OUR STORY
Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, on February 11, 2001, Gospel Glory, Inc became a full-time music/preaching evangelism force, empowering lives to be changed forever by an uncompromised presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Primary ministers and principal officers of Gospel Glory, Inc. are Billy and Linda Lewis. Gospel Glory, Inc. is an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, governed by a board of directors consisting of nine members. Willing to go wherever God leads, Gospel Glory, Inc. ministers in a variety of ways including gospel music concerts, revival meetings, men's and women's conferences, marriage conferences, and Vacation Bible School, just to mention a few. In addition to traveling nearly two-thirds of the United States, God has opened doors for travel to South Africa, Brazil, Israel, and the Dominican Republic. During our 24 years of full-time ministry, Gospel Glory, Inc. has been blessed to be a small part in witnessing more than 22,000 new converts.
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Overseas ministry mostly focused on Brazil. We have conducted six mission trips, two weeks each in duration, to Paranapanema, Sao Paulo, BR. The needs are many in this poverty-stricken area and a variety of needs have been met in addition to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Outreach efforts include outdoor and indoor crusades, street ministry, Vacation Bible School, marriage conferences, ladies’ conferences, and men’s conferences. With God’s help and support from donors, x-ray and ultrasound equipment was provided for the hospital in Paranapanema. Ministry visits are conducted in homes, schools, and businesses including governmental offices. We assisted in the building of a new Baptist church there. Thousands have come to know the Lord as we minister with others in over ten cities in Brazil. The people there truly are hungry for God. We dearly love the people of Brazil. God willing, we are prayerfully considering a return trip to Brazil. For now, we keep connected with the people there mainly through electronic media. Invitations to minister in other countries are welcomed and we will go through every door God opens for us as quickly as possible.
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In lieu of traveling overseas, over the last twelve years, God has led us to focus on the spirituality in our own homeland, placing our mission emphasis around the small, poverty-stricken coal mining communities located in the Harlan, KY vicinity of Southeast Kentucky in the Appalachians. Desperate situations abound, especially for the children. Our goal is to meet the basic needs of clothes, shoes, and food through Vacation Bible School, home visits, and street ministry. We are so thankful for all who caught the vision and are working with us to meet each need. In July we conduct Vacation Bible School, feed many hungry people, and distribute clothing to those in need. We have also distributed school backpacks and supplies, furnished lice combs to area elementary schools, and worked in conjunction with the local food pantry, Christ’s Hands, in nearby Harlan, KY, which serves as a hub for distribution, soup kitchen, clothes closet for all surrounding communities. More than forty volunteers from Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Illinois, Ohio, and Florida have accompanied us in these endeavors. Thanks to their assistance, we have expanded our ministry to include men’s conferences, ladies’ conferences, marriage seminars, and more. Tom Foust from Reston, MD, and a member of the board of directors of GGI has led a team of eleven on nine separate work missions just west of Harlan to Wallins Creek, power washing and making repairs to the sanctuary of New Freedom Worship and making repairs to some local homes for people who could not afford it otherwise. Pastor Wayne Godwin, Lorida, FL, has also, on three different occasions, led a team of seven to Wallins Creek to build several handicap ramps and perform other repair/maintenance jobs as well. Our heart’s desire is to continue, to the best of our ability, helping the precious people of that region. Twice, we have participated in the annual Poke Sallet Festival in Harlan, KY. We have provided services and assistance for the community of Crank’s Creek United Methodist Church, about twenty miles east of Harlan. For nearly 23 years we have partnered with New Freedom Worship Center, Wallins Creek which is twelve miles west of Harlan, for Vacation Bible School. Gospel Glory board member and pastor Dr. Dave Cash and his wonderful team of Solid Rock Baptist Church, Madison Heights, VA have taken the responsibility of VBS and food distribution and have greatly enhanced our outreach to the children of Harlan County. They make numerous trips annually, working tirelessly to deliver much-needed food, clothing, and other items as well. Additionally, they provide Christmas gifts for more than 200 children. All of this is in addition to the monumental ministry they perform for the community in their own hometown. Their overwhelming support has allowed us to shift our focus in our vision for two huge projects for that region. One, we desire to help the small congregation of New Freedom Worship Center with desperately needed repairs for the building. A majority of the work has been completed. Actual work began a little over a year ago. The back wall was actually being propped up by a 2x6 board. Now, that wall along with the front wall has been repaired/replaced completely with new windows. The whole interior has been renovated and is beautiful. There are still some electrical updates needed, four windows to be replaced, and porch work to be done. The work will be completed as funds are made available for these ongoing projects. Secondly, we want to organize a community-wide revival/crusade event, calling on as many area pastors who will work together, which is in and of itself quite a feat. We are trusting God for a spirit of unity.
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Each year, during the second week of July, we participate in ministry at a family camp outing just outside Greenville, IL. It originally began as a youth camp over fifty years ago and has grown to include the whole family. We have ministered to as many as 150 campers in a single week. With Bible teaching in the morning and in the evening, this event is intended to disciple believers and reach out to at-risk individuals.
Since 2001, we have been privileged to help distribute over 23,000 Bibles in nineteen languages.
We've had the privilege of being selected for numerous deployments to serve in crisis situations as volunteer chaplains with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team and Samaritan’s Purse. We have served as spokespersons for Compassion International and volunteered as church liaisons for Constructors for Christ.
Billy and Linda each accepted Jesus Christ as Savior at the age of seven. We were Married on July 9, 1976, and we have two grown children and three grandchildren. Crystal resides in Nashville, TN with her husband Josh. She has two children, Elizabeth and Jason. Elizabeth recently graduated from Belmont University and is pursuing a career in music as a writer and performer. Jason is studying with a major in Philanthropy and a minor in Archeology. Our son, Matthew, wife Sarah, and their six-year-old daughter, Madison, reside in Fort Collins, CO. When not traveling we stay totally involved with our churches, having served in several capacities, assisting with food pantry and other duties. Linda volunteers her time with office duties and provides meals for shut-ins and others who are in need of ministry. Billy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sacred Theology and an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity. Our days at home, in addition to our administrative duties, are filled with home prayer meetings, along with visits to homes, hospitals, and nursing home visits.
Gospel Glory, Inc. is our full-time ministry and livelihood. We live by faith. Although the official start date for full-time ministry began in February 2001, we stepped away from all secular employment in April 2002. God is providing for every need through love offerings, product sales from music CDs and other ministry-related items, and precious individual contributors. Your prayerful consideration is respectfully requested for booking concerts, revivals, and other various functions in churches and other organizations.
We are prepared to go wherever God leads. Additional promotional materials, personal references, and contact information are available upon request to further acquaint you with Gospel Glory, Inc. References can be supplied upon request. We can be reached at the address and phone number listed above. You can also find us on Facebook, Billy Lewis, Linda Mims Lewis, or Gospel Glory, Inc.