Jan Evan Pate and Susan Ann Eddings Pate were married August 6, 1977 in Nacogdoches, Texas after a 10 month courtship. He is the youngest of three sons to Glendale Bloodworth Pate and Thomas Elton Pate, Sr. His older brothers are Thomas Pate, Jr. (deceased) and Steven Dale Pate, Sr. of Jacksonville, Texas.

Jan and Susan Pate on their wedding day.

Susan Eddings Pate is the daughter of JoAnn Sanders Eddings and Jack Eddings, of Tyler (formerly of Nacogdoches, Texas) and is the middle child with an older brother Jackie Eddings, of Dallas and younger sister, Jill Eddings Gabriel of Tyler, Texas.

After 10 months of an old fashioned courtship i.e. visiting in each other's homes with the entire families being present, the two married at Greater Faith United Pentecostal Church in Nacogdoches, Texas in 1977. The home church of Susan and her family. Their time together was spent sitting at the piano singing and harmonizing together, both country, gospel and love songs. They actually began singing in church BEFORE they married. This was the predecessor of what would become a lifelong ministry and dreams fulfilled for both of them.

In February, 1979, Jan received what he felt to be a strong summons from the Lord. It came in the form of a vision while working spray painting army tanks at a business located in Rusk. God showed him who was to be in the group--young men, like himself who were in the First United Pentecostal Church in Rusk. None of them had ever sung before; however, both Jan and Susan were willing to teach whoever, whatever they could in order to fulfill this unquestionable commission from God.

At that time, the group was to be started with Dennis McIntyre, Jr., his brother, Ricky McIntyre, Joe Crippen (deceased), Randal Kennedy, Benny David Heisler, Jan and Susan Pate. The first practice consisted of Susan playing note for note what was to be sung by the young men. Jan would sing lead along with Benny David Heisler and Susan would sing tenor with Ricky and Joe. Randal and Denny would be destined to learn to sing Alto.

As God is my witness, the three part harmony came natural after the first two or three practices. The first time the group sang in church, they sang, "Oh Happy Day". Of course, it was a great hit with the small congregation.