Heartwarming Gator Letter...

Hi Gator:

I am Marla Conrad from Middletown, Ohio. I love to read the articles you write because they are so dead on. I just wanted to thank you for not being afraid to speak the truth.

 I have been in the gospel singing ministry for 25 years. I am not known to the entire world but that's okay. I know the one I am singing about and He knows me by my name. That's all that matters to me. I met David Livingston a couple of years ago and instead of introducing myself as Marla Conrad I walked up to him and extended my hand and said, "Hi David, my name is Minnie Moore (Many More) . He laughed out loud. HA!!! They only want to put your name on the flyers and things if you are well known and the rest are Many More. I don't know why I got off on that. I guess I needed to rant.

I travel with my husband and my 20 year old daughter Kiley Ann. Kiley was born without eyes and optic nerves. She is in a wheelchair, is in diapers, eats strained baby food that we have to spoon feed her ourselves, and has a seizure disorder. But can I just tell you that she is the joy of my life. What a blessed gift from God. So many times people say to me that they know what a burden I have had to bare. She's not a burden. She's precious. Oral Robert's hospital told us when she was an infant to find a home to put her in. They said she would never walk, talk, or lift her head off of a pillow and that she would be a total vegetable. Well, she's not. We have taken her on the road with us for her entire 20 years. She loves it and the churches love her. On my last CD I recorded ,"What A Day That Will Be." I let Kiley sing the chorus at the end of it. In that little, limited voice, she sings that song in church and there is hardly ever a dry eye in the place. God knows what He is doing. Some people might think it doesn't sound like much, but it means the world to me because vegetables don't sing. I wrote all of that because after I read what you wrote about wondering if some of the singers really knew who they were singing about I started to wonder how many singers would have taken a blind, multi-handicapped child on the road for 20 years, sometime changing diapers in the floor just minutes before going up on the platform. It would be so easy Gator to stay home and prop my feet up and say it is too hard to do this. But I have to go on. I have such a burning desire to work for the Lord. I just continually prayer for God to open new doors. I hope you don't think that I am bragging about anything because that is not what I meant to do at all. Thank you for taking the time to read what I had to share.  Again, I really do look forward to reading the next article. Take care of yourself and God bless you!

www.marlaconrad.com 
"Still Blessed"
Marla Conrad
Marla Conrad Ministries
2007 CGMA Female Artist Of The Year

Reader Thinks Gator Messed Up This Time...

Dear Old Gator,

I almost never respond to articles. Every writer has an opinion about various things and most of the time, it is valid to some extent. While I don't disagree with your article, I do take great exception however, to the way it was presented. If you have information like this about specific groups, and you know it to be true for a fact, then name them. Otherwise, you just cast a big nasty blanket over the whole industry. For some fans, who are not intimate with Southern Gospel, these stories will be spread as an indication that all of Southern Gospel music is a bunch of phony ruffians and this isn't fair to those that faithfully serve as best they know how. I believe that people who put on the mantle of ministers, be it pastors, singers, evangelists or whatever, should be held accountable. However, they should be held individually accountable. That being said, everyone makes mistakes and has moments of weakness. I don't believe a group's ministry should be ruined over something that they did years ago and that has been repented of but if you know of a group that leads a different lifestyle than the one they profess on stage, point it out. Do it by the bible. Go to them individually and call them on it. If it persists, take a group of people to them and let them know it won't be tolerated in the industry. If they continue in that lifestyle, then make it known to the "church". Call them out publicly and let people know who they are.

 I have been involved in Southern Gospel music for 12 years and I have heard all of these stories before but no one is willing to name names and so you are left to wonder about every group. It just seems unfair to me.
Well that's my opinion and it's worth exactly what you paid for it. May God richly bless you as you continue to "labor in the vineyard".

Yours in Christ,
Stuart Stallings

Divorce And Album Reviews

Hey Gator

I'm sorry to read about the trouble you wrote about today. I've never had to go through a divorce but I've seen a lot of it in my family. It is never easy. God will see you through it. I also wanted to thank you for reviewing my CD last week. I appreciate the advice on it. I'm foremost a writer and not a producer. I did everything on it myself including music and I guess it shows in the mixing part. I'm currently doing my new project and have a professional producer doing it. Maybe it will be better this time. Anyway, hang in there.

In Christ: Tim Lovell

Been There Done That

My thoughts and prayers are with you, and your family. I too have been in the midst of divorce....no not my husband and I, but My mother and my dad. I do know about the pain, hurt, anger, bitterness all involved in a divorce. I will keep you and your family in my thoughts as well as my prayers. if You will just remember one thing a friend always tells me when he ends an email. and that is

KEEP LOOKING UP,
Faye Carney
faye@providentials.com

How Dare You Speak About Money!

Gator:

We have found that the subject of money is almost taboo for some churches. Mention a dollar amount for coming to minister and you may get "the speech"...

We do sing as a ministry, but this ministry costs money and lots of it lately. Just keeping the old bus on the road is expensive. Singing ministries also involve people who require food, hotels, etc.--not to mention insurance and office expenses. We are not a full-time group but do travel about 32 weekends a year, singing in about 70 churches--all of us volunteer our time.

Charge a "flat rate" for coming? I don't think so, but do be very honest with your hosting church as to what your actual expenses will be and trust the Lord, by faith, to provide the rest. We do, and God is so good to keep us on the road, one week at a time.

Lynn Snow
Calvary Music Ministries, Inc.
www.calvaryquartet.com

Reader Says Gator Speaks The Truth

Greetings Again Bro,

I don't think you can top this one. There's only 2 sides to it and this one cuts to the bone ! Any that oppose are just trying to excuse their actions and, as you so excellently put it with the "I" giver, nobody can ride the fence here. You are either a giver or you are not .

I'd love to write more but , You covered it all with nothing left to say except .......which side are your readers on ? I'm sure there will be many excuses in response to your article, but remember, they are just that, excuses!

Your Brother & I got your back ! Haha .....
Jeff Peterson

Some Folks Still Agree With The Gator

We are a Southern Gospel group of six years now. I agree totally with this letter. We have released many songs to radio and they have done very well, which was recorded in some major studios with major producers & major musicians. Some of them have gotten on the charts of other magazines only because of our Lord & Savoir, Jesus Christ, but not one particular magazine. If you're not filling the record labels pockets, you don't have much of a chance to get your name out there to be heard. We move a lot of product because of our music & songs, but the Industry is changing Southern Gospel to the New Contemporary stuff. Our songs have a good message. I don't see the message in a lot of songs being played now, it's more of a feel good music, and some of the artists are not that great. Southern Gospel has got so political, unless you have enough money to get your name out there to be heard, it's very hard to get recognized so you can get bookings in other areas.

No Name

As Independent As They Get

Gator,

If it was like it should be the artist would not be putting any money up front. But then I guess that's the good ole days gone by. It's also why as long as I am footing the bill the label will be mine!

I enjoy receiving the Gospel Music Times.

Yours in Christ,

Shelton Bissell
Gospel Sax Concert with "Sing-Along"
www.sheltonbissell.com