Harbour Lights Quartet Members

Linda Ramsey   

Linda's Vitals:

Birthday: May 15 (sorry, I'm not giving out the year!)

Hometown: Martinsville, Virginia

Your family: I'm divorced; one son, and 2 grandsons

Pet's name: No pet

Education: High School and 2 years college

Day job: Human Resources & Security Administrator, BAE Systems Land & Armaments (Government Contractor)

Self-portrait: Love people, love being a "grandma", Trustworthy, Loyal, Dependable

Favorite saying: Can't think of a favorite, but my most UN-favorite: "That's the way it goes; such is life!"

Greatest accomplishment: Materially: Having the means, health, energy, etc. to support myself in this crazy Northern Virginia economy Spiritually: Seeing my son and grandson accept Jesus - my son when he was seventeen and my grandson when he was eight

Your dream experience: Wouldn't it be great if we could perform with the "Gaithers - Bill & Glorida - Vocal Group, etc."?

Most memorable moment singing with HarbourLights: I suppose my first performance with the HarbourLights; wondering how everyone at FBC would react to a "female" in an "all-male" group.

Favorite movie: The Sound of Music

Who would play you in a movie: Don't know (web master's opinion: Julie Andrews)

Best-kept secret: My age!

Favorite foods: Tex-Mex, Italian, BBQ, Soups, Salads - I like it all!

Hobbies: Listening to music, reading, photography, gardening, theatre, hanging out with grandsons

Bad habits: Spending too much; eating too much

Three things always found in your refrigerator: Coke, Juice, Ice Cream

Books or reading material by your beside: Bible, PEOPLE Magazine, Daily Devotionals

Favorite gospel song: Mansion Over the Hilltop

Favorite Gospel Group: Gaither Vocal Band

Famous last words: "It Is Well With My Soul"

Jim Downing    

I have always enjoyed listening to and singing gospel music. I was about 23 when I sang with my first gospel group. I had always sang in church choirs and even sung solos in church. I never dreamed I would ever be singing gospel music with a great group of folks from First Baptist Church Alexandria (FBCA). When we came to FBCA back in 1990, all of the music was classical and rather "high church". I figured I'd never get to sing gospel music at FBCA; I figured the FBCA crowd was just too sophisticated. But, one day I was remarking to Roger McGee, our Minister of Music & Worship, that we ought to have a gospel music quartet. He agreed and helped me pull together a group.

I have been amazed how well the FBCA family has enjoyed and embraced HarbourLights. Gospel music is just plain fun to sing and listen to, so folks just like it, even if it's not their favorite style of music. Incidently, the name reflects the goal of the quartet: just as the lights of the harbor lead ships into the safety of the harbor, our ministry leads lost souls to the safe harbor of Jesus.

I pray the Lord's blessing on HarbourLights everyday. I don't know how long He will continue to support our quartet, but as long as He leads us to sing the gospel message of our Lord in song, we'll keep singing.

Jim's Vitals:

Birthday: May 21, 1951

Hometown: DeLand, FL

Your family: wife, Debra

Pet's name: If we had one, Snoopy.

Education: B.S. Agriculture & M.Ag. (Extension/Education)

Day job: Environmental Protection Specialist @ U.S. EPA

Self-portrait: steady, practical, outgoing people person

Favorite saying: "Oh boy."

Greatest accomplishment: Getting Debra Burr to marry me.

Your dream experience: Hosting a regularly scheduled, regionally popular southern gospel music radio show on a big gospel radio station.

Most memorable moment singing with HarbourLights: our first real full concert performed at Riverview Baptist Church, Woodbridge, VA

Favorite movie: Gettysburg

Who would play you in a movie: Tom Hanks

Best-kept secret: I love southern Bar-B-Que!

Favorite foods: Southern Bar-B-Que

Hobbies: singing and listening to Gospel Music

Bad habits: I get carried away sometimes.

Three things always found in your refrigerator: milk, catsup, English muffins.

Books or reading material by your beside: The Bible, The Singing News (magazine)

Favorite gospel song: On the Jericho Road

Favorite Gospel Group: The Inspirations

Famous last words: Jesus Saves!

Chris Amrhein

This is Donna, Chris's wife. Chris is a little shy about doing his bio, so I am doing it for him :) I did get him to answer three of the items, but I wrote the rest.

Chris's Vitals:

Birthday: February 24, 1951

Hometown: Mechanisburg, Illinois

Your family: wife: Donna Gateley;
    My Three Sons:
     Patrick Amrhein, age 31;
     Kevin Amrhein, age 29;
     Xandru Amrhein, age 14

Pet's name: 2 cats, Eaty and Felix

Education: Yes (University of Florida)

Day job: Self Employed. Doing presentations at conferences, workshops and training sessions and writing articles and books for insurance agents.

Self-portrait: It's hard to do a "self-portrait" for someone else but I'll try ... he is very compassionate, passionate, and loves the Lord and his family.

Favorite saying: 1) "Don't take life too seriously, it's only a temporary situation." 2) Jump back!

Greatest accomplishment: Becoming a Daddy 3 times. Earning a living doing what I enjoy ... teaching and writing.

Your dream experience: Our music changing lives. (I did get this answer out of him, smile.)

Most memorable moment singing with HarbourLights: Anytime Bobby changes the arrangement mid-song. (Also, this is his answer.)

Favorite movie: A Christmas Carole, played with George C. Scott

Who would play you in a movie: John Belushi or Jerry Garcia (if they were living)

Best-kept secret: Not only does the man have no secrets, but he tells all in front of thousands of people, where they laugh hysterically at our life experiences, as told by Chris.

Favorite foods: Bar B Q

Hobbies: hobbies? (see "day job" above) He loves to read.

Bad habits: Having trouble telling people no.

Three things always found in your refrigerator: Milk, Soy Milk, Eggs

Books or reading material by your beside: Lots

Favorite gospel song: How Long Has It Been

Favorite Gospel Group: The Cathedrals

Famous last words: So long and thanks for the fish! (Chris's answer)

Mark Adams   

Growing up in South Arkansas I sang in children’s choirs and Christmas pageants, and as a teenager, in the summers, traveled on choir tours like many high schoolers singing at churches and staying in Christian homes. In college I sang with a Christian group at University Baptist Church of Fayetteville, Arkansas, called The New Creations, and we recorded an album titled “We Are the New Creations”.

After college I served in the U.S. Marine Corps and continued to sing in church. But it was not until I found a home at First Baptist of Alexandria, and joined the adult choir that I truly started allowing my faith to grow. Warm memories flowed when I would hear Harbourlights sing. I never thought that someday I would be so lucky to be part of this fine group of Christians.

My involvement in First Baptist of Alexandria has been a life (and soul) saver for me. My friends at the Chancel choir have been a source of new found joy and excitement that I look forward to every Wednesday night and each Sunday when we minister through singing. Being part of First Baptist’s “gift to the community” by participating in the Living Christmas Tree is a bright shinning goal for me every year. My opportunity to sing ”Little Yeshua” a few years ago was a spiritual high point, a ‘turning of the corner’ of my faith, and a ‘looking forward to bigger and better things’ in the name of our Lord Jesus.

There is never a Harbourlights performance or rehearsal that I regret. Never have I been more inspired, more thankful or more aware of their faith and mine as when I sing with these guys. For all who hear us I wish God’s blessings on them and if in any way our songs inspire, then I only ask that you share your experience with others and spread the word that God is good, He Loves us, He sent His only Son to die for us, and He wants us to witness for Him in all that we do. Amen.

Mark’s vitals:

Birthday: Thanksgiving 1948, (it was very good year) 25 November

Hometown: El Dorado, Arkansas

Your family: Wife - Shawna; Daughters - Stephanie & Stacey; Sons - Jason & Nick; Grandaughters – Breanna, Courtney, Abigail, Jessica, and Sarah; Grandson – Antonio. # 7 due soon.

Pets’ names: Cooper

Education: BS Bacteriology, MA Business.

Day job: U.S. Department of State

Self-portrait:
          ___________
          l  “””“”””””””” l
          l     0  0      l
          l      /\        l
          l       O       l
          l__________l

Favorite saying: “Now how is that going to affect the way the earth spins?”

Greatest accomplishment: Battalion Command in combat during Operation Desert Storm.

Your dream experience: Singing in Nashville

Most memorable moment singing with HarbourLights: Two years ago automatically singing “There’s Something About That Name” when Bobby started playing it on the piano.

Favorite movie: Christmas Vacation

Who would play you in a movie: Kevin Costner

Best-kept secret: Shyness.

Favorite foods: Soda Cracker Pie

Hobbies: Running, Bike Riding

Bad habits: childlike pranks, teasing those I care about

Three things always found in your refrigerator: Air, ice and crud

Books or reading material by your beside: “Love and Respect” by Emerson Eggerichs

Favorite gospel song: “For I Know Whom I Am Believed” (my mom’s)

Favorite gospel group: The Gaither Family

Famous last words: “Thanks God. It was a good ride.”