The Children of God is a group that has been together for over 54 years. They were the brainchild of two cousins, Reggie Hunter and Wayne Norwood. They convinced their siblings to join them and sing a few songs at church on Mother's Day of 1971 as a present to their mothers. After a overwhelming response from the congregation they were asked to sing again the following week. After a few months they decided to officially become a group. They were sitting around trying to create a name that would incorporate the names of the groups that their dad's were singing with at the time, The Mighty Sons and The New Exciting Whirlwinds. At this time Thomas Hunter, father of the Hunter boys entered the room and said call yourselves The Children of God. Our objection was what if this last for years? Why would grown people call their group children. His reply was simple. He said the is not based on your age but your mission. If you are spreading God's word and his love then you are spreading peace. The Bible says "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God." So on that day, Wanda "Bebe" Norwood, Thomas "Reggie" Hunter, James "Jimmy" Hunter, Wayne Norwood, Gary Hunter and Wade Norwood officially became known as The Children of God
In 1986, after years of personnel changes, Reggie and Wayne convinced Bishop J. Norwood (who at this time had left The Whirlwinds and was serving as Pastor of Holy Jerusalem Spiritual Church) to join the group as lead singer, manager and spiritual advisor.He serve in this position until his death in 2003.
To this day, they still have one of the original members in the person of Wayne Anthony Norwood. The remaining members are: David Muse, Antonio' Frazier, Carl Floyd, Donna Daniels, Arnold Woods, Greg Gross and Joshua Griffin.
Over the years, The Children of God have shared the stage with some of gospel's best. They have appeared with: Evangelist Shirley Caeser, Keith "Wonderboy" Johnson and The Spiritual Voices, Lee Williams and The Spiritual QC's, Nu Beginnings featuring Damon Little, The Original Keynotes, The Original Soul Stirrers, The Williams Brothers, The Jackson Southernaires, The Swanee Quintet, Lil' Willie and The Keynotes, Jay Caldwell and The Gospel Ambassadors, The Anointed Hinds Sisters, Vickie Yohe, Kirk Franklin, The Mighty Clouds of Joy, The Hi Way QC's, LeShun Pace, The Gospel Four, The Singing Stars, The Canton Spirituals, Slim and The Supreme Angels, The Sensational Nightingales, The Fantastic Bright Clouds, The Voices of Clouds, Luther Barnes and The Sunset Jubilees and Doc McKenzie and The Hi-lites just to name a few.
They have appeared at The American Quartet Convention, The House of Blues (New Orleans, LA), The New York State Gospel Group Convention, The New York State Fair, Six Flags at Darien Lakes Gospelfest, The Pogofest in Waycross, GA., The F.C. Barnes Labor Day Gospel Celebration, Timberland Jubilee in Homerville, GA, TAO Ministries Pressing Towards Your Vision Conference (GMWA -Rochester, NY Branch), various Blockbuster events throughout the south and The Florida Gosplosion to name a few places. At the 2001 New York State Gospel Group Convention, Bishop John Norwood and The Children of God were honored with The New York State Gospel Group Convention's People Choice Award for overall Best Quartet. Wayne Anthony Norwood and The Children of God received overall second place honors at the TAO Ministries Pressing Towards Your Vision Conference (GMWA – Rochester, NY Branch) in 2005.
They have toured the Midwest, the East and West Coasts. Tours are planned for the same areas, as well as, Canada and overseas. All performance dates are dedicated to the memory of Thomas Reginald Hunter, James Winslow Hunter and Gary Nathaniel Hunter (three original members), Rev. Freddie Mack (Road Manager), Evangelist Dorice Norwood (Marketing Director of Godchild Productions and Wayne's wife) and Bishop Booker F. "John" Norwood (Lead singer and spiritual advisor), all of whom have been called home to glory to rest from their labors. At the present time, The Children of God have the following projects available: "I'm So Glad That You Care"(on Wendell Parker's Sure Fine Gospel Recording Label), "I Came to Serve Him”, "My Change", “Difference”, “Favorites 2005 – 2009”, "Tribute", Heaven (Beautiful Place) and "Drinking Of The Wine" (EP) (all on the Godchild Productions label).
For booking contact Godchild Productions.
585-444-5381
email: Godchild84b@yahoo.com
01 Rest Of My Life.mp3