Category: Top articles

Joe Mullins to Step Back from Touring in 2026, But His Musical Journey Continues

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JEFF TURNER

After nearly two decades of life on the road with The Radio Ramblers, Joe Mullins has announced that his time as a full-time touring musician will come to a close in early 2026. But for the banjo player, bandleader, and broadcaster, stepping off the touring bus doesn’t mean stepping away from music.

As Mullins approaches his 60th birthday later this year, he’s taking time to reflect on a career defined by melody, family, faith, and radio. “I’m grateful for the music, the miles, and the memories,” Mullins says. That spirit is at the heart of The Radio Ramblers’ most recent Gospel release, Thankful and Blessed, which dropped in March. The album title, Mullins explains, perfectly sums up this season of life. Among its tracks is “Even Better When You Listen,” a song that highlights the group’s trademark harmony and heartfelt sound.

For Mullins, music and broadcasting have always been intertwined. “We’re called The Radio Ramblers ’cause I’ve combined the two,” he explains. “I’ve been on radio and on stage with the banjo for over 40 years. My dad did this. Dad was a fiddler, a broadcaster, and a concert promoter. He did all that on the way to the Bluegrass Hall of Fame.”

While Mullins is quick to clarify that he isn’t chasing accolades, he acknowledges that the combination of radio and live music has been key to the band’s success. In 2006, he assembled a group of local singers and pickers to meet the growing demand for bluegrass in southwestern Ohio. With his radio network already reaching listeners across the region, Mullins saw the opportunity to create a band that could perform anywhere. From this, The Radio Ramblers were born.

When he’s not on the road, Mullins continues to host daily programming on his Real Roots Radio network. “I do a hymn hour at one and a bluegrass hour at two, Eastern time,” he says. “The combination works well. I also figured out, as did my dad years ago, that if you are a hillbilly picker and you want your records played on air, it helps a lot if you have a radio show or own a couple of stations.”

Though the touring chapter of his career is nearing its close, Mullins shows no signs of slowing down when it comes to sharing the music he loves. As he looks to the future, Mullins sums up his journey with a simple message: thankful and blessed.

The Power of Hallelujah

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AMY TURNER

Revelation 19:1 tells us a loud voice from a great crowd in heaven shouted, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God.” This word, hallelujah, is used throughout the Bible to celebrate God’s remarkable actions. It appears when people witness something meaningful and powerful that God has done.

In Psalm 106, hallelujah is spoken as a response to God’s strength in freeing the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt. Each time it’s used, it marks a moment when God’s care and might have brought relief and victory to His people.

The final time hallelujah appears in Scripture is in Revelation. It comes after Jesus rescues His people from the grip of the Antichrist. This moment leads heaven to cry out in joy, praising God’s power to save and protect.

When you lift your voice in praise, do you include a hallelujah?

Everything that has breath shall praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord!

Psalm 150:6

Dr. James Dobson, Influential Christian Leader and Founder of Focus on the Family, Dies at 89

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TEXAS GOSPEL STAFF

Dr. James Dobson, one of the most influential Christian leaders of the past half-century and founder of Focus on the Family, died Thursday morning, August 21, 2025, at the age of 89. His passing was announced by the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute (JDFI).

A psychologist by training, Dobson dedicated his life to strengthening marriages, guiding parents, and defending biblical values, championing the family as the cornerstone of society. Through decades of broadcasting, writing, and public advocacy, he became a towering voice in American evangelicalism and a driving force behind the rise of conservative Christian engagement in politics.

Dobson founded Focus on the Family in Arcadia, California, in 1977, before relocating its headquarters to Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 1991. The move helped establish Colorado Springs as a hub for evangelical ministries and influence. Under his leadership, the organization grew into one of the largest evangelical ministries in the world.

At its height, the Focus on the Family daily radio program aired on more than 4,000 stations across North America and reached audiences in over 160 countries, translated into 27 languages. The show became one of the most widely heard faith-based broadcasts globally.

Dobson’s impact extended beyond the church into the halls of power. A significant figure in the 1980s movement to integrate conservative Christian ideals into American politics, he advised or counseled five U.S. presidents: Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump. In 1985, he interviewed President Reagan in the Oval Office, and during the Trump administration, he served on the Evangelical Executive Advisory Board.

In addition to Focus on the Family, Dobson helped establish the Family Research Council in the early 1980s, a Christian think tank that remains influential in policy debates on faith and family.

Dobson authored more than 70 books, many of which became staples in Christian homes. His bestsellers included The New Dare to Discipline and When God Doesn’t Make Sense. His work earned him recognition as a New York Times best-selling author and induction into the National Radio Hall of Fame.

Even after stepping away from Focus on the Family in 2010, Dobson continued his mission through the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute (JDFI), where he hosted Family Talk. The nationally syndicated program airs on 1,500 stations and reaches more than half a million listeners weekly, ensuring that his voice continued to influence new generations.

Dr. Dobson is survived by his wife of 64 years, Shirley, their children Danae and Ryan, daughter-in-law Laura, and two grandchildren.

Kingdom Heirs Mark 40 Years in Gospel Music and at Dollywood

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JEFF TURNER

This year marks a significant milestone for the Kingdom Heirs, one of Southern Gospel’s most enduring quartets. The group is celebrating 40 years as a full-time ministry in gospel music, along with four decades of performances at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

Drummer Dennis Murphy, who has been with the group for more than 35 years, recalls how the partnership with the theme park began long before it carried Dolly Parton’s name. “We were already in place at the park before it became Dollywood,” he says. “We started as a part-time gospel act in the early ’80s when it was still Silver Dollar City. After a couple of years singing on weekends and special events, management offered us a full-time position in 1985. From there, it became an incredible way to share the gospel with people from all over the world.”

The group’s theater at Dollywood holds about a thousand people, giving the Kingdom Heirs the chance to reach audiences far larger than many touring groups could sustain. Their performances have become a fixture for both first-time visitors and loyal season pass holders, helping to establish their reputation as one of the most recognizable names in the genre.

To commemorate the anniversary, the Kingdom Heirs are releasing Fortieth Anniversary, a collection of newly recorded versions of fan favorites. The album revisits songs from across their career, including a medley of three of their best-known numbers — “He Lifted Me,” “I’ve Passed Over,” and “He Locked The Gates.” Alongside these classics are fresh arrangements that highlight the group’s variety, from traditional quartet numbers to a country waltz, a soulful ballad, and other styles that showcase the breadth of their catalog.

Murphy credits the group’s longevity to the many singers and musicians who have passed through its ranks. “During our forty years we’ve been fortunate to have some incredibly talented men come through the group,” he reflects. “Our current lineup is a crowd favorite, and this project captures both the history and the energy of the Kingdom Heirs today.”

As much as the album is a look back, it also serves as a reminder of the group’s mission. “Some will recognize every song, while others will be hearing them for the first time,” Murphy adds. “Either way, these songs carry the same message they always have — one that has touched countless hearts and lives over the years.”

The Fortieth Anniversary album is scheduled for release on October 10.

Trusting God’s Love in the Middle of Life’s Storms

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AMY TURNER

In Mark 4:35-41 we’re told of a dangerous storm striking as Jesus and his disciples cross the Sea of Galilee. The boat begins to fill with water, and the disciples, filled with fear, wake Jesus from sleep. In their alarm, they ask him, “Don’t you care if we drown?”

Jesus then rises and commands the wind and waves to be still. Instantly, the storm calms. Afterward, he questions his disciples, asking why they are so afraid and whether they still lack faith. The heart of this account is not about whether Jesus could calm the storm — his power was never in question. What mattered was the disciples’ trust in him.

Their words show us their doubt. Not doubt in his ability, but in his concern for them. Faith involves more than believing in God’s strength; it requires confidence in his constant love.

God is our refuge and strength,
A very ready help in trouble.

Psalm 46:1