Issues@Hand

AFA initiatives, Christian activism, news briefs

December 2015 – AFA will soon released the first vocal music CD produced in the American Family Studios new facilities.

The studios are new, but the artist is a decades-long singer of the gospel, AFA’s vice president Buddy Smith. From their days in college, Smith and his wife Carol sang frequently in crusades with evangelist Cecil Williamson. As young artists, they recorded a number of albums, and through the years have added occasional family projects. For the past several years, Smith has sung with Joyful Noise, a southern gospel quartet.

What a Day That Will Be, the new release, features Smith singing gospel and contemporary hits from recent decades. In addition to the title song, the CD includes “It is Finished,” “Ten Thousand Years,” “I Bowed on My Knees and Cried Holy,” and seven more. The CD is scheduled for release in early 2016 and will be available at afastore.net.

AFA friends were introduced to another CD at AFA’s fall retreat at the Cove in Asheville, North Carolina. Attendees were blessed not only by great speakers and worship leader Brian Eads, but also by the riveting keyboard artistry of attendee Nancy Petrey. Petrey and her husband Curtis, former pastor and former long-time board member of AFA, are regulars at the annual event.

By impromptu invitation, Petrey took the stage, sat down at the grand piano, and said, “I think this piece is appropriate for our gathering and for the spiritual challenges our nation faces.” The concert grand piano then exploded with her dynamic rendition of Chopin’s “Revolutionary Etude.” Petrey’s piano CD concert His Eye is On the Sparrow includes the title song plus “It is Well With My Soul,” “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” “As the Deer,” a few classical pieces, and other favorite hymns and worship songs. For more info: [email protected]. Order for $10 shipping and handling at 44 Community House Rd., Luverne, AL 36049.