Just Us Members

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 I was very blessed to be raised by Christian parents who gave me the love and the Christian foundation I needed for where I am today. Like a lot of us, I struggled to stay on the path that God wants us to travel. It wasn’t until I met my wife, Sue, who brought me back into the church that I realized what was really missing in my life. Little did we know what God had in store for us. I hadn’t played a guitar in more than twenty five years when, one day in church, I was watching the praise leader and got to thinking that I would like to get it out and dust it off. Just Us was started by Sue and I singing in church and over the years it has turned into to something very special. I feel very blessed to be playing with the group we have and sharing the talent that God has given me for His honor and praise.

Favorite Bible Verse Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

My childhood was very stable and my parents loved me more than life. My mom made sure I attended Sunday School and Confirmation classes every week and we, as a family, worshiped God every Sunday. When I left home for college, however, my attention to my faith became less than first in life’s activities. It was not until I matured and married did I find myself back in church regularly. Since then, the Spirit of Christ has “taken hold of me!” I’m not particularly talented in the gift of music, but something marvelous happens when our gospel group, Just Us, sings for Jesus. Our ministry is growing and each time we sing for new and old audiences alike, we hear comments such as, “Nannie that singing last night was great wasn’t it?” Out of the mouth of babes……Jesus truly blesses! My prayers are for all those who hear His word, that they will serve and obey, for there is no other peace without Him.

Favorite Bible Verse John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

I was blessed to be raised in church and to have a family that truly loves me! I accepted Jesus as my Savior at a very young age, but wandered away from Him in my teen years. There were many tough times along the way, but at 18 years old and facing a crisis I gave my life back to Jesus. Things have not always been perfect, but God has continually poured out His love and given me such a heart for singing and for music. I thank Him for this opportunity to use the gifts that He has given me.

Psalm 34:18  "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." 

 First of all allow me to thank you for permitting me to participate with you in your ministry. I consider it a privilege to join "Just Us" - you guys are all great!
I was raised attending church as a child but fell away at my earliest "opportunity". I lived a very worldly life through high school and college. I was drafted just after finishing college and ultimately spent a year in Vietnam, mostly with Special Forces. Many have heard of "foxhole" conversions, but that was not the case for me. I was resigned to never returning home and foolishly accepted the prospect of death without trepidation. However, the aftermath of my experiences there ultimately brought me to the Lord, whom I accepted as Lord and Savior in 1986. I am convinced that my grandmother's prayers for me in my youth were instrumental in bringing me to that point as well.
I was an avid musician in high school and college, playing professionally through my sophomore year in college. I had not played, to any extent, since that time - approximately 45 years - but music always remained a "love of my life". Joining the group is definitely an answer to prayer, literally. You will never know how perfectly you fit my request to the Lord for an opportunity to play once again!

ROM 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (NKJV)

2COR 1:8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. (NKJV) 

I was saved very late in life; I spent over a half century as a lost person. I was introduced to Christ Jesus by Pastor Dan Grey of Calvary Baptist Church in Smithfield, Virginia. A few days later at the first Church service I attended as a saved child of God the invitation song was “I Surrender All”. I had never heard that song before and during that invitation I felt a great burden to go forward and do what that song was saying. That very moment I surrendered all to my precious Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus.

I had been involved in the Country Music field since the late 60’s and realized that I had to leave that all behind. I turned my back on that life and on music as well. Then God gave me back the music in a great and mighty way. I started out on guitar when I was 11 years old and by the time I was 14 I was playing guitar in old rock and roll bands. When I was in my mid 20’s I was involved in an industrial accident that severely damaged my left hand and put a stop to my guitar playing. After a couple of years I got most of the use of my left hand back, however, my mind knew what I wanted to do on the guitar but my hand just would not cooperate. I did start playing the Bass guitar and continued for the next 25 years or so.

When I was saved in 2003 I started playing gospel Music. I was playing rhythm guitar as a backup for the new gospel songs I was learning. Then God preformed a miracle, I noticed that the lead lines to the Gospel songs were coming like I had never played before. Not only did God give me back the music but He gave me back the ability to play the guitar that I love so well.

I was called to preach and to Lighthouse Baptist Church a few years ago and I could have never imagined the peace and joy that I know today because of the personal relationship I have with Christ Jesus.

I am so blessed that John and Sue invited me to be a part of this great ministry that is Just Us Gospel Band. All of those involved in making Just Us happen are wonderful Christian Brothers and Sisters and I consider it an honor to be called as a part of this ministry. here.

Favorite Bible Verse: 1 Corinthians 10:13

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

My name is Linda Shortt and I live in Chester,VA. I am married to Ron Shortt, who plays lead guitar with Just Us Country Gospel Band. I have loved to sing since I was a child and I am so blessed to be a part of Just Us Country Gospel Band. I had no roots in the church and no Godly influence in my life until I was about 20 years old. I went to church faithfully, worked in a bus ministry, went door to door presenting Jesus to the lost, (even taking my Bible and leading the lost to Christ), sang in the choir and did what all good Christians should be doing. After playing church for a few years the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart in a church service one evening and made me realize that without Jesus I would rks was not what it would take to get me into Heaven. On June 3, 1973 I asked Jesus to forgive me of my sins and be my Lord and my Savior. I am not perfect but I am forgiven and I know my name is written down in the Lambs Book of Life. One of my favorite verses is,

Romans 8:28 And we know that ALL things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpos

 Faith, family and music have always been the major part of my life. Truly, I do not recall a time when I did not acknowledge God’s existence in daily prayer.  My parents professed to be Christians, and raised my sister and I as believers, yet we did not really attend church with any regularity until 1974. 

My grandmother’s fervent prayers and persistent witness finally reaped a harvest when in June of that year I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. During that very service my sister and mother also made their commitments and a month later we were all baptized in the faith.  My father followed a few months later and God began to move in our lives.

From my childhood on, I remember car trips with the family singing to the radio as well as gospel concerts with my cousins in a group called The Servants [more recently The Rich’s].   Musically my journey involved elementary school choirs, joining the band in fifth grade [playing trumpet] and remaining in band into college [on scholarship], playing in a rock quartet, going to college majoring in voice [as well as preparing to fulfill the call of Christ into the Gospel ministry], and now playing keyboard and bass with our church praise band.  I even met my wife Terri in a musical performance of Fiddler on the Roof during my college years.  Together my wife and I have passed on the love for music to our three children Jeremy, Rachael, and Luke.  One child sang in the Air Force Academy choir, another in her high school quartet, and the youngest plays bass in our praise band at church.

The love in family continues to fill my life with blessings.  The love of my nuclear and extended family, my church family at Graceland Baptist [where I am privileged to serve as Senior Pastor], and my new family in the Just Us Gospel Band bless my life daily.  My most fervent prayer is that through the melodies, harmonies, lyrics, and messages, both sung and spoken, that every person may receive the blessing of being a part of the family of God  and step out in faith to see what God can do through every life.

Favorite verses Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Ephesians 4:11-12 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12: To equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up. 

Lead and Harmony Vocals

Stomp Box / Shaker  / Belt

I love being around friends, family, and my church family. I also love music and singing! All of these have been a big part of my life for as long as I can remember! I am so thankful for the opportunity to combine everything that is important to me by being a part of Just Us! 

It’s an honor to be able to spread God’s love with this group.

Favorite bible verse: John 15: 12-13

Mandolin

I’m a farmer’s daughter from Powhatan, VA who has always enjoyed singing and listening to various types of music. Though my early childhood was a little rough with my daddy being a drunkard, I was very blessed to have a christian mom who was persistent and believed in the power of prayer. She made sure she and her four children attended church regularly and always prayed that daddy would join us.  Mom had asked him many times to go to church with us, with no success. Then, thank God, when I was 12 years’ old, my daddy sat in the car “tooting” the horn for the rest of the family to come on and go with him to church. Excitedly and surprised, we all piled in. The best day of my life! Mom’s prayer   had been answered - daddy and all her children (including me) went to church and accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior.  I grew up in church with a love and interest of gospel and country music. I later developed a love of bluegrass gospel music and became a charter member of the One Accord gospel band.  I had the pleasure of meeting “other brothers” from different mothers who later joined this group. After several years of singing and playing music together, I left One Accord and formed my own bluegrass gospel group known today as “Glory Road” band. Along with singing, I enjoy playing the mandolin, guitar, the “doghouse” bass and writing songs. In 2022, I began practicing with Just Us and am honored to now be included as a member of this awesome christian band. Yes, God does answer prayers and we solicit yours as we continue our ministry for the Lord.

My favorite verses in the Bible are: Romans 8:28 and John 3:16