Sunday Services in Branson

Although we enjoyed the Cowboy Church, we decided to try another place, this one in the Little Opry Theatre at 9AM, called Good News Gospel Hour. Leroy New, who performs a tribute to Marty Robbins, was the Pastor. He began with a medley of songs which included I'll Fly Away, and several other traditional songs. New songs to me, very good, musically and message-wise, included He Means Everything to Me, Patch It up, and Letting Go of Everything. Tim Handler from the Cowboy Church sang a song. Then the pastor sang Power in the Blood, I Saw the light, One Day at a Time, followed by a word from Mark 11:23-26, and closed with Too Hot for the Devil to Handle!!
As we left, a couple were inviting folks to their Old Time Country Gospel Music program at 11 with Glen and Sue Phillips. Since it started in only 45 minutes, we decided to look around the close by shops a bit and attend that one as well. They began with a medley which included This World is Not My Home, and This Little Light of Mine. They included different singers: First they introduced one of their guitarists, Robert Penny, who had just been a Christian for a couple of weeks, and he sang Just A Closer Walk, and Praise God and Let Him Know There's a Change in Me. He is in the process of changing from singing Country to Gospel (a name to watch, he was good). Anita Kidd sang To Me He Has Become Everything and God on the Mountain is Still God in the Valley. She is running for Ms. Senior Missouri. The first song, she wants to sing in the talent show part of the competition, but was told it would offend too many people because it had the name Jesus in it (but she could sing one with God in it). She told them SHE was offended they would ask her not to sing her chosen song. She then realized that many of the sponsors were Jewish! The second is one she is now considering singing. Both were beautiful songs. Shorty Robbins, another guitarist with them is going blind, but shared testimony that the Lord is a Lord of healing and he sang It is No Secret! The last guest they had was Marty Williams, and his parents each sang a song. Then Sue Phillips sang a new song she had just written, In My Father's Arms. They closed with When the Saints Go Marching In. Although the songs and testimonies were great, and we were blessed, it seemed to be more of a show, and advertisement for their performances.
Even though these are all professional singers, it has made us appreciate our little West Franklin Baptist Church all the more for the great talent God has given the members there. I think they are just as good if not better than what we have heard here!