Last Sunday was the pits. I bombed my trumpet solo in church and reeled from two blows of criticism. By dinnertime I felt pretty depressed. I wanted to walk and use my exercise resistance bands after eating to lift my mood. But I headed out to Adamsville Presbyterian Church for a concert instead.
I’d planned on dropping by to take a couple pictures of The Carriers, a gospel group who was performing that night. I sat at the end of a pew, expecting to sneak out after I’d taken my pictures.
Enter David and Jan Kelly, Kristi Hadfield, and Denver Adams. Within a few bars of their first song, I was hooked.
It wasn’t the kind of gospel I expected. I imagined they’d sing something slow and old-school. I was totally unprepared for what I was about to experience.
As they sang the burden of my day evaporated. Every concern floated up to God. The music massaged my brain and soothed my jangled nerves.
It was an instant smile event, like when your cat nose boops you or your dog nuzzles his head under your listless hand after a really bad day.
Like that.
God is at work in these people. The Carriers’ humor, camaraderie and sincere love of Jesus combined in song to slice through ropes of my anxiety.
Nobody nodded off during the concert, I can tell you. David walked out into the crowd over and over. He thrust the mic up to several audience members’ mouths, including mine, as we sang the old hymn, “Nothing But the Blood.”
The Carriers began as a male quartet in the 1970s and toured 200 days per year in 35 states. The original group, of which David is the only remaining member, called themselves The Carriers because they were carrying the message about Christ to the world.
David sings bass and has the deepest voice I’ve heard in person. He concluded several songs with low runs that just plain make you smile. And he’s got a huge personality, much bigger than that country church can hold.
His daughter has a big mezzo soprano voice, and she kept joking around with her dad the whole concert. At one point she said, “All right, Pa! (pronounced “paw”) Her humor reminded me of – now this dates me – “Hee Haw.”
Denver Adams sings baritone and has a beautiful voice, as does Jan Kelly, David’s wife, who sings with a smooth, mellow alto tone.
These are some dynamic, multi-faceted people. David served as a minister for 21 years and now represents West Virginia’s sixth district in their House of Delegates. We call the House of Representatives.
Kristi is a paramedic, and Denver Adams served seven years in the military, worked as a prison guard, and currently works with computers. Jan owned a successful business for 30 years.
You can experience God lifting your burdens by attending the Carriers’ concert at Fallowfield United Methodist Church on Sunday, November 24, at 7 p.m. Mark your calendar and schedule it in your phone. You won’t regret it. And feel free to join us at 6 p.m. for our annual fellowship dinner. Two words: Fallowfield pie. Enough said.
All God’s blessings to you this week!