I have been hesitant to do this write up about our outing at the DAV Hall on Saturday night because I didn't want to make those who didn't get to attend jealous. Oh well, na na na na na na!!! You missed it. What a night you missed!
So what did you miss? You missed 24 of your brothers and sisters in Christ as they laughed, talked, clapped, danced and sang.
You missed Ann as she got up on stage and belted out "Me and Bobbie McGee'" and "Harper Valley PTA."
You missed Doug as he sang a couple of our gospel favorites.
You missed Leon as he brought down the house with a combination of classic songs and his great gospel music.
You missed the ladies as they got up as a group tearing up the dance floor to Carroll Matthews and the Just Us band.
You missed watching and talking to our pastors and their families as they laughed, clapped along with the music.
Out of everything you missed, number one had to be you missing the opportunity to reach out to the community we live in as we shared our joy and had the chance to tell them about our God, Ministry, and Church.
Didn't want to rub it in but you did miss a great time but we'll see you on the next go round.
Congratulations are in order, once again, for our friend and brother in Christ, Leon.
Leon Everette is many things to many people. To those at Faith Riders For Christ Motorcycle Ministry, Aiken, and Faith Riders Fellowship Church he is the man who started it all with only a dream and a prayer. He is our founder, music minister, president of the motorcycle ministry and chairman of the Board of Directors of the Church. He is not only a true friend to those in the church and ministry but also to those in his life away from the church. He is one of the first to lend a hand, an ear, or a prayer for those who need it.
But who is Leon outside that small circle? There are a lot of good men and women who have started churches. A lot of good people will give you the shirt off their backs. How many of those people have been to the top of the world and fell off? Leon has faced the devil and fought him head on, on the devil's terms. The devil had him on the ropes. Hooks and jabs as he tried to put Leon down for the count. Leon refused to go down. Just as it was looking as bleak as could be, a new corner worker stepped in and took over as the bell rang at the end of round 9. In his corner Leon now found Jesus who wiped the tears from his eyes, the blood from his face, and washed him in Baptismal waters. As the bell rang for the last round Leon stood up, gave the devil the sign of the cross and started swinging and punching. Total knock-out. The devil was down. He has tried to get up and hit back but he can't even get close enough to land a solid punch as Leon has kept Jesus in his corner as his full time trainer.
From the late 70's through the mid eighties Leon released 9 albums with 11 top ten hits with the song Hurricane going to number 1. Nashville had their new "Golden Boy." He had the looks, the voice, and the energy in his shows that was packing the house in venues around the country. In the mid eighties due to contract disputes with RCA over the way they wanted Leon to act and songs they wanted him to sing and his personal preferences, fueled by his massive, daily, consumption of alcohol he left Nashville never to return. He returned to his hometown of Ward, SC and met his future bride, Diane. Together, they found God and a new purpose in life, serving Him and doing His work which has led Leon to where he is today.
Last year after much coaxing and prodding from old friends Little David Wilkins and Jimmy Adams they were able to convince Leon to return to Nashville for a duet with Wilkins on a song he wrote, "I Stand The Tallest." This song quickly became a hit, rising to number 1 on the itube 247 site. That has led to a remix of his release "The Lady She's Right" including a video which also immediately went to number 1.
You can watch the videos and hear the songs by clicking on the following links:
When Leon left Nashville in 1985 he cut himself off completely from the Nashville scene and his past life as a "superstar." He concentrated hard on building a new life, and rebuilding lost friendships and family relationships he had seemingly destroyed during his alcoholic haze. He had distanced himself so well from Nashville that when he returned, after more than 30 years, and went to dinner with old manager Jimmy Adams, and friend "Little" David Wilkins, people he had known there in the past came to him stating, "We thought you were dead, we haven't heard from you in so long."
Shortly following these new releases Leon was inducted into the International Rock-A-Billy Hall Of Fame in Jackson, Tennessee. This writer had the honor of being invited to this event where I witnessed both the old Leon, along with the new, as he and the Faith Riders Band entertained a packed house with classic standards and with Leon's new faith-based songs. What a great honor it was.
A few weeks ago Leon was contacted by Rich Parr of Outreach Ministries International about the possibility of doing a radio interview for BikerTV.org. This conversation led to Mr. Parr finding that Leon has had many transformations during his life and it couldn't be properly done in a short radio interview.
Leon was rescued from "extreme" alcoholism, as diagnosed by psychologists in Nashville, after many years, when he got down on his knees at the alter and asked God to come into his life and promised to dedicate not only his life, but his talents as well, to doing God's work. He no longer promotes Leon Everette, he promotes his work for God through the Motorcycle Ministry and the Church. Leon not only talks the talk but, he truly walks the walk.
Mr. Parr, upon hearing this, decided there was no way this could be covered in a short radio interview. He believed it should be extended and asked if Leon would allow him to do a documentary for his show "On Location" on Christian Network TV.
This Sunday, February 12th at 10:30 am Mr. Parr will be at the Faith Riders Fellowship Church for the morning service to begin filming the church segment.
We hope that you'll join us. Please share this to help us pack the church out on Sunday. Tell all your friends and family and get them in there.
