MTQ’s 2015 NQC Schedule

We are excited to be at the National Quartet Convention in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee at the LeConte Center!  If you’re here, we would love for you to stop by our booth and say hello.  With the busy week ahead, we know it can be difficult to keep track of who is singing when and where; so we wanted to make it easy for you!  Below is a listing of all the chapels, showcases and evening concerts MTQ will be a part of this year.  Any time it slips your mind where we’re going to be, just visit this post on the app for a quick reminder!    

Tuesday -  Main Stage | 6:57pm | LeConte Center

Wednesday – Cathedrals Family Reunion Showcase | 11:30am – 1:00pm | LeConte Center

Thursday – Chapel with Mark Trammell | 10:00am-10:30am | LeConte Center

Thursday – Matinee Showcase with hosts Gerald Wolfe and Gordon Mote | 11:30am-2:30pm | LeConte Center

Thursday – Main Stage | 9:42pm | LeConte Center
*Mark and Nick host the evening concert*  

Friday – Chapel service | 10:30am-11:00am | LeConte Center

Saturday – Gospel Music Hymn Sing Showcase | 2:00pm-3:30pm | LeConte Center

Saturday – Main Stage | 8:24pm | LeConte Center

Remember to get your loyalty card punched by one of us before or after concerts when you see us sing this week!      

How To Plan Your Caribbean Vacation

A cruise to the Caribbean sounds lovely...but you don't enjoy sticky sand or water activities.  Will you be bored when we're in port?  Maybe you have children and think the expense would be more than your budget allows?  Desire detailed information on what exactly an "all Christian cruise" means?  Well, we're here to help you plan your Caribbean vacation!

MTQ is excited to be a part of The Singing at Sea Cruise February 15-20, 2016.  We would love to be your host as we sing with over 25 performing artists, listen to solid preaching from the Word of God and laugh from the lighthearted performance of Christian Comedians.  Add to that gourmet food and the turquoise waters of Grand Cayman and Cozumel, and you have a great vacation with an inspirational twist!   

The deal doesn't end there, in 2016, kids 15 and younger sail free (when rooming with two adults - port charges and gratuities do apply - see brochure).  During our cruise, the casinos and bars will be closed, making this the ultimate cruise experience for those wishing for a quiet week on the water.  When you choose MTQ as your host, we will spoil you with a special gift, private concert and evening meals together in the dining room.  We depart from Tampa, Florida on Carnivals ms Paradise - we hope you will consider coming with us!

If you're wondering what kind of activities are available in each port of call, keep reading!  We have broken down possible excursions and sites into two categories - 1) Water and Beach Activities.  2) Historical Sites and Land Tours.  With these tools, you can plan the activities that appeal most to you!

Water and Beach Activities...

Grand Cayman is considered the "beach day" of the trip.  The island's famed Seven Mile Beach has been rated as the number one beach in the world by U.S. News and World Report; dig your toes into fluffy white sand and rest while the crystal waters lap onto shore.   On the other hand, if you feel that Seven Mile Beach is too crowded during cruise season, you may want to hire a taxi and go to West Bay Public Beach.  Restrooms, changing facilities and dining at Alfresco Restaurant are all available.

Swim with Stingrays Stingray City and Sandbar is one of the Cayman's most popular attractions!  From one of Carnival's excursions, you are taken by boat to the sandbar to swim with the friendly stingrays in crystal clear waters.  You can walk in waist high water, snorkel or simply watch from the boat; these sea creatures are waiting to welcome you to their abode!

If you like beach days in both ports, you may want to consider Paradise Beach in Cozumel.  There is no admission charge to the beach itself, but you can rent beach chairs for approximately $2 and purchase a "Fun Pass" that will give you access to over 14 water accessories such as:  snorkel equipment, kayaks, paddleboards, waterslides, water trampolines and more - this would be a great place to take your children and/or grandchildren!

This is a beautiful sandy beach with access to restrooms, showers and places to change clothing.  There is a restaurant nearby along with places to get a massage.  Located 9 miles south of San Miguel (Downtown) and 5 miles south of the International Cruise Ship Pier.

Dolphin Swim & Snorkel Like the idea of swinging with the stingrays in Grand Cayman?  Then why not swim with the dolphins in Cozumel?  On the "Dolphin Swim & Snorkel at Chankanaab Park" excursion from Carnival, you can get up close and personal with these amazing creatures and make memories that will last a lifetime!

Want to be on the water but not in it?  Then maybe a Glass Bottom Boat Tour is right for you!  On one of these tours, you can see many varieties of fish without being in the water snorkeling.  Enjoy the ride and the view from above!

  

Historical Sites and Land Tours...

Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park, also in Grand Cayman, is a great place to learn about the island's history.  The Visitor Center is built to resemble Colonial Caribbean Architecture and you will feel like you're walking back in time as you stroll through the brick courtyard, surrounded by the vegetation of the island and its native flowers.  Keep an eye out for the blue iguanas too!

Discover Mexico Park! In Cozumel, you can take the "Cozumel Highlights and Shopping" excursion where you will visit a Mayan chocolate factory, a Mayan house, Discover Mexico Park, stroll through gardens and get a view of downtown on your way to the market where you can purchase your own Mexican souvenir.

Pedro St. James If touring a restored historic home by guided tour appeals to you, check out Pedro St. James National Historic Site in Grand Cayman.  The home was originally built in 1780 and has been restored to reflect the island life and history of the period.  A presentation will begin the tour, then a guide will take you through the home and explain the Cayman history from its discovery by Columbus up to modern times.

Spectacular Views Punta Celerain Lighthouse sits at the southernmost tip of Cozumel and offers a stunning view of the shoreline from the top.  Once you arrive at the lighthouse, additional activities are available on sight, such as: a few shops, museum, beach and the ECO Park.  The lighthouse contains 134 steps.  Bring your camera along!  The views are spectacular!

Explore Ancient Ruins

Enjoy a piece of Mexico's history by taking a tour to one of the many ancient Mayan ruin sites on Cozumel!  On the island, you can visit San Gervasio, Castillo Real and El Cedral.  Learn the history and culture behind the Mayan civilization and how the Mayan people lived their everyday lives.

For additional information, please visit the MTQ Cruise Page.   

We hope that you will join us for a Caribbean vacation this winter!

Gold City Reunion at SDC

We love being in Branson, Missouri.  For those of you who follow us on Facebook, you may think the reason for that is Andy’s Frozen Custard or Lambert’s Cafe!  Though we enjoy those places very much, they don’t compare with the hospitality of the staff and management at Silver Dollar City and the opportunity they give us to sing Gospel Music in a public theme park every year during the Southern Gospel Picnic.  Last Wednesday, we spent all day at “The City” singing, visiting with folks and eating fried chicken! 

In the morning, we sang three sessions at Red Gold Heritage Hall.  If you’ve never been able to attend the Southern Gospel Picnic, the park has seven stages where you can see all of your favorite groups and our friends sing from morning till evening every day for twelve days straight.  In the evenings, SDC opens their amphitheater, Echo Hollow, for a special evening concert.  That night, Jay Parrack, Jonathan Wilburn, myself and Tim Riley came together for a Gold City Reunion to reminisce about our days with the group!  We were blessed to sing to a full house of over 4100 people!  It is a special treat to once again stand on the platform with Tim Riley – what many do not know, is, before there was a Gold City, there was a Tim and Mark.  I was right out of high school, he and I sang together for a little while in a quartet.  He’s proven to be like a brother to me over the years.  He allowed me the opportunity to come and be a part of this particular group, I was there for about nine years, and the most popular song that I had the privilege of singing during that time was this song about a little boy who was lost.  Though there were many moments I could tell you about from Echo Hollow, we want to share that special song with you…

Special thank you to D. A. Callaway, Brad Thomas, the Herschend family and all the staff at SDC for making another very special day for MTQ at the most family friendly park in America!  If you would like to see some photos from our day at Silver Dollar City, you can do so on our Facebook page here.  But…if you’re wondering what some of those other moments were from the evening at Echo Hollow, you can look forward to and/or sign up for our next e-letter which we will be sending out in a few days.  Our Newsletters are filled with current happenings from the road, information on upcoming events and tips for packing and planning on our 2016 cruises.  To sign up today, please click here.  Until next time!                   

Mark Trammell Quartet Announces 2016 Homecoming Event!

Southside, Alabama (September 1, 2015) – The Mark Trammell Quartet announces today that their three day Homecoming Event is returning to Hill Crest Baptist Church July 29-31, 2016.  After fans inquired about the absence of a MTQ Homecoming in 2015 due to a heavy touring schedule, the quartet wants them to be the first to know the artists, dates and activities so they can plan to be in attendance for their 2016 Homecoming.  The line-up features two of the most popular programs appearing right now in Gospel Music. 

The MTQ Homecoming will begin on Friday, July 29, 2016 featuring the Gold City Reunion with special guest Tim Riley and artists Wilburn and Wilburn, Jay Parrack and Vocal Event and The Mark Trammell Quartet.  Saturday morning, those signed up to take part in the Golf Tournament will gather at Silver Lakes Golf Course in Gadsden, Alabama at 8:30 AM for a morning of fun and fellowship.  (Golf Tournament is open to the public.)  That same evening, The Mark Trammell Quartet will share the stage with their friends Greater Vision and come together as The Second Half Quartet; featuring Gerald Wolfe, Mark Trammell, Chris Allman, Rodney Griffin and Pat Barker on classic Gospel songs from the past.  On Sunday morning, MTQ will take part in the worship service at their home church with the Hill Crest Choir and Orchestra to close out the weekend.       

This event is the quartet’s gift to the fans for supporting the ministry all year and is sponsored by Mark Trammell Quartet Outreach which is a non-profit ministry branch of MTQ.  The Mark Trammell Quartet wishes to thank everyone in advance for their financial and prayerful support of this ministry and its effort to take quality Gospel Music to areas that could not otherwise have it.  All concerts and services will take place at the Trammell’s home church, Hill Crest Baptist Church.  Hill Crest is located in Anniston, Alabama just off of Highway 431, easy to find and accessible.  You can find more information about the MTQ Homecoming on the group’s website: http://mtqhomecoming.com.       

Mark Trammell has been involved in Gospel Music for 41 years and formed The Mark Trammell quartet in 2002.  The group is a full-time, professional Southern Gospel Quartet whose goal is to see Believers edified and lost souls come to know the Lord through Gospel Music and evangelism.  Based out of Southside, Alabama these four men have traveled all over the U.S, Canada and are planning their debut in Ireland for the fall of 2016.  

Mark Trammell Ministries
PO Box 588
Gadsden, AL 35902
USA
(256) 442-1621
http://marktrammellministries.com/

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