December has been a VERY busy month for IOF!  We began our month at Eastview Baptist (Belleville) and First Baptist (East Carondolet).  Then we sang at the 4th Annual WIL 92.3 JINGLEFEST!  We opened the concert for Jake Owen, Hunter Hayes, and Thompson Square.  The crowd was great and we were well received. In fact, get on over to the WIL 92.3 website and check out a few photos of IOF.  On Saturday we had the 2nd Annual IOF Christmas Party!!  What a great night of fun and FOOD.  Can we ever cook...and EAT!  There was so much food and treats that we just couldn't finish it all.  After that we sang at First Baptist (New Baden) and had a great night with the people there.  Our December Christmas concerts will end tonight when we join the people of New Athens at the United Methodist Church. 

It's been a busy Christmas time for IOF.  We've loved celebrating the miracle of God becoming one of us.  And we hope that you have celebrated this wonderful time of year too!  May the blessings of God be upon YOU and YOURS this Christmas!  Merry Christmas from the IOF family.

Well what a blessed year for IOF.  We have had the opportunity to share the Gospel in several states this year:  visiting Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, Missouri and Illinois.  We've shared the Gospel with thousands, spreading our message all over the world on Brian Arnold's TV show, "Victim to Victory."  What does God have in store for IOF in 2012?  I don't know.  However, I do know one thing.  We will go to the ends of this Earth proclaming the Gospel of Jesus through music and testimony.  Can't wait to meet new friends and visit many new churches in 2012.  If you have never had us come to your church we look foward to visiting you in 2012.  Thank you Jesus!!!

IOF is in the Marietta, GA area for a short stay.  We are staying at the Holiday Inn Express.  It's a newly rennovated hotel and is very comfortable.  Each morning breakfast is provided for us too!  After a leisurely morning we went to eat at Daddy's Country Kitchen in Acworth, GA.  Mmmm! Down home cooking at its best.  The sweet tea was just right and we had the buffet.  There were southern comfort foods galore on this buffet.  It would make your mouth water if I were to list each one! 

After a nice lunch we drove the area and did some sightseeing.  There are lots of eating and shopping all over.  And we were within minutes of Atlanta.  But, we chose to stay in the suburbs.  That night we ordered in pizza from a local establishment.  (Yes, Sam got a "cheese-less" pizza).  We all enjoyed our own toppings on a "small 14 inch" pizza.  It was NY style.  In my opinion, I've had better, cause my crust was very soggy in the middle.  The crust was good though.  It held up.

So, now we are lounging around the hotel with a 2 PM check out time.  We then head to Fairburn, GA for an evening concert.  After we eat...it's back home to St. Louis! 

Friday night was an experience.  IOF was a part of the Friday Night Jubilee at the Cowboy Church in Cleveland, TN.  The Gospel Gun, Rev. Will Nichols, was the M.C. for the night.  The evening started with the Cowboy Church Corral singers starting the night with a few songs.  Then singer/songwriter Elmer Bramlett sang a song about Lazarus...good song!  Amy McAlister also sang.  She had a Gospel number that was a real toe-tapper.  Her rich alto voice was pleasing to listen to...wish there had been more music from her!

IOF closed the program that night with songs from WE WILL FOLLOW as well as a song from our new Christmas CD, "GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN"..."That Little Baby."  The crowd was a little sleepy last night.  We, of course, didn't let that keep us from singing from our hearts the songs God has given us.  Maybe in the future we will sing at the Cowboy Church again.  Until then, we hope they continue to have a good time at the Friday Night Jubilee.

 IOF is on the road in Tennessee and Georgia this week.  On our way to the first date we stopped at Cracker Barrel for lunch.  You know, you just can't go wrong with Cracker Barrel.  I tried the meatloaf at Cracker Barrel.  It was good, but it wasn't great.  Just your basic meatloaf with a ketchup glaze on it.  It was passable for a meatloaf.  The turnip greens were excellent though.  However, I was slightly disappointed by the okra this time.  It was just a little soggy and their breading wasn't crisp.  It had been sitting around for a little while.  The biscuits were pretty good though.  I made them even better by putting some Sorghum Molasses on them!  OH, IT WAS HEAVEN!  The flavor of that sweet, dark molasses takes me back to my Grandma's house when she would make homemade biscuits (from scratch)...and put butter on those piping hot biscuits and then she would bring out the sorghum molasses.  Oh my!  What a wonderful flavor...and wonderful memory too!    Needless to say...I enjoyed the biscuits!  

On Wednesday, September 21 the group traveled to Marion, IL to TCT TV Studios to tape a show with Brian Arnold.  We left from Belleville around 6:45 to make the 1 and a half hour trip.  We were due to arrive at 9 AM to get ready for the taping.  After we signed in we were shown the Green Room where we could make ourselves comfortable and enjoy refreshments.  It's funny they call it a "green room" but it had a dominately blue wall paper!!   In the room was Brian's manager who greeted us and made us feel at home.  A few minutes later Brian came into the room and said the makeup artist was ready to make us look good under the bright lights in the studio.  Scot was the first to sit in the chair and be made over.  The makeup artist put some foundation in an airbrush and applied the foundation by "spray" painting the face!  Then there was a little bit more makeup applied the eyes, eyebrows and a little lip balm.  It was quite the experience!  Each one of the guys had to undergo the same process.  Then we were taken into the studio itself and shown the microphones we would use, where we would stand and what to expect during the taping.  After Amanda, studio manager, had explained all the details of the show Brian then had his manager, the studio manager, camera operators, and guests (that included IOF) pray with him before the taping began.  I can tell you that we were just a little nervous about the whole process. 

The show opened with the theme song and a great graphic showing piano keys and the title "Victim to Victory".  Then the cameras went straight to Brian at the piano where he sang an opening song.  What a great singer Brian is.  And what a blessing his opening song was to us.  Right after his first song he welcomed his "friends" Instruments of Faith.  We were standing off camera and walked onto the set to sing our first song.  We chose to sing, "We Will Follow" by Gary Brannaman.  As we stood looking in to the camera and smiling...we waited for the music to start.  It didn't start!!  There was even an electronic snafu when the iPod didn't start playing our song right away.  Thank the Lord we were taping!  We were able to do another "take" of the "walk on" and begin the song again.  After we sang the first song we were welcomed by Brian and then Gary B. and Sam sat down the interview with Brian.  IOF sang two songs during the taping and really enjoyed the experience.  We were even able to make some new contacts with the scheduling of a lunch next month when we get to Springfield. 

What a great day!  And what would an outing be without eating?  Marion, IL boasts a great little place called, "Walts".  It's a great place for pizza, italian, and sandwiches. So stop in if you're in the area.  And, stayed tuned to find out when the taping airs live on TCT!

 Saturday proved to be a really fun day!  We set up a small sound system toward the back of Parables and sang for almost 3 hours. There were authors and vendors from the area with their wares set up as you entered the store.  We met many of the vendors and authors (when we weren't singing).  Autographed CDs and pictures left our table (that was set with our product).  If you happen to be in the Arnold, MO area you can stop at Parables and find Instruments of Faith (IOF) sitting on the store shelves and being played over the store sound system.  Thanks go to Steve Barnes, employee and friend, who invited us to attend.  

 If you read Gary's post you will know what a wonderful time we had this past Sunday.  The Spirit of the Lord was truly moving and in charge at New Hope Baptist Church in Worden, IL!  There was a purpose and a plan for everything that took place in the service.  Not only did we enjoy the time we sang in the service.  We were blesses as much or more than those to whom we were sharing our God-given ministry in song.  What a refreshing it was to be in the service that morning!  We can say that we were in the presence of the Almighty God.  And, He had His way in the service.  It was a great time of testimony and fellowship to say the very least about it!!

Of course, you know that we had to eat after the service was concluded.   The invitation from the church people, including the pastor, was that our next visit would include a potluck dinner following the service.  We will be looking forward to that next year!!  We spoke with several people about a good restaurant in the area and the directed us, literally, to a gold mine.  The food was family style.  You order your meat entree and the "fixins" were brought to the table in large serving dishes to be passed around the table.  Mmmmm! Then following the meal you were presented with about 20 different ways to conclude.  These included "foot high" pies, fruit pies, and cheesecakes.  Wow!  Plans are already made to re-visit this restaurant many times to be able to sample all of the wonderful fare!!  

Thanks again to the great congregation of New Hope Baptist in Worden, IL...but mostly to Our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ!

Hello everyone!!  God never ceases to amaze me.  He is always working in an through His people.  What a great time singing Sunday at New Hope Baptist church.  Brother Scott Allsman invited us to come and we had a great time ministering.  Singing was the fun part, but to actually see the Spirit of the Lord moving was awesome.  As Sam put it , "The hair on the back of my neck stood up."  The Spirit was powerful and He moved in so many lives that day.  A man came down after the service and gave his heart to Jesus.  As the pastor put it, he said, "I am ready, what do I have to do?!"  We can't wait to get back next time.  The church said they will do a potluck on our next visit.  We were talking with one of the ladies there who makes all kind of pies.  She said she would even make me a meatloaf, Let's GO!!! 

We left praising the Lord and were ready to eat.  You know...eating is what we do second best!  So we headed to a little restaurant with so much good food you could bust a gut.  I literally have had some good food, but this was awesome!  I got the turkey and dressing along with the fixins.  We had biscuits, green beans, homemade mashed potatoes (with the right amount of lumps) and that good-ole white gravy (that makes you smack your lips and come back for more).  And, to top it off, I got a foot high piece of chocolate pie.  We ate and were so blessed with good friends, good eats and a God who made it all possible.  Thank you Lord for the ministry; and getting to go out with a great bunch of guys and sing for you.  Can't wait to go back to the restaurant!  We already have our GPS set for that place!!

We had a great time this past week.  Where were we you ask?  IOF left Freeburg, IL (home of our bass singer) and traveled 2 and a half hours north toward Chicago to Lincoln, IL.  This was our only tour date this week.  Our stop?  A Women's Breakfast at the first United Methodist Church of Lincoln, IL.  There was a great crowd of ladies from several churches in the area who attended this once-a-year event. Breakfast was wonderful!  The great cooks at this church made a sausage, egg and cheese cassarole, a variety of muffins (both bite size and larger) and fruit cup.  The ladies began the breakfast with much chatter and eating which gave us a chance to sample to fare too!!

After we finished eating we were directed to begin singing.  We began the day with "Not the Great I Was" and began to sing the message of the cross through the many songs we sang.  We were enjoying ourselves so much we didn't want to end the singing! However, about 45 minutes after we began we ended with "It Only Takes One" and reminded the ladies how God wanted to use us as individuals to do great things for Him.

When the singing ended the chatter began again with many of the ladies making their way to our product table.  We received so many positive comments on the morning.  There was even an invite to do a concert in the main sanctuary of the church in the future. And, one of the ladies grabbed a handful of IOF biz cards to pass around town.  The day turned out so well we can't wait to get back to Lincoln, IL and be with these great people again!

Once we were packed up for the trip home the guys decided we needed a bite to eat because it was nearing noon.  On the way into town we spotted a local restaurant called "Daphne's".  Scot was driving and pulled the truck and trailer into the parking lot and we all piled out to go inside.  The restaurant had a "small town" feel to it and we felt right at home.  Toward the front of the restaurant was a buffet table spread with breakfast foods.  Scot mentioned "biscuits and gravy" and everyone decided on the buffet.  What  a spread! They had all of the good breakfast foods right within reach. Mmmm!

In two weeks IOF will be at Parable's bookstore in Arnold, MO for a CD signing.  If you're in the area...come on out!  Also, we will be at New Hope Baptist Church in Worden, IL.  Check all the ministry dates and mark your calendar to hear IOF in concert near YOU!

On an added note.  We were given notice that a brother, who had attended the concert in Burkburnett, TX on a Saturday night, had received Christ as his Savior the very next Sunday morning!  In his testimony he mentioned having heard the messages of the songs we had shared the night before.  Thank the Lord for the opportunity to be used as vessels to carry the Gospel!  Pray for us that many more opportunities to travel and share the Lord's message of Jesus will open for the ministry of IOF.  Thank you, Lord Jesus, we love you!