| My Heritage Story |
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It was an year in my life that I will never
forget! A life changing year not only for myself but for the entire
collage. That
was 1983 when the Heritage Singers visited our
college. Bethel college is situated in beautiful valleys of Transkei
in the Eastern Cape , South Africa. The life changing music rendered
that year, changed my life. The songs that remain in my mind are
“Lighthouse" and "I am willing Lord" .You will never know the
impact you've made in our lives until we get to Heaven, and the Lord
will say "Well done my faithful servants. Come and inherit the
Kingdom of God". |
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My name is Leonardo Kaufmann and I live in
Brazil.
Early in the 1980's, my
sister bought a tape of the Heritage Singers. At that time, I
was only 6 years old. My father was the only one in our family who
could speak English, but he wasn't an Adventist. We had never heard
of The Heritage Singers, but we all loved the tape my sister
bought, all eight of us. I remember when we traveled, we would
all sing the songs without even knowing the words. My favorite songs
was "I can't say no to Jesus".
It took more than 10
years for my father to accept Christ as his Redeemer and personal
Savior, and I got the honor to be baptized with him.
I can't wait for that
day, when Jesus will return and we can all will sing to the Lamb of
God together.
Leonardo |
| It's been a very long time (years) since I last sat
down to listen to my favorite Singers that I spent years listening
too. Back in the early 70's, I married a wonderful Adventist lady that introduced me to the Mace family. For years we dedicated our lives to raising our family in God's way, with daily devotions, weekly church attendance, and church school, but something was still missing in our lives. After a mutual divorce, I engulfed myself in work, my career, providing for my kids and ex-wife. The years went by, and one day I opened up some old records (because I got interested in the old way of listening to music) and started listening to the Heritage Singer Albums that I had in storage. I even went to a garage sale on the Oregon coast and found several of the early albums for a very good price. Then went on the internet and got the anniversary tape. I started attending church more, visiting with old friends (from the church), and now feel in my heart it's time to wonder back to God and my church family. The Heritage Singers have always been an inspiration to me. I can remember doing some stupid things at Walla Walla with some friends, and having fun too. The Mace boys were there. Now it's time for me to get ready for God's soon return. Thank you for waking me up spiritually, and leading me back to the faith and my God. The blessings of your music is really an uplifting guide for me (especially Peacespeaker), to continue to study and look to his coming. I hope my wife (now seven years) will understand my wanting to fill my soul up with God and his love. G Tippett |
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I first met the Heritage Singers as a 4 month old baby in Durban, South Africa 1983, and from the moment I was held and cuddled by the touring group, like my mum says, I was hooked. Growing up, I would sing in front of the mirror with a hairbrush and copy Becki singing 'Can you reach my Friend', other times I would copy Val singing 'Maranatha'. Still sometimes I would copy Max singing. Growing up, I learnt what is was to be a singer from Heritage, the way they held the microphone, tapped their feet, moved their mouths, dressed and even how to sing different voices. Through my teenage years I was one of the only kids my age listening to Heritage everyday of the week. As I've grown older I've learned more than just how to sing like Heritage, I have spent more time listening to the words of the songs and listening to the heart and soul they share as they sing. I've never seen them in concert or met them, but I feel like they have become a part of my spiritual family. Today, married and living in Australia I visit the website at least once a week to touch basis with Heritage. While the world around me changes so quickly, its nice to put on a old song like 'I am not alone' sit back and listen to Jesus' sweet voice in the midst of the hustle and bustle of life. Thank you Heritage for being a really prominent force in my life, and for reminding me through every record, tape, video, CD and DVD, that no matter how old the songs, they still carry that genuine sound that got me hooked 25 years ago. Rontania Jensen Sydney, Australia |
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As a very impressionable age (12) I discovered
the Heritage
Singers first album. I would play it CONSTANTLY! Then as each
album came out, I would do whatever had to be done to earn the money
to purchase it.
The harmonies you have used are just impeccable and such a blessing! I remember one winter in 1972, we heard that Heritage would be giving a concert at Rio Lindo Academy, 7 hours from my home, on a Sunday night. My parents took me without hesitation and we drove there and back home that night so my dad could go back to work Monday morning. Even though the style of music was a little progressive for my dad, he got used to it. My mom loved it! I have always kept up on your latest music because it gives me peace and also accesses many fond memories. Both my parents passed away a couple of years ago, and their request that I play their music when they felt their worst was such a comfort to me. In my college years I wanted to be a part of the Heritage Singers, but God had different plans for my life. I am grateful for your continued ministry.
Judi Ramsey
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As one who has been a follower of the Heritage Singer ministry from
long-play records, to cassette tapes, to 8-tracks, back to cassette
tapes, and finally to CDs and DVDs, I consider them friends indeed!
We first met Max at a Heritage Singers concert in Seattle, in 1981. My mother had been diagnosed with terminal cancer seven months earlier. When Max found out about Mother, he asked if he and the other singers could pray with her prior to the concert. Of course, Mother was very receptive. Later that evening, as the concert was drawing to a close, Max told the audience about Mother and then proceeded to sing "Someone Is Praying for You". For the last year and a half of Mother's life, she would listen to the song over and over, in prayerful meditation. I felt that this song and the impact of the Heritage Singers helped provide a calm entrance into the presence of her Savior and Lord.
As the years passed, we continued going to the Heritage Singers
concerts whenever they made their June sojourn into the northwest.
We grew to know and love Max more and more as a person who truly
loved people and who had great sensitivity to their needs, be they spiritual, emotional,
or physical.
About seven years ago, my dad moved into a nursing facility in our
area. He loved the Heritage Singers and we took him to concerts
whenever we could. One evening, the Heritage Singers gave a concert at our
church, Grace Church in Seattle. My dad was not physically able to
go. When Max found out about it, he and the rest of the group
traveled over to the nursing home following the concert and put on a
mini-concert for my dad, an audience of one. What a beautiful
gesture!
As the months passed, a critical medical decision needed to be made
for and by Dad. Knowing that Max had faced the same situation with
his father not long before, I called him at Placerville. He left a
meeting to talk with me and provided some meaningful and treasured
insight from his own experience. Eventually, Dad did join Mother in
the ultimate reunion in Glory. However, Max's wonderful and
insightful counsel helped us through the rough times.
We will forever be grateful to Max, Lucy, and the rest of the
Heritage organization for the role they have played in our lives.
Their music lives on in our home, our car, and most important - in our hearts.
Skip Kulle
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| My name is Elizabeth Granados. I can't remember
the exact day my mom brought the first Heritage singers album to our
home. Could be late 1970's....From when Sabbath started we would hear
you guys and we would be waken up the next morning to you music again. and to this day I still have little tones here and there recorded in my brain. My mother past away 17 years ago and I have to say its been a blessing to go back home and take out those old huge disks and play them in the console again, those LP's are scratched and one of them is missing a huge piece. But we still play them for Sabbath. Sometimes we can't help to find a tear rolling down our faces. So, gladly I write this little story of my family tuned in with yours..."There is plenty of room in the table.....room for the young and the old...plenty of happiness....." I hope one day in heaven we can sit together at a table, and it will be my pleasure to introduce you to my mom....while I meet her again...!!!! For sure I'll be playing some music to my children...whenever God decides to bless me with a family and the story goes on...... May God continue to bless your journey as you bless His heart. Love in Christ, Liz |
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I have been
listening to the Heritage Singers since I was a little girl (age
5-11) and remember very vividly the powerful songs that spoke of
Jesus' love and His soon return. I loved hearing Jim McDonald's
bass voice and going up for the children's song and sitting with the
beautiful singers that I would just stare at in awe. My dream was
to become a Heritage Singer one day. Of course, I knew all the
songs by heart. My favorite song was and still is "The King Is
Coming"!
When I was 12 my
family stopped going to church. I did, however, stay in touch with
my Adventist friends and attended an Adventist Academy during high
school. But soon after graduation I drifted off into the world.
On September 11,
2001, 16 years after leaving the church, as I watch the airplanes
hit the World Trade Center, I realized how foolish I'd been for
ignoring Jesus' many calls through the years.
I started
attending the local Seventh-day Adventist church and was baptized in
November of 2001. A new friend from church shared some
Christian CD's with me. One of which was "The King Is Coming"! I
couldn't believe it, my childhood favorite! With much
anticipation I popped that CD in my player to hear "The King Is
Coming". And believe it or not, I still knew all the words!
Thank you for
your beautiful music ministry. It is truly a blessing to have the
Heritage Singers as a part of my life.
Your sister in
Christ,
Tammy
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| About five years ago, I found out that I had
cancer. The hardest people to tell were my two daughters. I broke the
news to them on Father's day. While my oldest took it quite well, the
youngest had a harder time, breaking down thinking she was going to lose
her dad. A lot of people began praying for me, the people in my church, my brothers, daughters and many friends as well. My adoptive father told me there was a place to go online and have others there pray for me too. Two weeks later, the day of my operation came. The operation went quite well with no complications. The doctor felt he had gotten all the cancer and that I did not need to go through any chemotherapy or radiation treatments. I was grateful that God had answered my prayers for healing! Three days later, I thought I was doing very well, until the doctor came into my room and told me they would be taking me for emergency surgery as soon as possible. I thought I was in good health, but he had discovered something else. The doctor told me what they found was that my kidneys were in danger. As soon as he left my room, I tried to get in touch with people who could start praying for me again, but no one was home except for my youngest daughter. After again telling her the bad news, she told me she would get in touch with people to pray and she would pray also. I thanked her for doing that, but felt that she didn't understand how bad it really was. Two hours later, I was taken to surgery. I was very scared and shaking like a leaf. After spending about 10 minutes, I asked my doctor what was going to happen to me next. He told me that he could find nothing wrong with my kidneys and I did not have to have the surgery after all. After hearing this good news, I know God gave me a miracle! Glenn Nathan |
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"My Heritage Story"
If God has worked in your life through the Heritage Singers
ministry, we would love to hear from you. Tell us about a Heritage
concert, a song, a CD or even just a prayer with one of our singers
God has used to impact your life.
Click here
to submit your "My Heritage Story",
You can also e-mail
your story to
adriane@heritagesingers.com ,
or just mail it to:
Heritage Singers
My Heritage Story
P.O. Box 1358
Placerville, CA 95667. |
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