It was more than 25 years ago that Leo Campbell Sr. and his family first took their gospel ministry on the road.

Campbell had grown up in a family tuned to gospel music, and had himself performed with groups such as The Swordsmen, The Northern Lights and The Echoes of Calvary.

Leo Jr., Anna and Cindy, at ages 4, 8 and 9, had sung in a concert with the Blackwood Brothers and The Swordsmen.

Campbell and his children then formed The Campbells, a gospel-singing family, and were sometimes accompanied by his own mother on keyboard. The family traveled throughout the United States and Canada, recorded seven albums, and appeared on national and local television and radio.

The children grew up, made their own lives, and took a break from performing that lasted 10 years.

In 1991, the kids approached Dad and suggested they begin again to share their love of God through their music. They have recorded more albums and received new opportunities.

The purpose of the ministry, Campbell explained, “is to glorify the Lord, bring praise and honor to him, and to win souls.”

Campbell, who lives in Dresden, calls Emmanuel Baptist Church in Waterville his home church, but the family also spends a lot of weekends on the road.

Next weekend, the Campbells will perform in concert at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 28, at Neeley’s Corner Church in Hampden. The pastor is Ed Kalish.

They will also perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 29, and at 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 30, at Harrington Advent Christian Church. Franklin Libby is the pastor.

The weekend will continue a winter season that has already been busy. New Year’s weekend, the Campbells performed for Salvation Army units in New York City and Orange, N.J.

The group’s performances, Campbell said, are a mixture of country and southern gospel music, hymns and spirituals. No admission is charged at the concerts, but a freewill offering is received. The Campbells’ tapes are also available at performances.

The group recently did a benefit concert for a couple that planned to take Bibles to Russia. The members have also given two songs, “Freedom in Our Land,” and “One Scarred Hand,” to Reaching Truckers for Christ ministry for an album that organization is working on.

Cushnoc Baptist Church in Augusta booked the Campbells after they returned to ministry. “Each member of the group is a soul winner,” said Frank E. Patten, pastor, “and their music aims at getting decisions for Christ.”

Campbell very much enjoys performing with his children. He hopes, he said, “that the Campbell tradition of gospel music will continue after I’m gone.”

For information on the Campbells, contact Leo Campbell Sr. at P.O. Box 173, Dresden 04342, telephone 737-4921.