12/15/25

The Brush Arbor ministry continues and has been having an amazing impact of encouragement on the saints of the Kingdom of God for 55 years now. 

From the beginning, founding members Wayne Rice, Dave Rose, Ken Munds, Pat Stevens, Joe Rice, and me, God has used us for years. And since then, many great musicians and singers have been a big part of this continuing ministry. I think of Dale, Doub, Brad, Kevin, Gordon, Steve and Steve, Mike, Larry, Mark, and a few memorable crew members like Jeff, Dick, Rob, Jerry and Scott, come to mind and were a great part of this music concerts ministry that is alive and well even to this day. Who knew? 

We recently played a prayer event for the Ventura YMCA and are doing a New Years Eve concert in Highland Park then on to Bakersfield in January. Pismo Beach in February. God continues to engineer what’s next. 

I am the only original founding member of Brush Arbor still in the band, only because God had other plans for the others. As in business, success for me has always come down to being surrounded with those more talented than me, and in this band, those who also have had hearts devoted to our Lord Jesus. 

So my point is that I’m grateful and thankful that we (each of you and me together) have been motivated, gifted, and given the health and energy to do this music ministry for a period of years in our lifespan. 

And special recognition is due to Mark Craig (MVP) who has booked us for so many years (still does), produced many of our recordings and shows, and plays bass in the band now. And has been my greatest encouragement to keep going. What a servant he is. 

I don’t know how many more years we will be able to do this, but I’m hoping for another 5 or 10 years. God’s call for sure. We’ll see.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to y’all. May God bless each of you! Enjoy knowing you were and still are being used significantly by God for His purposes in the ministry we call Brush Arbor.

Jim Rice
www.brusharbor.com