RECOLLECTIONS

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

“ON HITLER’S STAGE…”

By Ken Waggoner, Continentals Singers Director

When we grew from one group to three in l968, Ken Waggoner was one of the three Directors.  He and his wife, Nancy, had a great Continental career and spent much of their adult life in leadership on the road and as part of the office team in Southern California.

JUST PRODUCING MY ASSETS

In 1970, the city of Berlin was still deep inside Communist East Germany.  It was a bit surreal for our Continental Singers group to consider our surroundings as we flew into historic Tempelhof airport to perform a Christian concert.  The slightly out of place feeling only deepened when we saw our concert venue: a large outdoor amphitheater that had been built in the 1930’s and was the site of some of Adolf Hitler’s dramatic, hysteria-inducing speeches which must still be echoing somewhere all around us.

The stage was massive—our large 40-member group actually shrank in size and looked very small up there!  At the back of the stage stood a tall granite slab, probably 40 feet tall and partway up that slab, a few feet above the main stage, a small platform jutted out. 

I COULD SEE HIM STANDING THERE IN MY MIND….THE LITTLE MUSTACHE UNDER HIS NOSE FLINCHING WITH EACH MESMERIZING GESTURE, THE AUDIENCE BEYOND AT ATTENTION WAITING TO BURST OUT IN CRAZIED APPLAUSE.   

There was also an entrance just behind for him to make his appearance at just the right time!  It occurred to me that the platform was also just about the right size to fit our drummer’s set!

Our drummer that year was a gregarious teenager named Lynn Coulter.  By nature, he was a “flash and dash” kind of guy.  He was incredibly creative and-given the chance- could dazzle an audience.  Of course, he didn’t get that chance very often because he was the drummer. He had to keep himself in check most of the time so our audiences would have a chance to hear the vocal group in those overly acoustic church buildings!

But, I thought this might be the perfect time to let him loose.  There was a place in the middle of one of our up-tempo songs I decided would be a great spot for a drum solo.  So, I told him when he got to that spot to just “go for it and see what happens”.

He did!  It was probably 3 minutes long (the song was probably only 4) and after 50 years, maybe my memory is a bit fuzzy, but I sure remember the audience reaction.  As soon as both sticks came crashing down on that last drum for his dramatic ending, they went crazy! They were on their feet whistling and yelling, and the applause went on and on and on for at least as long as his drum solo had lasted.  Lynn stood tall and was all smiles… me, too… a moment of exhilaration and real pleasure.

Cam always told the Directors to “produce your assets”.  In other words, if you’ve got someone on your tour who has a special talent, USE IT!   Find a way to let your audience enjoy them by adding some extra excitement to the concert program experience.  That was one night we did exactly that!


Ken Waggoner, Continentals Singers Director

• Tour participant:  1963 – ‘65
• Directed CS tours:   1968 – 1977
• Worked in the CS office:  1974 – 1987
• Have lived in Colorado Springs since 1991
• Currently semi-retired, working part time (IT-related)
• Enjoying singing in a great church choir

 

 

"JOSEPH/DREAMER" - Monday, September 4, 2017

REWIND… 


THE CONTINENTAL SINGERS OPENING NIGHT 
JUNE, 1984, THE FIRST SEASON
SPRING, 1994, THE 10 ANNIVERSARY TOUR

                        "JOSEPH/DREAMER"

Joseph was sold as a slave by his brothers.  He lost control of his life.  Joseph later told his brothers, “What you intended for harm, God intended for good”.

GOD WAS IN CONTROL OF HIS LIFE

You have read the story of Joseph and his coat of many colors recorded for us in Genesis, Chapters 37 to 48, (the “Technicolor Dream Coat”, said Andrew Lloyd Weber).  Joseph was sold by his jealous brothers to a caravan of Ishmaelites traveling down to Egypt.  Once there, this young teenager, with his life and goals still ahead of him, was sold to one of Pharaoh’s officials, an Egyptian, Potiphar, the Captain of the Guard.

There are four important attributes Joseph had that took him from being a slave to becoming Pharaoh’s right hand, 2nd in command, in charge of all Egypt.  These same  four characteristics will take you from this rehearsal camp to becoming the Continental that will take God’s message of forgiveness to the whole world.

JOSEPH HAD THE RIGHT ATTITUDE.  

Instead of complaining and pointing out how he had been mistreated by his family, he charged ahead. His new owner saw that the Lord was with him and was giving him success, so he put him in charge of his entire household.  

Tour life is glamorous for sure, but after a while many little things, and possibly what you will consider even some big things, may take your eyes off the ministry goal in front of you.  Attitude is everything.  It will help you to be a successful person in everything you do.

JOSEPH TRUSTED THE LORD WAS IN CHARGE OF HIS LIFE.  

With his success came some challenges.  Potiphar’s wife took notice and did her best to entice him for her sexual gratification.  He refused, she accused him anyway. Potiphar believed his wife and Joseph was thrown into a prison where the King’s prisoners were confined. While there, the Warden saw the Lord was with Joseph, so he put him in charge of all the other prisoners.  It was here that he interpreted dreams by Pharaoh’s cup bearer, and his baker, that eventually got him out of the prison.  

Not everything on this itinerary will happen without the possibility of some abrupt disruptions, maybe a cancellation and an empty night, maybe a long, long bus ride, maybe a breakdown, maybe you will even miss a concert, although I doubt your Director will allow that to happen!

Trust your Director to make the right decisions.  He or she is in charge of your tour.  Your leader is trusting the Lord to give them success.  The Lord is with them.  The Lord is with you, too.  Trust in that, and no matter what happens, you will see that God had good in mind all along.

JOSEPH STAYED FAITHFUL.  

Slavery and prison took away his youth.  Not one time did Joseph lose hope.  When God closed various doors in his life, He also opened windows of opportunity, and Joseph remained faithful throughout as the Lord remained faithful to him.  There will be times people on your tour may talk against your Director, or another tour member, or worse, begin to believe the Lord is not really in charge.  Stay faithful!  The Lord is in charge! Be supportive in every way, so that this becomes an experience of a lifetime for you.

JOSEPH WAS FORGIVING. 

He could easily have taken revenge on his brothers and made them languish in prison for awhile like he had to.  But, instead, he understood that God had always been in control so that he could be in a position to actually save his family during the long, seven year famine.  What a great life lesson for us, and for you, this summer.  It is your responsibility to love, enjoy, and forgive, as necessary, whatever wrongs you feel someone has done to you.  This is the Christian’s right attitude and The Continental’s right way, especially while on this long tour.

If you can grasp that God is really in control of everything that happens to you, like Joseph did, it is a lesson that will bring you success in everything you do for the rest of your life, just like it did for him.

“BUSTED” – Wednesday August 2, 2017

RECOLLECTIONS ...FROM A JEREMIAH PEOPLE Tour

By Sterling Swan, Technical Director

(Jeremiah People began in 1971. They were a comedy, drama, music team, part of the Continental ministry, that toured coast to coast nine months out of the year for 45 + years.)

                                        

A VIVID MEMORY                                                                                                       

Jeremiah People 1974-75...and the van

It was the 1974-75 Jeremiah People tour (they traveled doing concerts 9 months out of the year) and during these years, the J.P. team were in a Dodge van.  As you can imagine, that van was packed full of people, luggage, concert equipment, records, and personal items.

One morning, following a very heavy rainstorm the previous night, we were driving east along I-40 toward Little Rock, Arkansas.  Although low on fuel, we elected to bypass the exit at hand and stop at the next station down the road.

Less than 2 miles east of that unwise choice, we realized that we could easily run out of gas before the next gas station.  No problem, we’ll just cross the grassy median strip, double back and gas up.  Half way across that median strip we bogged down in what had become muck and there we sat…totally stuck!  This in itself was not unusual for a Continental tour, in those years busses and vans were frequently breaking down.  (Thank you, Sterling!)  We finally got a tow truck to pull us out, drove back and fueled up.

Little did we know that the Arkansas highway patrol, acting on a tip, had staked out that portion of the interstate looking for out-of-state vehicles carrying illegal drugs.  Our little median strip u-turn aroused the suspicion of the stake-out team and they started trailing us in unmarked cars as we headed east again.

It all came to a head on the western edge of Little Rock as three unmarked patrol cars pulled us over right on the busy interstate.  Jon Sherberg, who was driving at the time, was asked to get out and sit in one of the patrol cars while they check his license.  A few minutes later the detective in charge told the other six of us to get out of the van, open the back doors and empty the van.  EMPTY THE VAN!! …on the side of the road.

Now it was clearly time to play our Christian card.  We explained that yes, we were from California, but our president, Cam Floria didn’t allow us to use any drugs stronger than Tylenol.  Yes, we were smuggling things…Christian tapes and records from state to state that even the detective’s mother would probably like listening to and best of all, we were performing in a church in Little Rock that very evening.  He heard our story, looked at our sardine-like maxi-van, paused and sent us on our way.

That night, after we arrived and before our performance commenced, one of the church staff people commented with squinty eyes, “So, I saw your Jeremiah People van stopped on I-40 earlier this afternoon surrounded by police cars.  Seemed serious.  What happened?”

(Here we go again…) “Would you believe……” 

“Nothing is hidden that shall not be revealed…”

Members of the 1974-75 J.P. “smuggling team” were: Jon Sherberg, Mike Johnson, Jim Custer, Pam Bartlett, Vicki Robbins, Judy Walker and Sterling Swan.

Sterling Swan

After traveling two years with Continental Singers and Jeremiah People in the early 70’s, Sterling got married, raised a family, and worked as an air traffic controller. In the fall of 2006, he became a full-time caregiver, helping his wife battle advanced-stage melanoma cancer for over seven years. Karen died in 2014, motivating him to write a book celebrating her life, candidly describing the impact cancer had on his family, and explaining how this journey fundamentally transformed him. 

“OVER THE LINE” – Monday July 31, 2017

REWIND… DIRECTORS CAMP, JUNE 1989

                             

MY MISSION IS CLEAR                                                

In 1989 we were singing a medley called, “Let the Whole World Sing” and another called, “A Story and a Song for the Nations”. We had big ideas, and big expectations, of reaching the whole world with the gospel wrapped up in musical productions.  I had all kinds of motivational phrases I used on the directors from the very beginning like, “You can do anything you want to if you want to bad enough”, "To whom much is given, much is required”, “If there’s no stage when you get there, build one” and “Attitude is everything”. And when a new rookie director came to me with the deflating word that there was too much equipment to fit under the bus, my response was always, “Do I have to go load your bus for you?”

We were probably in Palm Springs, 110°-115° in the day, but much nicer in the evening, sitting around the pool getting to know each other and listening to what everyone had been through that year. We prayed together and listened to each of their expectations for the summer.  It was in a setting like this that I read something I had just found called, “Declaration for the 21^st Century” by John Osteen.  Here it is for you to digest!

“I am part of the unashamed.  I have Holy Spirit power.  The dye has been cast.  I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made.  I am a disciple of Jesus.  I will not look back, let up or slow down, back away or be still.  My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure.  I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, chinsey giving, dwarf goals.  I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, prominence, plaudence or popularity.  I don’t have to be right.  I don’t have to be first.  I don’t have to be tops.  I don’t have to be recognized.  I don’t have to be praised.  I don’t have to be regarded nor rewarded.  I now live by presence, lean by faith, walk with patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.  My face is set.  My gate is fast.  My goal is heaven.  My road is narrow.  My way is rough. My companions few.  My guide is reliable.  MY MISSION IS CLEAR.  I cannot be bought.  I cannot be compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, diluted, or turned away.  I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, meander in the maze of mediocrity.  I will not give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ.  I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.  I must go until He comes, give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until he stops me.  And when He comes for his own, He will have no trouble recognizing me because my colors are clear. (And I added)  Because…                                             

I  AM  A  CONTINENTAL  DIRECTOR

PROMISE KEEPERS – Friday July 28, 2017

REVERBERATIONS FROM DAVID’S PSALMS

Psalm 15:1 “…Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?"

                                  

SPEAK THE TRUTH                                             

In Psalm 15, David creates a list of things he has come to understand by his own experiences.  This list does two things: show honor to the Lord and keep David in good shape with his friends.

There are also two big items that stand out in David’s list of things that we can do in Psalm 15. We can keep our promises, which, he says, will honor the Lord.  David says it is one, “WHO KEEPS HIS OATH EVEN WHEN IT HURTS” (v.4). Jesus said, “Let your yes be yes and your no, no”!  Same thing.

And the other thing, is one “WHO SPEAKS THE TRUTH FROM HIS HEART” (v. 2).  For David, this was someone “who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellow man! (v. 3) Sometimes, the truth is evasive, and it’s just easier to agree with whatever someone else says.  Gossip and a seeming light slur come across easily on our smart phones as no one can see our expressions.  Passing on questionable stories about someone when we have no idea of the background to their actions or know nothing of what is really in their heart is a bigger deal than we normally accept.

James said, “If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man” (Jas. 3:2). Jesus called it loving your neighbor as yourself.  David has the answer to his own opening question in the last verse.  He simply says, “He who does these things will never be shaken” (v.5).

In the book, “David’s 7 Secrets,” the 2^nd chapter deals with all 10 of David’s virtues.  We call it, “Sit at God’s Round Table.”  There you will find the concepts of Psalm 15 as well.

“PLEASE DON’T SEND ME TO AFRICA” – Wednesday July 26, 2017

RECOLLECTIONS ... OF A CONTINENTAL DIRECTOR

THE DUNG HUT AND THOUSANDS OF BUGS
By Jon Eric Woodward

(Jon Eric Woodward went on 12 Continental tours, directing 8 of them. He has been in worship arts ministry for 28 years and is currently Pastor of Worship Arts in High Point, North Carolina)  


                   

Jon Eric and Cindy Woodward

Jon Eric had been the first Director to volunteer with Campus Crusade for Christ, "The Jesus Film" Project, after Paul Eshelman, their leader, challenged us to join his venture at a summer rehearsal camp.  Jon took his Continental Singers tours to faraway places, performing and showing "The Jesus Film" to people who had never heard the name Jesus.  A couple years later, Jon Eric found himself in Africa, and able to recount this story:

In 1987, my tour was in Kenya to show The Jesus Film. A Christian artist, Scott Wesley Brown, had joined our tour. The Continental Singers had performed many of Scott’s songs over the years including, “He Will Carry You” from our musical, DREAMER.   I split our group up into smaller teams to go into different parts of Kenya. My group of seven, along with Scott Wesley, traveled deep into the bush, and showed the film six different times.

The first village had an 8’ tall pile of thick brush all around it.  We were told it was to keep lions and leopards from killing and eating their animals.  They also volunteered that, the week before, a Leopard had jumped their “fence” and taken a baby goat.  We were to sleep in the village that night!  THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

Our sleeping quarters were cow dung huts.  They had no light, and only a small hole in the top to let the smoke out.  Yes, they even cooked inside!  The entry ways were very tight and really curvy, so that if a wild animal did get into the fenced sleeping area at night, they would have a hard time getting inside the huts… (very consoling).

Scott Wesley and I stayed in the same hut and were having a quiet talk before hitting the sack, when we began to hear a very soft noise.  He asked me if I heard something.   I had!  It was pitch black inside.  The sound was growing in intensity, like in stereo. I took out my small flashlight.  There was nothing. I put the light on the ceiling. It was moving!  Thousands and thousands of bugs were crawling all over the ceiling of our dung hut!  We did not sleep well that night!                                 

Believe it or not, the very next day Scott wrote a song The Continental Singers would perform for years to come, “Please Don’t Send Me to Africa”.                  

We saw many people who had never even heard of Jesus believe in Him as their Savior during our time in Kenya.   It was always interesting to watch their reactions and hear their verbal responses when our Lord was beaten and hung on a cross.  They were not fans of the Romans!

I had the opportunity to go on three Jesus Film Project tours.  Of all the 12 tours I went on, those tours had the greatest impact on my life.

Cindy and Jon Eric with their 4 kids

Since his Continental days, Jon Eric graduated from LSU with a degree in music education. He then went on to graduate from Dallas Theological Seminary. He married the love of his life, Cindy, in 1989...a Continental "TC" (tour couple), Jon Eric and Cindy met at Rehearsal Camp in Arrowhead Springs for their 1984 Continental tour. Jon Eric has always had a passion for worship ministries, to lead people to worship God in spirit and truth, always Biblically and Christ centered. Jon Eric also has a masters in Bibical Studies and recently completed another masters in Worship Studies. Jon Eric and Cindy served in Louisiana for 14 years before moving to High Point, North Carolina where they currently live with their 4 children.   

“REACHIN’ OUT” – Monday July 24, 2017

REWIND… The Continentals Opening Night, June 1997

TELL THE GOOD NEWS  1997                                                      

It was our 30^th year and Dick and Mel Tunney had written our opening song to celebrate the anniversary…

“He’s given us a voice to tell His story.

He’s given us a reason to live.

Conquering the grave, He’s taken sin away.

Jesus gave us all he had to give.

Now that we’ve received His salvation,

Our mission is to pass the faith along.

Carrying the flame, lifting high His name,

The good news of the Gospel is our song.

TELL THE GOOD NEWS….”

As you all now know, our theme this summer is “REACHIN’ OUT”.  Mr. Webster must have been a Continental because he said reaching out means “to touch by extending,” or better yet, “to carry as far as you can go!”, “To arrive at by effort” (he had to be a Continental) or “to attain some GREAT GOAL,” “To have influence by reaching someone,” “to establish contact with,” and finally he said the one that really works for us, “this power reaches into other lands, to carry, to penetrate, as sight and sound do!”  Yes, that’s us… that is you this summer.  The sight and sounds of the Continentals REACHIN’ OUT and penetrating the world with the message of Jesus Christ through music and performance!  Fantastic!

One of our great goals is to empower you by preparing you, the Continental, to reach out to people all over the world this year.  We want you to experience the Lord in a new and wonderful way, to grow spiritually, to learn to trust Him more and give you a chance to share your testimony, what you really believe, and share it with someone who needs to find Christ themselves.  You are Ambassadors of Jesus Christ this summer.  You don’t represent me.  You stand strong for Him as a Continental and your music and message will reach people’s hearts for sure.

There will be 54 groups like you doing this program literally all over the world this year.  And for the first time, some Continentals will be Slovakian, Italian and Argentinian who will be reaching out with other Continentals in their own language who will start out in their own countries in Asia, Europe and South America.  You are part of a big family.  But our message is the same everywhere.  Jesus is alive and He changes the lives He touches through people like you.  What we are telling people is best told in a simple story…

Johnny had a terminal disease and not long to live.  His disease made it difficult for him to understand classroom assignments.  During Easter the children were supposed to take an empty plastic egg and put something in it that reminded them of Easter. 

The day the eggs were to be turned in, the teacher opened each one and made a positive comment.  One egg was empty.

Johnny raised his hand. “Teacher, you didn’t share mine.”

“I’m sorry, Johnny,” she said, “you were to bring something that means Easter to you and, and put it in the egg.”

“But teacher,” Johnny said, “Jesus tomb was empty—and that’s what Easter is all about.”

Johnny died a few weeks later, and in his casket his classmates placed twenty-seven empty eggs.  They understood.

That’s our bottom line message too.  Jesus is not in the grave, he arose, he lives.  He said, “I have come that they might have life and have it to the full.”

So - let’s tell everyone this good news.  Let’s REACH OUT and give people life!