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The New Plainsmen Quartet had a great year in 2002. It really started the end of 2001 when our bus engine decided to blow, and I really mean stop- you know-give up the ghost!! No more goey down the roady!! Well, let's just say it's dark, cold and lonely thirty miles north of Pampa, TX at 10 PM sitting on the side of that deserted road. Now in itself, blowing the bus engine is very bad and very, very, very, very costly. (Did I say very, very, very, very costly-) However, in our case it allowed many good things to come our way. Now I'm sure you want to know how good things could come out of a blown engine. Well number one, God blessed us with a new engine with zero miles. Number two; he used people whom we never dreamed of to bless us in helping pay for that engine. Praise the Lord!!! Plus it showed us that no matter what the circumstance was, God could make a way. Hey that's our latest single "God Made A Way"!! And if you can believe it-that very weekend was the first out for our new baritone Dwain Petty. I think we all saw just how God can and will make a way for his people. Hey, here I go again "God Made A Way"!

Okay, nuff said on the engine. But that is how the year 2002 started off. Let's see-our new project with our new baritone and a new engine in the bus, a new backdrop for our product table and many new dates to come. Let's hit some highlights starting with January-the bus is ready with that new engine, a photo shoot with Dwain and some great dates. Now to February-again some great dates-one in particular was the Oklahoma Opry in Oklahoma City, OK. This is basically where Vince Gill, Reba McEntire and Brian White all got their start. Wow what a great crowd! They love southern gospel music. Also in February my wife Renee hit the "Big 40" mark. Love you Hon! Marching right along comes the month of March-I guess the highlight for March was for Renee and I mostly because we sang in our hometown of Chickasha on Easter Sunday morning at our former church. It was great to be back and what a crowd! Thanks Pastor Knight. April saw many trips to Texas. However one trip to the state of Missouri stands out because that was our first Branson date. This was for the Branson Gospel Music Association. Thanks to Phyllis Rotrock and all the BGMA Association. April was also an exciting month for TNPQ as our second radio single "If You Could See Where I Am" debuted in Singing News at #59. Thanks to Rick Hendrix and The Rick Hendrix Company for promoting this song. The month of May kept us very busy. One concert in particular was the Lake Country Jubilee in Greenville, TX. This concert has been promoted by Harold Marshall for many years and is top notch. We had the privilege of singing with The Perry's, The Dixie Melody Boys, and Won By One. We would like to thank Harold and Jean Marshall for the great work that they do with Lake Country Jubilee. The New Plainsmen look forward to being back in Greenville May 17th with The Perry's and The Dixie Melody Boys. Okay, June is here and that means summer weather in the plains states and gospel singings. We were privileged again to be part of the Owachito Festival in Broken Bow, OK. What a beautiful setting and what a great crowd. Also, thanks goes to Scott Brumley and the host group Glorybound for making this happen. Now the month of June allowed us to do things we as The New Plainsmen had never done before. First we sang at Capitol Hill Full Gospel in Moore, OK. Okay, no big deal except that we were "cowboys"! No, not Dallas Cowboys-. but we dressed like "old timey cowboys" in front of God and everybody! Well, I must say it was an experience! The second unusual thing that happened was that we were invited to sing at Beto Prison Unit in Tennessee Colony, TX. This, my friend, is a maximum-security prison. Through Chaplain Loren Edwards we were blessed to sing (for over one hour) to 600 plus men. WOW and double WOW! That was a life changing experience for TNPQ. A special thanks to all the sold out Christian incarcerated men who made sure our every need was met, including our safety and security. You guys are the greatest! Okay, now it's really heating up. July in the plains states is hot!! We had the privilege of singing at one of the oldest and longest running events in Texas when we sang at Quitman's "Ole Settler's Day" reunion. Although the crowd was great and we had a full house, this was outside underneath a huge gazebo. Let me tell you it was hot!! I think "pretty-boy Dale's" makeup was running! Just kidding! No, he doesn't wear makeup. Anyway it was great no matter how hot. Thanks to Clent Tucker for the opportunity to be in Quitman, TX. This month and this year also had a special meaning to my wife and myself as we celebrated 20 years of marriage. Wow-one old man with one old lady, add her 20 to my 20 and we've been married 40 years!! LOL!! The month of August is a great month because it's the month I was born in. Some would say, "hatched" in, but my sweet mother would certainly disagree. Love ya mom!! August was a once in a lifetime month! We describe it as our "Presidential" month, because it is the month that we went to see President George W. Bush at his Crawford, TX. Ranch. Although we never actually got to meet President Bush it was a day we will never forget! August was also an amazing month because we were witness to over 300 people squeeze, pack, press and smash together in a church designed to seat 175 maximum. This Guinness World Record (not really) happened at Billy and Lillie Dotson Sr.'s church in Edgewood, TX. This just happens to be our bass singers mother and father. Wow, a great church and great people. You would of just had to be there to know exactly how that felt. I must say it was an awesome experience!! Thanks Brother and Sister Dotson. You both are truly a big blessing to TNPQ and we love you both. Question-how could such a nice, sweet loving couple have such a kid as our bass singer, Billy Jr.- Ha, Ha, Ha! Now comes September in Louisville, KY. Let me say the month of September was a very good month. We had our first 10-day road trip, sang at some awesome places with awesome groups and met some of the nicest people in the world. The N.Q.C. allowed TNPQ to meet many new friends and it also allowed us to sing on the Kim Hudgins Showcase and the Heavensound Showcase. We literally shared the stage with the "Big Boys": groups such as The Hoppers, The Greenes, The Pfeifers and The Melody Boys. We also had the privilege of singing our latest single "God Made A Way" in front of some of the greatest DJ's in Gospel Music. Thanks to Gary Allen and to Kim and Tony Hudgins. September at the N.Q.C. was also very special for us, as we believe we had a first ever in the gospel music industry. We had a Water Bottling Company bottle our very own New Plainsmen 100% Pure "Plains" Drinking Water with our very own New Plainsmen Labels. We took 40 plus cases to the N.Q.C. and literally gave them away to anyone who was thirsty!! From all the response that we received, we felt like these bottles of water were not only a great promotional tool but also made a big splash! Yes, pun intended!! Well on to October and the great fall weather. For the last three years October always brings two special dates for TNPQ. It is the month we celebrate our anniversary and the month we sing at the East Texas Yamboree in Gilmer, TX. Now TNPQ (with the blessings of the chairperson of the East Texas Yamboree Gospel Stage, Betty Cook) celebrated our 3rd anniversary at this 2-day singing event. We did it up right with cake, punch, balloons and all the festive trimmings. Thanks to all the businesses and churches who sponsor this great gospel music event. Also thanks to Betty Cook and all the members of Homeward Bound for your love, hard work and support. Well, we are winding down 2002 as we look back on the month of November. This month we made our annual Richmond trip to Missouri. Our special friends Dorothy and Millard Adams (and I better not leave out their "Brat"-did I say that-granddaughter Stacy) have opened many doors for TNPQ over the last three years. Dorothy and Millard actually used to book the original Plainsmen years ago in that area. Thanks so much Dorothy, Millard and "Blondie"-I mean Stacy for your love, prayers and all the support of not only TNPQ but also Gospel Music as a whole. We love ya'll! Speaking of our trip to Missouri, we were setting up on Saturday evening at the Christian Union Church when all of the sudden we saw two Tex-a-kins peeping through the back doors of the church. How could this be-two Tex-a-kins loose, hundreds of miles from their home- Unbelievable! Our friends Tim and Arlene Anderson drove all the way from Texas just to see TNPQ. COOL!! WOW!! Well, this was a first. Yes, we have people (Billy's, Dale's and Dwain's families) drive many miles (at least 10-15 miles) to come hear us sing, but can you believe Tim and Arlene drove all that way just to hear me sing? I am still humbled!! Okay, Okay-in all reality they came to hear all of us sing, not just me. There I said it. I hope you're happy!! Tim and Arlene also brought us (Attention Dwain-note I said "us", meaning all of us) homemade pies. While on their way to Missouri their car broke down and they had to rent a car to continue on their trip to Missouri. WOW!! Our hats are off to you both-talk about support and commitment! Tim and Arlene we love you both and we also love your pies! Okay-I will finish up with this month of December. We currently have our third consecutive chart song "God Made A Way" sitting at #67 nationwide. Thanks DJ's for your support. Thanks Debbie Whitehead with Heaven's Talent for your hard work promoting this song. This month also brings the greatest day of the year and that is Christmas. The day we celebrate our Saviors birth. Jesus-Jesus-just think where would we be without Jesus? What an awesome gift God gave to us when He gave us Jesus!! I know Thanksgiving was last month but The New Plainsmen are so thankful to our Heavenly Father for giving us the best gift that could ever be given-His Son-Jesus! Thank you God! Now even though this is December we like most groups still sing. Two highlight dates this month will be the Memory Light Ceremony in Waco, TX. This is actually at Waco Memorial Park on December 22nd at 5:30 PM. To be honest we have never sang at a Memory Light Ceremony like this but are very much looking forward to it. Also, another highlight is the New Year's Eve Celebration Sing at Cottage Heights Baptist Church in Kaufman, TX. This of course is Billy's home church and-WOW-. what a time we will have bringing in the New Year. We would love to have you join us to "sing in" the New Year.

A SPECIAL THANKS: To all of our many friends and fans, to the many of you who have brought cookies, cakes, etc., to those of you that come to see us time and time again, and to the ones who continue to support, love and pray for us-we send out a heartfelt thanks. Only God will ever know how much you all mean to The New Plainsmen. Thank you so much for being our friends. Thank you so much for the hugs, handshakes and the smiles.

A SPECIAL, SPECIAL THANKS: I must say this special, special thanks to our families. To Brenda Dotson, Kortney Ozment and Donna Petty please accept our sincere "thanks". As the wives of Billy, Dale and Dwain you very seldom go on road trips with us, however we know that your love, prayers and support are totally with us. To the other family members whom we leave behind so often, please know that we love you dearly and we also thank you for all of your support. Please know that even though we miss many special times with you and the family, we believe that we are doing what God has called us to do. The sacrifices that you make in order for us to travel and sing in this ministry do not go unnoticed. We love you with all of our hearts.

Well another year has come and gone (almost). I would like to say that we are thankful for the many souls that we literally saw accept Christ as their Savior throughout 2002. This is the main reason that there is a New Plainsmen Quartet. To the many people who have told us that someway, somehow we have touched their lives, we say "To God Be The Glory". The New Plainsmen Quartet has been very blessed this year. No, we don't have everything we want and no, we didn't do everything we wanted to do in 2002. However, God is still God and He is still using us as He sees fit. He has also promised to you and to me that He will provide for us. So let's keep our vision, keep our eyes on Jesus and keep on keeping on!! May "The God" of all gods, our Heavenly Father, keep you and your family. May He continue to bless and keep our great nation and may He allow each of us to win more souls for His Kingdom. God bless you and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from The New Plainsmen Quartet.

Until next month,
James Sparks
The New Plainsmen Quartet
NPQ website: [url=http://www.thenewplainsmen.com]http://www.thenewplainsmen.com[/url]
NPQ e-mail: (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

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