Early Beginnings
In the 25+ years that Garment of Praise has been ministering through song, the group has gone through several member changes, but their musical sound and love for God has remained the same. Their goal is to always lift up the name of Jesus and to “go on with a song.”
It was in 1990 that Dale Stoltzfus, a teacher at Fairview Christian School, put together a choir consisting of approximately 25 youth from Fairview Mennonite Church. Dale had picked a couple of the young men to sing a song or two as a part of the program. That experience was both the beginning of a journey that no one imagined it would take us, and also the fulfillment of a dream of four very young men.
The original lineup was comprised of Keith Gehman on the first tenor, Byron Wolfer singing lead, Brian Fox adding the low notes, and Marcus Fox rounding out the harmony singing baritone.
For Brian and Marcus Fox, having grown up in a singing family, listening to their father, Jay Ervin Fox, sing on his old LP’s, and participating in quartet singing in various school programs and conventions, the formation of a male quartet was literally a dream come true. From singing two or three songs at some of Jay’s revival meetings, to singing at local youth events, created a demand to hear more of these guys. Their energetic style of singing gospel songs from the heart with very simple arrangements produced quite a demand for more opportunities to minister in churches.
Five years of singing with this lineup produced two recordings, “Life’s a Battlefield” and “Bound for the Kingdom”. They never suspected the demand there would be for these recordings and were surprised at how often orders were being placed to restock. With the call of Byron Wolfer into the ministry coupled with Keith Gehman’s desire to “come off the road,” change was inevitable. A final program was given at the Myerstown Mennonite Church in 1996 closing the chapter of one part of the Garment of Praise and ushering in another.
Same Group, New Members
In order to accommodate the vocal needs within the “GOP,” Brian gave way to younger brother, sixteen-year-old Jason, at the bass end and moved over to the tenor spot. Daryl Petersheim, the seventeen-year-old brother-in-law to Marcus, became the group’s new lead singer while Marcus continued as the baritone.
Their first recording with the new lineup, “It’ll Be Joy,” recorded in 1998, produced several songs that they still sing frequently to this day. A song that may be considered their signature song, “Come Get a Drink,” is one that was recorded on this project.
On the heels of this recording came a Christmas album “The Wondrous Gift Was Given” that added a brand-new dimension to the GOP–-the emergence of Daryl’s craft as a songwriter. “I Want to be a Christmas Light“ was the first of many songs that would come from his pen.
The next album, “Worth the Journey” came in 2001, and on the next CD, “One Fine Day”, another favorite addition began, with some back-up singers added to the mix. The next project, “A Better Way”, included the favorite choir song, “Jerusalem”, as well as the song written after 9/11, “The Cross Still Stands”, which the group continues to sing—accompanied by the slide show of some of the images from that fateful day. The group simultaneously released the “Hymns” album the same year. During those years, a younger version of the Garment of Praise, Little Friends, began singing together, giving some mini-programs at half-time during the quartet’s events. They also recorded a self-titled CD and a few years later, “Singin’ About Jesus”.
Ministry Continues
In 2007, Daryl decided to make a new kind of CD, “Reflections”: a compilation of songs, including eight of his own writing and a mixture of groups singing them. Garment of Praise joined him on several, but family members and friends also recorded many of them. This album contains some instrumental accompaniment. He was not intending to make another album, but in 2013, he compiled another one, “From Where I Stand”—this one being all songs he penned.
In 2008, other changes were brewing. Marcus Fox, an original member, was administrator of Fairview Christian School, as well as pastoring Fairview Mennonite Church. But following his calling to lead pastor and with the added responsibilities of caring for his family affected by Muscular Dystrophy, he chose to go off the road. Dan Petersheim, younger brother to Daryl, had just graduated from high school, and he joined the group to fill the baritone role. This line-up is the one that is currently held by the quartet.
In 2013, in addition to Daryl’s album, the group created the album “Kingdom Come” with the new voice of Dan Petersheim, and is now poised to release their eleventh album, “Restoration”.
They have sung all the way from Florida to Maine, New York to Iowa, Canada, Grenada, and wherever else God has given opportunity. Recordings have been sent to Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Lord knows where else. With almost 30 years of singing behind them and a renewed vision to see souls won for the Kingdom, it will be exciting to see what God has in store for the group as they prepare themselves for their fourth decade of ministry.
