Southern Gospel Group Celebrating 55 Years
Pamela Hall
Ashland Beacon
Southern Gospel music has always had a large following in this area. As with other music genres, we have an abundance of talent. Some have become professional musicians, traveling the country with their craft. Others have stayed local in order to minister to their own area.
One group that has had quite a following for many years is the Artrip Family. They are celebrating an amazing 55 years of singing and ministering in the Tri-State area.
Thorney and Carolyn Artrip began singing together with their daughter, Christie, in 1968 when Christie was just three years old. Carolyn played the piano as the three of them sang. They began singing at various churches and revivals in the area.
Carolyn was not a trained pianist before they began singing. She would sit at the piano and struggle to play, tears often falling. Thorney’s father saw her struggles and knew her desire to play. He anointed her hands as they prayed for Carolyn to have the skill she needed.
Carolyn never struggled again after that. The next time she sat at the piano, she was able to play as they sang.
When Christie decided she wanted to start playing the piano, they did what had worked before. They anointed her hands and prayed. Christie took over playing the piano when she was 12 years old. Carolyn moved to play bass guitar, giving them a fuller sound.
After Thorney was called to preach, the group continued to sing and Thorney would often preach, doing weekly revivals as well. He also spent a few years as Pastor of Tunnel Hill Chapel. Through the years, the family has ministered to thousands of people in the area.
“We’ve tried to be faithful,” Thorney said, “and God has always been faithful.”
There have been many memorable things happen and many highlights through the years. Carolyn recalled a time when Thorney became very ill while they were singing. They laid him in the floor while an EMT that happened to be in the congregation tended to him. Someone called 911, and when the EMT lost his pulse, the church began to fervently pray. By the time the paramedics arrived, Thorney was sitting up and was fine. He was checked out, and nothing was found that was wrong.
“There’s no doubt that God touched him,” Carolyn emphasized. “That church came together in prayer, and God heard and answered.”
Thorney recalled a time when the church they were singing at was taking up an offering for the group. Two little boys came and each gave a dime.
“That’s always stayed with me,” Thorney remarked. “Those little boys gave all they had for the Lord’s work.”
The group has never charged a church to come and sing. Often the church would bless them with an offering, but sometimes the travel was at their own expense. They still sang with all their hearts regardless of whether they were compensated.
“We’ve always just prayed, ‘Lord, put us where we need to be,’” Carolyn stated. “That’s just how we’ve always gone.”
As the years passed, the group grew in number. When Christie married, her husband, Tim Bellomy, began playing drums. His father, Tom, was added to singing bass. The group also added Jim and Cathy Adams. Jim runs sound for the group, and Cathy assists wherever needed for the group.
Tim and Christie’s son, Jacob, took over on drums from his dad when he was just nine years old. Their youngest son, Isaac, began playing guitar when he was very young as well. He also answered the call to preach at the age of 15. Their daughter, Ami, also occasionally sings. Now, Tim and Christie have young grandchildren who are starting to participate in the group.
“I don’t remember starting to sing,” Christie said. “I’ve just always done it. I never wanted to do anything else but serve the Lord and sing for Him. Now we have four generations. It’s very humbling. God is faithful.”
The Artrip Family has been a blessing to many people during their 55 years of singing and ministering. They are a family who has been faithful to God and their calling; they have fulfilled that calling with integrity. They are a testimony to the faithfulness of God.
There’s no doubt that they will continue to minister for as long as God allows. To have them at your church, visit their Facebook page for contact information.
Congratulations to the Artrip Family on 55 years of singing and ministering for God.