Whitby Gospel Music Convention

THE ELEVENTH WHITBY GOSPEL MUSIC CONVENTION

2010

Friday 14th, Saturday 15th & Sunday 16th May

Monday 10^th- Thursday 13^th - “The Vision” - Praise, Prayer, `Open Air Meetings` & Evangelism. We would encourage local churches and Praise Bands to become involved in these informal pre - Convention events.

Monday 17^th - Thursday20^th - “Whitby Spring Bible Week” `Scientists who believe` - With Professor Andy McIntosh, Dr. Steve Price and other speakers . A time of Bible study and outreach in and around Whitby.

THE TENTH WHITBY GOSPEL MUSIC CONVENTION

2009

Friday 15th, Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th May

THANK YOU ALL

Here is a paragraph from the 2009 web page.

"This year we have run into financial problems because there is now no direct flight from Faroe and we will have to bring the choir via Copenhagen. I am hoping to do some fund raising concerts and looking for other ways to cover an estimated shortfall of £10,000."

My estimated shortfall was really a `guesstimate` and to be honest I booked all the artistes with my heart ruling me and not my head. I was carrying out Jill's wishes to have as many of our favourite artistes as possible on the bill, and when I did a true estimate two months before the event I found the shortfall was likely to be £18,000! I immediately applied the formula that we have established of working as if everything depends on us and praying as if everything depends on the Lord. (As indeed it does.) For two months I was on the go for twenty hours a day contacting hundreds of churches and radio stations, and many people brought the matter before the Lord in prayer. Your response has been wonderful with many of you buying the WGMC souvenir CD and the souvenir photo album that Lucy put together. You were also very generous in making so many donations. They ranged from the proverbial widow's mite to several three figure gifts and even a couple of four figure donations. We were blessed with record numbers attending and at the end of the day we were only £500 short of our target and there are sufficient CDs left to cover this when they are sold. To quote the well known line that Ray Winkler wrote in the Jim Reeves hit recording of `Welcome to My World`. "MIRACLES I GUESS STILL HAPPEN NOW AND THEN"

The weekend was so special and the numbers of letters, cards, telephone calls and emails received about the event says it all. We pray that many lives will have been changed from this special tenth anniversary event.

JILL CALLED TO GLORY

On 17th October as she listened to her beloved `Voices of Faroe` singing "Nearer My God to Thee" Jill was called home by the Lord.

She never spoke as part of the Convention `Testimony Time` but her life was indeed a living testimony to her unshakeable faith. During the 10 year struggle with cardio myopathy and heart failure she never once complained about the heavy load she had to carry and the terminal nature of her condition. When ever we spoke of her illness, Jill's usual comment was "God is Good! We have so many blessings"

There have been so many good times during Jill's long illness, but probably the happiest times of our lives were our two visits to the Faroe Islands and the 2007 Convention, when for the first (and now the only) time all five of us were present. The sight of David, Sarah and Lucy having wonderful fellowship with so many of our singers and Christian friends was something that Jill had longed for.

Jill was a great planner and the Hymns, readings and subject of our Pastor's address for her funeral were all arranged by Jill shortly before she died. Her choice of "God be with You" to be sung at the graveside will make the Convention Finale a difficult and emotional time for future years.

All the booking of artistes for the 2008 Convention and most of the planning for the 10th Convention in 2009 has already been done by Jill, and we pray that the event continues to grow in the years to come.

In 1999 the vision of a Whitby Gospel Music Convention was mine, but as with every single aspect of my life, the one who set about turning my dreams into reality was Jill. Many are probably unaware of the fact that the lion's share of the work for the WGMC was done by Jill, so please pray that we are able to fill the enormous gap that her passing has left. During Jill's final days at the hospice she was cheered by Lucy's announcement that she was moving home from Hull and would be taking over the administrative work of the Convention. Her words to me were "Good girl! I knew she had it in her"

On a personal note, I have cancelled all my engagements up to the end of the year and at the moment I feel as though my broken heart will never mend. I hope to be singing a few songs in May and pray that the Lord will give me back my musical ministry - if not then I shall work hard behind the scenes.

The whole family have been moved by the tidal wave of love and support, we have had hundreds of cards, letters and emails over the last few weeks and we thank you all.

(November 2007)

THE NINTH WHITBY GOSPEL MUSIC CONVENTION

2008

Friday 16th, Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th May

The event was a tremendous success both in numbers attending and more importantly in the way God touched the hearts of so many people. When the `Altar Call` was made on Saturday afternoon more than fifty people responded, some to give their hearts to Christ and others to make a new commitment. To see such a mini revival was a great help to the Wheater family, as the whole weekend was a very difficult and moving time for us all.