Author: Texas Gospel

The Perrys’ Journey with ‘Long, Long Road’ Album

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SPECIAL: STOWTOWN RECORDS

Nashville, TN – Over the past five decades, it’s safe to say The Perrys have enjoyed quite an amazing journey. Their walk has been filled with many mountaintop experiences, as well as difficult valleys. The path hasn’t always been easy, but charter member Libbi Perry Stuffle and The Perrys are evidence that, along the journey, we make discoveries about ourselves and experience God’s faithfulness on the long, long road. 

Their brand new Stowtown Records release, Long, Long Road, is a testament of God’s goodness and takes listeners to a place of inspiration and encouragement. The recording reunites Libbi, her son Jared and talented vocalists Jason Gordon and Dayton Gay with producer and longtime friend Wayne Haun. It is a powerful collection of songs that will challenge and uplift listeners who have been longtime fans, as well as attract new listeners who have never experienced the unmistakable sound that has made the iconic group so popular for over half a century.

Riding high on the success of the group’s current Top 10 hit, “Warmin’ Up,” StowTown plans to release at least three radio singles from this brand-new recording, promising even more radio success in the coming months.

Producer and StowTown Records Executive Wayne Haun shared his excitement about the new release, “This album is classic Perrys! It has absolutely everything you could want in a Perrys recording, from reimagined classics to traditional convention sounds. Add in some fresh new material and, as always, it all fits perfectly and is performed brilliantly.”


One special cut from the recording that will no doubt be embraced by radio upon its release is the remake of the upbeat “You Can’t Hurry God.” From legendary songwriter Dorothy Love Coates, who penned such classics as “I’m Sealed” and “Get Away Jordan,” this particular cut is an appropriate reminder of God’s perfect timing.

The moving ballad, “Jesus Is,” is a simple message of the ever-present, perfect love of Jesus, regardless of any situation. Another message of the love of God and His unwavering faithfulness can be found in the progressive, yet powerful “A Million Reasons.” Prolific writer Jeff Bumgardner united with Joey and Kristi Stroud to create this beautifully written expression of God’s abundant grace. 

This latest recording effort is yet another reminder from Libbi and The Perrys of the victory that can only be found by trusting in the faithfulness of a Father who is always directing our path, through the twists and turns on the long, long road. Libbi expressed her joy about the new recording, “Long, Long Road is a very fitting title with this being our 54th year since we began on our journey on Christmas Day in 1970, when we gathered around the family piano and sang our very first song after the tragic loss of our oldest brother that previous July. We’ve seen a lot of hard days, but God has remained faithful to the calling He placed on our lives. For every valley, there has always been a mountaintop! For every tear that has been shed, there has always been a smile and some laughter. This album is filled with songs that have fit every phase in our lives. There are even songs of rejoicing about when we finally reach that hallelujah meeting at the end of this long, long road! We are too close to our Heavenly Home to stop now.” She continued with a beloved scripture passage, Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬-‭14‬, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Distributed exclusively by Provident/Sony, Long, Long Road is available on all digital platforms worldwide. Stream the full project here.

Track List:

Long, Long Road
A Million Reasons
Maybe When the Sun Comes Up
Hallelujah Meetin’
Jesus Is
That Kind of Faith 
You Can’t Hurry God
He Never Gave Up on Me
The Night I Walked the Aisle 
By the Blood

Links:
https://perrysministries.com
https://facebook.com/ThePerrys70/
https://instagram.com/theperrys70/
https://youtube.com/theperrys9801

ABOUT THE PERRYS
The Perrys have a rich history spanning over five decades, proving to be a faithful force in Southern Gospel music. In keeping with the tradition of presenting quality music, The Perrys consistently perform songs which speak to hearts and change lives. While their focus is ministry, the quality of their numerous number 1 songs is continuously confirmed by radio airplay. They have been honored by industry peers and fans alike, having received multiple award nominations and wins over the years, including GMA Dove Award® for Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year for “Celebrate Me Home” and multiple Singing News Fan Awards for Mixed Quartet of the Year. Founding member Libbi Perry Stuffle, whose matchless voice with velvety alto tones has been the nucleus of the group since its inception, has also been individually honored by fans, winning the Singing News Fan Award for Favorite Alto of the Year eight times and Favorite Female Vocalist of the Year twice. With appearances on the Gaither Homecoming Series, at Dollywood and Silver Dollar City, in addition to various churches and festivals, The Perrys keep a full touring schedule year after year. Their passion for encouraging others for Christ will carry them through many decades to come.  

Anthem Edition’s New Single ‘Running’ Explores Resurrection

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JEFF TURNER

A powerful retelling of Lazarus’s resurrection takes center stage in “Running,” the latest single from Anthem Edition. Released on October 25, the song marks the third preview of their upcoming EP, Promises Kept.

The track features bass vocalist Andrew Utech leading a dynamic narrative of one of Christianity’s most dramatic moments. Under Roger Talley’s production, the song opens with an energetic percussion and guitar groove before expanding into a full quartet arrangement.

Built around a call-and-response structure, the chorus captures the jubilant moment of Lazarus emerging from the tomb: “He went running like a new man out of that grave / He went shouting like a soul who’s just been saved.” The lyrics then draw a parallel between Lazarus’s physical resurrection and spiritual rebirth, shifting to a first-person perspective: “I went running like Lazarus out of that grave.”

Lead singer Tim Rackley explains the song’s significance: “As Lazarus comes running out of the grave, the song delivers a compelling message of resurrection and freedom, reminding us that through Christ, we too can run from death to life.”

The single follows the group’s previous release “Graveyard,” which is currently climbing the Southern Gospel charts. “Running” maintains the quartet’s focus on resurrection themes while showcasing their trademark harmonies and contemporary gospel arrangements.

The Problem of Sin

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TEXAS GOSPEL CANADA STAFF

“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.” – Romans 5:12

Have you ever wondered why everything feels broken? Why relationships strain, why we hurt each other, why nothing seems to work quite right? The Bible gives us a straightforward answer: sin entered our world and broke everything.

This isn’t just about breaking rules. It’s about a fundamental disconnect from our life source—God Himself. Like unplugging a lamp from its power source, our separation from God left us in darkness.

But understanding our brokenness isn’t meant to leave us in despair. It’s the backdrop that makes God’s solution so breathtaking.

Understanding the Importance of Religious Revivals

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Based on a writing by Rev. CHARLES G. FINNEY (1792–1875)

Let’s talk about religious revivals – what they are and why they matter. It all started with an ancient prophet named Habakkuk who, facing troubled times, prayed for God to “revive” his people’s faith. This idea of revival has been important ever since.

At its core, religion is simply about people choosing to follow God willingly and sincerely. But here’s the challenge: we naturally drift away from this commitment. Think of it like a New Year’s resolution – we start with good intentions, but slowly slide back into old habits. This is why revivals become necessary.

Throughout history, most religious growth has happened through revivals – periods of intense spiritual awakening. Imagine a sleeping person needing an alarm clock. People get spiritually drowsy, distracted by life’s many demands and entertainments. These distractions are like a strong current pulling us away from shore. To swim back, we often need a powerful burst of energy.

Looking at history, we see a pattern: God creates a period of spiritual excitement, people turn to Him, then gradually drift away as daily life takes over. Think of it like a family that grows closer after a crisis, then slowly drifts apart until another event brings them together again.

Ideally, we wouldn’t need these spiritual wake-up calls. In a perfect world, faith would grow steadily, like a well-tended garden. But reality is different. Just as political campaigns and advertising bombard us with messages that shape our thoughts, these worldly influences need to be countered by equally powerful spiritual experiences.

Here’s what’s important to understand: a revival isn’t a miracle that suspends natural laws. It’s more like waking up and using abilities you already had but weren’t using. Think of a couch potato – they have the muscles to run, they just need the motivation to use them.

When a revival happens, it starts with Christians rediscovering their original enthusiasm for faith, like couples remembering why they fell in love. This renewal then spreads. Spiritual truths that seemed dull become vivid and real. People develop genuine concern for others’ spiritual well-being. Often, the change reaches even those considered “hopeless cases” – the most unlikely people can have complete changes of heart.

The whole process involves three key players: God, someone sharing spiritual truth, and the person being changed. Think of it like helping someone learn to swim: there’s the designer of the pool (God), the swimming instructor (the teacher), and the swimmer (the person changing). The truth itself is like the water – essential to the whole process.

Even small actions can have big effects. Sometimes just seeing someone’s genuine concern can start a chain reaction in a community. It’s like how one person’s smile can brighten a whole room. The key thing to remember is that revival involves both God’s work and human participation. While God provides the truth and power, people must choose to share and respond to it.

That’s what revival is about – a return to spiritual health through a combination of divine influence and human response. It’s as natural as waking up from sleep, as practical as farming, and as personal as falling in love. It happens when people are deeply moved to make real changes in their lives and turn back to God.

Kentucky Music Hall of Fame Welcomes Gospel Songwriter Rodney Griffin

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JEFF TURNER

The Kentucky Music Hall of Fame expanded its prestigious ranks this weekend, inducting gospel music songwriter Rodney Griffin as part of its Class of 2024. The Saturday night ceremony showcased Kentucky’s continued recognition of diverse musical genres, including southern gospel.

“It was really a surprise to me,” Griffin shared about his induction. The renowned songwriter noted the Hall of Fame’s rich musical heritage, pointing out that “it’s full of country bluegrass rock and roll artists from Kentucky.”

While gospel music representatives are fewer among the inductees, Griffin expressed appreciation for the genre’s inclusion. “For them to in 2024 still recognize our genre with that honor was really nice,” he said.

Griffin, who was supported at the ceremony by his fellow Greater Vision members, sees the recognition as more than a personal achievement. He hopes it will serve a greater purpose: “It’s good to try to be a light to those who’ve never heard gospel music so if somehow through this the Lord can reach somebody then that’ll be a good thing.”

This honor adds to Griffin’s legacy in gospel music, cementing his place among Kentucky’s most influential musical artists.