From the road: Billy Goodwin before Winter Jam

It was a step that gave Billy Goodwin his start in the music ministry, and making that step through Madison, Fl. made it even more special. Now known nationwide as one of the founding members of GRAMMY-nominated Christian music legends, NewSong, Goodwin looks back on his time spent in Madison as he prepares for a new album and a couple of months of exciting tours.

Born and raised in Courtland, Al. and graduating from Troy University in 1972, Goodwin was working part-time when he began to develop a heart for kids and felt called into the church ministry. After praying and sending resumes, he got a call from Madison First Baptist Church. Though he had never had a full-time job as a music minister, neither had the Church had a full-time music minister so it was a step both the church and Goodwin was willing to make.

Soon, Goodwin made the move from Luverne, Al. and began serving as the minister of music and activities at Madison First Baptist Church in 1975, under the leadership of Rev. Eddie Humes. “He was a great man,” said Goodwin.

As some recall, Goodwin was very active within the church and was there almost every time the doors were open. Jean McWilliams, who is still a member of Madison First Baptist Church, recalled when Goodwin was the minister of music. “He was very talented,” said McWilliams. “But his attitude was not 'Hey, look at how good I am.' He was genuine; nothing superficial.”

Goodwin's life virtually began shaping into what it is today while serving at Madison First Baptist and singing in quartets and quintets in the surrounding area, including a group he sang in while in Madison. It was during an associational gospel sing at Greenville Baptist Church around 1976 when Bill Andrews and Goodwin met. “That's a talented rascal,” laughed Andrews.

The group, though it had no set name, consisted of Goodwin, Andrews, Doug Bishop and John Maxwell; all members of different area churches.

As his time progressed, he was invited to Morningside Baptist Church, in Valdosta, Ga., by a college friend who Goodwin said was an atheist in college, but is now saved. Morningside Baptist Church saw something in Goodwin that eventually led to an offer being made that gave Goodwin “difficult decisions to make.”

“[There was] something about that opportunity in Valdosta that was very intriguing,” said Goodwin while expressing the love he had for Madison and the current position he was in. At the time, Goodwin and his wife, Annabeth, had just welcomed a new baby boy. At the first offer, Goodwin declined but eventually made the transition through plenty of prayer and faith. “I had no animosity of Madison,” said Goodwin. “Looking back, I can see God's hand in it.”

While joining Eddie Carswell, Eddie Middleton and the late Bobby Apon, Goodwin always looked for different ways to present the musical gospel, even while at Madison First Baptist Church. “Anything we can come up with,” stated Goodwin, whether it be through solos or in a group.

As NewSong began taking shape and Carswell was trying to find the path God wanted him on, though having a heart for evangelism, the four members began singing specials and going to other churches, seeing a large response. By the time the number of shows began exceeding the amount of time spent with family, Goodwin, Carswell and the others recalled it was time to make a decision to quit their full-time jobs and go into full-time ministry. “It was really hurting our family time,” said Goodwin. It was in Leesburg, Ga. at a NewSong concert when the question became not if, but when.

Officially, NewSong, who is known for their hit singles “Arise, My Love” and “The Christmas Shoes,” went full-time on May 1, 1981. While not sure how to “make it” as full-time musicians, John Roger Breland, of the Christian contemporary group, Truth, suggested that NewSong needed an album, so in the first year, NewSong recorded three custom albums and signed with Covenant Records in 1982, releasing “The Son In My Eyes” the same year. By 1984, NewSong signed with Canaan Records, an imprint of Word Records, and released “The Word” the same year.

Over the next decade, NewSong released six studio albums and switched from Word Records to DaySpring Records in 1991. In 1993, Middleton and Apon left the group to spend more time with their families and, in 1995, Goodwin and Carswell, along with other members of NewSong began an annual tradition that is now known nationwide as one of the biggest tours of the year – Winter Jam.

As Goodwin recalls, “God sort of put it in our life,” he stated. Before Winter Jam, NewSong was averaging about 250 shows per year. NewSong had an interest in playing in neutral venues to draw those who would otherwise not come if the show was in a church. By the time a promoter was received, it was too late to start selling tickets but that same promoter was able to rent a small venue in Greenville, SC. The venue was rented and a small suggested donation of $3 was received at the door for any audience members who chose to attend, as NewSong didn't want to sell tickets.

NewSong expected to fill up the floor – which would have probably held 1,500 – but as Goodwin states, the auditorium filled up with approximately 6,500 people and around 2,000 people were turned away. He stated he later called his wife and said: “God is doing something and I don't quite know what it is.”

The next year, promoters were on board for setting up “January Jam” again, as it was first called. According to Goodwin, the promoters were taking a risk but it was a risk they were willing to take. Over the next 23 years of Winter Jam, the concert line-up and audience steadily grew. The idea was to remove the financial barriers so more people could hear the gospel. That foundation is the same today for the touring ministry.

Since the tour's formation in 1995, the Winter Jam Tour has featured many of the top names in Christian music, including TobyMac, Skillet, Hillsong UNITED, Lecrae, for KING & COUNTRY, Newsboys and more. The tour has also been a launching pad for great artists such as Francesca Battistelli, who is Goodwin's daughter-in-law, and Sidewalk Prophets. It has often outpaced any other tour's attendance worldwide during the first quarter of the year.

The tour stretches as far south as Tampa, Fl. and goes as far north as Chicago, Il. Winter Jam also holds a limited-date, west coast tour throughout latter months of the year. In recent years, tickets have been $10-$15 suggested donations at the door and seats are always available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

“It's God's tour,” according to Goodwin, as he states the band is very careful and very obedient with it. Throughout the years, Goodwin sees Winter Jam as quite a blessing to him and he's seen many stories of salvation from suicide to family destruction.

One instance Goodwin recalls is when a girl's parents were getting a divorce and she begged her father to come. However, she wanted her father to hear the gospel and luckily, after Winter Jam, he went home and reconciled with his wife. The father later became involved with his church and began taking his youth group to the annual concert. “God changed his life,” said Goodwin. “It's amazing,” said Goodwin, who states the salvation stories motivates NewSong to keep going. “[God's] been so faithful.”

Since 1981, NewSong has compiled 26 albums, with “One True God” hitting number one on the Billboard Top Christian Album charts. Today, NewSong currently consists of Goodwin, Carswell, Russ Lee, Matt Butler, Rico Thomas, Jack Pumphrey and Mark Clay.

NewSong is currently preparing for the 2018 Greatest Hits Live touring featuring Nicole C. Mullen, Point of Grace, Avalon, Bob Carlisle and Rebecca St. James. NewSong is also working on finishing an album that already had seven songs available during the early months of 2018 when the band was touring with Winter Jam. The EP included two singles: “I am a Christian” and “Down” and a live recording of “Arise, My Love.”

Married for 45 years, Goodwin and Annabeth proudly have three children: Will, 41; Matthew, 40; and Joy, 38. The Goodwins also have numerous grandchildren. As for his time in Madison and the people who helped make his time in Madison memorable, “Thank you for being so receptive,” said Goodwin. “[I have] so many fond memories.”

For more information about NewSong and upcoming tour dates, log ontonewsongonline.com.To learn more information about Winter Jam, log onto jamtour.com.