Tony Burke
I was saved as a twelve-year-old boy, and I knew from the beginning that God has a special call in my life .I have sung gospel music for thirty-two years, and I felt comfortable that I was doing all that I could to promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I knew that at some point that I had to go deeper and do more for the work of the Lord.
So as time progressed, I felt the call from the Lord to preach the Gospel, as well as singing the Gospel. I don't know if other ministers who are called of God had the same experience that I did, but I was totally miserable until I yielded to the call.
On February 10, 2002, I announced my calling in to the Ministry at our home Church, Pyles Memorial Freewill Baptist Church, in Pound, Virginia. One week later on February 17, 2002, I was set aside in our home church and became a licensed minister. What a thrill to experience! I felt that I had been saved all over again! This lets me know for sure that if God puts a call on your life, you will be miserable until you yield to his call. I have since ministered in several different Churches, and several different denominations. We believe that God has Saints in all Churches and we will go whenever and wherever we are called. I was ordained on July 26, 2003, at the Fremont Freewill Baptist Church, in Fremont, Virginia. The Lord has really blessed me and my ministry.
I hope that this testimony will encourage those who feel that they have a call in their life. God will help you, when you learn to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and yield to his mighty call!
Out of the Box Part 1
39:33 - Preached by Tony Burke
Part one in a sries of two messages preached by Tony at Indian Creek Freewill Baptist Church 10-01-06. What can you compare in this world to God Almighty? Marketing and people pressure us to buy things with catchy slogans and catchphrases, but are you comparing these items to God?
Out of the Box Part 2
37:23 - Preached by Tony Burke
Part two in a sries of two messages preached by Tony at Indian Creek Freewill Baptist Church 10-08-06.
The Dash
35:27 - Preached by Tony Burke
How do you spend your life while on this Earth? When you die, what will others remember about your life? What did you do with your life during the dash between the two dates on your tombstone? Preached by Tony at Indian Creek Freewill Baptist Church 10-15-06.
Sondra Burke
I was raised in Letcher county Kentucky and I am a 1978 graduate of Fleming-Neon High School in Neon, Kentucky. I was saved on March 14, 1976 at the United Methodist Church in Neon, Kentucky and shortly thereafter I began to sing gospel music with my future husband Anthony. We sung together before we were married, and still continue to sing the gospel today.
I know that the Lord puts people together for a special purpose, and I know that the Lord gave me my family to do a work for him. I count it an honor to be able to sing for the Lord, and now to be able to support my husband in his preaching ministry. If God has a work for you, then he will provide a way for you to do his work.
Joe Burke
Music is all I have ever known, since I was a child, and carrying on the family talent is an honor and blessing to me. The Lord has given me this talent, and I feel if the Lord gives you something to glorify his name, you shouldn't be ashamed to use it. I play piano and sing various vocal harmonies including lead.
I found salvation in April, 1994 and made my open confession to Christ in my youth group at the Millstone Missionary Baptist Church. I faithfully served the Lord through my high school and college years; it sustained me during the trying times knowing I had someone to comfort me when my family could not. I graduated high school at the Fleming-Neon High School in 1998.
The Lord has blessed me beyond my wildest dreams. Like my dad, I have a radio show on WMMT FM 88.7 every Friday morning 10AM EST called Crossroads. I also do a great deal of voluntary work for the Appalshop in Whitesburg, Kentucky. One of my prouder accomplishments is the founding and ownership of Off-Broadway sensation Blue Man Group's official fan base web site at bluemanfans.com. I find a lot of Blue Man Group's theatrical shows to be inspired by elements of Christianity, being some of the founders are Christian oriented themselves.
It is my personal goal to be nice to everyone; to go out of my way to make someone feel special. I fail everyday, and I am just as guilty as everyone, but all I can do is just pick myself back up, dust myself off and carry on where I left off. Life is too short to be secluded in your own little realm of things. Reach out to someone, the Lord will bless you for your charity. If I were to pass on today, and you read this statement, than I have done my job online. Remember friends, life is a vapor, we're here for a short while, and gone as quickly as we arrived.