Tag: Christianity

Steve Ladd celebrates two years as solo artist with new Christmas single and family milestones

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TEXAS GOSPEL VOLUNTEER

Southern Gospel artist Steve Ladd is wrapping up another eventful month filled with ministry opportunities, studio work, and precious family moments as he approaches the two-year mark of his return to solo artistry.

Steve Ladd · Michael Booth · Ronnie Booth The Trouble With Me ℗ 2025 Big Picture Records

Ladd spent early October in South Carolina, where he provided music for a four-night community revival series. The unique event featured services at a different church each evening, and Ladd expressed gratitude for both the spiritual atmosphere and the warm hospitality he received. “We were so blessed by not only the services, but also the hospitality of such a sweet bunch of people,” Ladd shared in his recent newsletter update.

The artist made a trip to Nashville this month for a special recording session with his son, Haven Ladd. The collaboration resulted in a new Christmas single titled “No Other Child,” set to release on all streaming platforms November 28th.

Haven, who graduated from Belmont University this past summer with a degree in music production, served as producer for the track. “He truly outdid himself on this one,” the proud father noted. Haven teamed up with Steve’s wife, Maegan, to provide background vocals for the recording.

Between travel and recording commitments, Ladd has been savoring time with his grandchildren. Recent highlights include watching grandson Odin start eating baby food and granddaughter Ari losing her two front teeth just in time for the holiday season. The family enjoyed Halloween festivities together, with Ladd sharing that the grandchildren “bring more joy than they will ever know.”

Ladd closed out the month with a trip to West Virginia, where he visited his brother Johnny. Even the family dog, Toby, was excited about the reunion, though Ladd jokes that the frequent travel may be starting to wear on his canine companion.

As he approaches U.S. Thanksgiving and marks two years since returning to solo ministry, Ladd expressed amazement at how his career has been blessed. “God has been so good to us,” he reflected, noting that supporters who pray for his family remain at the top of his gratitude list.
Steve acknowledged his struggle with timely newsletter updates and jokingly suggested making more consistent communication a New Year’s resolution.

Foresters announce passing of Mark Forester

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TEXAS GOSPEL CANADA VOLUNTEER

Mark Forester, co-founder and patriarch of the Nashville-based Southern Gospel group The Foresters, has passed away. Mark, who served as vocalist, pianist, and guitarist for the family band, had dedicated more than two decades to full-time Christian music ministry alongside his wife Andrea and sons Tyler and Trevor, touching countless lives across the United States, Canada, and Europe.

The Foresters have been a fixture in Christian music circles for 24 years. Over that time, the family band released 42 recordings, held more than 110 concerts annually, and saw all five of their radio singles chart in the top 80 on the Singing News national charts.

Mark’s leadership and production work, including on their most recent project “Calling You Home,” helped establish The Foresters as a top 10 nominated band by readers of Singing News Magazine.

The Foresters announced his passing with this Facebook post:

These past few days have been overwhelming, and I hardly know where to begin. I wanted to reach out with as much care and respect as possible as we acknowledge Mark’s passing and navigate this difficult moment together.
We are taking one day at a time right now. Our hearts are heavy — for ourselves and for Mark’s family. We truly wished his story could have been different, and that he could have found the healing and help he needed.
This is not the ending we ever expected or prepared for. The struggles that came into Mark’s life were heartbreaking and difficult, and we had always hoped for a better road ahead for him.
I have met with the funeral home and have taken care of the arrangements for him to be sent back to Michigan, where he will be laid to rest beside his father.
While there are many questions that cannot be answered right now, the boys and I are taking care of what must be handled as we move forward.
1 Thessalonians 4:13 (KJV)
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
The boys have stood with me through every step of this, and I am so thankful for their strength and the help they have given me.
I would also appreciate your prayers — that God would give me wisdom, clarity, and peace as I work to close out the details before us and set up life for my boys. There is so much to care for, and I am relying on His strength daily.
We will continue to thank the Lord for His goodness, for the grace He has given, for His faithful provision, and for the hope that is in Him. It is the prayer of my heart — and the boys’ as well — that our lives would honor the Lord in every way, and that even in the midst of this struggle, others would see the Savior.
Faithful. Focused. Following Christ. – That is our desire.
Thank you, always, for your love, support, and the blessing you have been to us.

Stephen Forester, Mark’s brother, said, “The Lord saw Marks deep pain and He mercifully took him home . Romans 8:1”

Mark asked that the family be given space in this time of pain.

A private family service will be held.

but we are of good courage and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:8

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.

The Rogers Family affirms the Lord’s eternal presence, power with “He’s Still God”

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SPECIAL HORIZON & SONLITE RECORDS

Arden, North Carolina (September 26, 2025) — For their Horizon Records debut, The Rogers Family have chosen a rollicking affirmation of the Lord’s eternal presence and power that exemplifies the group’s respect for the Southern Gospel tradition — and their mastery of the genre’s signature harmonizing.

“We’re so excited to officially release our brand new single, ‘He’s Still God,'” enthuses Rebekah Shields, who takes the lead through most of the song. “This upbeat and joyful song has quickly become one of our favorites to sing, and we pray it becomes an encouragement to you as well. No matter what life brings, it’s a powerful reminder that He’s still God… and He’s still on the throne!”

Kicked off with an interchange between legendary studio multi-instrumentalist David Johnson’s fiddle and the piano of the family’s mother, Kim Shields, “He’s Still God” features the group’s own creative arrangement. Its first verse is sung by the trio of youngsters — Rebekah, Samuel and Hannah Shields — but another verse follows as Rebekah takes the lead, and as the song progresses, the shape of the chorus is repeatedly recast, with different voices emerging to take the lead and offer the triumphant lyric:

He’s still God (He’s still God), who rolled back the troubled water
He’s still God (He’s still God) and He’s still in control
He’s still God (He’s still God) though the world may be raging
He’s still God (He’s still God) He can calm your troubled soul
When it seems (when it seems that) that you have been defeated
Speak His name (Speak His name) and you are not alone
He’s ever listening (He’s ever listening) for the cry of His children
He’s still God (He’s still God) and He’s still on the throne

With its snappy call-and-response, down home feeling and intricately intertwined voices, “He’s Still God” offers both a memorable listening experience and, for those who have not yet heard them, an outstanding introduction to The Rogers Family.

No One Knows the Day or Hour, yet another Prediction About the Rapture

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DAVID INGRAM

You don’t see my name on the website too often. Mostly because so many others are better at saying things that need to be said. But today, I’ll make an exception.

Matthew 24:36 makes it clear that no one knows the day or the hour of Christ’s return. Matthew says that not the angels in heaven, nor even the Son, but only the Father. This truth is a direct warning against those who claim to predict the timing of the Second Coming. I realize that some don’t use the word “rapture” because it’s not in the Bible. I think we all know it refers to Jesus’ return, so let’s hold that debate for another day.

When a South African pastor, Joshua Mhlakela, insists that the Rapture will take place on September 23 or 24, 2025, he places himself in direct contradiction to the very words of Jesus. Any attempt to put a date on such an event is not only speculative but also unbiblical, since Scripture emphasizes readiness at all times, not countdowns to a specific day.

Mhlakela’s so-called “divine prophecy,” shared on YouTube and in his interview with Centtwinz TV, reveals a troubling pattern: presenting certainty where the Bible gives none. Scripture consistently reminds believers to be watchful and prepared because Christ’s return will come suddenly and unexpectedly, “like a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2). By fixing a date, Mhlakela misleads his audience into placing their hope in his personal claim instead of in the sure promises of God. This not only undermines biblical authority but risks damaging faith when his prediction inevitably fails, as all such predictions have in the past.

The responsibility of every preacher is to point people to Christ and His Word, not to their own revelations. In Matthew 24, Jesus stresses the importance of faithfulness, watchfulness, and endurance, not of prediction-making. By claiming to know what the Bible says cannot be known, Mhlakela shifts attention away from the gospel and onto himself.

Could Jesus come back today or tomorrow? Of course! Does Mhlakela have a prophecy from God? Well, the verse above says no one knows the day or hour. Mhlakela says he’s narrowed it down to two days. This is something we’ve heard from many mislead preachers in the past including Edgar Whisenant back in the 1980’s and Harold Camping in the 1990’s.

Christians are urged to measure every teaching against Scripture and to reject messages that contradict its clear truths. Isn’t the call of Christ not to chase dates but to live faithfully and expectantly every day, ready for His return at any moment?