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Your Group had a big year in 2004 both professionally and personally. Fill everyone in on what has happened with the group!
What an awesome year it was both spiritually and personally. My wife Katie had our first child in June of 2004, a little boy we named Jadon Isaiah Scroggs. That was our only physical birth, however we saw 52 spiritual births in our concerts last year. We travel all those miles in hope that some Christian can be encouraged and the lost will come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. We also went through some personnel changes in 2004. Our original baritone, Jarrod Vanderslice, left the group in May to travel with The Galloways. However, God sent the right man along for the job. Mr. Dustin Jackson from Hartford, MI joined our trio in June of 2004. Aaron Nelson continues to sing tenor and do our bookings. In September of last year, Inheritance signed a recording contract with the Eddie Crook Company on their Morning Star Signature Label. They also brought me on as a staff songwriter with their company. In December of 2004 I was invited to lead worship for the Promise Keeper CEO and staff. That event lead me to book 8 Pastor's conferences for Promise Keepers in 2005. God truly opened the door in 2004 and we're ready to come alive in 2005!
What's next up to bat for your group? In other words, what do you see in the immediate future for your ministry?
We have recently released our first cd with Morning Star Signature and our first song to National radio will be out this month. The things we see in our immediate future are the events with Promise Keepers and radio, radio, radio, radio promotion. Did I mention radio promotion? Our first radio release will be “Get Ready.” You better be ready to hear what Inheritance is doing! Also, we are so excited to be singing at the 6th Annual Gospel Music Fan Festival in July. We are chartering a bus and bringing about 40 people with us to your event. I hope you have seats available for us! Finally, I never want to neglect our true calling: Spreading the good news of Jesus Christ to a lost world. Our purpose is not to just “sing to the choir,” if you know what I mean, but anywhere the Lord opens doors for us.
Ben is a big songwriter, explain to the fans how you get your inspiration and motivation. What is your favorite song that you have written?
In 1996 I was a student in the songwriting school at the Steve Hurst School of music. That year Steve had Dottie Rambo come as a guest. Dottie had asked all the songwriters to come down front because she wanted to pray over each songwriter. She had told us that one day her mantle would fall and others would be needed to pick it up and carry on the call. As we lined up to be prayed over I was about the 8th person back in the line. As we each filed by and she laid her hands on each one she got to me and stopped me. First of all, I was so excited to meet the woman who wrote, “We Shall Behold Him,” “Sheltered in the Arms of God,” and many other greats! She stopped me and grabbed my chin and lifted my face till we were eye to eye. She began speaking over me, telling me to never push the doors open but allow God to open the doors for me. She went on to explain to me that God had anointed me to write. At first I was disappointed because I wanted to be the next Gerald Wolf! I really did not want to become a writer who sang, but a singer who wrote songs. Well, I still wonder about that sometimes. Anyway, Dottie spoke those words to me that night, and since then I have never pushed doors open but always allowed God to open them for me. 9 years later I'm a staff writer with Eddie Crook! God's awesome. Oh, if anyone video taped that evening at Steve's School in 1996 I would pay big money for a copy!! That may not have answered the whole question of where I get my motivation, but I truly am motivated by the Word of God and his ministers who preach it. Many songs come from messages I hear and also from tests and trials I face each day. My favorite song I've written would probably have to be a new one I recently wrote called, “100 Years From Now.” The idea was taken from my father who always said in his messages…”100 years from now none of us will be here.” The song is on our recent cd with Morning Star Signature
Tell us about your worst and best concert experiences lately. Something the fan will love to know about you!
Our worst concert experience lately was with the Kingdom Heirs in Oak Grove, LA. It had nothing to do with them but everything to do with us and the sound system. I was so excited to work with Steve French and the Kingdom Heirs that night, but when we got up to the stage the monitors were so loud we couldn't hear ourselves. When the sound is bad it messes the whole program up. We made it through, but there went our first impression. I asked Steve after the concert for some advice and he said no matter what or where you are… “set up your own sound!” He was very encouraging and gave me some great advice. One of our best concerts lately would have to be in Oklahoma. We were recently at a church were the people were so loving and loved gospel music. We had a wonderful service and many came forward for prayer at the end of the concert. After the concert the pastor walked up to me with the love offering and said. “what did you expect from our church today?” I said what do you mean? He said, “For a church of 120 would $1000.00 be a good love offering?” I smiled and said, “wow that would be great.” He handed me the check and I put it in my pocket because I never look at the money until we're back on the road. He said you may want to look at that check to see if I spelled Inheritance correctly. I pulled it out and that church of 120 people gave us a check for $3,000.00. I was shocked! The pastor said that he wanted to sow a seed into our ministry. I bet he's going to get a redwood tree out of that seed. Praise God for people like that!
Something the fan will love to know about you: I, Ben Scroggs, felt the calling to sing gospel music at a Cathedral Concert in Muncie, IN when I was 8 years old. It was George, Glen, Mark, Danny, and Gerald, the best Cathedral Quartet ever. (my opinion)
What are the long term plans for your group. What's the future hold for your group?
Long term, I would like to be singing until the Lord comes again. However, he really needs to help us the way these gas prices are going! We are a full-time group, so sometimes it gets tough, but He does hold our future. I would like to see more souls saved this year than last year. We believe for us that God has called us to not just give Christian entertainment, but to also minister in our concerts as well. We have nothing against singing in a promoters setting. However, are hearts tend to bend toward the local church and all age groups!
Visit Inheritance Trio online at http://www.inheritancetrio.com
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Written: 04/15/2005 
Author: SGN
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