The Brush Arbor ministry has continued to have an amazing impact of encouragement on believers now for 55 years.

From the beginning, founding members Wayne Rice, Dave Rose, Ken Munds, Pat Stevens, Joe Rice, and me, God has used us for years. And since then many great musicians and singers have been a a big part of this continuing ministry. I think of Dale, Doub, Brad, Kevin, Gordon, Steve and Steve, Mike, Larry, Mark, and a few memorable crew members like Jeff, Dick, Rob, and Jerry, come to mind and were a great part of this music concerts ministry that is alive and well even to this day. Who knew?

I am the only original founding member of Brush Arbor still in the band, only because God had other plans for the others. As in business, success for me has always come down to being surrounded with those more talented than me, and in this band, those who also have had hearts devoted to our Lord Jesus.

So my point is that I’m grateful and thankful that we (each of you and me together) have been motivated, gifted, and given the health and energy to do this music ministry for a period of years in our lifespan.

And special recognition is due Mark Craig (MVP) who has booked us for so many years (still does), produced many of our recordings and shows, and plays bass in the band now. And has been my greatest encouragement to keep going.What a servant he is.

I don’t know how many more years we will be able to do this, but I’m hoping for another 5 or 10 years. God’s call for sure. We’ll see.

So to the guys in the 2026 Brush Arbor band, Mark Craig, Mike Wilson, Larry Meyers, Gordon Jenewein, and Dan Patterson, and also Jeff Cowen and Scott West our sound and tech guys, may God bless each of you! Enjoy knowing you were and still are being used significantly by God for His purposes in the ministry we call Brush Arbor.

Jim Rice