We don’t always understand what is going on when He is working, but then if we did, we would probably mess it up. The Lord has a plan for the Shine On Trio; we still haven’t figured it out yet, but we are having a blast finding our way with God’s help.
The one thing that all of us had in common from the first time we sang together was our love of Southern Gospel music. Brenda and Cathy had sung together from the time they could work the tape deck, and record themselves singing. Brenda later learned to play the guitar and along with our sister Cheryl, we would have our own services, complete with taking up offering, preaching, and communion.
Growing up in the church we were always exposed to music, and were taught the fundamentals of singing to get ready for “Teen Talent.”
At Elmwood Avenue Church of God is where at the age of 15, Brenda met her future husband and Church of God preacher, Earl Quick. They have now been married for 33 years and pastor at the Jefferson Church of God, where the Shine On Trio first came to realize that maybe we really could serve the Lord with this ministry the Lord had put together for us. Brenda has always been in church; she has always sung in the church, she has always been in the church no matter where she followed Earl while he was in the Air Force, whether Earl went or not. When Earl finally gave in to the Lord’s call on his life, Brenda was right beside him, supporting him, and letting the Lord lead their lives.
Brenda had a ministry every day where she worked. As a nurse, she would not only nurse people’s physical needs, but also their spiritual needs. Right now Brenda is a Hospice nurse. For many people who have led a life far away from God, she has led them to God at the most important time of their lives. Even though it is a very demanding job, the rewards are great for Brenda; She has been able to
witness the change in people who felt they had lost everything because their lives were over as they found that their lives were just beginning, as they discovered they had a future hope bigger than anything they had ever dreamed before.
Cathy grew up in church, but then grew away, far away. One might say she was trying to figure God out, asking herself questions about where she fit into this world, what was she supposed to do…. she found out that isn’t possible to do when God isn’t in the equation. God kept his hand on her, and the Holy Ghost was constantly reminding her of where she was and where she should be, of the peace
and joy she could have again if she would just put away the world and return to Him. She wasn’t ready. Was God real? Had she been brainwashed all her life?
Cathy didn’t want children; she knew deep in her heart that if she had a child, she would have to do what was right: take them to church and teach them all she had been taught. But the Lord had a plan as He always does: Rachel was born in August 1999, the best thing that ever happened to Cathy other than her salvation. Thank God for praying parents and sisters! Cathy started to take Rachel to church with her parents. The preacher always seemed to stand at the end of her pew and preach her sermon…the words she needed to hear at just the right time. The Holy Ghost was still doing a work in her heart. In the year 2000 Cathy finally recommitted her life to the Lord. It wasn’t an easy path. There were many stumbling blocks, there were many times when she felt as though she was under more of an attack from the devil than she had ever been. But then the devil doesn’t have to fight
for what he already has, and he no longer has her!
Cathy had always loved to sing, but only in front of her sisters or parents, never in front of anyone else. Finally at a church cookout, her Mama convinced her to sing, saying “No one is paying attention much anyway; they are all eating.” So Cathy gathered her courage and crouched behind the piano and sang “Master of the Sea.” No one knew who was singing, but they liked it… and Cathy was hooked. She started singing with Brenda at church, and finally got to the point where her lips didn’t stick to her teeth every time she sang. If she only knew what was to come….
At a young age Roger’s parents would have him sing for the neighbors in their small town of Houston Missouri. Roger’s cousins had a gospel quartet called the ‘Harmoneers’ and let him start going with them to play guitar. He loved Southern gospel then, and his love for it has grown over the years, even though he didn’t always follow its message.
Though Roger wandered from the Lord, the Lord never was far from him, always using His words in gospel songs to pull and lead him back to where he belonged. In 2001, after softening Roger’s heart through years of ups and downs during which he could never really find what he was searching for, the Lord sent a dear co-worker to witness to him and lead him back to the Lord. Since then Roger
knows what that missing piece (peace) was– Jesus! Since turning his heart and life over to the Lord, and allowing the Lord to take control, things have worked out better for him than he could have expected.
After working and living in Logansport, Indiana for 28 years Roger started to get restless. He felt he wanted something more in his life even though he had a thriving music ministry of his own and a great job. He started thinking that maybe if he moved closer to his daughter and grandchildren in South Carolina, his life would have more fullness. So, he sold all he could, packed up his bags, and moved south on a wing and a prayer, all the time putting it in God’s hands to handle as He saw fit. After being in Columbia for several weeks, and earnestly looking for a church to fill the void that was left by the church he had attended in Logansport, he decided that the small church he kept riding by on the way to his grandchildren’s house was calling to him. The first Sunday he attended happened to be the church’s ‘fifth Sunday’ singing, during which anyone in the church could sing that night if they wanted. Roger asked if it would be OK, since he was a visitor, to sing that night… of course it was.
It just so happened that Brenda and Cathy were also going to sing that night. As usual they chose a song that would best suit their sisterly harmony. Roger also sang that night, and Brenda and Cathy could tell he was used to being up in front of people because he wasn’t the least bit shy… in fact, he was kind of a ham! After that night they couldn’t get rid of him! He kept asking Brenda if she
would mind if he sang with her and her sister. Finally they gave in and let him give it a try. Roger’s ability to find just the right note to sing and the blend they all had when they sang just seemed to fit. Over the next few months Roger continued to come to church, and the three practiced every chance they got. They had a good time just singing together, goofing off, and getting to know each
other.
Roger and Cathy had both prayed at one time in their lives, after failing to get it right on their own, that the Lord would bring them the right person to spend the rest of their lives with. The one thing that was most important, and that both had put at the top of their lists, was that if the Lord wanted them to be married again, then it would be someone that HE wanted, someone who loved the
Lord with all their hearts, and minds, and souls, someone who put HIM first in their lives.
Due to the obvious difference in their ages, both Roger and Cathy tried to run in the other direction even though their hearts were telling them something else. They didn’t know the Lord had already put His plan in motion a long time ago…there was no denying it. On February 5, 2006 they got married and have let God have His way ever since.
The Shine On Trio also wants the Lord to have His way in all we do. We want His message to come through in every song we sing. We LOVE THE LORD and want everyone to know what He has done in our lives. We want Jesus to shine in our lives. We want Jesus to touch each and every heart we come into contact with. Our prayer is that He would use us; that not our will, but His will be done in
our lives. Some of the songs Roger has written with God’s help tell of where he was and where God brought him. We want His words in our hearts and in our mouths. We want to tell the world that He is the answer to all your questions, your problems, your needs, and your wants. Quit looking for the answers to your questions in the wrong places. He is the way….the only way. He has answered so
many prayers for us. He has done so much for us….our health, our homes, our families, our talents, and most of all He gave His life so that we could have life… life more abundant, life eternal. Our prayer is that if you aren’t 100% sure that you are forgiven and on your way to heaven, that you would take the time to make sure. Ask and ye shall receive, knock and the door will be opened. Just say a simple prayer. Admit you aren’t perfect. Admit that you are a sinner. Ask the Lord Jesus to forgive you of your sins and come into your heart….you have nothing to loose and the whole world to gain.
