Gospel singings help groups, individuals in need
Published 2:43 pm Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Lloyd Nutter and his friend and helper Nerita Teek are the organizers behind many of the gospel singings that take place in Chilton County.
Their next gospel singing, benefitting Chilton County United Way, is set for Saturday, Feb. 1 at Clanton First United Methodist Church.
Nutter calls his and Teek’s efforts to help local residents a senior ministry.
The two attend Mountain Creek Church in Marbury and have run their ministry for about 10 years to benefit charitable groups and individuals around the county.
“I’m all the time looking for new singers for these programs,” Nutter said. “A lot of people call us.”
Nutter said they hold singings for United Way twice a year and get calls from others on a regular basis about holding benefit gospel singings.
The American Red Cross, Chilton County Department of Human Resources, M4A (Middle Alabama Area Agency on Aging) and hospices are other groups that have benefitted from gospel singings held by Nutter and Teek.
They even organized a singing for a local child with a brain tumor recently.
Nutter said he and Teek never charge for holding a singing, or for admission to singings.
The singers they recruit for each program volunteer their time and talents, too.
“‘Benefit’ means they’re going to donate their time,” Nutter said. “We’ve got a lot of talent in Chilton County. We’re just glad to be part of it.”
Nutter said his singers are mostly local.
Singers in the lineup Feb. 1 are: Gene Lowery Trio, Percy Scott – The Fishers of Men, The Howards, Nikki Ellison, Adreane Barrington, Maddy Barrington and Mt. Creek Trio.
Nutter will serve as emcee.
Although the singings center on gospel music, contemporary music is occasionally mixed in, Nutter said.
“I’m eat up with singers,” he said. “People come out, and they listen.”
The ministry is not limited to singings, though.
Nutter helps install wheelchair ramps at buildings and homes to provide easier access to people in wheelchairs.
“We just feel like we can help somebody by doing things like that,” Nutter said. “It’s a good ministry, and we get a blessing out of doing it.”
The gospel singing Feb. 1 will start at 6 p.m. at CFUMC, located at 207 Eighth St. in Clanton.
For more information, contact Nutter at (205) 646-6035.