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This Past Weekend in VA, MD & PA
Wed., Apr. 6. 2011 10:31pm EDT
Who said, "Getting there is half the fun"? With our concerts this past weekend, it was more like "Getting there takes twice the time and effort, and isn't much fun at all." See our story about "The Little Engine That Couldn't" in the preamble of this week's newsletter for more details on that.
However, once we finally arrived at our destinations in Front Royal VA, Mount Savage MD, and Beaver Falls PA, it was well worth the trials and tribulations.
The main theme of Saturday's event in Mt. Savage was the prevention of underage drinking. Our good friend Nathan Jones gave a powerful testimony of how he awoke one morning to discover that his drunk driving had taken the lives of a middle-aged Christian couple. In addition to the incredible guilt and grief this brought upon Nathan, it also put him in prison for a couple of years.
Nathan then related how the couple's family actually pleaded to the authorities for mercy on him, wrote letters and sent him gifts in prison, and appealed to the parole board on his behalf, in hopes that God would use that horrible experience for good. We know their hopes and prayers were answered, as Nathan became a devoted follower of Christ and has shared his testimony with so many others.
Ironically, although the event organizers didn't know this when setting it up, Saturday's concert was exactly 10 years and one day after Nathan's accident.
Sunday's concert in Beaver Falls was a benefit for our friend Pastor Dale Szallai, who has inoperable pancreatic cancer, so we asked him to speak from the stage. It was amazing to see such a quiet and frail man give such a powerful message of faith in Christ. It even left some of the band members in tears.
We were honored to be part of it all.
Here are some email excerpts from some of our concert coordinators:Thank you so much for coming to New Hope again! We all had such a great time and really appreciate what you do. We really enjoyed your visit and hope that you make it back home safe and sound.
We will definitely have to do this again! My sons have not stopped talking about you all since we left. Thank you for being such a great role model to these young kids. They definitely need the guidance that you are providing them.
Beth Rinker
New Hope Bible Church
Front Royal VA
Thanks again for helping make our event a success. You guys were great as usual and Nathan's testimony was very fitting for the day.
Brad Lowery
Ellerslie United Methodist Church
Ellerslie MD Here are some emails from fans in attendance:Great job in Front Royal. Best of luck to you, the band, and the bus transmission!
Jim Wimberly
Potomac Falls VA
I took group of my guys down to Mt. Savage to hear you guys last Saturday. You guys were great. I am interested in hosting a concert.
Mike Swick,Youth Pastor
Meyersdale Church of the Brethren
Meyersdale PA
Great concert! You guys did a great job. My kids loved it. Thanks for sharing your talents with Western Maryland. My two-year-old said it was the "best concert ever" :)
Jeremy Adams
Westernport MD
Awesome show as always! Can't wait to see u again!
Todd Nunamaker
Berlin PA
Just saw you guys in Beaver falls on Sunday and was blown away again. Fantastic, I had brought a friend with me from my church who is interested in booking ApologetiX.
Johnny Smolen
Renfrew PA Special thanks to:
Our concert coordinators: Beth Rinker (Front Royal), Brad and Paula Lowery (Mount Savage), and Erin Harvey (Beaver Falls).
Our merchandise coordinators: Christy and Paul (Front Royal), Jenn the Super Chick, Faye, and Tawney (Mount Savage), and Krista and Susan (Beaver Falls).
Our bus driver: the incredible Rich Polick, who has now been to over 250 ApologetiX concerts -- 251 to be exact -- in 35 states and one province.
Our opening band: Area 42 (Mount Savage)
Our guest speakers: Super Dave Johnson (Front Royal), Nathan Jones (Mount Savage), and Pastor Dale Szallai (Beaver Falls).
Our sound and light crew: Spackford and Son
Our roadies: Seth (Front Royal, Mount Savage, and Beaver Falls), Arletta (Beaver Falls), and the Brothers Gross (Beaver Falls).
Our trailer rescue squad: Super Dave Johnson (from Front Royal to Mount Savage) and Mike and Nancy Giffford (from Mount Savage to Beaver Falls). Also, the anonymous neighbors in the big pick-up truck in Front Royal VA, who carried us up the final part of the hill to the church.
Our guest fiddler on "Devil Went Down to Jordan": Jake Bartlett of Area 42 (Mount Savage).
Honorable mention to: Jenn "the Superchick" Kipp, who has been to 110 ApologetiX concerts in 12 states and one province.
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