Encouraging Feedback

We were all encouraged by the following letter written by a teen who attended a concert and allowed the Lord to impact his life. He wrote the commentary to his church leadership, and they shared it with us. We seldom see the fruit of our labor, but once in a while, God allows us a peek at what He does behind the scenes of our ministry. Glory to Him!

“When we hear the word bluegrass, we automatically think of groups such as Bill Monroes’s popular string band, the Blue Grass Boys. I used to think this way until I was introduced to the Hitch family. With their music, I learned that bluegrass is so much more than a circle of elderly men playing the banjo and the odd harmonica. It is also an amazing way to praise the Lord. Mr. Jim and Mrs. Kathy have raised the most talented and respectful family I have had the fortune to meet. Together the family travels the country and spreads their testimony, music, and most of all the joy they have for serving our Lord. The song, “Faith, Hope, and Love,” helped me through a rough patch of my life recently and I know it must have helped others as well. Their music in general helped me remember—and yes I had turned a blind eye towards it—that God loves my family and I. It helped me to more thoroughly understand that all things happen for a reason. People get sick, family members die, relationships grow apart, and lives change. It is all part of God’s plan for us. Their music helped me remember this. From now on this teenager will never look at bluegrass music the same again. Hopefully when anyone hears the name, “Simple Grace”, they will remember the Hitch family and the beacon of light they are to lost, hurt, and confused souls. I know I will.”

E.C. - Georgia

"For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,

And as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up,

So the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise

To spring up before all the nations." Psalm 61:11

South Carolina's Gospel Express Prison Crusade brought us to Columbia, S.C., where the sun was shining and spring was in the air!

Take heart, ye Northerner's!

Volunteers converged from all over the States to serve in the prisons in South Carolina. The ministries pictured above and below were assigned to prisons in the Columbia area.

The daily devotional times were a highlight for the Hitch family. We made new friendships and deepened longstanding ones. And God was powerful. . . . .

I never really know who is changed more; the inmates or the ministers! We were extremely challenged and felt such an awareness of the need for God in the hearts of inmates. As men and women yielded their lives to God, we were reminded of our need of forgiveness, too. And of the universal power of His grace!

Back in the 'free-world', we are always honored to sing and tell of His love. . . .

Sterling on the harmonica.

Sterling, Havilah and Jim

Sterling on mandolin.

Lucas sings "Fade".

Sterling, Lucas, Havilah, Avery & Jim

Jim

Kathy

Avery, singing "The Love of God"

Kathy, sharing with the audience.

Sterling takes a lead.

Bristol playing the penny whistle.

Havilah signs and sings "Softly and Tenderly".

Lucas gave a youth concert in Springfield, Georgia, sharing his personal testimony and songs that he has written. Jim helped him out on the bass guitar, and Blake played the drums. The photos below are from the youth evening.

We are driving toward home tonight, with hearts that are on fire for service for the Lord!

He is worthy of ALL our devotion and love!

We are honored and privileged to serve the King!

Can't wait to see you sometime soon! Thank you for keeping up with us, and thank you for your prayers on our behalf.

South Carolina Prison Crusade

We request your prayers as we begin the South Carolina prison crusade on Thursday, February 7th. The family is healthy and eagerly anticipating a powerful week with the Lord in prison!

Watch for updates soon.

Two Days Off

Simple Grace had two days off while we were visiting Sarasota, Florida, and we took advantage of the time to enjoy the sunshine and ocean.

We thank the Lord for great friends who share their blessings with us and give us memorable moments!

Our Captain, Dale Bontrager, knew the best places to visit and gave us a day to remember!

It was a different perspective viewing the bridge from the water instead of the water from the bridge!

Dale took us to a sandbar during low tide, where we all fanned out in search of seashells.

We found dozens of sanddollars from dime size to palm size. There were conch shells, starfish, tiny crabs, and all sorts of treasures from the sea! The water was shallow for a quarter mile, the sand was clean and white and the sun shone all day.

Sterling and Kathy combing the sand.

Isn't God creative?

Just the color of the water off the side of the boat was incredible!

Bristol smiles in the bow of the boat.

After a perfect day, Dale and Mary Bontrager shared their gift of hospitality by hosting a campfire in the backyard. Havilah roasted marshmallows for s'mores as the other guests relaxed.

Blake toasted up a perfect s'more, too!

Mary's mom, Mattie, was visiting from Indiana, and kept us company for the weekend. Everyone should be privileged to have such a special Grandma! Thank you, Bontragers's, for the best visit ever! We love you! Can't wait to see you again!

We lift up grateful hearts to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for His never-ending grace and lovingkindness toward us, His children. He is the joy in our hearts and gives us rest when we are weary, strength when we are weak, and wisdom when we request with believing hearts. Glory to Him!

We Care Prison Ministry

Simple Grace has been privileged to participate in the We Care Prison Crusade every year for the past seven years. Joining with hundreds of other volunteers, we spend four days in Alabama prisons ministering to prison inmates.

Our first prison assignment was Donaldson. This is a security Level VI men's prison, and a last-minute decision by the warden allowed only adults over age 19 to enter. That left our family with Jim, Kathy, Avery and Lucas for a band! We limped a little, but the Lord met us and we were able to minister in spite of being few in number. All we really need is the Lord!

It can be intimidating to drive up to a prison institution. I wanted you to see the fences, razor wire, electric bars and guard towers that meet us on approach.

You may imagine that we totally bless the inmates when we come to minister. In reality, it is we who are blessed! Blessed by incarcerated Christians who stand out in a dark place, willing to be persecuted for their faith, giving a hope in hopeless situations, expressing joy in sad circumstances, and encouraging US in our ministry. It is LOUD in prison! They stand up to applaud! They shout AMEN, and laugh and cry. It is real there. And those who just don't know God for sure hear the truth. A blessing to give and receive. . .

Last night we sang at Holman Prison. There was an inmate execution scheduled for 6:00 pm, while we were there ministering. It was a somber time for all of us. Actually, it was miraculous that the Warden would let a ministry enter the institution at all during a scheduled execution. Our Chaplain had a time of silence in honor of the inmate when we began at 5:30, and we proceeded with our concert. We were told the inmate had surrendered his life to Christ. I must admit, we all watched the clock minute by minute. At 6:00, our family exchanged glances discreetly. It began storming outside; lightening and thunder and wind. There was an intense storm, and before our scheduled ending time, the service was stopped and the inmates put into lock-down because of the severe weather. We were told after the inmates left that the execution was stayed by the Governor. The reality of matters of life and death is forefront in prison. Physical and spiritual life and death. Very sobering.

"Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Thy book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them."

(Psalm 139:16)

We carried our equipment out of Holman during the peak of that storm. Some said they had never seen rain like that in their life! We had precious help from the volunteers, but the boys got drenched!! Above is Sterling emptying the equipment cart.

I took this photo out the window of the bus as the guys finished packing up! It was raining so hard, they could hardly keep their eyes open. Hope we can get their suits dry for the upcoming concert!

Next week we will participate in South Carolina's Prison Crusade. Please pray for health and safety for our family. We have had some health issues affecting our voices. We are weary from a busy week, but we don't wish to rest in any diesel shop!! (Thy Will be done, Lord.)

Thank you for sharing in our adventure with the Lord!

Beginning 2008!

For 2008, our family and ministry theme is "Exchanging will for Will". The path for Christian growth is full of opportunities to lay down our will for the Will of our Lord. Most gladly we purpose to do this. Walking it in the daily action of life is a challenge!

Who would have thought after days of cleaning, preparing, organizing and packing for our first trip of the year, instead of the warmer South, we would end up at this diesel shop for two days!

We left home during a severe winter snow storm, with blizzard-like conditions, and made it to Hebron, Nebraska, where our drive shaft yoke broke. We were towed 80 miles, to Salina, Kansas, where we spent the next two days inside this shop.

The mechanics did what they could, and waited for parts we needed to be overnight-delivered.

After exhausting ourselves with preparing our home and livestock for leaving in winter, helping Lacey finish her move to her new home, preparing the bus for a long trip and packing the bus and van, this forced stop gave us some much needed rest. We were thankful for the safe place to be and the rest we were given here. Not in our plans, but . . . .He knows.

We are also thankful for qualified mechanics who get us up and going along the way. This was definitely not the first time we've rested in mechanic's shops!

We missed our first two scheduled concerts in Macon, MS, and Greenville, AL. It was disappointing to miss our friends in those two churches.

When we did get to Flordia, we were blessed to stay in our favorite campground in between concerts. It is right on the Gulf of Mexico.

Homeschooling is just more fun on the beach, even if it is chilly!

Behold the Beauty of Holiness!

His faithfulness is unfailing!