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March 16, 2006

Singers, speaker to take a stand for ‘In God We Trust’

Carla Jean Whitley

When Justified member Johnathon Heaton and Joyful Hearts members Donnie and Brenda Foxx take the stage alongside the rest of their groups and other singers this weekend at the Hanceville National Guard Armory, it’ll be about more than just singing.

In fact, the gospel music groups will be there in support of “In God We Trust: A Christian Stand.” The event, to be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, was organized by Heaton and the Foxxs in an effort to retain “In God We Trust” and “Under God” in the nation’s currency and in people’s lives.

Gary Vance will speak, and the singers will be Justified, Trademark, Chris Smith, Joyful Hearts and The Blankenships.

“It’s something we felt God doing with us, seeing what’s happening in the world today,” Heaton said Monday.

The wheels for the event were set in motion months ago, when Donnie Foxx heard people on the radio talking about efforts to take “In God We Trust” off the nation’s currency.

“I thought, mmm, no. That’s one of my rights,” Donnie Foxx said. “We’re trying to get everybody to realize they’re trying to take more rights from us.”

Part of the reason the trio decided to hold the event was to spur people to action. Donnie Foxx said that when activists began campaigning against prayer in schools, people were slow to do anything about it.

“Everybody looked at it as, ‘Well, somebody will do something,’” he said. “I’m tired of that. Too many years, too many people sit back.”

This is the first of what Heaton and the Foxxs will be a series of events. Their goal is to hold three more events before the end of the year, involving people from other states each time. Donnie Foxx said they would like to get groups from 15 states involved by the fourth event.

“Then maybe we can start to get somebody’s attention in Washington,” he said. “It’s time we all get together and we forget about denominations.”

“If somebody doesn’t stand up, there won’t be anything legal pertaining to God,” Heaton said.

Heaton also said they hope to send some petitions to Washington, D.C., as a result of the weekend event.

Planning an event of this nature, which has taken three or four months, is something new for all three. They’ve been making phone calls to churches and spreading the word at singing engagements.

“We pray that the place is packed,” Brenda Foxx said.

But taking action isn’t an entirely foreign notion.

Heaton said, “With the singing group, we're out every week, weekend, taking a stand for what we do.”



THE DETAILS

What: In God We Trust: A Christian Stand

Who: Speaker Gary Vance; Singers Justified, Trademark, Chris Smith, Joyful Hearts and The Blankenships

When: 6 p.m. Saturday

Where: Hanceville National Guard Armory

For more information: Call (256) 338-6349 or (256) 775-0103

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