About Southern Grace Ministries

	Hi, my name is Ron Benton. I had a solo ministry for 5 years, then I sang with Trust Quartet for a year. The Lord was leading me in a new direction. After Trust Quartet I sang solo for a year. Then in February of 1999, I along with Deby and Thomas formed Southern Grace Ministries. I have been married for more than 25 years to Twila and have a daughter Jerica. We attend and are active members in our local church.
	My name is Hugh Harrison. I was brought up in church by my mom and dad (Houston and Jeanette Harrison). My mom would play the guitar and sing with us kids in church. But as many young people, I wanted to do things my way, so I turned from God. When I was 30 years old, with a wife (Melanie) and two boys (Brian and Eric) the Holy Spirit drew me back to God. He set me free from drugs and alcohol and many more things in my life. The Lord used a group called the Spirituals, as they sang a little chorus "To Be Like Jesus" to touch my heart. Bobby Simmons the pastor of the Mulberry Church of God and leader of the group at that time said "there is someone here who wants to be like the Jesus we are singing about", I went forward to accept Jesus into my heart. Later God let me become a part of this group and their ministry for eight years. We saw souls saved and people set free by the power of God. After eight years with the Spirituals, I decided it was time to work in my church (Highland Church of God), my youngest son was in his early teens at that time. Once again God called my wife and me back into the singing ministry with Southern Grace Ministries. God wants me to share, what He has done for me, and my family in song, testimony and the Word. There are many hurting people who are looking for an answer, just as I was when I gave my heart back to the Lord. The Lord has called Southern Grace Ministries to the Great Commission. It is our desire to see souls saved, healed and set free by the power of God once again, before it is too late. We know these are the last days, before the return of the Lord. We want the Lord to have his way in every service we are in because he is the one who knows the heart of the people, and what they need. God is coming soon for those who are ready!
	My name is Elton Hagan. I am bass vocalist and MC for Southern Grace Ministries. I came to Southern Grace after "retiring" my former group, The Spirituals, in 2000 where I did much the same as well as "manage" the group. I had held these positions with The Spirituals for the last two decades. In December 2007, Ron came to me to ask me to "help out" for a time due to some personnel changes within Southern Grace. Though very reluctant to re-enter the regiment of weekend ministering, I was persuaded by my wife, Gwen, to return a favor to SG manager, Ron Benton, who had previously helped The Spirituals. It was to last a couple of months, at most. I am still here. Of course, I now know this is where the Lord planned for Gwen and me to labor in the Lord's harvest for this season in our lives. I am forever thankful that "He Doesn't Throw The Clay Away". Gwen and I were married 45 years ago and are longtime members of Harvest Assembly of God in Lakeland, FL, where we presently serve as Lay Pastors. We have one child, daughter Dana Randolph, and three grandchildren, who all live in Lakeland. Dana is married to Jonathan Randolph. Other areas of my calling and ministry include speaking and Bible teaching. Gwen's ministry is keeping me in line. When we are not out ministering, we own and operate Hagan Insurance Agency, a Lakeland firm that specializes in guaranteed lifetime income streams and insured annuity investments.
	My name is Cherry Hale. I am blessed to a have a southern gospel heritage which originated with my parents—the late pastor, Rev. James Grubbs and Pastor Cherry Grubbs, my mother, after whom I was named. From the pew of their little country church to the platform of that same church, I was introduced to the instrumentation and song involved in the ministry of southern gospel music. Each subsequent ministry provided additional ministry opportunities as well as growth in talents and abilities through spiritual mentors along the way and much prayer. Ministries: 1979-1983 United Assembly Church, Plant City, Florida. (drums, bass, guitar, vocals) 1983-1987 Floyd Family Singers, Dunedin, Florida. (drums) 1987-1988 The Highsmith's, Plant City, Florida. (drums, bass) 1991-1993 The Voice of Triumph Ministries, Stanley, North Carolina. (keyboard, vocals, speaker) 1993-1997 Youth In Motion, Inc., Plant City, Florida. (keyboard, vocals, speaker) 1997-1999 Harvest Assembly of God, Lakeland, Florida. (keyboard, bass, guitar, drums, vocals) 2008-2010 CrimsonFlow-Southern Gospel, Plant City, Florida. (keyboard, drums, vocals) Additionally, I am a preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. My husband and I have been married for twelve years. We have four children-Jason, Ronnie, Courtney, and D.J; one grand-daughter, Trinity, and another grandchild on the way. We attend Harvest Assembly of God in Lakeland, Florida.