Branson Gospel Sunday with Dave Hamner

Branson Gospel Sunday with Dave Hamner

This Sunday we continued our tour of Branson's many “Show Churches.” As you know a “Show Church” is a combination of a music show and a church. It is characterized by having a line-up of musical entertainment accompanied by preaching. Keep in mind that Show Churches generally do not have Sunday School, nursery facilities and the like for families. In this respect, they are more like Branson shows.

This Sunday we attended Dave Hamner's Branson Gospel Sunday. Not surprisingly this Show Church is located in the Hamner Barber Theater at 3090 Shepherd of the Hills Expressway in Branson. Its show time was at 10 am in the morning. The telephone number for this service is 417-334-4363. You can learn more about Branson Gospel Sunday by going to: http://www.gospelsunday.com/tag/dave-hamner/ or by going to www.bransongospelsunday.com.

Dave Hamner is a popular illusionist who performs at the Hamner Barber Theater.

Well we showed up a few minutes before 10 and were warmly greeted at the door. The opener song was a knock-out opening song and had the people clapping. There were two regulars that helped with the music and both are outstanding singers. I have included their pictures below.

We were delighted to learn that “Voices of Glory” were attending today and providing special music. These three young persons had been on America's Got Talent in 2009 and were Fifth Place Winners. They were great then and even better now. You will remember that these young people got started by singing around their mother's bed when she was comatose in the hospital. They were absolutely wonderful. You can “like” them by going to their “Facebook Page” at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Voices-Of-Glory/173686723827

To hear a sample of the singing of Voices of Glory go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHxl-RagRSQ

The combination of the regular singers with the Voices of Glory certainly rated this Show Church as having the best music we have heard at Show Churches in Branson.

Dave Hamner then began preaching beginning about 10:40. His teaching completed the Book of John which he had been teaching from a number of years. It is obvious that Dave Hamner is interested in the Scriptures and had studied the backgounds of theBook of John mentioning such church fathers as Tertullian, Origen and the like. He was also knowledgeable of the fact that parts of John were written to combat gnosticism.

An invitatation was given at the end of the service which concluded about 11:20. Opportunties were given to remain and be ministered to in prayer. Also this was the first Show Church which gave an opportunity for communion.

Below are some pictures:

Go to the Hamner Barber Theater on Shepherd of the Hills Expressway

Hamner Barber Theater

Great Opening Song

Mike did a couple of Excellent Specials

The Voices of Glory

Dave Hamner Preaches

While in Branson, you are going to want to visit The Titanic Museum. It is located at 3235 W. 76 Country Boulevard. An easier way to find it is to go down 76 until you see the very large ship near the intersection of Highway 76 and Highway 165. I have encluded pictures of the Museum below. Also you should check out their website at http://titanicbranson.com/

You can get ticket prices by going to https://www.titanicpigeonforge.com/tb_ticket_date.php

You will find that attending this attraction is both fun and educational. When you enter the museum you will be linked to one of the passengers of the Titanic and will learn more about them later.

You will also have the opportunity to have pictures taken on the Grand Staircase and on the Bridge of the Titanic. Although Janene and I have attended this attraction in the past, in this instance we sent our daughter and granddaughter to attend and they had a wonderful time.

The Titanic Museum is one of the important attractions at Branson. We recommend it.

Pictures of the attraction are shown below:

Jackie and Addi on Bridge of Titanic

Jackie and Addi on Grand Staircase

Boarding Pass

Fate of Their Passenger

Flag of the White Star Line

Turning on 76 from 165

Joseph at Sound & Light Theatre

Joseph

While you are in Branson, you will probably want to see Joseph. This show is based upon the Biblical Account of Joseph, one of the sons of Jacob, who was sold by his brothers into Egypt as a slave. It begins with the dreams of Joseph and follows him though Egypt as he is sold as a slave into Potiphar's house, his unjust imprisonment, his rise to the second person in Egypt just below Pharaoh, and finally his reconciliation with his brothers.

The production of Joseph is totally different from “Joseph and His Technicolor Dream Coat”. The staging and music are original to Sight and Sound which puts on the production. This production of Joseph is a hit in the Branson area and is very popular.

To learn more about the production and ticket prices, you should go to:http://www.sight-sound.com/WebSiteSS/changeLocation.do?locationCD=BRANSON_MO&target=showDetail

The quality of the production is comparable to what one might expect in New York or London. I say this having seen the Dream Coat production in both locales.

The Branson production is in the beautiful Sound & Light Theatre located at 1001 Shepherd of the Hills Expressway in Branson, Missouri.

I highly recommend this production. My wife and I have seen it twice and the people that we have taken to see it also highly recommend it. There was a standing ovation the second time that we visited.

Below are some pictures of this production and facilities:

Sound & Light Facilities in Branson

Statue of Jesus and the little children.

Where tickets are purchased.

Roof above Ticket Area

The House is full

Goliath Statue

Standing Ovation

Lion and Lamb Statue

Another view of the Theatre

Good News Gospel with Leroy New

Good News Gospel.

Today we visited Good News Gospel. This Show Church is located in the Little Opry Theatre which is located inside the IMAX Entertainment Complex which is at 3562 Shepherd of the Hills Expressway, Branson, Missouri 65616.

The services are held at 9 am on Sunday mornings. The Little Opry Theatre is located on the right of the building after you pass the ticket booth for the IMAX Theatres. The theater is a small, intimate theater with a capacity of about 210 people.

Services were led by Leroy New. Leroy New does the Marty Robinson Tribute Show at The Little Opry Theatre. He is an outstanding guitarist and plays a number of songs including some from Chet Atkins. Mr. New is in The Country Music Hall of Fame. There was some singing along with some of the old songs that many of us learned in our early childhood like “I'll Fly Away.”

Mr. New was assisted by Ken Christensen on keyboard and by Donna Christensen on guitar. The keyboard stylings of Ken Christensen were outstanding. One of the highlights of the morning for me was a song by Donna Christensen on “Holding on and Letting Go.” It was done beautifully.

Did I mention that the show/service was free. A collection is taken prior to the preaching service in straw cowboy hats, of course.

The service began at 9 am and was over around 10:15 consisting about 45 minutes of music and 20 minutes of preaching and about 10 minutes of miscellaneous.

This is a Branson Show Church and as such don't expect Sunday Schools or facilities for the little buckaroos.

Below are a few pictures from this morning:

IMAX Building

IMAX Sign

Entrance into Little Opry Theatre

Leroy New

Leroy New Singing and Playing

Donna Christensen Singing

Donna Christensen

Time for some preachin'

Hook & Ladder Pizza Co.

Hook & Ladder Pizza Co. is located at # 26 Downing Street in Hollister, Mo. It has as of this writing only been open a couple of months. Their hours are Tuesday-Sunday from 11 AM-9 PM. It is owned by David and Heather Herd, who is an actual firefighter. Their webpage is www.hookandladderpizza.com.

Hook & Ladder not only sells pizzas which are outstanding, they also sell shirts. Part of the proceeds from these shirts go to firefighting related causes. You can also make contributions to help firefighters by placing money in a boot near the counter where you order.

My wife and I visited Hook & Ladder for lunch on Saturday. We had a small pizza which we split. It was outstanding. I have included a picture of it. The people working this restaurant are very friendly and helpful.

I took a number of pictures of this establishment. The pizzas are great; the place is interesting. Where else can you get a wonderful pizza for a decent cost while enjoying a firefighting motif. The kids will love it; you will too.

I highly recommend Hook & Ladder Pizza. Would I go back? Absolutely, and I can hardly wait. Below are some of the pictures from our visit.

Fire Truck out Front

Menu

Place for Fire Fighting Garments

Marvin the Martian Hat

The Owner Drives No. 54

Inside of Restaurant

Our Pizza

Server

Outside of Restaurant