Welcome Music Schedule Pictures Guestbook Newsletter Contact Us About the Fortunes     Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ…” (Colossians 4:2,3) Praise be to our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ, who has been faithful to lead us to the close of another year. This Christmas marks our seventh year at Zion, fifth year in full-time ministry, and occasion of deep gratefulness for the personal revival He has brought about in our hearts. Many of you know how our year was kicked off by a wonderful ten-day vacation in Disney World, and all the winter camp meetings up in the mountains. We had a time of sickness that lasted about three weeks, but then gratefully realized that we had not been sick to that extent since we’d started traveling. Although the month was difficult, we were able to experience the loving care of many churches as they patiently helped us through times of cancellation, and ministered to us when we were able to come. Spring arrived with a gust of fresh air, and we traveled in five states, ministering in several revivals and church services. Although the year was just getting started and we were gearing up for our long summer travels, we found time to enjoy fishing with friends and fellowship with our home church. In April Lynn and Terry celebrated their twenty-seventh anniversary with a three-day trip to Tennessee. While they were gone, the children (with the help of their grandfather) put up and painted a white rail fence along our driveway. Back to the overalls, girls! Then in May, Michelle left our home, and many of you joined us in prayer for her return. There followed sleepless nights and times of discouragement, but through it all the Father was strong, mighty to save, and not weary in working. He used many to encourage us to keep walking… and keep singing. He stirred a revival deep within us that has not yet run its full course. He taught us to trust, to humble ourselves, to cry out in faith, to sing with tears. Over the summer we re-grouped, took a breath, and drove from one camp meeting to another, from revival to seminar, watching as the LORD used our testimonies of His grace to minister to others in ways we had never imagined. In June we sang for a three-day youth revival in Mt. Airy NC. What fun it was to join in the laughter and include the teenagers in our songs. One time we lined them all up on the stage and sang “O Happy Day” together before the preaching. In those three days, four young men trusted Christ to save them. How we did rejoice! July was busy as well; we ministered in nine different services, attended a weeklong seminar, celebrated two birthdays, and helped to throw an Independence-Day party. In one of the church services there was a woman who, bound to a wheel chair, rolled forward at the end and with contrition on her face confessed her need for salvation. Emotionally, these were hard months for our family… and yet the LORD continued to daily load us with benefits, with encouragement, with reasons for rejoicing. This was our story all through the next long month of August, in which we were gone for seventeen days on one trip, hearing the preaching of the Word and rejoicing with brothers and sisters in Christ. Upon our return we celebrated Terry’s birthday with a combined party to honor one of our own hometown heroes… a Marine fresh back from Iraq. The months of September and October were beautiful with color, full with appointments, and priceless with memories. After singing in Jonesborough TN all the second weekend in October, we drove to Pigeon Forge and celebrated Chrissy’s birthday by visiting the Dixie Stampede with our Tennessee friends. We all laughed so hard and knew we would never forget that night together. Joseph was called down to the arena to chase chickens in a competition, in front of over a thousand people. (He won, by the way) The mountains were alive with red, orange, and gold… and as we traveled from church to church we sang the glory along with creation. Generously, three churches pulled together and put our family in a hotel for over a week, so we felt quite at home going up and down the road. During this trip we ministered thirteen times over twenty days in three states, and it pleased the LORD to help and give much grace. Joseph had his ninth birthday while we were up in NC, and all the children from a church’s Christian Academy helped give him a party, complete with relay races in the gym and a huge finale of musical chairs. Joy sewed him his very own set of Marine Dress Blues, so he was a happy guy! November began with our homecoming from Mississippi, so the first Sunday at our home church allowed time for a much-needed rest. The very next week we attended again a weeklong seminar, and it was at this conference where the LORD sewed up the hole in our family. Michelle came for two of the services, and the Holy Spirit brought about repentance in her heart. She came home! We spent the weekend after that rejoicing and praising the Almighty for answering so many prayers… for triumphing over the enemy, and leading captivity captive. The truth had rested in Michelle’s heart all the while, and at the moment when the finger of God stirred that quiet place and she chose to turn, He extended His grace and we came forth in His victory! We are so grateful for all who have lifted us up in prayer over this year. Please know that God has seen fit to show Himself strong, and that your prayers have made a difference. December was packed full with church dinners, special services, attendance to a graduation on Parris Island, and all the wonderful, exciting moments that come while celebrating Christ's birth together as a family. There were many times of laughter and sweet memories, and each service this year held a sense of finality... as these were the last times we would dress up our little ones and perform the Christmas Story as we have for the past ten years. Next Christmas we will try to come up with a different program. Through all the cookie baking, carroling, wrapping presents, traveling and reading the Gospel of Luke, our LORD was faithful to manifest Himself in such a tender, real way this year. What a blessed, joyous time we had! We thank you again for your prayers and support. We love you all so very much. May our LORD give you an abundance of His grace this upcoming year as you continue to follow Him. In Christ Alone, The Fortune Family