newsfrom the road no room at the inn november december 2015 the official newsletter of liberty ministries

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1 november december 2015 newsfrom the road the official newsletter of liberty ministries no room at the inn Just like in the familiar Christmas story, the opening night of Northwest GospelFest 2015 was a packed house. We were sad to learn that some people actually walked away since they did not want to wait for chairs to be brought in to accommodate their attendance. Nothing adds to the excitement of a concert than when every chair is taken. To have all former Liberty Quartet members present was no easy feat with schedules, family events, and other responsibilities in life. But, in the end, every one of them made it and contributed to the success of the 20th anniversary celebration. The concert was blessed with the presence of the Lord in each performance. A great mixture of old, new, contemporary, hymns, and Christmas made a "smorgasbord menu" for everyone. Something extra special happened when the Liberty family came together to celebrate a 20th birthday. One of the highlights was the presentation of a special award to Dr. D. E. Hill, a former music instructor at NNC. Dr. Hill had a major influence on Royce's life and, by the response of the audience, on several others that were in attendance. Dr. and Mrs. Hill were both present to receive the recognition and stayed through the weekend to celebrate with Liberty. The timeline banner and the pictures of the quartet groups through the years were popular, as people stood and reminisced. We overheard many stories as people reflected on hosting the quartet in their homes, churches, and at other special events. The Celebration Choir added another blessing to the weekend. The combination of voices from throughout the region backed up the quartet, sang a few specials, and were a hit for everyone. The entire weekend would not be possible without a great deal of work behindthescenes leading up to the event. Thanks to everyone that played a part in helping the weekend to function so well. Many people drove hundreds of miles to be present for the celebration. The two most popular things we continued to hear were, "Can this just happen every year?" and, "I can't wait to see what they will plan for 25!" Well, stay tuned and we will put our creative minds to work to see what we can come up with going forward. Rick Waitley Executive Director liberty ministries celebrating over 20 years of ministry

2 Upcoming concert schedule november / december 2015 Nov. 14 Nov. 15 Silverton, OR Gresham, OR Silverton First Baptist Church Family Worship Center 10:30 AM 10. Opening gifts 9. Going to Waitleys' to count the hundreds of Santa figurines Nov. 15 Nov. 20 Nov. 21 Nov. 22 Roseburg, OR Sun City, AZ Moreno Valley, CA Hemet, CA Church on the Rise Evangel Assembly of God Church 7:00 PM Moreno Christian Assembly Church of the Nazarene 10:15 AM 8. Turkey, ham, mashed Idaho taters, green beans, and pie 7. Making and decorating Christmas cookies 6. Christmas caroling Nov. 22 Dec. 4 Dec. 5 Dec. 6 Jan. 3 El Cajon, CA Layton, UT Kimberly, ID Weiser, ID Wilder, ID El Cajon Wesleyan Church 5:00 PM Layton Hills Baptist Church 7:00 PM Kimberly Church of the Nazarene Church of the Nazarene 10:45 AM Mt. View Church of the Nazarene 10:30 AM 5. Christmas Eve church service 4. Setting up the Christmas tree and decorating the house 3. Being with family, relaxing, and watching a little TV Jan. 3 Jan. 8 Jan. 9 Jan. 10 Jan. 10 Nampa, ID Ripon, CA Paradise, CA Roseville, CA Los Altos, CA Nampa First Church of the Nazarene Immanuel Christian Reformed 7:00 PM Paradise Alliance Church 4:00 PM Pleasant Grove Community Church 10:00 AM Bridges Community Church 2. Reading the Christmas story 1. Watching the movie "Elf" and other Christmas favorites new dates are regularly being added. find an uptotheminute schedule at: Page2 Page 3

3 board of directors Congratulations to Royce Mitchell and Keith Waggoner who were both reelected to the Liberty Board of Directors at the 2015 Annual Meeting. They will join Kathy Hammons, Randy Jahn, and Jim Best in directing decisions for Liberty Ministries. Annual and Lifetime Members in attendance at the meeting were provided financial reports for operations and also invited to ask questions related to ministry direction and future activities. liberty website If you have not visited the newly redesigned Liberty website, please do so at There is something new showing up all the time, from upcoming events to song lyrics. Nic Gibson in our business office (Association Management Group) is our graphic designer and webmaster and works hard to keep current information for fans and those who follow Liberty online. Right now, by going through the "Events" page to the "Northwest GospelFest" page, you can see a rolling set of pictures highlighting the 20th anniversary celebration. special recognition Special recognition was given to Jeanne Jorgensen for her years of service to Liberty Ministries and her recent retirement. The board presented Jeanne and her husband, Rick, with a check in the amount of $2,000. Jeanne has a son and his family who have recently moved to Florida, and rumor has it that there may be plane tickets purchased with the money for a visit by grandma and grandpa. Thanks, Jeanne, and enjoy your retirement. unique christmas presents Looking for a unique Christmas present? Let us make some suggestions! thankful Before we get too far away from Northwest GospelFest 2015, I want to thank all those who attended to make the event a huge success. It was definitely my favorite event up to this point in my career! It meant so much to me to stand next to so many men that I consider to be friends and have stood beside me through these first 20 years making wonderful music to glorify God and encourage others along the way. We have had a few tours since the event, but we will continue to celebrate the 20th anniversary over the next year. We are traveling with a banner that shows when each of the 14 members joined and pivotal junctures along the way. It is indeed a joy to see people congregate around the banner and share memories and recall when they first began following the ministry of Liberty. As I type my thoughts, I am sitting at a table on the bus as we make our way over the Cascade mountain range; I have traveled this road more times than I can count. I have spent a great portion of my life on roads across the United States and Canada looking forward to singing the next song, encouraging the saints, and experiencing the thrill of seeing someone come to the Lord. All of the planning, rehearsals, meetings, setting up the equipment, bus maintenance, staying healthy, prayers, and study come to fruition when the lost are found. The Lord assures us that the opportunity will avail itself when we prepare to have an answer for the hope that is in us. The need for a Saviour has never been greater than now. The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Liberty covets your prayers more and more as the days, months, and years fly by. As we enter the Thanksgiving and Christmas season, there is much to be thankful for. I am thankful for 20 years of fruitful ministry and God's grace. I am also thankful for this time of year, because it is the best time to invite unsaved loved ones to church or to a concert. They will have the opportunity to hear the gospel and hear of a merciful God who sent His only Son into the world as a baby, to live and die for us, because He loves us. Let this Christmas be "A Christmas Of Hope" for this is "What Christmas Really Means." 1) New 20th anniversary CD project entitled, "Originals" 2) One of the prior CD's or DVD's that you don't have in your music library 3) Deposit or full payment for the trip to Visalia to the Great Western FanFest, April 27 through May 2, 2016 sign up is happening now! Page4 Page 5

4 Philip Batton working hard to be in every single picture that people were trying to take. Jason Eaton telling of the story of how much he weighed when he traveled with Liberty and how much he weighs now. The beautiful arrangements made by Barb Pace for the Liberty Family Brunch (260 in attendance). Doug Wiley finding time at intermission to sneak a cookie from the nice people guarding the trays. Jordan Cragun's wonderful story of his journey in ministry and music... he is a great story teller. Miss Scarlett Cragun, who stole the hearts of everyone. We should have charged for people to hold her... there was a long line! The excitement on Keith Jones face as he introduced his fiancée, Sally, with a wedding planned during Thanksgiving weekend. The smiles and toes tapping throughout the audience as they watched Doran Ritchey at the keyboard. Carol Whitbeck's enthusiasm as she led the Celebration Choir. Thanks, Carol, for helping Royce pass music theory in college. Royce Mitchell's smile to have his dad, several family members, and all three of his children present for the celebration. Page6 Page 7

5 PRAISE GOD PRAYER REQUESTS The quartet completed their vocals on recording number 40, entitled, "It's All About Grace." NWGF was a very successful event! Thank you for prayers over this. Many are saying this was the best event they had ever experienced. It may seem trite, but experiencing two years with the same four members in the quartet is pretty special. The voices really begin to blend and the total presentation is more effective. We have been experiencing a lot of rain in Oregon and Washington recently, which is wonderful, but as the temperatures drop entering winter, the travel becomes treacherous. Before we begin 2016, we traverse the Cascade, Humboldt, and Sierra mountain ranges, which desperately need a snow pack, but we covet prayers for safety in travel. November is the month in which the board goes through personnel evaluations and sets budget for coming year. Major decisions require major prayer. royce s upcoming solo recordings Many of you have enjoyed Royce's solo recordings over the years, including "Roll On" and "Truckin' On." Now, Royce has planned to release another project entitled, "Ride On," which will be coming soon! Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2 Mixing, pictures, design, and duplication are next with the completion of the upcoming project. Pray that all goes smoothly. We have invested a great deal of time and resources in our most recent recordings: "Originals" and "It's All About Grace." Pray that the return on investment is speedy. If you do not have these recordings, be sure they are on your list! Another recording that Royce is excited to release will be entitled, "Remembering George Younce." This project will cover many of George's "signature" songs from throughout his incredible career in ministry. For those unfamiliar with the name, George Younce was best known as the bass singer for The Cathedral Quartet, a gospel group that was founded in George Younce and The Cathedrals have always been an inspiration to Royce. Page8 Page 9

6 print and fill out this form to become a member of liberty Ministries more information about upcoming liberty events at Page10 Page11