Wings of Faith celebrates 16 years in gospel music

Special To The News-Express

The eastern hills of Kentucky have been known to produce musical talent destined to be heard — voices that emerge with a harmony that can only come from these mountains. Wings of Faith is no exception.

This gospel music ministry has been traveling abroad sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ through song and testimony since May 1992. Gary Hogston and his wife, Melissia, of Steele, are founders of the ministry and they are joined by Melanie Chaney of Virgie.

The trio has recorded a total of 15 albums, with the majority of their material being original. To describe the type of music the group sings is no easy task, they will tell you that they “dabble” in a bit of southern gospel, bluegrass, slow contemporary and even some of the old-time gospel blues. Their latest CD even contains a “doo-wop” song that has gotten rave reviews by those who have had the opportunity to hear it.

This year, Wings of Faith invites everyone to join with them as they celebrate 16 years in the ministry.

To celebrate their anniversary, the group is inviting everyone to join them in Catlettsburg for a weekend retreat. The event will take place at the “Bill Amos Farm,” located right off Route 23 at 7539 Cannonsburg Road.

The weekend of fun and fellowship will take place June 13-15. The group invites folks to join them for “Open Mic” on Friday, then on Saturday, fishing and horseshoe tournaments, a silent auction and the main event, a big gospel sing, featuring The Singing Crawfords, a bluegrass gospel group from Kingsport, Tenn., Ron Shamblin, a southern gospel vocalist from Sissonville, W.Va., and then closing out will be Wings of Faith.

Drawings for door prizes and tournament trophies will take place during the gospel sing.

On Sunday folks are invited to join Wings of Faith for a good old-fashioned “church meetin” in the barn, with tag-team preachin’ by Rick Porter of Ashland, Paul Michael Booth of Wayne, W.Va., and Ron Shamblin of Sissonville, W.Va. Special singing will be done by Twin Heart Trio, a southern gospel group from Winfield, W.Va.

Immediately after church in the barn, a big “dinner on the grounds” will be served (bring a covered dish!). Free camping is available for those who wish to spend the entire weekend. Contact Wings of Faith for details at 606/835-0992.

All events are free to the public.

“What better way to celebrate this milestone than inviting those we have met along the way, and those we’ve yet to meet, to share in this special time with us?,” says Melissia. “We all complain about the price of things anymore. To take a trip back in time and enjoy good old-fashioned singing and preaching and outdoor events together is priceless! Folks in our area have an appreciation for the gift of music and have supported us prayerfully over the past 16 years. We just want to give something back to them.”

A more detailed schedule of events can be found at the Wings of Faith Web site, www.wingsoffaithsingers.com.