2008 Calendar Highlights

     January, 2008 marked the beginning of my 20th year in Music and Ministry. The schedule was highlighted just down the road from Ramsey, in Hillsboro, IL. A Saturday evening Service, hosted by the Hillsboro United Methodist Church, brought a lot of folks from the area who have known me from the time I first began to present music on the professional level…when I was just a kid! J Even a few avid square dancers (from my days as an accompanist with the Illinois State Old Time Fiddlers Association) opted to break with their Saturday night tradition and came to church instead, tapping their toes to the Gospel!

     On Sunday, February 3, Audrey, Zack, Joan and I hosted “Soul Food Sunday” at the First Christian Church of Vandalia, following a unique “Laity Sunday Service”. We personally prepared a meal of potato salad, lettuce salad, Southern-style red rice ‘n’ sausage with homemade “macaroni pie”, Sloppy Joes and tropical cake! It was a blessing to prepare this meal for all of our brothers and sisters in Christ who came to share it with us!

     A variety of engagements followed throughout Central Illinois and Missouri, while Audrey and Zack spent a few weeks in South Carolina ministering to their home community of Charleston. On March 4, I presented “Seeing and Being God’s Light”, featuring Ministry, Music and Braille Awareness for a convocation of St. Paul Lutheran Schools (Grades K through 8), as part of Lutheran Schools Week in Concordia, MO. God's children of all ages had an opportunity to see the Braille alphabet and their names in Braille, to experience access technology and materials for the blind, and to ask questions about how we who are blind accomplish things often taken for granted by sighted individuals. I was especially moved when one sixth-grader wrote about this event, "I think Laurel Jean came to see us to teach us that God makes each of us different, but He gives each of us a purpose on earth to spread God's Word.”

     Audrey and Zack returned to Illinois to join us for Easter Worship at Union Chapel Baptist Church in Girard. Zack’s book and Audrey’s testimony were also featured in March, as part of the “Lamp Lighter” Series, produced and hosted by Christian Radio FM 88.3 WJLY, Ramsey. You can hear the archive of Audrey’s interview with Pastor Dick Wheeler from Zack’s page on my Web site.

     On March 28, we hosted “Family Game Night” at Ramsey Headquarters, where folks gathered to enjoy snacks and table games, prayer and fellowship! During that week, we were also visited by the current president of Dixie Land Guide Dog Users, Nancy Smith and her guide, Luna. They came all the way from South Carolina to participate in Game Night, and to join us in Ministry!

     While Nancy and Luna were with us, we traveled to several presentations throughout Central IL. A memorable program was hosted by Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church of Belleville, IL, in partnership with Seeds of Hope Ministries. This beautiful church truly welcomes God’s people of all abilities (and disabilities). I will never forget the pastor as she approached the altar for opening and closing prayers that day. The long ramp leading up to the altar accommodated her wheelchair almost as beautifully as she accommodated her parishioners and those of us who were visiting.

     As of spring, 2008, Music by Laurel Jean is now on Apple iTunes! If you are an iTunes subscriber, you should be able to do an artist search for “Laurel jean” or for my CD, “Journey Home”. From there, you can purchase any music from this CD, including my song "Vision through Your Eyes”. Thanks also to radio personalities Panzi Blackwell and Dan Michel of AM 1500 WPMB, Vandalia, IL, where “The Saints go Boogyin’ In” every Monday morning on Panzi’s Party Line!

     My Music and Ministry continue to be underscored by my Mission: helping to break down barriers between blind and sighted individuals; encouraging an enthusiasm for sharing the Gospel among all people; seeing and being God's Light in the world. After wrapping up another season of Mother-Daughter banquets and women’s spring events in May, Joan manned the Ramsey office while Audrey, Zack and I flew to Charleston, SC. The itinerary included Worship services, a special blessing of a service animal, and even a three -day tent camping adventure on Edisto Beach…but that wasn’t all.

      One of the most rewarding experiences for me has been our decision to sponsor Christian books, especially those from the Chronicles of Narnia Series, produced in Braille by the Assemblies of God National Center for the Blind, to be sent to blind children. These books even contain illustrations, which can be discerned by touch. I thank God for the opportunity to share my faith and to promote Braille literacy in this way. During the three weeks spent in Charleston, I was able to meet personally with many of the children who have received these books, sponsored by my ministry. I returned to Illinois, feeling God’s tremendous calling on my heart to minister to these kids.

     In June, Audrey and I each began a two-year, college/seminary level religious study course made possible by the Christian Blind Institute. We need and appreciate your prayers for this educational opportunity.

     In July, we returned to South Carolina, where Music by Laurel Jean proudly announced the establishment of a second, Southeastern Regional office in Charleston. This extension will afford more time and space for outreach activities. God has presented us with a unique opportunity for a Children’s Chaplaincy as part of this outreach. We treasure your prayers as we take these steps to reach blind youth, their parents, teachers and friends. We returned to Illinois just in time to present a program for the 2008 Christian Blind Institute Conference in St. Louis, MO.

     With August and September came more church services and homecomings throughout Central and Southern IL. In Mid-September, we presented to the Women of Grace Episcopal Church, Kirkwood, MO. We were called back to South Carolina for Music, Ministry and my Children’s Chaplaincy the first week of October.

     During this brief visit to Charleston, Audrey, Zack and I were asked to speak to students at Charleston Southern University, where we met Dr. Cynthia Putnam, Dean of Special Education. Dr. Putnam has asked us to return to address her students on subjects relating to the specialized education of blind children.

     My birthday (October 12) found me in Granite City, IL, where I presented for St. John’s United Church of Christ. Thanks, Pastor Frost, for the special card and the impromptu “Happy Birthday” song! We paid another visit to WJLY Radio during the following week, to help with Share, 2008. It was great working with everyone from Moody Radio, and the local community. After a Sunday evening service in Glasford, IL, we arrived bright and early at Lincoln’s Christian Easy-Listening Radio AM 1370 WLLM   for a guest appearance on the Live Record Request Program hosted by station manager Bill Dolan.

     On November 2, Audrey, Zack, Joan and I brought the Message for Evening Worship at the Lakewood, IL United Methodist Church. We shared a lot about our newly founded Children’s Chaplaincy with this congregation, which presented me with my first Braille Bible when I was only seven! Our thanks to the Lakewood Church for their ongoing support!

     The next weekend, we were in Louisville, KY, presenting for the Deaf and Disabilities Ministry of Southeast Christian Church. While in Louisville, we were also blessed to attend Worship Meetings held by Flame Fellowship International, an anointed time of Music, Ministry, Fellowship and Prayer.

     On Thanksgiving Friday, we hosted our first official Children’s Chaplaincy event at our Charleston, SC Headquarters. Two young people participated in making beaded Christmas ornaments and baking cookies. Then we caught the city bus just outside of my Charleston neighborhood for a little Christmas shopping. It was a joy for me to watch these two young people shopping independently for the first time!

     The first weekend in December included services in Branchville and Summerville, SC, and my first outdoor Christmas Concert, ever! We returned to Illinois, where the first Annual Fayette County All-Church and Community Christmas Celebration united many of God’s family together under one roof to help restock the Fayette County Food Pantry. Our thanks to the First Christian Church of Vandalia, for hosting this wonderful event, and for their generous support of my Children’s Chaplaincy!

     We returned to Charleston to celebrate Christmas with even more Music and Ministry. I ended the year on a high note, by familiarizing one of “my” kids with a specialized piece of technology for the blind.

     In spite of our struggling economy and the increased cost of transportation, God consistently calls “Music by Laurel Jean” to minister throughout this great country! He continues to provide for this ministry, through folks like you and the churches and organizations you represent. Whether across the country or just down the road, we look forward to seeing you at an upcoming event!

 
Psalm 97:1: “The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice.