For regular supporters of BALM Ministries.

Almighty) who toured with Wynonna Judd for many years. And my sweet friend, & multi Dove Award Winner, Kenny Bishop was there too. By this time I was getting nervous myself. Now I saw they had MAJOR talent there & I was really sure they hadn’t needed to fly me in from Florida in order to have some gospel music in the park. Kenny very kindly offered to take home one of the songs from my new CD & learn it. It always calms me down to have someone fabulous singing with me! By the time we got to the park, I had to Marsha & Cindy with Cathy & Joann shake my head all over again. There was a semi-truck Bridges who both sang on the Songs of loading in the sound equipment for the concert. I thought, Praise CD & opened the Long Beach Pride Interfaith Concert in the Park “Wow, if I’d known there’d be a huge sound system & instruments & fabulous people to play them, I’d have loved June 2011, Volume 14, Number 6 to sing with the band. But…they wouldn’t know any of my Dear Balm Benefactors, music so – oh well.” Yup, oh well & be careful what you wish for – God could be listening  !! Oh dear. I had an AMAZING time at Long Beach Pride, The sound tech carefully tested my CD of back up but then it’s hard to talk about “hurray for me” kinds of music, but when it came time for me to sing (a rather things, you know? The deal is that Long Beach Pride flew rocking number) the CD started…then simply stopped me out there, with my wife, to receive an award. They see playing. We tried a couple of reboots to the CD player but me as a pioneer in bringing Contemporary Christian Music no music. I figured the message was what’s most important to the glbt community. This, of course, begs the question of so I started singing without the music. Suddenly the band how “contemporary” I can possibly be anymore!! Still I decided they would just hop in there & play. Seriously, was very honored. Cindy & my daughter, Naomi – an they’d never even heard the song, but the drummer caught upBeat! Artist & women’s barbershop singer herself – the rhythm from the start of the CD & the rest of them just were able to be there. listened & faked it. Golly, if that’s how well they play with Have I mentioned to some of you before how no rehearsal & never having heard the song, I can’t WAIT dumbstruck I get around famous people? Well there were to work with them when we can rehearse! The sound tech plenty of people there to hush me up. I hate to start listing was very apologetic, but I told him I was pretty doggone them because you know I’ll leave someone out, but…here sure it was a God thing. After I sang, they brought up the we go. First of all, the person who pulled together the Long award. Normally this is where I’d insert the fabulous Beach Pride Concert in the Park was Marvin Matthews. picture of me receiving it, but Cindy was in the group Marvin is an amazing artist himself, so when he called to signing for the deaf so…no photo till I got it home. ask me to sing for a concert for Long Beach Pride, I initially declined – I mean, they had Marvin Matthews for goodness sake, they didn’t need me! But Marvin persisted, & finally told Cindy about the award – he wanted to surprise me. When I arrived in Long Beach with Cindy at the rehearsal I was surprised already. We had Marvin, Marsha with grammy award winning producer Joe Hogue (he also sings, Marvin Matthews writes & plays a dozen instruments), gospel artists Cene Justin Ryan is FINALLY ready to tour again Lewis & Charlie Smith (who, by the way, is the model for (www.JustinRyanOnline.com) I am honored to be included the comic book series Green Lantern), Lynn Loosier who in this – he’s calling his 2011-2012 tour the “I’ve Been was in gospel music before she came out & has been doing There” tour & the video he made about LGBT youth will jazz lately (honey, the lady can sing) & is coming back to make you cry…& remember. her roots to sing about Jesus. Who else? Oh, Rusty Johnson (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fu5I8Nx3aRA) played amazing saxophone – & has a heart-wrenching You know that all of this happens because you choose story he was sharing with me about growing up in the foster care system. He’s played for dozens of my favorite to support us! I hope you feel the blessings . Contemporary Christian Music artists. Oh, & Bob Bailey! He’s a fantastic singer (he was the gospel singer in Evan Love, Marsha & Cindy

BALM Ministries P.O. Box 1981, Costa Mesa, CA 92628 (714) 641-8968 Please renew for 2011 !! pain is still too much for decent people who absolutely cannot Free Funding me to continue to work hear the gospel because of the 1. Please continue to consider using 40+ hours on a nursing homophobic bleck it's come encrusted www.goodsearch.com as your search with over so many years. In point of floor, then expect to be fact, most everybody I know outside of engine. Choose BalmMinistries in the able to do ministry. I’ve church is pretty much like that. Most “who do you goodsearch for” box. prayed about what to cut of them aren't even lgbt- & their Just 100 of you using it once or twice back on. Less nursing time numbers are growing, daily. It's so a day would raise hundreds of dollars darn nice -after so many years of for Balm this year. means I’d be more depen- struggling with how to explain to them 2 If you sell on ebay, you can also dent on the ministry for how I can possibly be who I am, yet register to support Balm through i- support. Jesus is pretty still believe what I believe- to have the give. Every little bit helps & you only sweet, though. Cindy & I reality of your story & your music at have to go through any of these were in church on Sunday my fingertips. The thought of you registrations once. After that, it’s having to back off in any way from & I was praying about telling that story, so soon after I've automatic! where to save energy, only just found it? Totally This continues to help BALM when when a young woman & unacceptable! :) I don't know why it is you shop online the praise team sang a that people who have the most to give (You can read the instructions beautiful song. Cindy others, & who spend the most time online but the simple thing is this: leaned over to me & said, doing it, often are also the most when you want to shop online at a reluctant to ask for help when they major store, you go first to “I love her voice.” When really need it, or let others help them, www.igive.com/BALM. You put your we went up after service but it's all too common. Please, don't info in & then it gives you a list of the soloist saw me & be like that with the many people who most stores you’ve ever heard of. grabbed my hand, “Oh my so love you. Don't deprive us of the So, for instance, you pick BestBuy, gosh, Marsha Stevens – chance to offer back to you a small it takes you to that site & you order reflection of the joy & healing & love & whatever you want to online. All you’re the reason I sing!” help we've had at your hands. It's not your coupons and ‘special deals’ How can you give that up? a burden to be given the chance to still apply. That way, they  Praises for the concerts make a difference for someone who automatically donate part of their coming up- especially on matters in your life. As you've said to profit to BALM Ministries.) Justin Ryan’s “I’ve Been me & I'd bet countless others as well- Every time you shop at any of the God gives us the privilege of being online stores in the iGive network, a There” tour & prayers part of each others’ miracles. You've portion of the money you spend that hearts are touched & been part of so many of all of ours-, benefits BALM Ministries. It's a free healed at every one of let us be part of yours, too, ok?” service, & you'll never pay more when them! “Thank you for sharing that article. you reach a store through iGive. In The more I've learned about you, the fact, shoppers will enjoy iGive's What You Have to Say more I have come to respect and admire you for your courage.” repository of coupons, free shipping “Enjoyed your concert tonight. I am deals, & sales. To get started, just the person who wore Legalize Gay create your free iGive account. (taking June off – email me shirt....I wear this shirt because like about anything in July) > Start iGiving at: your song...Take up your cross. I www.iGive.com/BALM teach 8th grade science and I am a www.BalmMinistries.net (PS from Marsha: This was a proud out teacher who is there for all What Date Would You Like?? blessing for BALM & we thank those of my students & every year I have PLEASE!! As always, check for of you who were able to do this VERY gay and lesbian students. Your music updated times & info-Tour Schedule MUCH.) has been in my life for 7 years & I on www.BalmMinistries.net Prayer List listen all the time thank you” ChristianGays.com handles BALM Please offer special prayers for the “Chronic pain is so darn wearing- & Ministries sales outside the US. They families & friends of two very close chemo, even for things it helps with- is are an online community offering loved ones we’ve lost this month: never a picnic; it saddens me just Articles, a Social Group, Chat Rooms, Bob Kinney and Rob Elkins. Both immensely to think of you going Shopping & more. Please check out were about our age and unexpected. through it. Of course there's also that more selfish reason of wanting to do their website – I get great feedback  I’m hogging up the prayer anything I can to see to it that the from those who have! space this month. My blessings you've brought to me & so If you live outside the US, PLEASE health is better-at least the many others can continue. There's a go to www.ChristianGays.com for TESTS are better, but my whole world out there of serious, your orders. Thanks! BALM Ministries P.O. Box 1981, Costa Mesa, CA 92628 (714) 641-8968