Jeff and Sheri Easter know they've accomplished something special when folks walk away from one of their performances smiling.
The Easters, an award-winning gospel music duo, spend the greater part of their lives sharing their faith through music.
The Tribune Chronicle will present the Easters in concert during a Gospel Music Festival April 27 at Packard Music Hall in Warren as part of the newspaper's celebration of 200 years of publishing.
The Easters are well-known for their participation in the Gaither Homecoming Video Series since 1993, which has sold more than 15 million copies.
Opening acts for the Easters are the Stevens Family of Howland and The Keelings from Hadley, Pa., both well-known locally on the gospel circuit.
Doors will open at 6 p.m. with the music set to start at 7.
Joining Jeff and Sheri on the road is their son, Madison, who plays electric guitar for the group, and their daughter, Morgan, who joins them with vocals to round out the harmonies.
"Our hope, our goal is that people leave us a little differently than when they came," said Sheri during a recent telephone interview. "There's nothing more rewarding than touching people with a song. Maybe someone's going through a really difficult situation or facing something in their lives. Or, maybe they're just having a bad day and need lifted up. We want them to have a great time smiling, laughing, crying and healing. We want them to know God loves them and that He is in control."
The performance will feature selections from the couple's newest release, "Expecting Good Things," as well as standard favorites.
Jeff said he and Sheri, who have made their home in Georgia, stepped into their gospel music as naturally as possible. They are both members of acclaimed musical families - Jeff's father is one of the Easter Brothers and Sheri's mother is a member of The Lewis Family. The couple grew up surrounded by people praising God through song.
In August 1984 both were at the Albert E. Brumley Sundown to Sunup Gospel Sing in Arkansas. Jeff, who was playing bass for the Singing Americans at the time, reintroduced himself to Sheri's mother, Polly, whom he had met previously. Polly introduced Jeff to Sheri and the two were married 10 months later.
The couple traveled and performed as part of The Lewis Family for several years but in 1988 decided it was time to strike out on their own.
"And we haven't looked back," said Jeff. "Both of us realized early on that this is what God wants for us, for our lives. We know that God gives us the desires of our hearts and this is the desire we both have always had, to share our faith, our love of the Lord, through music."
The award-winning couple counts their blessings.
"We've been very blessed to be able to travel as a family," explained Jeff. "We've told our children that if they're not as happy as we are pursuing this lifestyle, then they should do something else. You have to know what God has called you to do with your life and go from there."
Jeff said it's the couple's faith, and the energy they draw from each other, along with the inspiration and strength they draw from God, that keeps them going.
"It's also the energy we get from the audience," Sheri added. "We're very honest about our faith. We want people to know we understand life just like the next person. We're not immune to hard times or trials. We really do understand."
A breast cancer survivor, Sheri said she encourages audience members to use every trial as an opportunity to "show people God."
Jeff added that as rewarding as performing is, at the end of the day the most important thing is honoring God.
"I think we all question daily if this thing, this faith, is real," he said. "But then I see the hand of God on our lives and I know it's real. I know how important it is."