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Valley Praise Fest Offers Faithful Fun

By Staff | Aug 23, 2017

Valley Praise Fest will be celebrating its 8th year of good, wholesome family fun on Saturday, Aug. 26.

Festivities will be held from 5-9 p.m. at the Faith Fellowship Praise and Worship Center, located at the foot of 8 Mile Ridge in Reader. There will be several different Christian bands from Contemporary and Southern Gospel genres, and all activities are free.

Headlining the event will be the ever-popular quartet, The Carriers.

The Carriers are a well-known as a local group from New Martinsville. The group started in the 1970s and later reunited for Valley Praise Fest in 2011.

The Carriers have been singing at Valley Praise Fest ever since and have been dedicated to sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the ministry of song.

The four-piece group consists of David Kelly and his wife Jan, Kristi Hadfield, and Denver Adams.

The Carriers possess a very southern gospel song that is sure to be pleasing to the ears! They will be featuring songs, from their latest CD, at Valley Praise Fest.

Also entertaining at Valley Praise Fest is The Smith Family.

The quartet is made up of Smith family members Bill, Jim, Barb, and Steve.

Bill is a member of Stout Memorial U.M. Church Choir and is also a member of the “Praise Hims” men’s choral group and the “Praise Team.”

Jim played drums and sang in various bands in the Parkersburg area including “Stallion,” and the Christian rock band “Above and Beyond.”

Barb has performed with Harmony Express Chorus, a branch of Sweet Adelines International, singing 4-part A Cappella music.

Steve sang in the Southern gospel quartet, The Carriers from 1993 to 1995. In 1995, Steve joined the praise and worship team at the Celebration Center of Marietta, becoming Praise and Worship Leader in 2004.

When you get the Smith Family together, you are in for a real treat! It is a true experience listening to the beautiful melodies backed by close sibling harmonies and layered with energetic musicianship.

Chosen Grace will also take the stage at this year’s Valley Praise Fest.

Chosen Grace is from Dayton, Ohio. The group has traveled extensively, singing and ministering the Good News of Jesus Christ. Lonnie Mackie, Ken Mowell, Joe Jones, and Heather Jones have brought their musical talents and spiritual gifting together to create an amazing gospel music sound and experience.

While all four members sing in the group, Mowell provides bass, Mackie plays dums and bass, Joe plays piano, drums, and guitar, and Heather plays the drums and tambourine.

Chosen Grace has opened for nationally known soloists and groups such as the Crabb Family, Betty Jean Robinson, The Hemphill’s, Laverne Tripp, Second Chance/Redemption, The Mackie Family, Southern-Aires and many more.

From traditional gospel songs to the groups original music, Chosen Grace is a joy to watch and to listen to.

Activities for kids, at Valley Praise Fest, include, jump castle, face painting, games and more. Bring your lawn chairs blankets, and plan to spend the day at the festival!

For further information on Valley Praise Fest please call Faith Fellowship at 304-266-4630 or check out the website at www.valleypraisefest.com