February Tour Dates

February Tour
1.. Waynesboro Church of God, Waynesboro, GA, 7pm
2.. White Rock Baptist Church, Irmo, SC, 6pm
8.. Franklin Street Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Florida, 7pm
9.. The Retreat @ Silver Springs, Silver Springs, Florida, 6pm
10.. Oak Ridge Wesleyan Church, Largo, Florida, 8:30am
10.. Cornerstone Baptist Church, Spring Hill, Florida, 5:30pm
13.. First Baptist of SW Broward, Cooper City, Florida, 7pm
14.. Colonial Baptist Church, Venice, Florida, 7pm
15.. Central Baptist Church, Leesburg, Florida, 6:30pm
16.. Roberts Barn, Polk City, Florida, 6pm
17.. Riverbend Christian Worship Center, Labelle, FL 10am
17.. Oak Grove RV Resort, Labelle, Florida, 12:30pm
17.. Palm Grove Mennonite Church, Sarasota, Florida, 6pm
20.. Calvary Baptist Church, Summit, Mississippi, 6:30pm
21.. Faith Baptist Church, Winfield, Louisiana, 7pm
22.. First Baptist Church, Mixon, Texas, 7pm
23.. Lighthouse Baptist Church, San Antonio, Texas, 1pm
24.. Lighthouse Baptist Church, 10am
24.. Calvary Baptist Church, New Braunfels, Texas, 6pm

  We would love to see you at one of our concerts! Feel free to let us know if you           
      have any questions concerning an upcoming event. Have a blessed week!

///Memories///

A collection of sweet memories and special moments

Early in December, some of the family traveled down to Texas for the Bible Bee. It was a highlight of our year! So happy for Hudson who placed fifth place finals!

Elizabeth,Hudson and Rebecca's Junior oral group at Bible Bee. What a party!

Darling little Jubilee

O what fun!!!

Rebecca having fun with the charming little Wallace

An in-house volcano 

Three for the price of one: sibling time, fun, and science!

         

For Elizabeth's birthday party we celebrated with gifts, games and a delicious meal of salad, chicken tortilla soup, brownies and peanut butter ice-cream.

Is there even a way to express how adorable this is?

 A special Christmas Eve dinner with those still at home. We had seafood enchiladas, rice, tortilla chips, coleslaw, brussel sprouts, and gelato for dessert. After supper, we enjoyed watching a movie together as a family.

The Christmas candlelight service at our church was both inspiring and beautiful.

Allison and Rebecca make a wonderful kitchen team. On this particular morning during our 3 day getaway, they worked their wonders and provided us with a delicious meal: potatoes, eggs and fruit.    

During our getaway, Hudson and Taylor enjoyed an intense game of Stratego.

What more do you need when you have a blanket and a good book?

Allison is our faithful pie maker. For Christmas, she made five delicious  pies. 

On Christmas day we had a large group of friends over to join us in eating yummy food, taking long walks, singing Christmas carols, and playing games.

A special time of bonding while doing cross-stitch with Grandma

Twas the day before leaving on the winter tour....

And we celebrated by making donuts and enjoying a candlelight breakfast for dinner!

We spent a relaxing New Years Eve at John and Chelsy's. Our time was spent playing games, enjoying good conversations, and eating yummy food. 

"The heavens declare the glory of God.."

As I was reflecting on the month of December, I saw God's goodness in allowing our family the opportunity to make so many wonderful memories together. Let us never take these special moments for granted, because tomorrow everything could look drastically different. Life is so short. We are never promised another year, day, or even one more breath. Are we choosing to make the most of every moment that we have with the lives that God has placed in our path?
           Have a blessed day as you remember to cherish every moment God has given you!
                         What are your favorite ways to spend time together as a family?

January Tour Dates

We would love to see you at one of our concerts! Check the schedule below to see if the Bontrager Family Singers are coming near you area!

11...Foothills Community Chapel, Columbus, NC, 7pm
12...Cleveland Believers Fellowship, Woodleaf, NC, 6:30pm
13...Central Baptist Church, Dunn, NC, 10am
13...Benson Grove Baptist Church, Benson, NC, 6pm
19...Westwood Baptist Church, Douglas, GA, 6pm
20...Word of Life Christian Fellowship, Montezuma, GA, 9:30am
20...First Baptist Church, Sandersville, GA, 6pm
23...Mount Shady Baptist Church, Swainsboro, GA, 6:30pm
24...Grace Community Church, Ochlocknee, GA, 7pm
25...Faith Mennonite Mission, Cuthbert, GA, 7pm

Mighty Men Camp!

We are so excited to announce that Denver will be hosting a young men's camp over the same dates as Allison's young women's retreat! This exciting opportunity for young men will take place at a scenic camp in northeast Iowa on May 16-19, 2019. Head on over to the website to watch an exciting promo video or for more information about this life changing event! And remember to sign up by March 1 to take advantage of the early bird discount.

2019 Winter Tour Dates Released!

We are thrilled to announce the dates of our 2019 Winter Tour! Please click this link to see where all we'll be.

Thus far, states on the itinerary include Indiana, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Kansas, and Missouri. We'll also be heading through Mexico and Belize. We'd love to see you at one of our concerts!

Check out our winter tour here. We hope to see you along the way.

Watch the National Bible Bee Livestream!

Yes, it is that time of year again! For those of you who have been following our blog/family for much time at all, you know that one of our highlights of the year is participation in the Bible Bee. We post about the competition every year and many of you have followed along with watching ours and hundreds of other young people who have hidden the WORD in their hearts in this way!

This year, Elizabeth, Hudson, + Rebecca all competed in the summer program, and all advanced to the National round for this fall. (Denver chose not to compete this year due to other priorities in his schedule, and Taylor is no longer eligible to compete since he won first place in seniors two years ago) That leaves just our three youngest. And, with the timing of their birthdays, it just so happens that this year they all landed in the same division together (juniors) which means that they are all competing against each other! What fun! =)

Elizabeth-14, Hudson-13, and Rebecca-11

These three competitors, along with Denver, Taylor, Dad, Mom, Josh, Cassidy, + little Wallace, are all currently in Texas at the National Bible Bee! Today was the written test and first oral rounds, and tonight is the Semi-Finalist Announcement Livestream. (with last evening being the opening ceremony)

As always, we would love for you to join us for the livestream! It is truly such a powerful and encouraging thing to see these young people with such a love + passion for the Word of God.

Semi-Finalist Announcement Livestream is tonight from 7:30-8:30pm CT. This is when the semi-finalists (top 15 out of 120 from each division) will be announced. Tomorrow is the semi-finals competition, and Thursday is the finals, with competition times below:

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 5th
Junior Semi-Final Rounds: 11am-1:30pm
Primary Semi-Final Rounds: 2:30-5pm
Senior Semi-Final Rounds: 6-8:30pm

THURSDAY DECEMBER 6th
Junior Final Rounds: 8-10am
Primary Final Rounds: 11am-1pm
Senior Final Rounds: 2-4pm
NBBC Awards Celebration: 6-7:30pm

Livestream Link Here!

(Note: all times are Central Time Zone)

If for whatever reason you are unable to watch the livestream and stay updated that way, you can follow us on instagram @bontragerfamilysingers for further updates throughout the week!

Thanksgiving Week

On Thanksgiving, we met with most of the Bontrager aunts, uncles, and cousins at our grandma's house. To date, there are 41 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and 3 more great-grandchildren on the way.

The conversation often becomes quite animated. Here Uncle Gary is telling one of his classic stories, one that grows better with age.:)

Grandma makes incredible pie!

After Thanksgiving lunch, we enjoyed snacks in the evening.

A few days after Thanksgiving, we had brunch together.

Some of the family got together with some friends while John and Chelsy were in town. 

Bible Bee is in full swing. Denver is doing double duty as both a listener and baby-sitter.

It always helps to have two verse checkers!

Posing for the press.

On Sunday, we met together for another Thanksgiving feast, this one at the Bontrager farm. The blustering wind and flurry snow contrasted with the warmth indoors.

Grandpa and grandson.

We were blessed with a foot of snow. In this picture, the truck slid off the driveway.

Snow means lots of fun.

In the evening, we enjoyed snacks, conversation, and games.

Risk is a Bontrager brothers favorite, as it embodies the intersection of strategy, diplomacy, emotion, and luck.

A perfect panoramic. No, our porch is not L shaped!

Uncle John and and aunt Chelsy enjoying Wallace and Jubilee, who both appear slightly distracted.

Football in the snow!

Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord. The Lord shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel. --Psalm 128