NEW DIRECTION MINISTRIES…
NEW DIRECTION MINISTRIES OF TEXAS
NEW DIRECTION MINISTRIES is celebrating their 42ND anniversary in the ministry this year. The Lord has been so good to open many new doors for NEW DIRECTION in recent years. Whether it is singing along with friends at Reunion Concerts (2002-2008) or the privilege of singing to our troops at Fort Campbell, Kentucky military base, they sing from the heart. They have also been privileged to share the stage with such great artists as HEIRLINE, MERCY’S WAY, KEVIN SPENCER & FRIENDS, WADE SPENCER, the DIXIE ECHOES, THE ANCHORMEN, The TONEY BROTHERS, THE TELESTIALS, SACRED HEART TRIO and various other artists. NEW DIRECTION’s desire, regardless of where they are, be it leading revival services, doing concerts, or celebrating your churches 150th homecoming or anniversary, is to share Christ’s Jesus with every song, testimony or sermon.
Their latest project, “Our Journey Home” contained songs written by each of the group members, including “ROOTS OF MY RAISING” along with other great originals. NEW DIRECTION is one of the few groups, active today, that is blessed to have all four members to write their own music and lyrics. The song written by Jim Smith entitled “ROOTS OF MY RAISING” has been popular among listeners and fans lately because it speaks straight to the heart of anyone who was raised in the country. The song refers to us having roots not only among family, but roots in a strong Christian heritage as well. That is exactly where NEW DIRECTION comes from; strong Christian roots.
This evangelism team is comprised of two brothers and their wives who are grounded in their faith and belief in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Jim and Darren’s parents, Walter and Amy Smith, were active church workers and founders. In the 1970’s The Smith Family had an hour-long gospel singing program on the local radio station KLEV. Walter and Jim would pick the guitars while Darren would play the piano. At the age of 14, Darren joined the Pineywoods Gospel Indian Singers with Bro. Everett Thompson and wife, Jewell. They sang concerts and held revivals in Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Missouri, and Arkansas as well as other areas of the country. They ministered to the Indian people and other churches, going wherever the Lord led them. They sang with such groups as The Happy Goodman’s, The Hemphills, and The Florida Boys just to name a few. The Piney Woods Indian Singers were also guest on various TV and radio programs. Jim began playing a guitar at a very young age. He was raised with his parents taking him to nearby family and friend’s homes to pick and sing long into the early morning hours. As a teen he and three other friends formed a country band which became quite popular. He later returned to where his heart was, singing for the Lord.
In 1981 The Canaan Heirs Gospel Group was formed by Darren who quickly enlisted the help of his brother, Jim. Both families then recruited the help of another young couple, Billy and Betty Masters of Cleveland, TX. The Canaan Heirs sang together for many years until the group’s reorganization in 1998. Darren’s wife, Donna Hummel Smith, was also raised in a strong Christian home. Cousins who lived in the surrounding Woodville, Texas area were the original members of The New Day Spirituals. Her late father, Walter “Buddy” Hummel, was an ordained minister and pastor for several years before his death in 1999. Her mom, Mary Anderson Hummel, always taught her children that they could accomplish great things if the Lord was in it.
In 1998 Jim’s wife, Teresa joined the group, bringing her own soulful style to the table and completing NEW DIRECTION as they are today. Teresa grew up attending a small Missionary Baptist Church where she too was influenced by old time gospel singing. If there was singing going on she always wanted to ride to church with her grandparents because her grandfather, Eli Currie, was a deacon and he was the first one there and the last one to leave. That way she was assured of being able to stay until it was over in the hope that the music leader would ask her to come and sing with him, which he did quite often. During her years in high school, she performed and sang in the annual musicals that the drama department hosted and later sang in the Forest Trails Chorus, a barbershop style, four-part harmony choir. She also sang with the county choral group, The Sweet Adaline’s.
In 2004 NDM ministered with home missionaries in the North Country of New York state and saw many hearts and lives changed during their three-week tour. They have sung at the LO Records All Night Gospel Sing in Savannah, GA, and for the troops of the 101st airborne division in Clarksville, KY. As an evangelism team, NEW DIRECTION has been honored to lead revivals throughout the country. Response has been tremendous. People of all ages leave services with lasting encouragement. Donna says, “Our greatest compliment is that everywhere we go people say, “You all feel like you are part of our family,” “Your music really speaks to our hearts, it really shares a message”, “It’s like you’re my next-door neighbor” or “I feel like I’ve known you all forever!” That is how New Direction feels about the people they meet. Everyone is like family members we are meeting for the first time…a family ordained of the Lord. NEW DIRECTION ministers at concerts, special services, and revivals as a ministry team wherever the door is opened.
Darren is currently serving as Pastor and Jim is the Worship Leader at Amazing Grace Missionary Baptist Church in Cleveland, Texas. God has certainly directed their steps and they desire nothing more than to be used of God. There is always great anticipation about where the next opportunity to serve Christ may be. Hopefully it will be with you at your church leading your next special service!
FOR INFORMATION ABOUT ARTIST & BOOKINGS PLEASE CALL DONNA AT: (281) 224-7073 or Darren (615) 630-5163 DO you have a question for us? Give us a call!!!