Terry Shell

Terry is originally from Hamilton Ohio where he grew up in a Christian home. His dad (Delmer) was the worship leader most of Terry’s life. When his dad stepped down as worship leader, Terry took over the position at the age of 16. One great memory was having the great George Beverly Shea give Terry and his dad pointers in directing. In high school, Terry was awarded a music scholarship where he studied classical music and performance training. Terry is one of the founding Instructors at “The Steve Hurst School of Music”. Teaching and coaching, arranging, and producing continue to be a big part of life.

It is not surprising that Terry met his wife, Deloris, singing at her cousin’s wedding. They have one amazing daughter (Stephanie), a great son-in-law (Zach) and two wonderful grandchildren who call Terry Ganpa. Both Stephanie and Zach have sound engineering degrees, and are highly active in their church.

Terry was an industrial electrician for 22 years. That profession led him to a 22 year network and cabling design career at Toyota. Terry continues to use his engineering background to help groups and local churches on sound design.

Music and singing has always been an important part of Terry’s life. Singing in church, his dad always expressed that anyone can perform a song. It is only when you worship with your song that people’s lives can be changed. Being brought under conviction by a song is why Terry feels so strongly on true Ministry through Music. Terry has sung in several groups. One quartet was the ‘Horizons’ based in Lexington, KY that led him to friendships with many of the local preachers and singers. Those friendships led to the inception of a quartet that included Tommy Masters and Bill Earnest. That friendship and a true believing in each other started this group “No Middle Ground”.

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Bill Earnest

Bill and his wife Theta live in Richmond Kentucky. They have two great sons and two wonderful grandchildren. From early childhood, music has always been an integral part of Bill’s life and the direction it has taken. His exposure to music included a wide variety of musical genres from Big Band to Country to Gospel to Classical to Rock and Roll. As a teenager in a three piece band to studying voice as a college major and singing/ performing in college musical productions to weddings and dinner vocal performances as well as singing in large choirs including Handel’s Messiah as a lead vocalist to being a worship leader in a number of churches over many years, there have been wonderful opportunities to share great music with others. Bill also began playing the guitar as a very young man and primarily as an acoustic guitarist has had the opportunity to play and sing as a soloist and with many people over his lifetime.

Bill is also a song writer and arranger and appreciates the inspirations in life that can be turned into song. One other opportunity that lasted for over 10 years was being part of the Southern Gospel group “Witness”, which included Terry and Tom, the other members of No Middle Ground.

As Bill has said “it’s still amazing to experience and witness how music has the ability to reach the heart and soul as nothing else can. It cuts through the barriers and facades of life reaching something deep inside each of us”. Understanding this has been a central reason why Bill has and continues sharing music with others and as part of the group No Middle Ground knows that what they present is all about Jesus Christ and through the variety of songs presented hopes to uplift, challenge, inspire and touch something real in all who hear and to honor God in all they do.

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Tom Masters

Tom (Tommy as most friends call him) and his wife Connie live in Richmond, Kentucky. Tom was born in Richmond where he has lived all his life and Connie was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. They have three sons (Shane, Chris, and John) and five beautiful grandchildren all who live in the Richmond area.

Tom grew up in a Christian home and accepted Christ at the age of 12. He began leading music in the Sunday School opening service and has enjoyed singing with his family and friends most of his life. Tom has served in a Worship Leader capacity and got his love for music from singing beside his Mom at church.

Tom grew up on a horse farm and currently lives on a small farm in Richmond where he and his wife raise quarter horses after his retirement from Kentucky Utilities. He has competed in barrel racing and quarter horse events for many years and holds the title of a World Champion riding his horse Mr. Excitabull in 2014 at the Select World Show in Amarillo, Texas.

Tom and his wife Connie enjoy spending time with family and friends either hiking, boating, riding horses, camping, and about anything associated with being outdoors. Tom sang with Bill, Terry, and others associated with a group called Witness before becoming part of the group No Middle Ground. He enjoys sharing the gospel and words of encouragement when given the opportunity and loves the feeling we receive when the Holy Spirit is present in Worship.