WS Chronicle

The mission of Willie Mason and Friends is to make a difference in music ministry wherever they have an opportunity to share the love of Jesus Christ through song.  On Sunday, June 4, the group celebrated its eighth anniversary at Mason’s home church, Galilee Missionary Baptist Church, located at 4129 Northampton Drive.

Mason is a member of Galilee and is the Minister of Worship Arts at the church.

The purpose of Willie Mason and Friends is to effectively share the gospel of Jesus Christ through song, encourage believers in their walk with Christ, lead the congregation in worship and provide an avenue through which individuals may share their gift and be an integral part of the worship.

To honor their anniversary, the group held a concert at Galilee singing songs that excited everyone in the packed house.  The group sang songs such as, “What a Time,” “There Could Never Be Another Love,” “Time is Winding Up” and “Hold On” just to name a few.

Mason said he initially came up with the idea for the group shortly after his mother died in May 2008.  He said he kept having a recurring dream about a group. After getting over the grief of the passing of his mother, he began to form the group.

“It was kind of a rough season for me between ’08 and ’09 and for a long time I wasn’t thinking about singing because I was still in that grief moment,” he said.  “Eventually, I had the dream again and I got up and typed an email to the people I saw in the dream and I explained what I saw and what my vision was.”

“I asked them to pray about it and when we had our first rehearsal, there were 11 people there.  I had hand-selected people to be a part of ‘Friends’ but this year is the first time we have opened it up to open membership.”

During the celebration, there was a Scripture reading and a special video message from Galilee Pastor Nathan Scovens.  Also Gov. Roy Cooper and Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines sent congratulatory messages that were included in the program.

The community-based group represents some of the Triad’s most talented vocalists and musicians who are enthusiastic and dedicated minsters of music.  Mason stated he feels as though his group has been truly blessed over the years to have such great talent and to have had the opportunity to perform on some of the biggest stages around the country.

“We are looking in this season of new beginnings for new things,” Mason continued.  “We take a tour every year called the ‘Fall Fellowship and Ministry Tour’ and we are just looking for any new beginning.  Whatever open doors there are for us, we are just going to walk into it.”

The group has been blessed to share in concerts across the East Coast and has shared the stage with several of the top gospel artists, including Byron Cage, John P. Kee, Hezekiah Walker and has performed for the North Carolina Black Repertory Company along with GospelFest at the Dixie Classic Fair.

For Mason, he said the biggest thing he enjoys is the “phenomenal group of people that I work with.”  He says he enjoys seeing people being blessed by their music.

“There is just so much going on in our world, so if you can offer some hope or peace through a song, then that makes all the difference,” said Mason. 

Mason says it really warms his heart to hear that people enjoy hearing them perform.  He says from their debut concert they have had a packed house for every performance.

“This is truly a blessing that the community supports us and values our ministry,” he went on to say.  “I can’t ask for anything else; to God be the glory.”