40,000 plus people with Coon Hunting fever descended upon the Orangeburg Fairgrounds in South Carolina January 3-5 and we were right there in the middle of it all, literally! Our bus was parked in the number one campsite right below the barns that housed at least a million coon dogs and right in front of the “treeing tree” where afternoon contests were held.  Pam and I saw every possible coon dog contraption, dog box, training device known to man. And right smack dab in the middle of it was a big white tent put up by the folks at the New Hope Baptist Church under the leadership of their pastor, Anthony Hughes, who by the way was a wild as any coon hunter on the place. He gave away 272 gifts worth $6,000 while his folks fed anybody and everybody some of the best homemade soup and cornbread I’ve ever eaten. Oh yeah, it was below freezing!! I spoke to a tent full of folks and after the dust settled, 62 folks asked Christ into their heart and 155 rededicated their lives. Wow!!!

The next night we put on an hour of entertainment with one of the best bands that I have ever heard, Hi Cotton and I spoke again with 25 coming to Christ and a bunch rededicating their lives. Pastor Anthony gave away twenty two 50 pound bags of dog food and a cool 17 caliber gun that night. Saturday we worked the booth and the Pastor took a dollar bill into the crowd and shared Christ. Laymen from the church gave away tracts, Bibles and coupons. I gave out over 100 witnessing cards and sold some books and CDs.

Sunday morning I had the honor of preaching at this wonderful church. If you get a chance to go to this thing next year, pack up the kids and go. I’ll be that you ain’t ever seen nothing like this!!!

 Ralph Stanley Concert

Sunday afternoon at 2:10 I hit the stage in Columbia, SC to open for legendary Grammy winning Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys.  I did about 20 minute set of family comedy and testimony to a standing room only audience. These guys are great and we had a wonderful time after the show. Hopefully, I am going to be at their festival in May. The bus was such a blessing and made the trip so much better. Ain’t God good!!!!

Florida Beast Feasts

FBC of Callahan is an awesome church and each year they blow the doors off with their annual Beast Feast. I was there last year, third time, and we had a huge crowd with hundreds turned away. 427 folks accepted Christ that evening. So, they asked me to come back this year and do back to back nights. The trip down started out rough because in Macon the bus decided that it would start leaking water out of the engine. Pam and I headed back to Grayson and I left her and the bus for Florida. I literally got out of my truck and walked straight onto the stage to a packed house. 254 folks accepted Christ that night. The next night, packed house and 210 folks accepted Christ. These Beast Feasts are being blessed of the Lord in an unusual way.

Wild Game in Waycross

Saturday found me headed to Waycross, Georgia to the Oak Hill Baptist Church Wild Game Dinner. Man, it was cold and raining and these guys had all types of outdoor fun before the event. They had the kids chasing around a young pig and putting a shirt on it, plus skeet shoot, casting contest and other stuff. The event was held in a tent and the rain let up finally. We had a good night with approximately 175 folks and 7 coming to Christ. After the event, some of the guys stood under the cook tent and we ate fried quail out of an igloo cooler like peanuts. Son was that good. That night quite a few quail entered the ministry!! The next morning, I spoke at the church and had a wonderful time. They have invited me back for next year.

This Thursday, Feb. 8, I will fly to Michigan for three days of ministry in Traverse City and Gladwin. Already, the events are filled, so pray for a blessed time and safe travel.