Craig Smith talks about what inspires him to give back to those in need and explains how he began The Ancient Path. Click on the player below to listen to the complete podcast, or click on the podcast icon above to subscribe through iTunes.

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Pictured: Jo Dee Messina with the Harvest Hands Board of Directors, Concert Organizers and some Harvest Hands Kids prior to the Dec. 5^th benefit concert

 Country superstar JO DEE MESSINA helped raise over $30,000 this past Saturday for Harvest Hands in South Nashville.

 JO DEE performed two very special shows this past weekend–alongside youth and children’s choirs–at the Brentwood United Methodist Church in Nashville partnering with Harvest Hands Community Development Corporation (CDC), a non-profit, faith-based organization in South Nashville (http://www.harvesthandscdc.com/). With two shows, JO DEE performed for 3,000 fans, not including the 1,200 which watched the show via UStream online.  The show included songs from JO DEE’s Christmas album, A JOYFUL NOISE, such as “Silver Bells,” “The Christmas Song” and “Let It Snow.” The evening performance is available for viewing online–and will be throughout the end of December–at www.JoDeeMessina.com/harvesthands. Fans are still welcome to make donations and t-shirts are available for purchase as well.

 “[Directors] Brian and Courtney Hicks are angels walking the face of this earth.  What they do with Harvest Hands must make God smile,” says JO DEE. “I feel blessed to be able to use my gift of voice so that they can continue, not only to change lives by ‘doing,’ but by being an example to the rest of us on how to truly make a difference.”

 This Thursday, December 10 JO DEE will perform at Green’s Grocery in Leiper’s Fork, TN to benefit the Montessori School of Franklin (http://www.montessorifranklin.org/). Montessori School of Franklin a community of children, parents and staff dedicated to (continue reading…)

 Nashville, TN (November 30, 2009)– In the spirit of giving, Country star Bryan White has shared his GivStory on GivMusic’s Podcast about his passion for the Christian child advocacy ministry known as Compassion International.  To further support Compassion, White, as well as many other country and pop artists, will perform on December 2 at Mercy Lounge, in Nashville, TN as part of Compassion’s Benefit for the Global Food Crisis.

“We have constant defining moments throughout our life where we can either walk away or  respond.  For me, one of the defining moments, as far as figuring out what I really wanted to do in life, was make an impact apart from the nation I lived in,” White explains. “I had always dreamed of looking beyond here as well and I was fortunate enough to go on a trip to Ecuador a couple of years ago with Spence, my friend, with Compassion.  That is really what changed my life and made me 100% get involved with Compassion.”

As White explains in his GivStory Podcast, a few years back he and his wife, Erika, sponsored a little girl from Ecuador in the city of Otavalo. On their trip with Compassion International they were able were able to get a first hand look into life of their sponsored little girl. White explains the experience as having a “profound impact” on his life. To hear more of White’s GivStory click HERE.

Compassion International’s ministry works to release children from economic, social, spiritual, and physical poverty and enable them to become responsible fulfilled adults. The benefit concert on December 2 at Mercy Lounge has a goal to raise funs and awareness for the Global Food Crisis Fund, an initiative of Compassion International. Artist’s scheduled to appear include Bryan White,  Sixpence None The Richer’s Leigh Nash, Carter’s Chord, Julie Roberts, Blaine Larsen, Rob Blackledge, Mica Roberts, Trailer Choir, Canaan Smith, Charmaine, Natalie Hemby, Alathea and other special guests. Radio veterans Tony Randall and Kris Rochester from the new national syndicated morning show “Tony and Kris in the Morning” will host the event.

Tickets are available online and can be purchased HERE

To listen to White’s GivStory click HERE or to share your own story click HERE

 For more up-to-date information on Bryan White visit, www.bryanwhite.com

 For Bryan White Interview contact:

Karen Tallier, LOUDMOUTHpr, 615 244 9015