Category: Top articles

Eighteen Mile shares new song about Biblical story and personal faith

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TEXAS GOSPEL VOLUNTEER

Mountain Home Music Company artist Eighteen Mile has released their second single after finding success with their first release. The young five-member group put out “Above The Clouds” in September, and that song has reached the top of the Bluegrass Today Gospel chart multiple times. Now they have followed up with “What Mercy Means.”

Carson Aaron, who plays multiple instruments for the band, wrote the new song and performs the lead vocals. He said the song came from thinking about a story in the book of Exodus, chapter 34, where Moses went up Mount Sinai to meet with God.

What Mercy Means â„— 2025 Mountain Home Music Company Released on: 2025-11-14

Aaron explained that the Bible describes the mountain as dark and frightening during that meeting. The text mentions earthquakes and thunder happening because God was present there. He wanted his song to express the contrast between a powerful and holy God meeting with a person who is not holy.

The song connects that ancient story to Aaron’s own life. He said that as a person who has sinned, he deserves punishment when standing before a holy God. However, he experiences mercy from God each morning instead.

The song features musical work from fiddler Savannah Aaron, who plays a thoughtful melody line. Sometimes she plays alone, and other times banjo player Jack Ritter joins her with quieter accompaniment. Ritter and Emily Guy provide harmonies that support the chorus Aaron wrote.
Andy Leftwich produced “What Mercy Means,” just as he did with the previous single. Leftwich is known for his work playing fiddle and mandolin. The song fits within the tradition of bluegrass gospel music that has been popular for many years.

People can now listen to “What Mercy Means” on streaming services. The song is available in Dolby Atmos spatial audio format on Apple Music, Amazon Music, TIDAL and throughout the day on Texas Gospel Canada.

Wilson Banjo Co. releases new song about heaven and belonging

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TEXAS GOSPEL VOLUNTEER

Wilson Banjo Co. has put out a new single called “Heaven Is Your Hometown.” The song came out through Pinecastle Records and carries a message about faith and finding one’s true home in heaven.

Steve Wilson, who started the band, explained why the song matters to him. He said the opening line asks if people feel like strangers who do not fit in. Wilson said this lyric affected him deeply when he first heard it. He believes the song will connect with many other people as well.

The songwriters Mitch Townley and Andrew Scott Wills wrote about the feeling of wanting to reach a place of peace and belonging. For Christians, this speaks to the biblical teaching that earth is temporary and heaven is the eternal home believers will share with God. The lyrics offer comfort through faith-based images and the hope of reunion with loved ones in heaven.

Provided to YouTube by Syntax Creative Heaven Is Your Hometown · Wilson Banjo Co. Heaven Is Your Hometown ℗ 2025 Pinecastle Records Released on: 2025-11-14

Cal Mathews sings the lead vocals on the track. Steve Wilson and Melanie Wilson provide harmony vocals. The musicians on the recording include Steve Wilson on banjo, Jason Fraley on mandolin, Richard Bennett on guitar, Glen Crain on resonator guitar, Leona on fiddle, and Jaime Carter on bass.

The band is working on their next studio album, which will come out in 2026. Steve Wilson leads the creative direction for the group. This year, their previous release called “Lonely As It Gets” performed well on the charts. The collection reached the number one position for several weeks on the Contemporary Bluegrass Album Chart. It stayed in the top ten for 33 weeks in 2025. The release also produced multiple songs that reached number one on the Roots Music Report Contemporary Bluegrass Song Chart.

Wilson Banjo Co. plans to keep making music that reflects their established sound. People can find more information about the band and their releases at http://www.wilsonbanjo.com. The band also maintains a presence on social media platforms. Listen for this and other Gospel music from Wilson Banjo Co on Texas Gospel Canada!

Joseph Habedank’s mother shows improvement after heart attack at airport

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TEXAS GOSPEL STAFF

Joseph Habedank’s mother, Leah Griffis, recently suffered a life-threatening heart attack while waiting to board a plane. Airport paramedics were close by and performed CPR on her.

Since the incident on 5 November, it has been touch and go. However, Joseph says things are moving in a positive direction.

Joseph shared an update saying his mom’s ventillator was taken out and she’s breathing on her own and she’s awake and, “she’s very loud.” He explained that “she’s not quite talking, the tube being in her throat, they told her she wouldn’t be able to talk for a little bit but she’s trying really hard because anybody knows my mom knows she likes to talk.”

The family’s next prayer request focuses on communication. “That’s kind of our next kind of prayer request is that she can start communicating with us because you can tell she’s in a little bit of pain because of the probably from the broken ribs and also being intubated that long really messes with your throat so we’re hoping she can start communicating soon,” Joseph said.

The family is also facing difficult decisions ahead. Joseph asked for prayer as he and Lindsay “are trying to decide when we can go home and so we want to make sure we we have wisdom when it comes to that so it’s always hard you know trying to figure out what’s right so appreciate your prayers.”

Joseph concluded by saying, “This has been a good day.”

We are grateful for this good news! Please continue lifting Leah along with all of her family up in prayer.

The journey of faith in Brian Free and Assurance’s Behind My Praise

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TEXAS GOSPEL VOLUNTEER

Brian Free shared the meaning behind Assurance’s new song, “Behind My Praise.” He explains, “Behind our praise are the valleys we’ve been through, the mountain tops we’ve had to climb, the mountains we had to crawl over, climb over, and the good times, the bad times, and all those things, everything that we experience in our life brings us to the point where we really should, as a Christian, know how to praise him, know how to lift him up, know how to thank him for all that he’s done, because we all have so much to be thankful for. And that’s what the song talks about it, and it does it in such a great way. And I love singing. It’s just a wonderful song.”

Provided to YouTube by Daywind Records Behind My Praise · Brian Free & Assurance Grateful for the Gospel ℗ 2024 Daywind Records Released on: 2024-09-20

This idea is found in the message of James 1:2–4 (NIV): “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” Our hard times, the valleys and mountains, shape our praise. They teach us how to worship with real depth and thankfulness.

I hope you’ll pardon me sounding long-winded, but I’d like to give a little more of my understanding of these verses. They teach that believers should view trials and hardships as opportunities for growth rather than reasons for despair. These challenges test one’s faith, and through enduring them with patience and trust in God, a person develops spiritual maturity and strength. The passage emphasizes that perseverance in the face of difficulties leads to completeness and maturity, meaning a well-rounded and steadfast faith that lacks nothing. Ultimately, James encourages believers to see suffering as a refining process that deepens their relationship with God and shapes their character.

The lyrics of “Behind My Praise” speak directly about this experience. They tell us about the struggles that come before praise: valleys God brings us through, mountains we never thought we could move, and wilderness places in bloom.

To be thankful and to praise God fully means to remember where we have been and what He has done for us. “Behind My Praise” is a reminder for believers to lift their voices with gratitude, knowing that every trial has brought them to this moment of thanksgiving.

The song was written by Kristi Ralon Fitzwater, Marcia Henry, and Josiah Palmer. Listen for Behind my Praise throughout the day on Texas Gospel Canada!

BEHIND MY PRAISE – BRIAN FREE & ASSURANCE
(Kristi Ralon Fitzwater, Marcia Henry, and Josiah Palmer)
Behind my praise, there’s a valley
God has brought me through
Behind my praise, there’s a mountain
I never thought I’d move
Behind my praise is a wilderness in bloom
I can’t hold back
’Cause I’ve seen what God can do
I’ve seen oceans roll back at my feet
I’ve watched giants cower in defeat
Because of God and His amazing grace
I live to tell the story behind my praise
Behind my praise
Are the tears He’s wiped from my eyes
Behind my praise
Are the answers to my desperate cries
Behind my praise
Is the dawn that broke the night
I can’t hold back the joy I have inside
’Cause I’ve seen oceans roll back at my feet
I’ve watched giants cower in defeat
Because of God and His amazing grace
I live to tell the story behind my praise
Every story I have lived through
Has given me the faith
To trust Him as the author
Of every future page
And I’ve seen oceans roll back at my feet
I’ve watched giants cower in defeat
Because of God and His amazing grace
I live to tell the story behind my praise
Because of God and His amazing grace
I live to tell the story behind my praise

Texas Gospel Canada Top 30 – November 2025

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DAVID INGRAM

Welcome to the Texas Gospel Canada Top 30 Songs of November 2025! This list is meticulously compiled based on the actual number of plays each song received in the previous month (October.) The Texas Gospel Top 30 is proudly submitted to top Southern Gospel publications including The Singing News and SGNScoops.

1 So Much To Thank Him For – Mylon Hayes Family – Independent
2 So Many Reasons – Tribute Quartet – Daywind/New Day
3 I Will Sing – Hoppers – Gaither Music/Capitol Christian
4 Hold On To Hope – Southbound – Daywind/New Day
5 All Is Well – Exodus – Independent
6 I Speak Jesus – Karen Peck & New River – Daywind/New Day
7 I Am The One – Jeff Tolbert & Primitive Road – Independent
8 Joy Is Gonna Come – Erwins – StowTown/Provident-Sony
9 Show Me The Way From Here – Paid In Full – StowTown/Provident-Sony
10 The Way That He Found It – Justified Quartet – Big Picture Records/New Day
11 Stepping Stone – Tim Livingston – Diamond Mill Music
12 Sow The Good Seed – Greater Vision – Daywind/New Day
13 I Know What Jesus Can Do – Browns – StowTown/Provident-Sony
14 Free – Brian Free & Assurance – Daywind/New Day
15 The Only Way He Knew How – Jeff & Sheri Easter – Gaither Music/Capitol Christian
16 Soul Set Free – Kingsmen – Horizon/Crossroads
17 Homeward Bound – Legacy Five – StowTown/Provident-Sony
18 The Other Side – Craguns – ARS/New Day
19 Hit The Altar – Poet Voices – StowTown/Provident-Sony
20 Never Been Another – Whisnants – Independent
21 Up Above The World So High – Inspirations – Horizon/Crossroads
22 A Million Reasons – Perrys – StowTown/Provident-Sony
23 The Well – Taylors – StowTown/Provident-Sony
24 Pray – Mark Trammell Quartet – Crimson Road
25 For My Good – Peach Goldman – StowTown/Provident-Sony
26 Still Faithful – 11th Hour – Sonlite/Crossroads
27 Stand Tall – Hyssongs – ARS/New Day
28 Now Lazarus Can Sing – Mark Bishop – Sonlite/Crossroads
29 Satisfied – Jonathan Wilburn – Daywind/New Day
30 That Somebody Was Me – Guardians – Daywind/New Day