About Us -- We Are HEAVENLY JOURNEY

Tim Hendricks, founder/owner/manager of Heavenly Journey, sings lead and back-up harmony. His background in music extends back to his teenage years when he became one of the youngest square dance callers in the state. He called square dancing for 18 years before deciding it was time to move on. He is now a licensed minister and regularly preaches at the Forest Hill Nursing Home in South Jackson.

Tim also owns Thundercave Productions, a live sound company. Thundercave has been responsible for sounding numerous events in the past two years in the central Mississippi area, including sound for a jazz band when they played at the Jackson Zoo; provided sound for Gospel Night at the Choctaw Indian Fair; and recording albums for Heavenly Journey and other groups.

Karen Hendricks, co-founder, usually sings harmony. God has given her a wide vocal range, which helps in finding both high and low harmonies. She and Tim have been married for over thirty years and have three sons, two of whom are active in this ministry. Karen has been nominated for Best Alto of the year by the State Quartet Convention in 2007 and 2008.  She is also active in the Mississippi Community Symphonic Band playing flute. She loves music and hopes to someday devote all her time to a music ministry.

Tim Arinder sings tenor for the group. He is also the music director for Concord Baptist Church in Little Yazoo, MS. Tim has a very smooth voice and likes to sing ballads.  But don’t worry, he can also “spit” those words out if the music calls for fast harmony.  He was nominated for Best Male Singer in a Mixed Group by the State Quartet Convention in 2007 and 2008.  He is married to the former Gretta Plunkett, Heavenly Journey’s lead singer.

Gretta Arinder is the lead singer for Heavenly Journey. She, like Karen, also has a wide vocal range. This range gives her the ability to sing high or low harmony whenever needed, in addition to lead.  She is also the daughter of two gospel musicians from the 1970’s, Al and Sandra Plunkett.  Sandra sang with the Neely Sisters and Al played bass guitar.  Gretta was nominated in 2007 and 2008 for Best Soprano by the State Quartet Convention. Many people feel Gretta is one of the best lead singers in the nation.  Gretta and Tim have two children, Taylor and Alayna.

Patrick Hendricks sings bass with Heavenly Journey. He began his gospel singing career at the tender age of 17 when Heavenly Journey was first formed.  Now in his mid-20’s, he is already one of the cleanest sounding Southern Gospel bass singers in the state. Patrick took a year off from the group, but returned to the group in August 2005 when Tim and Gretta joined. In 2008, he has been nominated for Young Artist of the Year by the State Quartet Convention.  Patrick is also a member of the Mississippi Community Symphonic Band and Mississippi Swing. He is a talented trombone player and plays both tenor and bass trombone.

Jonathan Hendricks, aka “The Great and Powerful Oz”,  works sound for Heavenly Journey. He joined the group in 2006 relieving his dad of these responsibilities. Since then, he has become one of the most respected soundmen in the state.  His reputation was further enhanced by the work he did sounding Heavenly Journey’s Gospel Jubilee in June 2008.  This singing featured ten groups and four soloists.  He handled the sound the entire evening for everyone except the gospel band, and had many compliments afterwards about the incredible job he did.  It was said by numerous singers that night that they felt they had never sounded better.