Reach Out History

Hello, we are "Reach Out". . . .

The original Reach Out members from 1973

"Reach Out" was founded in 1971 as the "Hawkins Singers" by Waller and Jeanette Murphy for the youth of Hawkins United Methodist Church, Vicksburg, MS. It started with a handful of young people who knew what a difference their personal relationship with God had made in their own lives and wanted to "Pass It On." Our thanks to Waller and Jeanette for helping to make that possible. The group grew to consist of anywhere from 15 to 65 members. We were and still are musical and spiritual witnesses for Jesus Christ.

Waller and Jeanette Murphy left us in 1974 for Mobile, AL, where they founded another group, "Sonshine". This left us needing a new director. In walks John Barlow, "Coach" to some of us, to take over. With his guidance, we traveled to churches in several different states, witnessing. We traveled to Washington, D.C., in July of 1976 and sang a song or two on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. That was a lot of fun and left us all with fond memories that we will carry with us throughout our lives.

Picture from Feb.11, 1976 Starkville Daily News article

I am sorry to say that the group grew up and moved in different directions in 1985, but we do still keep in contact. Being a part of "Reach Out" made a profound difference in all our lives and blessed us in ways that we are still coming to realize today. Even though we don't perform like we used to, we do get together from time to time for functions within our church. We had a reunion in 1991 (1991 Reunion Pictures) that was a big success. This past summer at our church's homecoming, several of us were able to attend and get together for singing and fellowship. On June 10, 2001, our church celebrated its 50th anniversary. Look at page 6 of our photo album to see pictures that were taken. We had so much fun and look forward to many more gatherings.

If you are visiting this site, we would like you to leave with the message that "it only takes a spark to get a fire going." We would encourage anyone, young or old, to live as an active witness for Jesus Christ. Get involved and do what you can, as the Holy Spirit guides you. We are living testament that God can make much more of the whole than the sum of it's parts and the blessing that you will receive from "Reaching Out" in His love will enrich your life in ways you can't imagine.

Click here to listen to "Saved By His Grace", written by one of our group, Buzz Pickens.

reachout@icgolddesigns.com