Sammy Glass Family singing praises to God
Gospel group in concert at Faith Lutheran Church
Faith Lutheran Church will host a Southern Gospel singing group in its sanctuary beginning at 7 p.m., Wednesday, April 9. All are welcome to attend. The church is located at 2013 N. Mechanic.

Contributed Photo All In The Family Since husband and wife Sammy and Gayla Glass have been singing gospel music for years, it's no surprise their children have been influenced also. Now the couple and their children, Candice, Justin and Christopher, make up the Sammy Glass Family, performing around the nation for more than 200 days out of the year. They will be at Faith Lutheran tonight for a 7 p.m. performance.

The Sammy Glass Family have been travel- ing in fulltime music evangelism since 1988. Although their home is a small town in Decatur, Tenn., their travels have taken them into most of the eastern and Midwestern states. They are on the road 220 to 250 days out of the year ministering in churches, concerts, revivals, camp meetings, fairs and other various events.

The group consists of Sammy and wife Gayla, their daughter Candice and two sons, Justin and Christopher. Sammy and Gayla have been involved in Gospel music most of their lives. Sammy sang with his family, the Telestials, since his sophomore year of high school. Two years later, he moved to Nashville, Tenn. where he appeared on the Grand 'Ole Opry Sunday Night Sing with groups such as the Whites and the Oak Ridge Boys.

Gayla sang and played piano with her family, the Henry Singers, for many years. During that time, she and her brother David Henry wrote the song "When I Need Him Most," recorded by the Florida Boys in 1979. While she was studying music at Belmont College in Nashville, the Telestials asked her to fill in on the piano. In December of 1981, Gayla and Sammy were married by her father, the Rev. John Henry.

From July 1984 to July 1987, they had three children. After Christopher was born, Gayla decided to stay at home. Sammy continued to travel with his family, the Telestials.

Later he formed his own family group, which includes his wife and children, The Sammy Glass family.

"All of the kids have loved to sing ever since they could talk," said Sammy. "Candice, the oldest, started writing songs at a very young age.

"With Love He Died," a song she wrote when she was 14, was the first song the group recorded of hers. In August of 2001, she borrowed her first mandolin, and within a few weeks started playing it on stage. She has also taken up the violin, or fiddle, and had her debut with it on stage in June of 2004.

Justin, the middle child, sings and plays the drums and bass guitar. Chris got his first guitar for Christmas when he was 12 years old and started playing on stage when he was 13. He got his first dobro in July of 2004 and plays it on stage as well. Chris also started writing songs at a young age. His first recorded song, "I Am," is featured on their recording, "The Road Ahead Leads Home."

"The Sammy Glass family's utmost desire is that lives would be changed, blessed, and encouraged for the kingdom of God through their music and testimony, and that in all they do, they would bring glory to God and Him alone," said Clyde Grier, pastor at Faith Lutheran.