Date: 30 June 1995
To: RichMailList
From: Danl Blackwood
Subject: [RichMailList 26]: Re: Rich's 40th Birthday

Gina Shipp  writes:
>Having recently seen Rich at a church concert in which he roamed around 
>before and after the concert, talked to anyone and everyone, and wore 
>plain old "I've been busy working in my garage today" clothes, all this 
>Hoopla, Glitz and Junk seems very out-of-character for the unassuming 
>guy.  I mean "Gold Circle?"  I wonder if he's embarrassed, too?  Anyway, 
>with no disrespect, I really like the guy because he's a real guy -- 
>reflected in his music, his testimony and his life.  Let us not forget 
>the One to Whom our praise is due.

I absolutely agree. Rich's ability to draw our focus and praise to Our Wonderful Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is probably the reason we all enjoy his ministry so much. Rich couldn't be any more modest about his ministry, and in fact does get a little ruffled when people make too much of a fuss. However, this celebration is supposedly going to be several "name artists" (I don't have any definite info yet) showing up "unannounced" and not only wishing him a Happy 40th Birthday, but wishing him an official "farewell" since he'll be "temporarily" (we hope) leaving the CCM scene to do his teaching gig. This "party", therefore, is actually more than a birthday party. BTW, Gold Circle is only a standard term used in seating arrangements when you have general admission tickets combined with limited reserved seating. In other words, for the extra money you can sit anywhere in, say, the first ten or twenty rows, otherwise you sit anywhere in the remaining seats. Gold Circle is by no means a term of endearment to the artist.

I must say at this point, that all of this is very "unofficial" right now, and that you are privy to this only because I got the inside scoop, and I want you all to have the chance to participate. It certainly could be anything from moderately special to the biggest blow-out-send-off any CCM family member could have. Again, I'll let you know when I have more info.