2019 Western Tour Reflections
“This trip began in Ohio before we headed west. It was mostly centered around a week of revival meetings in Brownsville, OR. Other states where services were held were Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Montana, and Kansas. Realizing the distance we needed to cover each day, I strategically planned one daily stop before arriving at our evening service destination. One of those stops was in Montana, by a clear rushing river, surrounded by pine-covered mountains: Glacier National Park. We spread out to ponder, paint, and pick guitars. The park doubled as a breathtaking sunset experience for our new CD photoshoot.
“Arriving early the next morning (6:30 AM) we were greeted by the servant-hearted Chaplain and his wife at the front gate. As pickups with barbeque cookers/grills pulled into the prison yard, followed by four singing teams and many volunteers, we realized the impactful day we were about to embark on. During the first singing and preaching service in the yard, we soon smelled the aroma of burgers and hotdogs. We were privileged to help serve drinks to hundreds of inmates gathered in lines to receive their free meal. I witnessed many sets of grateful eyes as I handed them their lemonade. Our boys joined others weaving between inmates sitting on the grass with pitchers full of lemonade to offer refills.
Eight hours later, packing up with fresh sunburns, full hearts, and misty eyes, I realized I had just experienced a ‘Jesus Picnic.’ We remember their faces and the words that one of the men spoke to Kyle, ‘You all have made me feel like a human being again.’ Thank you, Gospel Echoes! Thank you so much for praying! In 20 years, it was truly one of the greatest God-filled tours our family has experienced.” ~ Ruth Ann for the Millers
From May-June of 2019, the Miller Family had the privilege of touring various churches and facilities ministering through music, testimonies, and sharing the word of God. Ruth Ann shares, “There’s always excitement in the air as we all prepare to leave and our sons come home from their local jobs in the ‘Carolina summer heat,’ We cherish what will not be for over a month and anticipate the unknown of what all will be! Clothes, instruments, Bibles, personal electronics, fridge food, and more, all make their way into the bus as each passes the other with spontaneous puns, song bursts, and jabber, amongst those not wearing headphones.” 🙂
“Dave and I got to celebrate our 27th wedding anniversary in downtown Portland, Oregon. During these several days, two of the children flew back east for a wedding. We were all reunited again at Brownsville Mennonite Church. What a great blessing to cultivate relationships and watch the ministry of the Holy Spirit in all our lives night after night.
We we so honored to join Gospel Echoes Northwest in a Freedom Rally prison weekend. This included an evening chapel service, where we saw inmates make first time commitments and others coming to the altar for prayer.
