April 23, 2024

Concert series held at Howard Street Christian Church

By Jamee A

The Journey Bound Quartet will be the final act in the three concert series held before Easter at the Howard Street Christian Church in Colfax. (Submitted Photo)

COLFAX — Howard Street Christian Church in Colfax is hosting a concert series during the three Sundays leading to Easter.

The church, at 305 E. Howard St., has already heard the sounds of Highway Home on March 15 and will welcome the Loynachans March 22 and Journey Bound March 29. Coffee and cookies will be offered starting at 5:15 p.m. with performances beginning at 6 p.m. A freewill offering is being accepted at the free events.

The Loynachans formed in 1998 as a father, mother and daughter trio. Jack Loynachan is the patriarch that sings mostly lead with Judy Loynachan, the matriarch, singing middle harmony. Their daughter Jamie (Loynachan) Skillen sings high harmonies with a power voice that she can display when they can get her to “turn it loose.” Cory Skillen, Jamie’s husband, joined the group as a “built in” sound man.

“We are instruments of the Lord and take that responsibility very seriously. We take every opportunity to sing and proclaim the name of Jesus with the attitude of never taking for granted that everyone in the room at a gospel sing is saved,” Jamie Skillen said.

The group out of Winterset sings a southern gospel style of music and has performed in Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska and Kentucky.

For more than 20 years, the Journey Bound Quartet has been bringing southern gospel music to audiences around the upper Midwest. The central Iowa group is comprised of four members who call four different towns their home.

Lead singer Larry Eggink has been in Journey Bound since 1998. He lives in Pella where he also teaches at Pella Christian High School. Warren Van Wyngarden, bass in the group, lives in rural New Sharon where he farms. He started singing with the group in 1995.

Tom (TW) Winegar sings tenor and lives near Prairie City. He has been in the group the longest, starting in 1994. When not singing, he is a manager in the corporate division do the IRS. The newest member of the group is Jeff Worsham, who sings baritone and joined in 2009. He lives in Des Moines and teaches at Iowa Christian Academy along with coaching high school football.