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News
by
"Hello from Channing"
Hello friends,
It's been a few days since you've heard from the Eleton Camp, so here we are to fill you in on the past month.
It started on 9-28-08. The band and I were at the Eastgate Church of God of the Union Assembly in Chattanooga, TN. My dear friend Pastor Pratt Hughes invited us up to be in service with him and the wonderful folks at the Chattanooga church. We went up early to setup our equipment and made sure everything was "just right" during soundcheck. Now let me say something right here. I always pray this before a concert, "God interrupt the service if You have to, but please show up in a mighty way." Well we started the concert and everything was going fine...no problems. Two and a half songs into it, our PA system shut down! I did not know what to do. Talking about helpless! The people were so kind as we scrambled to get going again. After a few minutes of trying to get power back up to my system, we knew it just was not going to happen. I asked for a couple of mics from the church and decided to just go with what we had to work with. I went to the grand piano. Cameron found an outlet that worked for his and my dad's amps. And of course, Erik was on drums. We had no monitors, but got up rolling again. We did a couple more songs. I shared a little story and started to do another song. All of the sudden I heard, "Hey Brother, can I speak?" The voice was coming from a man in the back of the church. A gentleman that I had never seen before. I said, "Brother, help yourself." I got up from the piano with the microphone, walked back and met him in the middle of the aisle. I handed him the mic and said, "go like you feel." He started by saying he'd been driving by the church and never had any intentions in stopping. He'd never even been there before. But something drew him into the parking lot and into the building. By this time he was crying and said, "I'm lost and I need to be saved." I assured him that he was at the right place. I put my arm around him as he started with me toward the altar. Now, we know that it wasn't just "something" that drew him, it was Someone. Pastor Hughes met us at the altar. I knew as we were kneeling down that God had just interrupted the service. The dear man prayed to receive Jesus Christ as his Savior. We could really sense God's amazing presence. I knew that my little program had just went out the window and God had just taken over. It was exactly what I had hoped and prayed for! It didn't take a rocket scientist to know the concert was over and we had only done 4 1/2 songs! I began to share my testimony and led into an invitation. As I began singing the invitation song, people started coming forward. Christina's grandmother Louise was there, so I motioned her up to the piano. I got up from the piano as Louise took over and I mover toward the altar. I saw my longtime friend Johnny Crider come and kneel down. My 50 year old friend Johnny prayed to receive Jesus Christ as his personal savior! The convicting power of God Almighty was so strong in that place. Thanks be to Him. He had done what I asked Him to do. He interrupted the service. Praise God! Click here for some pictures of this glorious night...http://www.channingeleton.com/v/site_images/concerts/chatt2/
10-19-08 found my dad Earl, my friend Johnny Crider and myself driving up to Elizabethtown, KY. We left at 8AM on Sunday morning and drove 5 1/2 hours to Kentucky to do a Sunday night concert for my dear friend Pastor Jay Boyd. Brother Jay pastors the Victory Community Church in Elizabethtown. Let me tell you, we had church! We were treated like royalty and had the best time. Brother Jay and his family are just some of the most precious people you will ever meet. They are such Godly people. If you are in the Elizabethtown area of Kentucky, stop by and visit this growing congregation, Victory Community Church. You will no doubt be blessed. Thank you Pastor Jay and Sandra Boyd. Click here to see our night in Elizabethtown...
http://www.channingeleton.com/v/site_images/concerts/vcc/
10-26-08, This past Sunday, The band and I were invited by the wonderful folks at the Keith St. Church of God of the Union Assembly in Knoxville, TN. We went up on Saturday evening, setup and then did a soundcheck. The praise team met us and we went over some songs we would do the following morning. We had an uplifting time of ministry and fellowship with the praise team. The next morning I attended the Sunday School class taught by Pastor David Simmons. He taught on drawing close to God. His Sunday morning message was also about the same subject, but more in depth. Do you want me to tell you something cool? One of the songs I had taught the praise team for us to do before the morning message was "Draw Near To Me". None of us knew what the Pastor was planning on preaching. How beautiful to know that God always knows right where He is taking us and nothing ever catches Him off guard!
We had a wonderful afternoon of fellowship with our longtime friend, Rocky Smith. Rocky carried us to a great restaurant called Aubrey's. It was fun catching up and swapping old stories. Thanks Rocky, God bless you Brother!
The Sunday evening concert was truly special. Cameron and Erik were kicking on all cylinders. It was fun having the band back this week. Most importantly, God's presence was so very real. We witnessed broken lives being put back together during the invitation. How in awe I am to watch God truly at work in hearts and lives. It was really an incredible weekend. Special thanks to Pastor David, Assistant Pastor Gene Marie, Minister of Music Scott Kiser. And, a big thanks goes to my old friend Jay McCarter and the Knoxville praise team. You guys are truly pros! Here are some pics from our weekend...http://www.channingeleton.com/v/site_images/concerts/knoxville/
Well thanks for allowing me to catch up and let you know what's been happening with our ministry. Pray for us as we travel. Pray for our families. Please pray a special prayer for me that I stay before the Throne and in His presence. God bless you all!
Channing
John 21:25
P.S. I also want to send out a very special thank you to Roger & Cherie Mullins of Hope For The World Albania. Hope For The World is a missions/outreach organization that reaches out to the poor and hungry all around the world. Not only do they clothe and feed orphans, most importantly, they are taught about Jesus Christ. Roger and Cherie are over the Albanian chapter of Hope For The World. They have 10 orphanges that they care for in Albania. This mission work is funded through child sponsorship from individuals, familes and churches. Christina, Chanler and myself have sponsored a child with Hope For The World Albania for three years. It is so very rewarding to know you are making a difference in a child's life. Giving hope where once there was no hope.
I spent the weekend of 10-4 & 5 with the Mullins Family in Stockbridge, GA for their big annual Hope For The World Sunday at the Glen Haven Baptist Church. I was their special guest artist. They rolled out the red carpet for us and treated us like part of the family. Well, I always say we are family! I trully love the Mullins family. Thank you to Roger, Cherie, Cindy, Buddy, Kerri and the whole gang for an amazing weekend of God's people getting together and making a difference around the world!
For more information about Hope For The World Albania, click here: http://www.hopefortheworldalbania.com/
God bless you!
Channing
Oct. 30th, 2008
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