In the summer of 2002 Thomas McCalmont and Stephen Law felt lead to pray about getting a few guys together to form a Gospel Quartet to sing the glorious message of the gospel. In December 2002 a Gospel Quartet was singing in Ballee Baptist Church, Ballymena at the evening gospel service. After the service there was a time of fellowship, which resulted in Thomas and Stephen singing along with the 'Calvary Boys'. The next day Thomas received a telephone call from Stephen Irons enquiring about the possibility of starting a quartet. An answer to prayer! But who would sing which part? Where would we find a lead singer?
At the Christmas morning service in Ballee, December 2002, Stephen Irons approached William Knowles and asked him if he would be interested in 'doing a bit of singing' with some of the guys from church. When Wully agreed all four met at Tom's house a few weeks later and there was an instant gelling of minds, voices and a desire to proclaim the gospel through the medium of singing.
'Solid Ground' was the chosen name as all four had at sometime in their lives been lifted out of the miry pit of sin and God had placed them on the Solid Rock - Christ Jesus.
January 2003 Solid Ground sang at their first meeting and using only Tom's guitar to get the right note began to sing about their Saviour.
Singing without music isn't easy but with Tom on Tenor, Wully on Lead, Stephen Irons on Baritone and Stevie Law on Bass the four part harmony of the quartet came together.
Bookings started to come in and Tom's wife, Yvonne looked after the diary. Equipment was initially loaned to Solid Ground through the kindness of the Calvary Quartet and eventually purchased.
Over the next few years Solid Ground sang, testified and occasionally spoke at various meetings throughout the country. God allowed the quartet to be a small link in the chain with souls saved, backsliders restored and God's children blessed. No glory to Solid Ground - all glory to the Master!
With backing tracks purchased from various artists (Gaither Vocal Band/Gold City/Signature Sound etc) in America, David Long then joined Solid Ground in September 2004 as Sound Technician.
The rest as they say is history!
It hasn't all been easy trying to juggle the demands of family, work, church-life, finding time to practice and singing at the various venues but God has wonderfully in His greater plan made the crooked ways straight recently and Solid Ground are looking to Him for great things in 2007.
Pray for Solid Ground as they practice and sing for the Saviour in this coming year - that in everything He will have the preeminence and all the glory - for He alone is worthy.
The weekend 18-20th May 2007 was where a chapter in the the life of Solid Ground closed and another one opened. Thomas McCalmont and Stephen Law have felt God call them to other works within the great commission - Tom will be singing tenor with Revelation (Gospel Trio) and Stephen involved more in a preaching ministry. We wish both of them God's richest blessing for the future as they continue to serve the Master.
The new chapter opens with Ashley Cotton as the new Tenor. Ashley is also a member of Ballee Baptist Church, Ballymena and had been praying that God would show him clearly His will for his life when the boys of Solid Ground felt lead to ask him to join them as the new tenor.
At the Christmas morning service in Ballee, December 2002, Stephen Irons approached William Knowles and asked him if he would be interested in 'doing a bit of singing' with some of the guys from church. When Wully agreed all four met at Tom's house a few weeks later and there was an instant gelling of minds, voices and a desire to proclaim the gospel through the medium of singing.
'Solid Ground' was the chosen name as all four had at sometime in their lives been lifted out of the miry pit of sin and God had placed them on the Solid Rock - Christ Jesus.
January 2003 Solid Ground sang at their first meeting and using only Tom's guitar to get the right note began to sing about their Saviour.
Singing without music isn't easy but with Tom on Tenor, Wully on Lead, Stephen Irons on Baritone and Stevie Law on Bass the four part harmony of the quartet came together.
Bookings started to come in and Tom's wife, Yvonne looked after the diary. Equipment was initially loaned to Solid Ground through the kindness of the Calvary Quartet and eventually purchased.
Over the next few years Solid Ground sang, testified and occasionally spoke at various meetings throughout the country. God allowed the quartet to be a small link in the chain with souls saved, backsliders restored and God's children blessed. No glory to Solid Ground - all glory to the Master!
With backing tracks purchased from various artists (Gaither Vocal Band/Gold City/Signature Sound etc) in America, David Long then joined Solid Ground in September 2004 as Sound Technician.
The rest as they say is history!
It hasn't all been easy trying to juggle the demands of family, work, church-life, finding time to practice and singing at the various venues but God has wonderfully in His greater plan made the crooked ways straight recently and Solid Ground are looking to Him for great things in 2007.
Pray for Solid Ground as they practice and sing for the Saviour in this coming year - that in everything He will have the preeminence and all the glory - for He alone is worthy.
The weekend 18-20th May 2007 was where a chapter in the the life of Solid Ground closed and another one opened. Thomas McCalmont and Stephen Law have felt God call them to other works within the great commission - Tom will be singing tenor with Revelation (Gospel Trio) and Stephen involved more in a preaching ministry. We wish both of them God's richest blessing for the future as they continue to serve the Master.
The new chapter opens with Ashley Cotton as the new Tenor. Ashley is also a member of Ballee Baptist Church, Ballymena and had been praying that God would show him clearly His will for his life when the boys of Solid Ground felt lead to ask him to join them as the new tenor.
