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MARIETTA -- The congregation of the First Baptist Church of Marietta on Sunday will celebrate two events.
The congregation will celebrate the release of "The Pandemic Pastor," a CD of songs written by Executive Pastor Brittany Mackie Wilson and Senior Pastor Chad Mugrage's 10th anniversary at First Baptist.
During the 10 a.m. worship service, Wilson and members of her family's band, the Buckeye Travelers that helped make the new album, will share the music and background stories from "The Pandemic Pastor.
The album has its roots in songs Wilson wrote during the pandemic about what she and the First Baptist congregation were experiencing as a church.
Following the service, Pastoral Relations Board members will host a reception to honor Mugrage and his wife Linda, Wilson, the Buckeye Travelers Band and First Baptist staff members, Youth Ministries Pastor Eric Moore, Director of Children's Ministries Logan Moore, Director of Technical and Media Ministries Steven Wilson and Interim Pianist Owen Buxton.
Wilson said she first had no intention of releasing the pandemic songs, she was just writing about what the church was going through.
"As I shared the songs, I learned that the hard things we went through as a church were things that churches everywhere were experiencing," Wilson said. "I saw many pastors get blamed for uncontrollable circumstances, and some of them even got forced out of their churches. I watched many pastors lose their heart for ministry and experience intense burnout."
She developed a burden for pastors and ministry leaders affected by the pandemic and wanted to do something to share hope, not just at First Baptist, but also with other area pastors and congregations. Songs on the CD reflect this hope.
"My prayer is that each listener will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that, even in the worst seasons, they are immensely loved by a good and faithful God," Wilson said.
Wilson is lead vocalist for the album with Mandy Miller and Mindy Brooker providing background vocals. Wilson, her husband Steven Wilson, her father Frank Mackie, Donna Mackie and Katelyn Poulton played instruments for the album. All are members of the band.
Owen Buxton, who plays piano for First Baptist services, is a guest playing violin for one song. Steven Wilson is album producer and Frank Mackie is sound engineer.
Copies of the CD will be available at the service, and beginning on Friday, "The Pandemic Pastor" will be available for streaming on all major streaming platforms.
Wilson, a Christian and country singer-songwriter who performs as Brittany Mackie, is keyboardist and vocalist for the band. She released her first album, "Wildfire," in 2019, and five singles since then, including "Normal," part of the new album. Go to https://brittanymackie.com/ to learn more about Pastor Wilson and her music.
Buckeye Travelers Band members include: Donna Mackie, rhythm guitar/vocals; Frank Mackie, lead/vocals; Katelyn Poulton, bass/vocals; Steven Wilson, drums/vocals; Misty McConnell, keys/vocals; Brittany Mackie Wilson, keys/vocals; Christopher Brooker, guitar/vocals; Mandy Miller, Mindy Brooker, Mitzi Schaad, Courtnie Morton, Ellie Heiss, and Sammi McConnell, all vocals.
Go to the Buckeye Travelers' website at https://tinyurl.com/2p9amyjn to learn more about this band founded by five Mackie Family members -- Scott, Donna, Frank, Joletta, and Misty -- in 1980 at Caldwell.
First Baptist Church of Marietta is located at Fourth and Putnam streets across from Marietta College.