The Dartts: DARTT NEWS

SATURDAY UPDATE!! - "THE REPAIRED BUS" 

  Greetings from The Dartts! It's been an exciting adventure. At about 4pm Thursday evening we got "the phone call" from the repair shop. They were letting us know that their work on the bus was done & that they'd already taken the bus out for a test drive. After our concert that night in Grants Pass, Oregon, we loaded into our rental van & headed a few hours south toward the Sacramento area. Friday morning we arrived at the shop, transferred everything from the van to the bus, turned the rental van in, & got right back on the road headed northbound toward our weekend concerts in the Portland, Oregon area. 

  We've got a sparkly clean & new radiator & a shiny bright & new exhaust pipe & bellows, all operating perfectly. Anytime a breakdown & repair of this magnitude occurs you have a little heightened sense of awareness as you get started back out on the road with your vehicle, especially when it's 45 foot long & weighs almost 60,000 pounds. We definitely had the perfect trip on Friday to put the new repairs to the test… we headed right for the Ashland Pass, which tops out at 4,310 feet above sea level. The bus ran nice & smooth & the water temperature never got above 170 degrees, even climbing the mountains. Simply put… that's good.

  The repairs ended up with a total bill for $12,911. In the meantime, more donations have come in through PAYPAL and some through the mail, some from individuals and some from churches, bringing the new total of donations toward repairs to $6,452. We are pressing on with our touring and praying and asking the Lord to continue to provide the finances to pay off this bill. 

  We are praising the Lord for the AMAZING response we have already seen with the donations that are coming in. We are praising Him for protecting us on the road, for allowing us to get to a safe place when we broke down… a place where we had electricity for the night & a van to borrow for the first few days. We are thanking Him for the fact that we only had to cancel 1 concert in all of this & we are thanking him that the repairs were completed in time for us to get back in the bus on Friday so that we didn't have to further disrupt our touring through Oregon & Washington & beyond.

Please continue to pray for the finances to be provided to pay off the repairs, = $6,459

If you feel led to send a gift to The Dartts toward the repair costs, you can;

Send a payment through PAYPAL to;

thedartts@msn.com

or

Mail a gift to;

The Dartts

Bus Repair Project

P.O.Box 422

Greenbrier, TN 37073

Otherwise, you can;

Give us a call at 707-344-4140

Thanks & God Bless!

The Dartts

Greetings from The Dartts!

Just taking a few moments to share a little more coherent note regarding our adventures with the "Broken Bus". 

Saturday, May 4th - Vacaville, CA -  Just a couple days after one of our bus air conditioners lost a compressor, the bus warning lights illuminated & the antifreeze started gushing out of the engine compartment of the bus. A portion of exhaust pipe called the "bellows" had cracked & fallen away, allowing the extreme heat of the "runaway" exhaust to melt through & damage the radiator beyond repair. We were provided with a church van for a few days to get to our concerts & we've been in a rental vehicle since that time. It took the better part of the day on Monday the 6th to have the bus towed to the nearest authorized service center, which is in West Sacramento.

As is typical of repairs on a vehicle - especially a big bus - when you start removing parts & pieces, you find more that needs to be done. In this case, the support floor underneath the radiator was corroded to the point that it had to be replaced. The estimated time for the job to be completed has been moved back a few times. Currently we are praying for the bus to be ready to be picked up this Friday, May 17th. We are praying hard that it will be ready then, especially because we cancelled a concert in central Oregon to allow for the time it will take to drive to West Sacramento from southern Oregon (where we are currently), pick up the bus, turn in the rental vehicle, & then drive to northern Oregon where our weekend concerts are scheduled. 

Along with the growing repair list comes the growing repair bill, which at the moment of this email is at about $12,400. That includes the towing & the repairs to the air conditioner unit that still needs to be done;

So far we have been blessed and amazed to see how God has moved upon many people to help us in this time of need;

We've had an outpouring of gifts from individuals and church families so far, some for $10 and one for as much as $2,000, bringing our current total of gifts received so far toward the bus repairs to $5,027. Please keep us in your prayers as we continue through this exciting journey. 

Please pray that the bus will be completed & ready to be picked up this Friday.

Please pray for the remainder of the finances to be provided, = $7,373.00

If you feel led to send a gift to The Dartts toward the repair costs, you can;

Send a gift through PAYPAL to;

thedartts@msn.com

or

Mail a gift to;

The Dartts

Bus Repair Project

P.O.Box 422

Greenbrier, TN 37073

Otherwise, you can;

Give us a call at 707-344-4140

Thanks & God Bless!

MAJOR PRAYER REQUEST: "The Broken Bus"

We are well on our way into 2013, and it looks to be an exciting new year! God is working in wondrous ways. "Sing unto Him, sing psalms unto Him, talk ye of all His wondrous works. I Chronicles 16:9"

We started the year with only 3 bookings scheduled for the month of January… and one of them ended up canceling. We were wondering what might be in store… God knew. The first half of January, BJ and Stoney (with the help of so many caring volunteers) moved BJ's folks (Billy and Paula Speer) from Florida to Tennessee, where the Lord provided a wonderful little house for them just 10 minutes from us. BJ's Dad has Alzheimer's disease and they recently lost their home in Florida.

The last half of January, we found ourselves writing and practicing new music. An anonymous donor sent a check to our home church to pay for the start of a new album (It will be our first full album in more than 6 years)! We recorded the instrument tracks at Hilltop Studio in Nashville the last 3 days of January… and they came out great! 14 songs in all, 12 of them brand new and 2 from my solo days.

PRAY! We are scheduled to do our vocals in Nashville in March and we need about $5,000 to finish out the album!

More than 150 bookings set for 2013 so far. 7 concerts done as of today, and 12 people saved so far. God is good! Hope to see you down the road!

Blessings,

Tracy

BREAKING NEWS for the Billy and Paula Speer family…

This week an individual made the following offer to the Speers concerning 'The Billy Speer Project': ALL gifts that are given or pledged toward 'The Billy Speer Project' BETWEEN NOW AND NOVEMBER 2ND WILL BE MATCHED by this individual. 

In the meantime, Billy had another report from the Dr. showing that his Alzheimer's Disease has progressed further yet again. BJ Speer is expressing that there is a NEED to get Billy and Paula moved to Tennessee as soon as possible. BJ is currently in negotiations on a house for his parents in Springfield, Tennessee, and is moving forward in hopes that God will supply ALL OF THE FINANCIAL NEEDS UPFRONT. At this point Paula and BJ have no choice but to push forward and continue to TRUST the Lord, as they have been through this entire process. Please pray for Billy, Paula, and BJ as they venture down this road and start a new phase of life. "Peace in the Valley" is a song that comes to mind...

If you would like to help Billy and Paula through 'The Billy Speer Project', you can receive a tax deductible gift by sending a personal or cashier's check made payable to: 

Billy Speer Ministries, Inc.

(CHECKS MUST BE MADE PAYABLE TO 'BILLY SPEER MINISTRIES, INC.' TO RECEIVE A RECEIPT)

...addressed to...

BJ Speer 

Billy Speer Project

PO Box 422

Greenbrier, TN 37073

Donations can be made online through PayPal by clicking HERE or by using the "Send Money" option on PayPal to send funds to the following e-mail address: 

BJSPEER@DARTTMUSIC.COM

If you wish, you can access a Paypal payment link on 'The Billy Speer Project' website at www.billyspeer.com or www.bjspeer.com

As all of this seems overwhelming to Paula and BJ, our GOD IS BIG and in charge and we know He will provide as He has through their 40 years of ministry. Please continue to PRAY for extra added strength for Paula as she is dealing with so much through all of this. Also for Billy... even though he's not able to comprehend what is going on, pray that he will remain calm and peaceful and not cause Paula grief and heartache. For BJ... he has been working around the clock making every effort to create awareness about Billy & Paula's circumstance and to raise support for his parents, making trips back and forth to help his mom, while at the same time feeling it's God's will for him to continue touring and ministering with The Dartts. He needs strength, peace, and wisdom in the upcoming days to make decisions concerning his folks.

Remember to check www.BillySpeer.com for updates, follow the Speer's journey through weekly blogs shared by Paula in the "Paula's Corner" section of the website, and check out BJ's launch this week of a NEW CD package made especially for the holidays! Also, on November 1st, BJ is releasing a NEW CD called "Billy's Greatest Hits Volume 1"... A collection of songs that have been favorites through the years! This CD will be available for digital distribution ONLY and will be accessible on iTunes and Amazon. All music purchases of the albums you'll find at www.BillySpeer.com will go directly to help the Speers! 

Join us in PRAYING and BELIEVING FOR A MIRACLE!

     Sunday Morning was our last concert in the Northeastern U.S. for 2012. We had a great time in New England this year. We saw more than 20 salvation decisions on this 4 week trip and experienced some of the most beautiful weather we could hope to have. It was a treat to enjoy temperatures in the low 70's and 60's after an entire summer in the 90's and 100's. The New England trees weren't quite ready to turn yet and we will certainly miss the the beautiful fall foliage this year, but next year, Lord willing, we will be in New England in August and again in October.

     We saw many old friends including Harold and Linda Case. Sharon and I went to high school with Harold, who taught me to drive when I was 17. It's always like being with family when we are with them. Also, we saw our good friend Georgia Boyle, widow of Harry Boyle, who pastored at Grace Baptist in Portland, Maine for many, many years. While we were in Milbridge, Maine, a kind couple brought us some lobsters, which we gladly consumed. We enjoyed some fresh seafood again in Bar Harbor on a day off. We had 2 days off during our 3 weeks in Maine and sang 20 concerts there. Then we were off to Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New Jersey before heading home. We have a short rest, and then we're off to the midwest for 17 concerts in October. 

     Fuel prices have been all over the place. We paid as much as $4.43 a gallon in Connecticut. God is able to provide all our needs. As our friend, Dr. Wendell Calder has said, "We didn't go into the ministry because fuel was cheap". Please pray for souls, for travel, safety, equipment upkeep and finances...(especially for a new album)!

God Bless!

Tracy Dartt

Hey Everyone, 

     Thank you so much for the prayers and support! It has been an insanely crazy time for me as I have been making trips to FL - helping my folks, Billy & Paula Speer, as often as I can... It gets tough at times, but God's people continue to pray and His strength sees me through. 

     I just wanted to share this little note and let folks know that we have REFRESHED www.BJSpeer.com as well as www.BillySpeer.com into ONE NEW WEBSITE that will keep everyone updated on all things SPEER. Mom is writing a blog to express her feelings and emotions at home while taking care of Dad and I am keeping folks updated as to what is happening on my end. There is a BRAND NEW CD, "BJ Speer "Through"", available to order online or download on iTunes, an area where you can tell Mom & I where you first heard Dad sing and the impact he might have left or perhaps tell us what your favorite Billy Speer song is... There is a link to help support their ministry as well.

     Also, you'll find info on our Jubilee At Sea Alaska 2013 Cruise! There have been drastic price drops on the Alaska cruise for next year and we hope to see you aboard! Check it all out!! ...and Remember to PRAY for the SPEERS and the DARTTS!

God Bless!

BJ Speer

     Hello everyone, BJ Speer here. Thank you for your prayers this past week. Things have been so busy and a little crazy as I flew to Florida to visit my folks (Billy & Paula Speer), but then ended up visiting my mom in the hospital for the week! My cousin took mom to the ER last sunday evening for stomach pain. They admitted her and treated her all week for an obstruction in her colon. It was a touch and go week as we heard surgery plans thrown around and then toward the end of the week they were able to treat her WITHOUT HAVING TO DO SURGERY, so we PRAISE GOD for that.

     I was blessed to have a friend from Washington State fly in and help me with taking care of Mom when I was with Dad and then took care of Dad when I was with Mom. I am so thankful for the help that I had in caring for my folks! Mom has just arrived home from the hospital this afternoon (Sunday) and I am so happy that she gets to be in her own bed tonight!! I flew home to Nashville Thursday night after the Doctor gave us a clear answer that there were no surgery plans. I got in close to midnight and got up early Friday morning to put my vocals on a recording that my parents started a few years ago and were unable to finish… I recorded it as a TRIBUTE to the LEGACY of my parents' musical ministry as this will most likely be their last recording project. The recording sessions had been scheduled for a few weeks and I was unsure if I would be able to get from Florida to Tennessee in time to do it, but God gave me peace about it and everything worked out great. I am hoping to release this project by Labor Day Weekend and use the funds to help with Mom and Dad's expenses as their ministry on the road has now come to an end.

     Dad (Billy Speer) continues to lose pieces of his memory on a daily basis. Each day is a new day and some days that's good, on other days it can be exhausting. I am thankful to all who have kept us in their daily prayers and I ask that you please continue. We have a long road ahead of us as we make decisions that will not be easy. We are thankful for God's faithfulness over the years and we know He will continue to lead us through the Fire! Thank you again for your prayers!

BJ Speer

!!!URGENT PRAYER REQUEST FOR THE SPEER FAMILY!!!Please pray for the Speer family (BJ, Billy, & Paula).

     BJ flew from Nashville, Tennessee, to Orlando, Florida, Monday. This was a planned trip, but it couldn't have been timed more fittingly:

     SUNDAY NIGHT, BJ'S MOM, PAULA WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM & WAS EVENTUALLY ADMITTED TO A HOSPITAL IN LEESBURG, FLORIDA, AFTER EXPERIENCING SEVERE ABDOMINAL PAIN.

     BJ arrived at the hospital to be with Paula just moments ago (about 4pm Eastern time). Paula is receiving medication to ease the pain until the doctors make a decision as to what the problem & the solution is.

     As some of you may know, some months ago, Billy was diagnosed with the early stages of Alzheimer's. Sadly, the disease seems to be progressing at an advanced rate. Although Billy was able to perform in concert as recently as December 2011, his mental health most recently is to the point that he shouldn't be left on his own.

     Keep a watch here for updates on Paula Speer & please pray for the whole Speer Family as they deal with these difficulties. For more information on what the Family has been dealing with check out the multiple news updates on THIS PAGE pertaining to The Speer Family dating back as far as February 18th, 2012.

     Home at last!!! It sure feels good, after almost four months on the road. 16 states, 90 concerts, 138 salvation decisions, making a total of 208 salvation decisions so far this year. We got to see many old friends and we got to make many new ones.

     GOD HAS BLESSED! The bus ran well, and fuel prices came down a little! Total diesel fuel costs for the trip were $6,750.00. We cut some expense by renting cars in four different areas, while letting the bus stay put as a base of operations for a time. Otherwise, the fuel would have been well over $10,000.00

     Health-wise, I'm doing pretty well. A little adjustment is being made to my meds, but I'm holding up well. Sharon & I missed just one of the concerts on the tour when Stoney and BJ sang as a duet in Denver while I had to spend an evening in the hospital there having some tests done.

     We are trying to set aside funds for a new album. Working on new songs. Lord willing, we would like to record in Nashville in late September. Please pray for finances and anointing.

     GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

The Dartts Update & an Update on Billy & Paula Speer

~THE DARTTS UPDATE

"I've seen the wind blowing' waves upon the ocean...

  Here we are, back on the west coast - back to our beginnings! Tracy and I met in Southern California, our four children were born there, and there, back in the '70s, Tracy began his Music ministry out of our home church in La Puente, California. Oh, the places we've been since then!!!

  We began our California schedule this year in April, and had several concerts in the desert, many in the foothill area, and more in the San Diego area. As we went into the Los Angeles suburbs, we were overwhelmed by the traffic challenges, but cheered as we sang and fellowshipped with dear family members and beloved old friends.

  We enjoyed perfect weather as we drove on, singing in Bakersfield, Fresno, and the San Francisco Bay area. The month of May brought us some much needed rest time, and now we're further north, touring in Washington state to kick off the month of June. While taking some vacation time in May, Tracy and I watched our documentary film, "THE GOD ON THE MOUNTAIN LEGACY" again. It's good for us to recall our journey thus far. The film, released in 2010, ended with Tracy still on dialysis. Since then, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, Tracy has had a kidney transplant, and we have been back on the road with Stoney and BJ for just over a year. Just since the first of 2012, we've had over 165 folks acknowledge salvation decisions in our concerts. We thank God for letting us serve Him, and pray He gives a little more time, and a LOT more souls! 

  Please pray for us as we prepare our new music for recording later this year.......and THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL WHO PRAY FOR THE DARTTS.

By Sharon Dartt

  ps. The ocean quote at the top of the update is from our song, "Wings Of The Wind" off our "Gloryland" CD.

~UPDATE ON BILLY & PAULA SPEER, FROM BJ SPEER

Greetings friends, family, & fans!

  It has been a couple of months since an update has been put out about my family. I do apologize for that, as our schedule on the west coast has been quite heavy. We have seen many souls saved, we've ministered in over 50 churches, and we've covered over 2,500 miles… and that's just in the past 2 months!

  My parents are still living in Orlando at the present time, as we have not raised enough funds to get them to TN just yet. I am fighting to keep them in their house as long as I can but know we are coming to an end soon. I appreciate the many people, churches, and friends who have sent gifts of support. It is encouraging to me, and it's keeping my folks going. My Dad seems to continue to have good days and bad days. At this present time, all further tour dates for them have been cancelled as we continue to seek God's will & direction. It is unclear right now if any concerts will be scheduled in the future due to his medical needs. My mom is doing fine, although there have been major changes to her life. She remains positive and optimistic that God has a plan and a purpose for all things, and that through these trials God will provide wisdom, strength, and peace! 

  I am continuing to handle as much as I can from the road AND have been blessed with some wonderful friends that are helping me take care of things on the home front. For those who have made contributions to The Billy Speer Project, I am greatly appreciative and we're working as hard as we can to receipt everyone who is sending in their financial gifts. 

  For those of you who are still interested in supporting the needs of Billy & Paula Speer, the mailing instructions are below. All gifts will be tax deductible...

  I would appreciate the continued prayers for Mom & Dad. We have a long way to go but I'm certain of Gods provision!!!

Looking Upward,

BJ Speer

Checks or money orders can be made payable to;

Billy Speer Ministries Inc.

and mailed to:

The Billy Speer Project

C/O The Dartts

PO Box 422

Greenbrier, TN 37073

Or you can click here to send a PayPal contribution to;

bjspeer@darttmusic.com

Any & all PayPal gifts sent to BJSpeer@DarttMusic.com are automatically designated for The Billy Speer Project.

February was a great month of blessings for The Dartts. A busy schedule (19 concerts) allowed us to catch up a little after 3 difficult months. But, best of all, the souls that received Christ! 48!!! 48 people responded to pray a sinner's prayer. One entire family, an old friend, and a senior adult couple were among the 48. Another lady came to me in tears, and said she had been struggling, knowing she needed to make a decision, and the music finally broke her resistance. Thank you, Lord, for the music and for the Word of God!

We enjoyed a few days at home in Tennessee while we made preparations for our West Coast Tour. We will be on the road just shy of 4 months, and will do 85 concerts in 16 states, Lord willing!

Please pray for journey mercies, decent fuel prices, no mechanical problems, good health, and MANY MORE SOULS.

Tracy Dartt

To Pastors, Friends, Family and Prayer Partners,

As I sat down to write this letter, my mind was overcome with thoughts....How do I write this letter? What if no one responds? What if I am stepping on toes? I prayed that the Lord would give me the wisdom to compose my thoughts, and for the feelings of my heart to become clear on paper. 

As many of you know, my Mom and Dad, Billy and Paula Speer, have been experiencing financial hardships like many Americans and families today. My parents have been in full time ministry now for over 40 years and it seems like it truly does get harder each year. This past year, my parents were hit with some obstacles that really seem overwhelming. I want to share with you my concerns first. In December, after several treatments at the Mayo Clinic, my dad was diagnosed with Cognitive Memory Impairment. This is something that quite a few people struggle with, but also is a condition that can lead to Alzheimer’s (A word I struggle with and am still trying to get used to myself). No one likes to hear of their loved one being diagnosed with this disease. Although they have not said he has it, they are treating him for moderate depression in hopes of seeing signs of improvement. Unfortunately, his symptoms seem to continuously get worse and not better. Mom and Dad have no health insurance, and so, during this time of treatment, several people made donations and contributions to help with the medical expenses, for which we are grateful! 

In January, just a few short weeks after the diagnosis, they received foreclosure papers on their home. It seems like the more people I talk to, the more I hear of folks who have been affected by the foreclosure phenomenon. They have lived in their home for nearly 20 years and it seems so unfair that it can be taken away from them, but they have always put ministry first and many months the house payment just didn’t get paid so they could stay on the road. As a person who is in ministry myself, it is so hard to know what God wants from us sometimes. Do we stay in Christian service and be faithful to the call? Do we stay home and find another way to pay bills? Lord, show me the way!!! I have struggled with that for years. I do know that the Bible says to trust Him and He will supply all your needs. Due to the diagnosis, and the events leading up to it, their schedule came to a screeching halt. They were fortunate enough to have some faithful supporters who have kept their electric on, and food on the dinner table. I am thankful for the ones who have sent their support to help...very thankful!

So, now to the request. This is where I want to be careful in my asking. I know that today, so many people, ministries, missions, churches, organizations are asking for money, needing help, support, etc... It is not a good time in our economy to be asking for financial help. I know this and that is why I struggled so much. I am an only child who is very concerned for his parents and only wants to help them as much as I can. They do not know I am sending this letter but I trust they will understand and appreciate my efforts. Many have wondered and asked me if I was going to come off the road and help take care of them. In reply, I say this...I feel like God has called me to the ministry of The Dartts for a purpose and at this time I do not have the peace to leave and stay in FL with my folks. I feel like God is using me in a ministry and we are seeing souls saved and the Lord is leading us to new places and areas to which we have been praying about as a group. I feel like I can help them by continuing to be on the road, sharing their needs, and when the time comes, I will be there to help them to do what ever they need me to do. 

My goal seems high, and the request big, but God is GREAT and can do anything if it’s His WILL. I would like to see my parents move to Nashville to be close to me, close to Vanderbilt Hospital, which is one of the greatest hospitals in the country, and close to people who are willing to help and oversee to their needs while I am on tour. Tennessee offers some healthcare benefits that not all states have and could be better insurance in the event of dads health declining. Due to the financial crisis they are under, they would not approve for a loan, and would have difficulty getting into something even temporary for some time. I am not in the place financially where I can help them out, as the loan companies won’t even consider me, due to my income not meeting their requirements. I know it seems like I am beating around the bush with the needs, but it’s really hard for me to ask. I would like to raise enough money to put them into some housing in TN. Seems like a huge request, but if churches would be gracious enough to take a special offering, and if folks who have known my parents for many years would make a contribution, the meeting of the need might not seem so far away. Again, please understand, I am not wanting anyone to not give to their local church, missionaries, etc.. but if you would like to donate a special gift toward Billy and Paula Speer I would greatly appreciate it. If not, I completely understand and would request strong prayer cover over all of us in the upcoming months as I know the valley seems to be getting darker. After singing Tracy Dartt’s song, “God On The Mountain” every night in concert, I must believe that God will see us through the bad times just like He sees us through the good times in life. Currently, I am trying to help my parents go through stuff to prepare for a yard sale and clear out as much as I can. The actual date that they need to be out of their house is still yet undetermined, but I feel like I need to move things along so that when the time comes, we don’t have any problems. The Dartts have been more than gracious to help me in my efforts and have assured me that they would be by my side through all of it. I couldn’t ask to travel with a more patient, loving caring family and I am so blessed! 

If you would like to make a special gift or send ongoing support for Billy & Paula Speer, you can make gifts payable to:

“Billy Speer Ministries, Inc.”

And mail to:

Billy Speer Project

C/O The Dartts

P.O. Box 422

Greenbrier, TN. 37073

Or, if you prefer to send a support gift through Paypal, Paypal funds can be sent to;

BJSpeer@DarttMusic.com

If needed, you can receive a receipt for your donation for tax purposes. 

Thank you for your time, your patience, and your interest in our ministries through the years. Feel free to contact me personally by e-mail at:

BJSpeer@DarttMusic.com 

May God richly bless you, your church families, and your loved ones this year!

Living 4 Him,

BJ Speer

Greetings, faithful friends and prayer partners!

     This week has truly been a blessing to us as we have done 7 concerts in a weeks time. It's nice to finally be busy again! We started and ended the week singing for Senior Adult meetings and had a chance to reminisce along the way with our dear friends, The Weatherfords.  We had the honor and privilege to sing for the New Tribes Missions Retirement Homes in Sanford, FL, earlier in the week. How wonderful it was to have the opportunity to minister to these faithful servants of God and what a joy it was to be in their presence; it was a GREAT evening of rejoicing and worshiping with them.  It feels like we have been all over the state of Florida already and we have a busy week ahead of us yet. We will finish this tour on Monday the 27th and then make our way back home to Nashville, Lord willing! We are looking forward to getting home, as we have been gone just over a month now. While at home, we will be preparing the bus and ourselves to leave for our west coast tour that will take us away from home for 4 months. Please pray now that we will see souls saved and that God will begin preparing hearts for our ministry. We are so excited to get back to California and to be in our home church once again!

     Many folks have been asking about my family, Billy & Paula Speer....I appreciate the many emails, cards, and words of encouragement. For those of you who are unfamiliar with my family, I’d like to give an update and a prayer request. My parents have been in full time ministry for over 40 years and this past winter was a very difficult season as we learned that my Dad's health has taken a turn. After many visits to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL, my Dad was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment as well as moderate depression. This disease CAN lead to the early stages of Alzheimer's, and that is why they are treating him with depression medication. He has also lost over 75 pounds which is good for health purposes, but he has not been trying, so it is a bit concerning. On top of all the bad health news, they received foreclosure papers on their home in early January. I know this is something that many others have gone through or are in the process of. We know God is in control and we know He will provide their needs as He has done for these many years. In the meantime, they are here in FL taking it easy and trying to figure out the next step in their ministry and life. I would ask you to please pray for them as well as myself that we will all have peace and wisdom to handle all of these things in the upcoming months!

     We hope that you will come out and see us if we are in your area and we want to remind you to continuously check our schedule information for updates. We are constantly adding new dates. We are very close to reaching the "200 concerts mark" for this year, which is our goal and prayer. I must tell you that there are many new and exciting things coming up for The Dartts in 2012 and we will be sharing them with you soon. Continue to pray for us as we start gathering funds for a new recording with BRAND NEW SONGS! Registration for the Jubilee At Sea Alaska Cruise May 24-31, 2013 is opening in March 2012 and we hope that you will come join us and Dr. Wendell Calder for a great week of original Gospel music, excellent Bible teaching, and the most beautiful and luxurious of Cruise Experiences. You won’t want to miss out!!

     Thanks again to all of you who faithfully pray for us. It is those prayers that keep our ministry going and we love and appreciate you all!

Looking Upward,

BJ Speer

The Dartts

     February is off to a good start. Six people saved so far. We have sixteen concerts left to do this month, then back home to Tennessee. We have enjoyed spending time with Billy & Paula Speer (BJ's folks), and using their home as a base of operations in Florida. The weather has been great! Fuel prices are on the rise. We are using our van on this tour, it will save us approximately $1800 in fuel costs.

     We took a few days off this week to relax and write some songs for a new album. We have about eight songs and a chorus so far. About five or six more songs, with a lot of arranging, hard practice, and about $15,000, and we'll be ready for recording!! Wow!! (please pray)

See you down the road!

Tracy Dartt

     First came a message from our home church - Napa Valley Baptist Church in Napa, California. The NVBC Missions Team recommended adding "The Dartts" as a supported missionary at $100.00 a month. The congregation approved it on Sunday, January 29, 2012. This is a real blessing, as we have been asking God to enable us to pay for health insurance for Stoney and for BJ. This support from our home church will make up about 20% of the total amount needed on a monthly basis. Please pray with us that God will provide the additional funds to meet this goal.

     We thank God for the love, prayers, and support of our home church in Napa, CA. We have been members there since May of 1995, when we moved into the area and began our ministry as "The Dartts". Our pastor, Ron Driscoll, is a faithful man of God, and a continuing source of encouragement to The Dartts.

MORE GOOD NEWS!!!

     Our calendar continues to fill, as Tracy calls pastors and pastors call Tracy to schedule concerts and meetings, for this year and next year. We are near 180 bookings now for 2012, with a goal of 200 for the year. We have 18 meetings scheduled in February, here in Florida, by the grace of God! Our desire is to see hundreds of souls saved and for more hearts to be blessed as we travel and sing this year - coast to coast, and border to border. 

     We thank you, our friends and fans, for your cheerful comments, and for holding us up in your prayers. May God bless you as you make Christ known to those in your circle of influence.

Until Next Time, 

Sharon Dartt

     2011 was a year of great challenges and great blessings. A time for fervent prayer and miraculous answers. A time of spiritual highs and financial lows. But here we are, victorious survivors with much to be thankful for.

     2012 looks to be (Lord Willing) a great year of new beginnings. We began with 14 salvation decisions on New Years Day. We already have over 170 dates scheduled for this year, and several dates in 2013.  "The God On The Mountain Legacy - Music From The Motion Picture" album is due to release in March, and we are working on music for a new album to be recorded in the summer.

     All of this needs much prayer, and we are so thankful for our prayer warriors, literally all over the world. Thank you for your prayers and support, and thank you, Lord, for your Grace and Love and Provision.

Blessings, 

Tracy Dartt

     This past week marks the one year anniversary of Tracy's kidney transplant, which took place on January 11, 2011. As you may recall, Tracy and Sharon had remained at home all of 2009 and 2010, while Tracy was on dialysis at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville. Son, Stoney, and BJ Speer had continued traveling full time, as the Dartts prayed and waited for God to provide just the right donor. When the fifteenth volunteer, John Childers, successfully completed all tests, surgery was scheduled for early in 2011. All went well, and Tracy and Sharon were able to return to the road for seven weeks in April and May. An unexpected spinal surgery in July meant another six weeks of recovery for Tracy, but he and Sharon were back on the road in September. With Tracy, Sharon, Stone, & BJ traveling and singing together for a total of about twenty-five weeks in 2011, a miraculous answer to the prayers of many, many people across the country, "The Dartts" are able to be a quartet again.

     The Dartts' travels in 2011 included concerts in 30 states and Canada. One tour in the fall marked the first time The Dartts had made stops in North and South Dakota and Minnesota. Their Jubilee At Sea Fall Foliage Gospel Music Cruise, up the coast of New England into Canada, brought about an unprecedented opportunity in September. Royal Caribbean staff members heard Stoney & BJ doing sound check, and suggested an open concert for all passengers on the ship. On the last day of the cruise, in the main auditorium, 528 people, of the 2000 passengers on board, attended the concert. They heard "The Dartts", soloists; Billy Speer, Billy Brisendine, and Chuck Hogard, and a trio from California called "Glorybound! Of Southern California." At the close of the program, the Gospel was presented, and dozens of voices were heard praying a sinner's prayer aloud. Only the Lord could have opened up this door of ministry for us. 

     The Dartts were joined by Billy and Paula Speer, as they wrapped up the year's travels with Christmas concerts on the east coast, from Florida to New Jersey. 2011 was an amazing year of answered prayer and divine provision. The Gospel was presented at every concert, and scores of raised hands indicated salvation decisions from coast to coast. And the wonderful thing is 14 more souls were saved in concerts on New Years Day of 2012! Praise God for His faithfulness and for His marvelous mercy! And many thanks to all those who have kept us in their prayers! Please join us in prayer as we ask God for many more souls in 2012 and for more new doors of opportunity to be opened for the ministry of "The Dartts!"

by Sharon Dartt

     Tracy Dartt was released from the hospital Sunday morning & is resting at home. He'll be wearing a protective neck brace for the next several weeks, and we are waiting to hear from the doctors about when he will be starting physical therapy. Tracy says he is already seeing some positive effects of the surgery and we are hopeful and praying that we will see him continuing to improve in strength, stability, and muscle control.

     After more than two months of dealing with extreme physical weakness, Tracy will be undergoing spinal surgery to relieve a blockage of spinal fluid in his neck which has been caused by a progressive narrowing of the spinal column. Tracy's spinal condition has only recently been discovered by his doctors and they are confident that the surgery will prevent any further deterioration of his physical strength caused by this condition. They are hopeful that Tracy might even see improvement in his physical strength. 

     Tracy will be reporting to Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville at 9:30am Central time, with the surgery scheduled to get underway shortly after 11am. He is expected to remain in the hospital for a few days, followed by a few weeks of recovery at home. We will be posting updates on The Dartts' Facebook page throughout the day Thursday and we'll send an e-mail at the end of the day to those who have joined our e-mail list here at DarttMusic.com.

     The Dartt family and the the ministry of The Dartts ask for your prayers and support through this time of physical and financial need, as we do not have very many concerts booked in the near future.

If a receipt is needed, your monetary love gift (CLEARLY MARKED "DESIGNATED FOR THE DARTTS") can be receipted through;

Napa Valley Baptist Church

2303 Trower Ave.

Napa, CA 94558

If no receipt is needed and you prefer to send a gift directly to The Dartts, you can send a gift made payable to "THE DARTTS" at;

The Dartts

PO Box 422

Greenbrier, TN 37073

Non-receipted Gifts can also be given to The Dartts online through Paypal payments sent to;

TheDartts@msn.com

You are welcome to contact The Dartts directly by phone at 707-688-3863 or 707-344-4140 or by e-mail at TheDartts@DarttMusic.com or TheDartts@msn.com .

Other ways that you and your church family can reach out to help The Dartts at this time;

~Dates are currently being booked for August 2011 and beyond. Consider scheduling The Dartts for a concert at your home church or in your area. For booking call Tracy or Stone at the numbers above.

~Do you know 5 or more Pastors, Churches, or locations anywhere in the 50 United States, in Canada, or elsewhere that would enjoy the music and ministry of The Dartts? You can be a great blessing by recommending the ministry of The Dartts to your friends and fellow-workers in Christ.Recommend your friends today by calling or e-mailing Tracy or Stone.

~Consider hosting a screening of the new film, "The God On The Mountain Legacy", in your area. This film will speak to the heart of anyone who loves Gospel music, anyone who loves the song, "God On The Mountain", or anyone who has ever experienced a "valley" in their life. This film will be a blessing and an encouragement to you and your church family. Find out more about the movie, see the preview, view testimonials, and order your copy of the DVD today atwww.GodOnTheMountainLegacy.com .

~ Order The Dartts CD's, Soundtrack CD's, DVD's, pre-loaded iPods, Digital Download Cards, or Sheet Music by phone or from the "OUR STORE" section here on www.DarttMusic.com .