Vestal Goodman

There was a time when the need for "community" pulled folks from their homes to country churches for worship and fellowship. Today, we are crowded into cities, surrounded by stimulation, and bombarded by noise. Yet, we are often no closer to each other than we were our pioneer ancestors. Now, more than ever, we need community, fellowship, and a place to turn our hearts toward the things that last forever.

Mark Lowry is a very clever comedian, as well as an excellent singer, and this DVD focuses on his funny routines during the thirteen years he spent with the Gaither Vocal Band. The way it is presented, is that Mark and Bill Gaither are shown in a relaxed setting, as they sit and talk about the clips they show from the many Homecoming Series concerts around the country, as well as one in Ireland, and a short piece in England. It also includes some terrific music with the comedy, and my favorites are the two versions of "I'm Gonna Keep On", with Bill trying to sing the song while he is interrupted by bird calls and Mark's mischief; it's a terrific combination of wonderful music and harmonies, and at the same time totally hilarious. Well edited, this is a fast moving one hour and thirty-five minute show, interesting as well amusing, with often laugh-out-loud humor. Good clean fun is hard to come by, and Mark is one of the best at it. -Alejandra Vernon

Have you ever wished you could watch your favorite Homecoming songs one right after another? Now you can with the Homecoming Classics Series! Each volume contains 20 of the most requested performances from the Gaither Homecoming Series.

The styles are varied in this wonderful show, but the quality always high, with renditions of familiar classics along with a few original songs, with some numbers that are truly thrilling, among them the opening song, a bluegrass flavored "It's a Time for Joy" with Karen Peck and New River, the Gaither Vocal Band with David Phelps doing an exquisite tenor solo on "The Christmas Song" (and Mark Lowry doing Johnny Mathis !), "Children Go Where I Send Thee" with The Bishops giving us harmonies from heaven, the country rockin' sound of "Go Tell" with The Martins, and best of all, "Mary, Did You Know ?" (music and lyrics by Mark Lowry and Buddy Green), sung by the Gaither Vocal Band featuring an emotionally stirring solo by Mark Lowry. The words, melody, and interpretation of this song fills my eyes with tears when I hear it...the disc is worth it for this number alone. -Alejandra Vernon

In a city known for its jazz and its blues, the Homecoming Friends share the gospel with New Orleans concertgoers. As these southern saints go marching in to the Saenger Performing Arts Center, a landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places, familiar Homecoming faces and some new faces bring good news to those who have the blues.

If the Homecoming Friends look like they're having fun on the :What A time!" video, they are! Packed into this 90-minute video we featured artists Jonathan Wilburn, gold City, Jake Hess, David Phelps, Eva Mae LeFevre, James Blackwood, Ivan Parker, Ann Downing, the Reggie Saddler Family, and the Pfiefers, just to name a few. The Crabb Family make their big debut with "Please Forgive Me" while the Lewis Family perform a tune - "this Flight That Is Leavin' Soon" - that's guaranteed tp make everyone a bluegrass lover. Another bright moment is "Scatter Sunshine" featuring the trio of Woody Wright, Jeanne Johnson and Stephen Hill. Also included us a real show-stopper, Anthony Burger's piano medley of "Great Is Thy Faithfulness," "How Big Is God" and "How Great Thou Art."

Bill and Gloria Gaither with their homecoming friends filmed at the Orpheum Theater in Memphis Tennesee

Carp Lowry is the writer of the pond's newsletter and starts making up stories to put in the newsletter which causes distress to the inhabitants of Gaither's Pond.

Filmed at one of the largest Homecoming concert events ever at the Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia; All Day Singing at the Dome (with Atlanta Homecoming) contains live performances of some of your favourite songs and artists

From Father Abraham to John the Revelator, from the first century church to this moment, the people of God have always seen themselves as pilgrims — never settlers. "This world is not my home, I'm just a passing through" is more than a line from an old song. This sojourner's theme has been told to children in stories, sent in letters of encouragement to friends, preached from pulpits and whispered behind the closed doors of the underground church in times of persecution. But mostly, it's been sung. When kings were unjust, they sang of a kingdom whose builder and ruler was God. When the world seemd like a foreign country and when the strange language of power and materialism was the accepted tongue, these pilgrims reminded each other that they were natives of a far better place to which they were traveling. When they were separated, estranged or lonely, they sang of a great homecoming when all the singers would one day be together around their Father's throne.

Gaither Gospel Series: Recorded at Pinebrook Studios, Alexandria, Indiana