Group takes ‘Heaven’s Front Porch’ on the road

After more than a decade of inviting audiences to Waxahachie to visit “Heaven’s Front Porch,” a group of old-time Southern Gospel singers are taking the show on the road.

R.G. Huff, retired minister of music and adjunct professor at Dallas Baptist University, founded Waxahachie Old-Fashioned Singing using local talent.

Huff created “Heaven’s Front Porch,” a staged production of old-time congregational music, presented at Waxahachie’s Chautauqua Auditorium for a dozen years.

When Huff retired, Judy Oates became coordinator of the renamed Old-Fashioned Singing Project, and Cheri Jordan—an eight-year cast member—became artistic director.

Rather than limiting the production to Waxahachie, the nonprofit project expanded its scope, with a goal of traveling to churches and community venues throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

A dozen singers, all involved in church music ministries, present the music, accompanied by pianist Melinda Boyd.

“The mission of the Old-Fashioned Singing staged production of ‘Heaven’s Front Porch’ is to preserve Southern Gospel congregational singing,” Oates said.

“The musical includes treasured hymns that convey the truth of God’s love and our blessed hope in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

The Old-Fashioned Singing Project is enlisting churches in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to host the production, either as an “in-house” program for the congregation or as a performance open to the public.

The group will present its debut public “road show” at Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco at 2 p.m. on Nov. 9.

“Audiences will hear and sing songs from the past that inspire joy, hope and assurance,” Oates said. “The lyrics and melodies will make attendees glad they came to sit a spell on ‘Heaven’s Front Porch.’”

For ticket information, click here. For information about hosting “Heaven’s Front Porch,” contact Judy Oates at (469) 975-6886 or email Judy@TexasGospelHymns.com.