June 2026

This last Sunday Brush Arbor did an hour performance for a church replacing their normal order of service. The pastor had heard us previously and concluded that his congregation would greatly benefit from the message of our songs and words of encouragement that come between songs. 

Although we had some sound system challenges, the Spirit of God came in a special way and the hour was very moving, uplifting, and encouraging beyond our expectations. 

Before the service I told the pastor that he was brave bringing us in to replace their normal order of things but he was confident, and he came up to me after the service with a big hug expressing his gratitude that we were willing to come and be very much used by

God the way he anticipated. 

What’s the lesson? Let God engineer your goings and comings. Be brave. Try new things and listen to His leading. God wants to use all of us more and differently in these the last days as He pours His Spirit on all of us who are followers of His Son Jesus Christ.

May 2026

May 2026 already! Brush Arbor has existed for 56 years and God is not done with us. We’re in Ventura in a couple weeks and I hear we’re up at Hume Lake again this summer after a few other appearances. 

We had an extended rehearsal yesterday going through many of our original signature songs, ………you know, the ones that we are known for, and then we started playing some of the many other original songs we recorded but simply never did in concert for one reason or another. Amazing how many good ones we never did live. 

Anyway, since Gordon Jenewein is back in the band on keys (what a talent!) and Dan Patterson is playing phenomenal electric guitar with us now, which frees me up to simply play more rhythm acoustic guitar, sing the songs, and enjoy the sound of the other five instrumentalists. 

I gotta tell you, I’m loving this stage of the band more than any before! Why? Maybe because I’m in a different stage. Don’t know. Just love it though. I really hope you get a chance to hear us and be encouraged in your journey of faith by the message and upbeat varietal musical genres we bring to each and every concert.

May God bless us all. Let’s keep it going to the glory of God!

December 2025

The Brush Arbor ministry continues and has been having an amazing impact of encouragement on the saints of the Kingdom of God for 55 years now. 

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 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, Jerry and Scott, come to mind and were a great part of this music concerts ministry that is alive and well even to this day. Who knew? 

We recently played a prayer event for the Ventura YMCA and are doing a New Years Eve concert in Highland Park then on to Bakersfield in January. Pismo Beach in February. God continues to engineer what’s next. 

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 to 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.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to y’all. 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

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