Welcome to a new edition of SGNScoops’ Fast Five! Today we talk with Carla and Redemption Ministries, a mixed group from Lumberton, North Carolina. This family group presents Country-flavored Southern Gospel and Worship songs with a live band. It is a pleasure to hear artists sing with live music and the band allows Carla and Redemption Ministries (C&R) a lot of flexibility in style and format. C&R presents current and original music with an honesty and skill you will enjoy, in a style reminiscent of the McGruders and the Crabb Family.
We were happy to see that C&R also has young people as a part of their group, training up the youth to become leaders in the Gospel music industry. Carla Monds is joined by Jordan Monds, Helen Oxendine, Earl Monds, Tim Bledsole, Kilynn Kline and Colton Locklear. The group travels throughout North Carolina, and into South Carolina, West Virginia, Georgia, Pennsylvania, from Florida to Arizona. We hope you enjoy reading more from Carla Monds, sharing about Carla and Redemption Ministries!
SGN:Â Tell us when Carla &Â Redemption Ministries was formed?
C&R: We began as a ministry in 1993.
SGN:Â Would you share your testimony with us?Â
C&R: Our ministry is centered around deliverance and healing. We have been a witness to God’s miraculous power over the years. We have seen folks come out of wheelchairs, come off drugs and God has placed a special anointing on our ministry to pray for folks to have children.
When I was 10 weeks pregnant with my only (natural) child, I began to hemorrhage. I was rushed to the hospital and told that I had miscarried and I should contact my OBGYN to follow up, and I was given paperwork on what to do after a miscarriage. About an hour later, after prayer,  the bleeding got worse. I returned to the hospital because I was weak.
We sincerely asked GOD to save our baby, we declared HIS word and asked for an ultrasound. We were told that no technician available but, after insisting,  someone was brought in and the ultrasound report read as follows: fetus intact, heartbeat strong, due date 6/25/95. What a mighty GOD we serve!
The remainder of the pregnancy was tough. They said the baby would likely be premature, possibly wouldn’t make it, but “GOD said live” and our son was born late and at 10 lbs.  Jordan, is now 21 years old. He is our drummer, singer and a rising senior at Campbell University, where he is studying Business. Jordan plans to be a corporate attorney.
Over the years God has lead us to pray for numerous people struggling with this issue and when we come back to church many of them present bouncing, beautiful babies that GOD has sent. I wouldn’t wish the pain on anyone that we faced but knowing that God sends His anointing where we faced the greatest problems makes it all worth while, we give Him all the glory!
SGN:Â Tell us how and where we can buy your CDÂ and hear your music?
SGN:Â What are some future goals for the ministry of Carla and Redemption Ministries?Â
C&R: We hope to be able to reach new areas of ministry and touch hearts that have never heard of us before. Most of the group members are Native American from the Lumbee Tribe out of N.C. We want to continue to tell the story that people may be changed and live a better life and ultimately see Jesus one day.
SGN:Â Carla, Of all the years you have been traveling, has there been one singing, concert, or event that stands out and why?Â
C&R: Several years ago we were headed home from Virginia and we began to have trouble with the van, something with the electrical system. For some reason everyone wasn’t with us that weekend (of course) and none of us knew anything about vehicles. We had stopped in Kenly, NC and called our friends at Lucoma Church of God and they helped us.
We thought the problem was fixed and they asked if we wanted them to follow us but we told them we would be okay. We headed down the road and started talking about how good it is to have friends and most of all to have GOD in front of us watching out and in back of us.
Suddenly the phone rang. It was the pastor’s wife. She said, “Sister Carla, just wanted to let y’all know that we are following you until you get to the exit your family lives on!” Wow! I thought, “God is so good!” I told her we would be okay, so they turned around.
In few moments, on a very dark section of I-95, the van stopped right in the middle of the road. We couldn’t push it so we were sitting ducks. We called the police, but it took a bit for them to arrive. Meanwhile, the van sat in the black night, no lights, in the middle of I-95. As we stood beside the road, we began to notice that all of the tractor trailers and cars that were flying by us were in the other lane. I looked down the road and it literally looked like someone was directing traffic, telling everyone to move over. I knew it was GOD. When the trooper arrived, he said, “Ma’am are you telling me y’all have been standing beside this road, and that van has been in the road like that and hasn’t been hit?” I replied, “Yes sir!” He replied, “That had to be GOD!”
Carla and Redemption have a lot of blessings to share with their audiences and a lot of good music as well. We hope you try to hear this group when they are in your area. Thanks so much to Carla for sharing what God is doing through Carla and Redemption. For booking information, contact Carla Monds at (910)736-1226 or carlaspersonal@hotmail.com.