The Praise Singers ministry began back in 1987. It was formed by Vance Leach.  In 1988 Vance’s cousin Sharon Brown joined the group singing some lead and harmony parts. Sharon’s best friend Katrina Adams also joined the group a few months later singing background vocals. The group did many singing engagements in the local area for a couple of years, after which Sharon and Katrina left the group to move away with their families. Vance sang solo for a few months then started attending The Maybeury Church of God where he became friends with the Pastor’s son Travis Beady. They began singing right away and taking bookings. They knew the group needed something more; some better harmony and someone to sing the high part. Vance and Travis were working for a local department store where they found what they were looking for. A nice young lady named Sharon Cook. She said that she used to sing with a Gospel Group named the Searchers. She agreed to come to one of our practices under one condition; she wanted to bring her sister-in-law Leah Cook Mathena. She said that they used to sing together with the Searchers and that she couldn’t sing without her.

Vance and Travis both agreed and the rest was history. They sang for several months and then in 1990 Travis left the group to finish school and then joined the Navy. Vance, Sharon, and Leah traveled as The Praise Singers for several years. Sharon sang the lead and soprano parts, Leah sang the alto part, and Vance sang the baritone part. In 1993 Leah’s sister Betty Toler joined the group singing the high alto part and a few months later the group met Joe Brinkley Jr. which sang the bass part. The group traveled for a couple of years with a very busy schedule and then Betty and Joe left the group. Vance, Sharon, and Leah traveled together for about another year or so and then Sharon and Leah left the group in late 1996 to spend more time at home with family. Vance called on his friend Rebecca Hoback to start singing with him and keep the Ministry of The Praise Singers going. After singing for a few months, Leah rejoined Vance and Rebecca and they sang for a couple of years traveling with a busy schedule. Leah left the group at the end of the year in 1997 and Rebecca’s husband Wayne filled in on some of the backup vocal parts. Vance’s friend Neil Heizer joined the group in mid 1998 and the group again continued traveling with a busy schedule. Rebecca and Wayne left the group in late 1998 to pursue their own ministry.  Vance and Neil recruited Vance’s mom Jackie Leach and her two sisters June Rose and Louella Rose and their mom Gladys Hurt to sing with them. Neil left the group in 2001. Vance continues to travel with his family and The Praise Singers ministry is still going strong and touching lives. The group has been through many changes, but God has always brought changes for the better. Every change has made the group stronger and we have seen lives Blessed. We have seen many souls saved through this singing ministry, and that’s what our work is all about, seeing souls saved and bringing hope to a lost and dying world.

Over the 18 years of singing and traveling, The Praise Singers have recorded over 17 projects. The group has written and recorded a few of their own songs and have sang many popular songs like: Walking Back Down, Roll Away The Stone, I’m Going Through, Hello In Heaven, and the list continues. The current project from The Praise Singers is entitled “Blessings”.  It features Vance’s mom Jackie taking lead on a couple of songs and Louella taking lead on a song. Vance takes the lead on the rest of the songs.

The group still travels and still continues to take booking dates. They also attend The Pageton United Methodist Church.