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Untold numbers of people have been touched by the ministry of The New Creation Singers. Traveling with evangelist Gene Dalton, they sang in churches, festivals, schools, coffee houses, and on the streets. Their ministry took them all over the globe to over 25 nations and 49 states where they ministered the gospel in song. From their humble beginnings in the 1960's through their worldwide travels in the 1970's The New Creation Singers sought to spread the message that Jesus is the only way. The New Creation Singers had a vital part in the spread of the musical praise and worship movement which took root in the church during the 70's and 80's. |
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Family Crusades, Inc., a not-for-profit organization, was founded by evangelist Gene Dalton, who through the preaching of the Word and presentation of gospel music, reached the hearts of children, teenagers, and adults in "Family Crusades" held across the country. After graduating from the Northwestern College of Minneapolis in 1954, evangelist Dalton served as pastor, youth minister, assistant Youth for Christ Director, and then entered the work of full time evangelism in 1959. Realizing the need for reaching the whole family for Christ, he inaugurated the Family Crusades. His wife, Audrey, who played the piano, organ, and accordion, and their children, Sherry and Donnie, often accompanied him on his crusades. Donnie began singing at the age of three and Sherry at six. Their third child, Kent, was born in 1963. The
Daltons recorded the Family Album in 1960, consisting of
"old fashioned" gospel songs, children's songs, and even
a dramatic telling of the story of the prodigal son. |
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In 1965, evangelist Gene Dalton and his wife Audrey moved with their three children from Minnesota to the small town of Waco, Texas in order to be part of the ministry team at Grace Gospel Church. Soon after arriving in Texas they created a musical group of about 30 young people in the church, called "The Singing Teens." They ministered in churches, nursing homes, shopping centers, coffee houses, and on street corners in the Texas region. Soon, young people in the group, inspired by the scriptures, started writing their own praise songs. The group was renamed "The New Creation Singers" after the verse in II Corinthians 5:17. |
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By 1971 the group had written dozens of scripture songs. They recorded two albums right in the Daltons' living room on a "high fidelity" two-track tape recorder. Their travels extended across the United States as well as England and Ireland. |
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In 1972, the first two albums were re-recorded at a professional recording studio in Oklahoma City, and the group again toured England as well as Europe, ministering at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany. 1973 saw the release of two new albums, one with scripture songs and one with evangelistic songs. The group continued ministering with Gene Dalton around the United States. |
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In 1974-75, The New Creation Singers mounted a 10 month, around-the-world tour, visiting England, Sweden, Germany, Austria, Israel, Iran, Singapore, New Zealand, and Japan. They sang in public schools, churches, city squares, and anywhere else that was open to ministry. |
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From 1976 until 1982, the group continued its ministry with Gene Dalton across the U.S. singing in countless churches, spreading the gospel though scripture songs and preaching. Four more albums of scripture songs were released in this period. |
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