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I like to talk about successful groups, and here is one very successful group. Promise is a young trio with a fresh new sound. Coming from a great Southern Gospel area, the Blue Ridge Mountains, in Ashville , North Carolina , this young group has a unique sound. James Hales, in his CD review of Promise described them like this: "If the Downings were around today, this is what they would sound like. I simply can't help but think of the Downings when I listen to this CD. Consisting of Jeanie Cameron, Larry Madden and Jean Sexton, this trio has a lot going for them. Their style is entirely their own, they all sing exceptionally well and they seem to have a knack for finding great songs. They sound like a mix between the sound of the Downings and Lanny Wolfe Trio of the 1970's and the Specks and Ruppes of today." I can't think of a better way to tell you how they sound.

Jeanie Cameron has served at Trinity Baptist Church as Music Associate; and appeared with notable Christian speakers such as Charles Stanley and James Dobson. Her exceptional ministry has extended across America and in Greece, Israel, Brazil and Mexico. Jeanie likes to keep the group guessing by changing her hair color from one month to the next. Every CD showing Jeanie with a different hair color adds a lot of variety to the product table.

Jean Sexton was raised on gospel music at home as well as church. She became a gifted vocalist and pianist; accompanying the choir, leading children's choirs, Bible Schools and drama programs. Her powerful singing voice expresses her love for the Lord while presenting the gospel to others. Jean is the official barometer of the group. Her naturally curly hair forecasts the weather better than Nasa's radar.

Larry Madden began his career as an electrical engineer, but God called Larry to full time ministry. He earned a bachelor's degree in theology at Trinity Baptist College. He has served on staff at Trinity Baptist Church as Minister of Music and Associate Pastor. His heart for evangelism drives his passion for revival in America. Larry knows he did not receive the "spiritual gift" of telling jokes, but seeks compassionate believers who will laugh anyway.

A big part of the ministry for Promise is their "Fire In The Choir" clinics. Teaching and inspiring church choirs is a big part of Promise's ministry. The idea was taken from Psalm 100 and is designed to teach a progression of worship patterned after the Tabernacle, teaching the choir that they are the Levites of the New Testament, taking care of the music for the modern Tabernacle, the Church.

Though there are others instructing choirs, Promise is set apart from the rest because they bring their own music. After teaching a lot of technical aspects such as breathing, tone placement, correct vowel pronunciation, and blend, they take the choir to a new level, climaxing with a concert performed by the choir with Promise. As a former Minister of Music, I can tell you that your Music Minister will truly appreciate what they can do with your choir. This type of ministry to the church will make a Minister of Music's job a whole lot easier, and the church will be very grateful for the investment in the choir.

Fire In the Choir is always tailored to the specific needs of your choir, praise team, ensemble, musicians & special singers with an emphasis on ministry. They offer one day seminars to two and three-day retreats that culminate with a choir/Promise concert, can ignite a spark within your music ministry that will create immediate results you'll hear and long-term benefits you'll see in growth and commitment. If a choir or praise team member can get a vision of their true place in the worship service as being much more than simply occupying a seat or wearing a robe, you the music minister, will begin to see a new and/or renewed excitement about the music ministry and the job each singer or musician is called to do.

Promise was started to do this type of work with the choir at Trinity Baptist Church in Ashville, NC, where such Southern Gospel names as Ernie and Eric Phillips, and Squire Parsons attend. Though they were on staff at Trinity, they started receiving invitations from other churches wanting this ministry to their choirs, and as of August of 2003, Promise made the tough decision to go full time in the ministry of singing Gospel music and teaching choirs.

Stylistically they love the Church Music sound, but also love the Black Gospel sound; therefore they have a very diverse and interesting sound.

Promise did something very interesting in choosing their new radio release. They asked popular DJ, John Wishon, of radio station WWWC in Wilkesboro , NC to put a couple of songs before his audience. Over 75% of his listeners picked the song, "Mercy Moved In" written by members Jeanie Cameron and Larry Madden. The song is doing quite well on the charts.

When asked where they would like to sing that they haven't made it to yet, their answer was several starting with the National Quartet Convention, 1st Baptist Church in Jacksonville, FL, Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, VA, and the Meramac Caverns in Staunton, MO (hint, hint, to the Lesters).

Promise has a goal of being recognized as a legitimate Southern Gospel Trio, with the full time security of being able to sing in any church, no matter what size, and no matter what place in the earth it is.

The death of Hershel Lester, whom Jeanie considers to have been a good friend, as well as the other "heroes" of our genre have served as a stern reminder of their "mortality," reminding them that they need to be about the Father's business. Fondly remembering Hershel, Jeanie said that she often patterns Promise from her years with the Lesters.

Jeanie says that while the Lesters are always ministry minded on stage and in church and held the group to a standard of excellence, they always made life on the road fun, by doing things that were fun with the whole group, making her feel a part of the family.

Ending this article on a lighter note I will tell you that Larry used to take his lunch to school in a Scooby Doo lunch box, and Jeanie still had a little "swoon" in her voice when she said that she proudly took her "David Cassidy" lunch box to school.

Promise has received a Horizon Group of the Year nomination and are very proud and humbly thank all those who voted for them.

Visit Promise Ministries on the internet and be listening for more from this great young group.

Reader Comments

I'm so thankful to have experienced this group and their ministry. I wish them the very best. They deserve it! My love and prayers to them!

We have had Promise at our church several times and have never been disappointed! I think this year's homecoming will be the fourth in a row that they have been with us. Our people love them (and so do I!). Their musical quality is always "top shelf stuff" but it is their spirit that will attract you more than anything. They are fun folks to be around, but when it's time to worship, they are all business. I am proud to call them my friends and would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone. It will be a service you won't soon forget!

Promise is awesome. Even after over a year since I reviewed their "Mercy Moved In" CD, I still find myself almost every week, pulling out this CD to listen to it.

It's always fresh and it's always exciting! It simply doesn't get any better than this!

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