Hey loyal readers, sorry that we've taken so long to get back to writing about our journeys here. We have been very busy lately, with some very exciting happenings along the way.
On Tues, July 20, we went to an interdenominational Christian ladies group to sing for them. They were an absolutely wonderful crowd! they loved everything that we did, and we got to meet some nice people and sold a great number of CDs. Two days later, we went to our home church to do a kid's show (magic, puppets, etc.) for the church daycare. A lot of people would consider a daycare show below their pay grade, but we had a good time and the kids had an even better time.
Two days later, we went to Evergreen Park Campground in Cass City, Mi. for a special all-day concert with nine other groups/soloists. We were the first group on after lunch, and we got an awesome reaction from the crowd. They were one of the best laughing bunches of people that Josh has performed for in a while.
I went to Devonshire Retirement Village to do a little mini-concert. It went relatively well, and I changed what I do a little bit and mostly played piano and sang to make it enjoyable for the age group there.
The following Sunday, We went to Trinity United Methodist Church in our own hometown of Lapeer for a special car show concert. It was a little unusual because I had a couple of co-workers from Dairy Queen who came with a couple of their siblings to watch us perform. Not that that would create any pressure, but I knew that what happened there would soon reach back to my workplace!
We have had some other things happen as well. I have finished recording my new CD. It should be out hopefully in time for our concert at Missionary campground on Sep.5. I'm very pleased and excited about how it turned out.
I'll let Josh write about our other bookings that we've done recently. Check the blog above for the latest scoop!
-Stephen Forester
Friday, August 14, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
I Have Dignity!....Yeah, Right
Last night my brother and I went to a church and sang with the college quartet. Afterward there was a party at somebody's house (whose name I do not know), but they had food, so we went. They had a volleyball court out back, covered in sand and lined in wood. The problem: my brother and I had no change of clothes whatsoever. So, Stephen took off his boots and socks, rolled up his dress-pant legs and played some volleyball. Meanwhile, I stood back, looking at him and thinking, "What a dork..." as I tried to kill mosquitoes buzzing my head by slapping myself in the face repeatedly. To make matters worse, they started spraying mosquito fogger around the edge of the volleyball court. I think that was their way of saying, "DEATH TO THE ASTHMATIC COMEDIAN!!!" I don't have real bad asthma, just enough to not want to put a straw on mosquito fogger (although I hear it's actuality quite exhilarating!)
Take a look at our schedule page at http://www.foresterministries.com/ to see where we'll be next!
-Joshua
Take a look at our schedule page at http://www.foresterministries.com/ to see where we'll be next!
-Joshua
Friday, July 10, 2009
Website & CD Pics
I have some exciting news regarding our website. We will soon be giving it an overhaul with brand new pictures and features. We recently went to a place called Marion Studios in Brown City, Mi where our older brother Mark Forester has been having Ron Marion take his pictures for years. This guy is awesome! He spent around five hours with us taking pictures all over town. My new CD is featuring old Gospel classics done in fresh, updated ways. To go along with this somewhat old time theme, we went to a motor home park that had a little white chapel that would remind you of Little House On The Prairie. We took a bunch of pictures their and then I went to a couple of different places that Ron new of that had some really cool old 1940s car that I could stand next to for pictures.
While were in the campground, Josh started goofing off near the playground where kids would go, and Ron suddenly found himself climbing into the play area taking pictures of Josh popping up from tires, crawling through tunnels, standing on his head at the bottom of the slide, holding a super-soaker in a James Bond fashion, and hanging upside-down from a rope ladder.
We took over 600 pictures that day. some of them did not turn out so good, but many of them were awesome. Some of these will soon be appearing on our website, and some of them will be featured on our new album covers.
When our website is updated, we will also be adding a new pictures page that we can update ourselves whenever we want to. We be posting many of Ron's pictures, as well as lots of great pictures from recent concerts that we have performed in recently. I'll post an update here as soon as we can get this rolling. Be sure to watch http://www.foresterministries.com/ for these exciting new changes.
-Stephen
While were in the campground, Josh started goofing off near the playground where kids would go, and Ron suddenly found himself climbing into the play area taking pictures of Josh popping up from tires, crawling through tunnels, standing on his head at the bottom of the slide, holding a super-soaker in a James Bond fashion, and hanging upside-down from a rope ladder.
We took over 600 pictures that day. some of them did not turn out so good, but many of them were awesome. Some of these will soon be appearing on our website, and some of them will be featured on our new album covers.
When our website is updated, we will also be adding a new pictures page that we can update ourselves whenever we want to. We be posting many of Ron's pictures, as well as lots of great pictures from recent concerts that we have performed in recently. I'll post an update here as soon as we can get this rolling. Be sure to watch http://www.foresterministries.com/ for these exciting new changes.
-Stephen
Recent ministry news
Hey gang, sorry that we haven't posted any new updates for a little while. That doesn't mean that things have been slow or boring around here,though, because actually things have really been hopping!
On Sunday the 28th of June, we went to Deckerville, Mi for a Sunday morning service that went pretty well. The people were friendly and seemed to appreciate what we did. After the service we chatted with the people, sold some CDs, and even got to talk to the Pastor about something that we don't normally get to talk about with Pastors: What life is like being bachelors!
I know, Josh and I should not be too worried yet about not finding the right girls yet. Honestly, if I did find the girl of my dreams right now, I probably wouldn't know what to do with her! But this Pastor is in his mid-thirty's and is still patiently waiting for God to send him a pastor's wife. While we were tearing down our equipment, we talked and made a lot of funny jokes and stories about people trying to set us up with dates and other silly foolishness.
Oh well, I guess we'll all just have to be patient and wait (though I am taking applications!). In other news, The following Monday (the 22nd) we left for a four day booking at Fort Faith Baptist Youth Camp. They were having a church rent the camp for that week, and they brought a bus full of kids from kindergarten through 5th grade. We were hired to go there to entertain the kids in their chapel services twice a day. We also told Bible stories in the morning services and the host Youth Pastor preached in the evening services. Because the services were between an hour to an hour and a half (and we had five services to fill) we pretty much exhausted ourselves and our material. We tried out a bunch of new clown bits that worked really well. Usually Josh dresses up as Bongo the clown and I play strait man, but that week we both dressed up as clowns multiple times, and appeared as many other crazy characters as well. I went through most of my good magic tricks, and we both did multiple puppet acts. We even helped the workers pull of an impromptu game with the kids by "kidnapping" one of their young lady workers (who was actually an old friend of ours), and hiding her for the kids to find and rescue! We had a lot of fun that week, and we saw at least three people get saved, including the Youth Pastor's youngest son.
We were in our home church, Dixie Baptist Church, for both services this past Sunday. This coming Sunday we will be in Stanton Michigan for an evening service. The following week, we will be traveling with our college quartet to our college president's church to help him promote Midwestern Baptist College and garner some new students. We will also be traveling with the quartet again on Aug. 23.
In the meantime, I will be in the studio killing myself to make my new recording. We pushed back our originally scheduled recording week to help me work on my songs, and I'll be heading back in tonight and for most of next week.
Until next time,
Stephen
On Sunday the 28th of June, we went to Deckerville, Mi for a Sunday morning service that went pretty well. The people were friendly and seemed to appreciate what we did. After the service we chatted with the people, sold some CDs, and even got to talk to the Pastor about something that we don't normally get to talk about with Pastors: What life is like being bachelors!
I know, Josh and I should not be too worried yet about not finding the right girls yet. Honestly, if I did find the girl of my dreams right now, I probably wouldn't know what to do with her! But this Pastor is in his mid-thirty's and is still patiently waiting for God to send him a pastor's wife. While we were tearing down our equipment, we talked and made a lot of funny jokes and stories about people trying to set us up with dates and other silly foolishness.
Oh well, I guess we'll all just have to be patient and wait (though I am taking applications!). In other news, The following Monday (the 22nd) we left for a four day booking at Fort Faith Baptist Youth Camp. They were having a church rent the camp for that week, and they brought a bus full of kids from kindergarten through 5th grade. We were hired to go there to entertain the kids in their chapel services twice a day. We also told Bible stories in the morning services and the host Youth Pastor preached in the evening services. Because the services were between an hour to an hour and a half (and we had five services to fill) we pretty much exhausted ourselves and our material. We tried out a bunch of new clown bits that worked really well. Usually Josh dresses up as Bongo the clown and I play strait man, but that week we both dressed up as clowns multiple times, and appeared as many other crazy characters as well. I went through most of my good magic tricks, and we both did multiple puppet acts. We even helped the workers pull of an impromptu game with the kids by "kidnapping" one of their young lady workers (who was actually an old friend of ours), and hiding her for the kids to find and rescue! We had a lot of fun that week, and we saw at least three people get saved, including the Youth Pastor's youngest son.
We were in our home church, Dixie Baptist Church, for both services this past Sunday. This coming Sunday we will be in Stanton Michigan for an evening service. The following week, we will be traveling with our college quartet to our college president's church to help him promote Midwestern Baptist College and garner some new students. We will also be traveling with the quartet again on Aug. 23.
In the meantime, I will be in the studio killing myself to make my new recording. We pushed back our originally scheduled recording week to help me work on my songs, and I'll be heading back in tonight and for most of next week.
Until next time,
Stephen
Monday, June 22, 2009
Ministry date in Gobles, Mi.
This past Sunday was Father's Day, and I think that it was one of the best meeting that Josh and I have ever done. We went down to a little town called Gobles, Mi. To give you an idea of how small this town was, think back to the last time you saw the Andy Griffith Show. Remember how they always talked about how small,and quiet Mayberry, NC was? Well, Gobles would make Mayberry look like Dodge City on Saturday night!
We went to a little Baptist church called Calvary Baptist Church. We had met the pastor through two of his Daughters, whom we had become friends with at Midwestern Baptist College, and he invited us to come out to his church for Sunday school and the morning and evening services. They were gearing up for their Vacation Bible School (with a western cowboy/Indian theme) and had half of the church decorated for the coming week. Since this meeting was about three hours away, we asked the pastor to arrange for a place for us to stay the night so that we could come down there on Saturday afternoon and set up, instead of getting up before a sensible rooster would dare to attempt and drive down there VERY early to set up for three services. He agreed, and arranged a place for us to stay.
All was well until Saturday morning when we ran into a slight hitch: a tornado swept through the town the night before and knocked out power in most of the town, including in the church and the cabin that we were supposed to stay at! The Pastor's wife called me and said that they had made new arrangements for us to stay in a motel that had power, and we could still come down to set up our stuff and do a sound check the next day when the power came back on. We did.... but the power did not come back on the next morning! Fortunately, a church member there loaned us his generator to restore enough power for lights and sound (but unfortunately, not enough for A/C) and we did the Sunday school and morning service. Power finally was restored that afternoon, and the evening service went very well.
The people were wonderful. They seemed to appreciate everything that we did. We did our kid's show with magic, puppets, clowns, etc. for Sunday school, and everyone was totally into it, including the adults! The other services went just as well. We did music and comedy for the morning service and I preached. For the evening service, we did more music and Josh presented a message through a sort-of object lesson. The people responded well to it all, bought CDs, and were very encouraging. The Pastor's wife and girls cooked exceptional meals for us on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon, and they went out of their way to treat us like royalty.
Sometimes it seems like the small meetings are better than the large ones (which can be pretty seldom with us, sometimes). I feel this way because in smaller settings, we get a better chance to be personable with the people, and they can do the same with us. It also seems like smaller churches are often more appreciative of our service to them and the Lord.
Whatever the case may have been, I just want to say thanks to Pastor Doug Yoder and family for making our stay pleasurable, they meals delectable, the services spiritual and comfortable, and our whole experience together memorable!
-Stephen
We went to a little Baptist church called Calvary Baptist Church. We had met the pastor through two of his Daughters, whom we had become friends with at Midwestern Baptist College, and he invited us to come out to his church for Sunday school and the morning and evening services. They were gearing up for their Vacation Bible School (with a western cowboy/Indian theme) and had half of the church decorated for the coming week. Since this meeting was about three hours away, we asked the pastor to arrange for a place for us to stay the night so that we could come down there on Saturday afternoon and set up, instead of getting up before a sensible rooster would dare to attempt and drive down there VERY early to set up for three services. He agreed, and arranged a place for us to stay.
All was well until Saturday morning when we ran into a slight hitch: a tornado swept through the town the night before and knocked out power in most of the town, including in the church and the cabin that we were supposed to stay at! The Pastor's wife called me and said that they had made new arrangements for us to stay in a motel that had power, and we could still come down to set up our stuff and do a sound check the next day when the power came back on. We did.... but the power did not come back on the next morning! Fortunately, a church member there loaned us his generator to restore enough power for lights and sound (but unfortunately, not enough for A/C) and we did the Sunday school and morning service. Power finally was restored that afternoon, and the evening service went very well.
The people were wonderful. They seemed to appreciate everything that we did. We did our kid's show with magic, puppets, clowns, etc. for Sunday school, and everyone was totally into it, including the adults! The other services went just as well. We did music and comedy for the morning service and I preached. For the evening service, we did more music and Josh presented a message through a sort-of object lesson. The people responded well to it all, bought CDs, and were very encouraging. The Pastor's wife and girls cooked exceptional meals for us on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon, and they went out of their way to treat us like royalty.
Sometimes it seems like the small meetings are better than the large ones (which can be pretty seldom with us, sometimes). I feel this way because in smaller settings, we get a better chance to be personable with the people, and they can do the same with us. It also seems like smaller churches are often more appreciative of our service to them and the Lord.
Whatever the case may have been, I just want to say thanks to Pastor Doug Yoder and family for making our stay pleasurable, they meals delectable, the services spiritual and comfortable, and our whole experience together memorable!
-Stephen
Recent ministry date in Beulah, Mi.
On June 14th, Josh and I did the morning service for Homestead Community Church in Beulah, Mi. Since the booking was about three and a half hours away, I asked the pastor if he could arrange for a stay in an inexpensive hotel room for the night. He agreed, and much to my surprise, the room was actually quite nice! Most hotel rooms have terribly hard beds and pillows, but this place was quite comfortable.
It was, however, VERY small! It was so small that when I put the key into the doorknob, it went through the window!.....So small that even the mice were hunch-backed!.....So small that the bathroom had a folding toilet!....So small that there was no room for a complaint!.....So small that the bathroom could fit inside a porta-potty!
OK, It wasn't quite that small, and it was actually very comfortable. We had a great service, sold some CDs, I preached, and we had an all around good day.
-Stephen
It was, however, VERY small! It was so small that when I put the key into the doorknob, it went through the window!.....So small that even the mice were hunch-backed!.....So small that the bathroom had a folding toilet!....So small that there was no room for a complaint!.....So small that the bathroom could fit inside a porta-potty!
OK, It wasn't quite that small, and it was actually very comfortable. We had a great service, sold some CDs, I preached, and we had an all around good day.
-Stephen
Quartet reunion in a torrential rainstorm!
Well gang, here's some great news about what's been happening in our ministry.
On June 8th, Josh and I got to reunite with our fellow quartet members to go sing for a camp meeting at Highland Hills Baptist Church in Highland, Mi. It was kind of an unusual meeting, because it actually served a couple of different purposes. The Pastor of this church is actually a graduate of the college that we have been attending, and he even taught one of our classes! His church hosted a tent meeting that was partly a revival and partly an alumni meeting for the college. We got there early to goof off a little with our buddies and get in some practice before the meeting. Our singing went pretty well, but the rest of the meeting did not. The reason for this was because when the visiting pastor got up to speak, a horrible rainstorm broke out early into his message! The sound inside the tent would remind one of a tornado, and at one point I was not certain that the tent was going to going to stay on the ground, and the poor man could barely be heard! The sound system that they had was not particularly good, and there was very little that could be done.
But despite the Devil's attacks on the evening, the preacher was able to say enough that the alter was packed at the invitation. Tears were in the eyes of some people, and it would seem that God still did a great work that night.
-Stephen
On June 8th, Josh and I got to reunite with our fellow quartet members to go sing for a camp meeting at Highland Hills Baptist Church in Highland, Mi. It was kind of an unusual meeting, because it actually served a couple of different purposes. The Pastor of this church is actually a graduate of the college that we have been attending, and he even taught one of our classes! His church hosted a tent meeting that was partly a revival and partly an alumni meeting for the college. We got there early to goof off a little with our buddies and get in some practice before the meeting. Our singing went pretty well, but the rest of the meeting did not. The reason for this was because when the visiting pastor got up to speak, a horrible rainstorm broke out early into his message! The sound inside the tent would remind one of a tornado, and at one point I was not certain that the tent was going to going to stay on the ground, and the poor man could barely be heard! The sound system that they had was not particularly good, and there was very little that could be done.
But despite the Devil's attacks on the evening, the preacher was able to say enough that the alter was packed at the invitation. Tears were in the eyes of some people, and it would seem that God still did a great work that night.
-Stephen
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