From The Steel Magnolias to Simply Blessed
The year 2020 brought many unexpected changes to our ministry. Obviously COVID-19 was just the beginning. Many concerts were cancelled just before we headed out on Southwest tour, which included West Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. Then as places and events shut down, even our practices were on hold. In the meantime, our dynamic leader, Debbie Daniel, suddenly became ill (unrelated to COVID) and went home to Jesus at the end of May. We rallied as much as possible as Miss Debbie always said, where there's a gap, close it; where there's a void, fill it; and keep going. So that's just what we're doing. We are continuing the ministry, just under a new name: SIMPLY BLESSED.
Our motto: "Use us Lord. Here we are" is all about spreading the Gospel and the Good News of Jesus Christ. Our music remains primarily Southern Gospel with choreographed moves emphasizing the scriptures and messages from the Bible. We are prayer warriors and believe in the power of prayer. We pray for all we meet and covet the prayers that come our way.
Our Story
The Steel Magnolia story started in about 2006 with the first Steel Magnolia gathering of elderly women to learn a small choreographed move to "Just a Closer Walk with Thee." However the inspiration for this group actually began with the inception of The Grand Ole Gospel Sing (GOGS) that Miss Debbie Daniel started, enlisting a number of Gospel singers and groups to sing out at Texas Old Town in Kyle, Texas. The Steel Magnolias served as "back up" to the GOGS. And Miss Debbie had also started a young people's singing group called The Stage Connection. Many of the moms of the Stage Connection became members of The Steel Magnolias. It wasn't long before The Steel Magnolias made a name for themselves and Debbie found herself booking more and more concerts for The Steel Magnolias. The GOGS and Stage Connection slowly faded away as Debbie poured herself into the ministry of The Steel Magnolias. Her long-time friend, Bekaye Keller, and Debbie's sister, Darlene, came on board and proved to be her avid supporters and assistants. It wasn't long before there were 25-plus members involved in the ministry. They even began doing annual tours picking a specific area of the US and spreading God's word through testimony and song. The Steel Magnolias were especially blessed with the offer of a bus for their travels from First Lockhart Baptist Church, which later became known as our "White Chariot."
Prayer has always been a main part of this ministry and Debbie began incorporating alter calls at the end of each concert to enable individuals to come forward and let a Steel Magnolia pray with and for them.
to be continued