Meet the Shepardsville Team

From 2009-2016, here are the names of all the Shepardsville Team members and the years they were in the band...

Regina Bettys (2009-2010)

Joe Bontrager (2009)

Gina Bontrager (2009-2012)

Marty Bontrager (2009-2012)
Rose Bontrager (2009-2013 - only original team member on second album)

Julie Bontrager (2010-2016)

Lewis Bontrager (2011-2014, 2016)

William Bontrager (2014-2016)
Levi Hebert (2011 - sound man)

Heather Case (2012-2014)
Hannah Coblentz (2009)
Keturah Coblentz (2009-2010)
Rhoda Coblentz (2009-2010)
Kezia Coblentz (2009-2011)

Esther Derby (2010-2014)
Rebekah Derby (2010-2015 - served as secretary from 2013-2016)
Seth Derby (2010-2015)
Elena McCoy (2013-2014)
Dave Miller (2009-2012 - served as secretary from 2009-2012)
Joe Miller (2009)
Deborah Teusink (2010-2012)

Bethany Warnke (2011-2014)
Vincent Warnke (2016)

Amanda Yoder (2009)

Joanne Yoder (2009-2012)
Jason Yoder (2011-2016)
Rhoda Yoder (2014-2016)
Amy Yoder (2015-2016)
Kailey Burns (2015)

Farewell...God bless you.

Memories...Part V

One of my favorite memories is all of us going out to have pizza after a gig. One of our fans gave us enough cash after the gig and said we had to use it for pizza. :)

Overall, the Team was a place of refuge and security. We were a group that stuck close and had each other's backs and confidence. It was a place of encouragement and growing closer to God and building relationships with each other.

~Gina (Bontrager) Miller was a member of the Shepardsville Team from 2009-2012. 
She and her husband Joe Miller (Shepardsville Team 2009) are expecting their first child! 

Memories...Part IV

One of my favorite memories is definitely getting pizza sometimes after practice or just for anyhow. And all the times we just talked! Also the time we went to see the world's biggest ice cream sundae in Ludington; that was pretty sweet! All the road trips we did are some of my absolute favorite times spent with the Team!

~Amy Yoder was a member of the Team from 2015-2016. 

Memories...Part III

Hey there! I have a lot of great memories with the Shepardsville Team, but one of my favorites is the all-night prayer meeting after Joe 'n Bethany's wedding. It was a very moving prayer time, and I remember us even taking communion, which is something I had never done outside a church building before. My time with the Team was a place of refuge and security where we stuck close to each other and encouraged one another. I personally learned so much with and from my time there, and I still look back often on those things today. :)

~Heather (Case) Cropsey was a member of the Shepardsville Team from 2012-2014. 
She blogs about her life adventures on bettertogether4life.blogspot.com. 

Memories...Part II

I'm guessing I probably hold the record for the shortest time of being a Team member! But that's because (sadly) I had to move away so abruptly. I enjoyed my time with the Team immensely! I remember that time we went and sang Chrstmas carols for the Polar Express event. We nearly froze to death, but it was a fun evening! :) And all the hours spend practicing at the church makes me miss everyone just thinking about it! It was such a time of growth in  my life, personally and spritually. It was way out of my comfort zone at first to sing in front of others, but it pushed me in a good direction and helped me to grow where I needed to!

I enjoyed all the time we spend in prayer and growing closer to God and one another. Honestly, the prayer meetings are probably what I miss the most! I'd never before (or since) had a group of people to fellowship with who took their walk with the Lord so seriously. Although I hardly ever see any of you, I still consider y'all to be my close friends and I wish only the best for you as we each seek God's direction for the path He has laid down before us.

~Elena McCoy was a member of the Shepardsville Team from 2013-2014. 
She is living out the adventures of life as they come.  

Memories...

When the Shepardsville Team began, it was just thirteen people who grew up together hanging out and making memories over games, pizza, and music. There was always music (just like there was always pizza). We talked about life, laughed at far too many inside jokes, cried on each other's shoulders, and did life together.

Music eventually became more of a focus and as time went on, jamming sessions and hanging out turned into actual music practice and concert rehearsals. Time went on. People moved away. Others joined. The sound changed with each addition or change in the group members but the strongest factor in the best times was always the same - doing life together.

I could talk about the ability the Team gave me to develop musical talent otherwise probably never really cultivated. Or about learning how to speak in public because of the Team. But it wasn't much about the music so much as it was about a common interest that brought a bunch of teenagers and young adults together and taught us what it meant to do life together. It opened doors some of us never would have knocked on otherwise.

Shared laughter, tears, hopes, dreams, and a solid bond of friendship and love for Jesus Christ. This is what made the Shepardsville Team a memory that will never be forgotten.

Oh, and pizza. Never forget the pizza.

~Rose Bontrager was a member of the Shepardsville Team from 2009-2013.

She blogs about her missionary life in the Dominican Republic on alifewithadestination.blogspot.com. 

The Season of Singing...

With the coming of winter, we approach another season, and another change as the end of one year gives way to the beginning of another. With these seasonal changes comes a major change for us in the Team. After nearly eight years of performing, recording, and traveling, the Shepardsville Team is saying goodbye. All of us are grateful for the avenue God gave us to express ourselves in music and for the adventures had, lessons learned, and people met along the way. Now, we are excited to see what else God has in store for each of us, whether it is in music or other ways.
A bit of history...
From the first group of thirteen in 2009 to the seven in 2016, the Team has included a total of twenty-nine teenagers and young adults from many different churches and walks of life. Over the next couple of weeks, some of us will be sharing our memories of those years with you.
Thank you...
Thank you for supporting us by cheering us on in concerts, in conversations, in friendships, and by buying our merchandise. We are thankful for you, our fans and supporters. We are thankful to God for the endless ways He's blessed us via the Team. And we are thankful to our parents. You were often our biggest supporters, especially in the early years when we were just beginning to explore our musical capabilities. Each of you readily invested in us, and we thank you.

Fall Sale!

It's October, autumn is here, and to celebrate the season, we are running a fall sale on ALL of our merchandise. For the month of October, get 50% off ALL Shepardsville Team CDs, t-shirts, and posters when you mention the sale with your order.

Regular Price:                                       Sale*:

Too Much to Gain to Lose: $10.00  $5.00

Season of Singing:               $5.00    $2.50

T-shirts:                                  $20.00  $10.00

Posters:                                 $5.00     $2.50

To order, message us via FACEBOOK or email us at shepardsvilleteam@gmail.com.

Sale runs until October 31 or while supplies last.

*Prices do not include shipping.

Concerts

Alright! We have pictures of our last couple concerts (Henry&Ida's Gospel Barn and Ola Camp Revival Services) and the "new and improved" Team (with Vincent Warnke), AND a few announcements about some upcoming concerts.

It was the 10th year of the Gospel Barn and its 20th concert, and the Team has performed at each one.

Rockin' it out. (Check out the video for this song.)

Vincent rocking it out at Ola Camp

 William rocking it out at Ola Camp

Whilst at Ola Camp, we decided to take a minishoot.

Shepardsville Team 2016

In true fashion, we had a little bit of fun.

We are super excited to be performing this year at the Come Together Festival in Grand Rapids. The festival is an all-day event on July 16, with music starting in the afternoon. We will be one of many different artists performing in the afternoon, and with several of our Team members not being able to make the concert, your prayers for God's grace and favor on us are greatly appreciated.

On Saturday, August 6, we will be singing in Carson City at the Lehman's Camp-meetings at 7:00 P.M.   Like Ola Camp, Lehman's Camp is a week-long series of services, featuring different bands and speakers each evening.

We hope to see you at the Come Together Festival and at Lehman's Camp. God bless!

Have a great day, you all!

Welcome, Vincent!

The wait is over, and it's time to welcome our newest Team member: Vincent Warnke! Vincent performed with the Team this past Sunday at Henry&Ida's Gospel Barn. He adds a great dynamic to the band, and we are so excited to have him play guitar and sing with us. 

Favorite past time:  Flying through space on on my favorite unicorn, Hildagard.

Instruments you play:  Guitar, Drums, Singing

What was your first instrument?   Drums.

How old were you when you started playing your first instrument?     Eight... or seven... or 23. I honestly can't remember.

Favorite food:  The edible ones. I will literally eat anything.

Fun thing about the Team:    Erm.... I think a better question is what ISN'T a fun thing about the Team! 

Give him a word of advice or let him know in the comments how excited you are to have him with us.

Team Photoshoot 2016

Some exciting things have been happening with the Team, one of them being we have a new addition to the band this year! Recently, we hit the pavement to snap a few pictures. Our new addition wasn't with us for the photoshoot, so you'll have to stay tuned to find out who it is! He will be doing his first concert with us at Henry and Ida's Gospel Barn on Sunday, June 5; the concert starts at 6. 

 Henry&Ida's Gospel Barn is located at 2512 N. Shepardsville Rd. Ovid, MI 48866

Congratulations, Mr.&Mrs. Derby!

Sunday, February 14, marked an exciting day for two of the Team members as they committed before God and friends to spend the rest of their lives together as husband and wife. Join us in congratulating the new couple and blessing them in their marriage.

congratulations, Seth&Kailey

Seth & Kailey

Three months ago, Seth Derby popped the question to Kailey Burns. And, even though they're knee deep in planning, Kailey took time out to share their engagement story with us.

We had returned that Saturday from an amazing trip to Indiana with the 

Shepardsville Team (along with our lovely escorts, my Mom and Mrs. Bontrager.) 

We had such a fun time with everyone but were pretty tired from the trip. 

I was totally not expecting what came next! The next night, Sunday, September 

27th, Seth told me we were going to go somewhere special to watch the lunar 

eclipse/blood moon. I fell asleep on the drive, and when I woke up we were 

arriving at a beach in Holland. We walked out to the end of the pier, across 

from a lighthouse. It was a beautiful view, but the clouds came almost all the

way down to the water. We couldn't see any stars, much less the moon, and I was 

worried that we had driven all that way for nothing... We walked back down to 

the beach and found a wooden walk that looped around with a beautiful view of 

a bay. I had been thinking all night that it would be the perfect place and 

time to propose, but knew there was no way Seth even had a ring or had asked 

my parents blessing (which apparently he had that day!) We sat on a bench and 

looked up to see the clouds had peeled back; the stars were shining brightly 

and the moon was just coming up over the clouds. After a little bit (9:34pm, 

to be exact) Seth stood up -ready to leave, I thought- so I stood up too. 

Instead he pulled me into a hug, and I heard one of my favorite songs (All I Ask of You) start playing. I think I started crying at that point, feeling so 

blessed...which may explain why I didn't even notice Seth pulling a box out of 

his pocket and checking it behind my back, still hugging me the whole time. 

Just as the song ended, Seth stepped back and got down on one knee. To be honest, 

I was so in shock I don't totally remember what happend next. Seth says that he 

asked, "Kailey, will you marry me?" and apparently I gasped sharply and said 

"YES" right away.... Less than two months until we become man and wife, and we 

are soooo excited!!!!

We are so excited for them and hope you join us in praying that God will bless them radically and use them to glorify Him in ways they could never imagine. 

Forgotten Man Ministries Concert

Last Thursday, the Team sang for a jail ministry banquet. Rhoda and Julie were both gone for that concert, but Rose Bontrager, who was visiting at the time, graciously filled in for them. Here are a few pictures from the evening:

Next Wednesday, the girls of the Team will sing at a widows' banquet.

*For more information or if you or any of your friends would like to attend the widows' banquet, call Ida Bontrager at 989-834-2028.

Eckerty, Indiana Concert

Our trip to Eckerty, IN, to sing at the Old Eckerty Days was a blast. The Team piled into a 12- passenger van pulling a trailer with our sound equipment. The trip down took about seven hours, including stops at such wonderful places as the gas station and Chick-fil-a. We checked into our hotel and then drove on over to Eckerty.

The Old Eckerty Days is a festival celebrating the town of Eckerty. We were fascinated by the ensemble of old buildings that gave a rustic feel to the area. A train track ran along the festival site in a deep ravine, and several times throughout the evening, trains blasted their horns as they rumbled past.

Our concert was after the main activities of the day. Although it sprinkled a little, we were able to keep the speakers outside in the open air. The concert went well, and after we were done,  another band who played a mix of bluegrass music and folk songs performed.

We got back to the hotel late that night, but still wanted to do something fun before we left the next morning. So, close to midnight, we ordered pizza and watched a movie. Most of us made it through the whole movie, but we were glad we got to sleep on the ride home!

There's something about road trips that bring people together. Maybe it's being forced to spend time in limited space with another human being that brings out the funny side in people, but we sure had fun!

Although we didn't get a whole lot of pictures because of the lighting, Rhoda (who doubles as our photographer when she can) did a super job on snapping some good ones.

Welcome, Amy!

Amy Yoder is a recent member of the Team. She helped us out for our Christmas concerts last year and officially joined this year. She's now our main pianist- which we desperately needed :) - and fiddler and does a great job singing background and lead. Be sure to comment and let Amy know what a great addition she is to the Team.

Favorite past time: I like riding horses, playing volleyball, relaxing on vacations =), playing music.

Instruments you play: I play piano and violin.

What was your first instrument? Piano

How old were you when you started playing your first instrument? 2 or 3- ever since I can remember. 

Favorite food: Something tasty, such as pizza or Italian food.

   Fun thing about the Team: I remember when I was younger I couldn't wait 'til I could join the     Team! I like that we can always get together and have fun- a big bonus is that we go out for ice cream a lot!!! :)



Welcome, William!

William Bontrager joined the Team in the spring of 2014. He is an excellent drummer, making the rest of us sound extra good. :) Here's more about him:

                                                    Favorite past time: practicing drums

                                                    Instruments you play: drums

                                                    How old you were when you started playing: 11

                                                    Favorite food: pizza

                                                   Fun fact about the Team: Everybody picks on me about my hair

Give William a shout out in the comments below! 

And....

This Friday night, we'll be singing in Eckerty, Indiana, at the Old Eckerty Days, a community festival celebrating the town's history. This is the first out-of-state concert the Team has ever done; we're looking forward to the road trip and making memories together and, of course, meeting any of you who might be in that area that weekend. :) 

Address: 1080 S. Main Eckerty, IN 47116    If you want more info on the festival, check out their website: http://eckertydays.com/.

*Pray for us as we prepare, travel, and perform and for the people who'll be there, so that God will reach through us to people who need Him and more of Him. Thank you!

Happy Birthday, Rhoda!

Rhoda Yoder joined the Team last year, but because of changes with the blog and busy schedules, she hasn't been officially introduced yet. Today seemed like the perfect day to do so since it's Rhoda's 18th birthday!!! Rhoda does an amazing job singing lead and background for the Team. She also helps out with bass.

                                         Favorite past time: Riding horses

                                         Instruments you play: bass

                                         How old you were when you started playing bass: 15

                                         Favorite concert with the Team: Carson City

                                         Favorite food: Pizza

"A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit." -Prov. 15:13

 

Comment below to wish Rhoda a happy birthday and welcome to the Team.

 

Carson City Concert

The Team recently sang at a Christian revival in Carson City. We've had the blessing of singing there almost every year since the Shepardsville Team started and have enjoyed it every time.

The Team went out for ice cream and coffee one last time with Rebekah Derby.

Stay tuned for interviews from the new Team members!

June Concert at Ola Camp

Back in June, the Team got to sing a night at an annual revival in Ashely, MI.  Here are a few photos.
Thank you to God for the lessons He taught us during that week and to everyone who came out and made the week enjoyable.