Changes for Eternal Praise
Hello friends!
We hope the new year is off to a good start for all of you!
Many of you may have heard about some changes taking place in the ministry of Eternal Praise. We have had the privilege of singing together for over fifteen years. The Skiles family has let us know that they feel it is time for them to stop singing and focus on other things. Dennis Wyatt has also decided to retire. They have written letters to all of you which are below.
While we will really miss them, we completely support their decision and will pray for them in their desire to follow God’s leading. The Dutter family will continue to sing as Eternal Praise and we would greatly appreciate your prayers as we continue to serve God through song.
Blessings to you all,
Gary, Rachel, and Kristen Dutter and Allison Jolliff
Dear Friends of Eternal Praise,
Over the past 15 years while serving in ministry through song, we have experienced God’s faithfulness. He has demonstrated to us that there is a remnant of His people everywhere praising Him for His unmerited grace. To personally experience this truth has been fulfilling and very rewarding.
The past couple of months God has spoken to us leading our lives in a new direction. We are confident of His calling by the peace we have experienced after making the decision to step down from this ministry. The memories of the past will never leave us!
In answering God’s call, it has directly impacted the others in Eternal Praise. We cannot express our appreciation enough for the Dutter and Wyatt family and their understanding. We know the transition will be difficult for a while. As well, we will greatly miss all of you as friends and supporters of the ministry.
Eternal Praise’s mission is to share Jesus Christ and His saving grace. We pray a blessing on Gary and his family for their continuation of this mission and anticipate a continued friendship and support of them. As well, ministering with Dorothy’s father, Dennis, has been something we cherish. We’ve all grown very close through the years and to think there won’t be weekly practices and regular opportunities to minister with them is difficult. Yet we know God is faithful in His direction for our lives.
Once again, we want to say thank-you to our family and to each of you who have encouraged us through the years. We believe God has a plan for all of us who have called on His name and look forward with anticipation to God’s guiding hand.
May God bless you!
Dale, Dorothy, and Cody Skiles
****************************************************************Dear Friends,
After much prayer and consideration, I have decided with regrets to retire from the singing group "Eternal Praise". I have enjoyed my life-long dream of being able to sing with a group singing Southern gospel songs. It was such a pleasure to sing with my family as they were growing up and also after we joined with the Dutter family. What an awesome time it has been and I will miss it immensely! My family has decided to go in another direction and the age of life is creeping up on me, so I have made the decision to retire at the same time. I want to give my family my blessing and encourage them in whatever direction God has planned for them.
I want to thank my family and the Dutters for allowing me the privilege and blessing of singing with them and for being a part of their lives. We've had some very good and enjoyable times with them at the practices, the prayer times, the recording times, the ups and downs and also the encouraging times.
It has been wonderful watching the younger ones; Kristen, Allison and Cody mature in their singing abilities.
My wife Marilyn has been my support and encourager so I want to thank her for the part she has played. She would make sure the announcements were out and people notified when and where we were going to sing. She always attended the practices and our concerts and worked at the product table and was always there for Eternal Praise, I thank God for her.
I want to encourage the Dutter family and give them my blessing as they continue to praise our Lord in singing and spreading the gospel in song and encouraging others.
May God be praised and glorified by our years of singing!
In Christian Love,
Dennis Wyatt