First Presbyterian Church of Elizabethton is sponsoring an evening performance by internationally known singer-songwriter-storyteller Michael Reno Harrell on Saturday, Oct. 18, from 7 to 9 p.m. Adult admission is $20, with all profits going to support The Shepherd’s Inn, a safe house and emergency shelter for women and children, located in Elizabethton, Tenn. Tickets can be purchased by going to the church’s website at fpcelizabethton.org. On the night of the event, tickets will be sold for cash only. First Presbyterian Church of Elizabethton is located at 119 West F Street.

Harrell will also participate the following day – with songs and stories – during the church’s regular Sunday worship service, which is open to all and commences at 11 a.m. (also live-streamed). The church’s minister, Rev. Dr. Brian Wyatt, will be leading the service. 

Born in Morristown, Tenn., Michael Harrell currently lives in Morganton, N.C., but says his life’s work as a singer, storyteller, and visual artist has led him to perform in nearly all 50  states as well as seven foreign countries. He is highly regarded in the music industry as a songwriter, with his songs recorded by Doug Stone, Perfect Stranger, and others. He has also released numerous albums, including “Ways to Travel,” featuring Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Brent Truitt, Pat Flynn, and other bluegrass musicians. Along with his performing life, Michael has been an illustrator, a graphic designer, and even ran the art departments for three major U.S. sign companies.  

As a teenager during the 1960s, Harrell was initially drawn to folk music and began his life’s work by singing and playing guitar with a local band called The Green Mountain Trio. Later on, he struck out on his own to become a singer-songwriter, but “quickly found out that what people wanted was for me to sing the same songs that were on the jukebox.” But Harrell says his life changed one evening after stumbling upon a PBS program that showed storyteller Kathryn Windham telling tales at Jonesborough’s National Storytelling Festival. “I was mesmerized,” he recalls. “Her story was both funny and heartwarming – and so well-crafted and delivered that I could see it unfold.” 

In that moment, Harrell says he had found his natural calling. He attended his first National Storytelling Festival in 2002 and within a short time was being recognized as a popular featured teller.  

Paul Gabinet, executive director for The Shepherd’s Inn, says, “We’re thrilled Michael is bringing his diverse talents to support the work of our facility, which has assisted victims of domestic violence and helped the homeless in Carter County and neighboring communities for the last 28 years.” Notably, Gabinet is also a longtime member at First Presbyterian of Elizabethton, where he has served as elder and directs the church’s choir.

The Shepherd’s Inn, which has about 3,000 occupancy days a year, is funded through city and county grants and from various other sources, such as churches, individuals, and corporate contributions. “Helping women and children caught in domestic violence or who are facing an emergency shelter situation is a symbiotic relationship between our agency and local law enforcement,” Gabinet explains. “Nine-one-one knows who we are; they will call us when needed. If they can’t reach someone at the shelter right away, they will call me personally.”

To purchase tickets for this charity event, go to fpcelizabethton.org and complete a registration form. For more information, email [email protected]. 

About First Presbyterian Church, Elizabethton

Dating back to the 18th century, First Presbyterian Church, Elizabethton, is a progressive Christian congregation that integrates science into faith, asserts the importance of social justice for all, and promotes environmental stewardship. The church welcomes all races, faiths, and sexual identities. For more information, visit fpcelizabethton.org.