober 9th ~ 2pm |
| Another successful FAM FEST concert at Family Christian Fellowship in Clovis! The October guests were Jim E Davis and the Riverboys. As is the regular schedule, the Emen and the Martin Family also provided selections. |
| October 23rd ~ 10am and 2pm |
|
WHAT A TURNOUT!!! The first-ever Caruthers Nostalgia Reunion was very well attended, and by the comments was an overwhelming success!!! So much so that TWO events have been scheduled for 2006!!! An Evangelmen / Evangel Choir REUNION will be held March 5th at 10am and 2pm. A Singing Ambassador / Full Gospel Voices REUNION will be held October 22nd at 10am and 2pm. Location for each will again be the Caruthers Full Gospel Assembly. |
| November 13th ~ 2pm |
| The Spirit and the Attendance and the Finances just seem to get better and better as the monthly FAM FEST takes place at Family Christian Fellowship in Clovis! The guests for November were the California Melody Boys and they sang us happy! Larry called yours truly up to sing one song we recorded while I was a CMB member in 2003: "Outside The Gate" and that was fun! |
| December 11th ~ 2pm |
|
This was the second month that we had only FAM FEST as our "engagement" for the month! We had scheduled The Lighthouse Boys as our guest, but due to personnel changes within the month they could not come, so the Evangelmen and the Martin Family provided a FULL concert!!! A few told us it was the best FAM FEST yet! HA! |
|
|
|