Biography

A Group Twenty Years In The Making

Ronald and Mark Moore, “brothers,” grew up in a gospel music family in Statesville, North Carolina. Their grandfather, Reverend J.W. Moore, preached and taught music school all across the mountains of North Carolina for sixty-five years. Their father, Reverend James J. Moore, currently pastors a church in Statesville, NC.

Ronald began singing at age five in their home church and by the age of ten he, along with his older sister and their father and mother, began traveling as the Moore Family. Mark, the younger brother of Ronald started playing bass guitar for the family at age eight. When Reverend Moore started pastoring his first church in 1973, Ronald left the family group and sang with numerous southern gospel groups until he became part of what is now known as VALOR III.

Mark worked in the church as the organist and then pianist until he joined his brother as pianist for his group. Mark also brings to the group his songwriting abilities, having a string of charted hits for Valor III as well as songs recorded by Karen Peck & New River, George Amon Webster, New Harmony, and many others.

Reverend Jeff Rowland of Chillhowie, Virginia also comes from a preaching and singing family with great songwriting abilities. He too shares the same family heritage as Ronald and Mark. Jeff sang with his family until joining the US ARMY as a member of the 82nd Airborne. It was while in the military that Jeff surrendered into the ministry and was ordained in 1985. After returning to civilian life, Jeff pastored for two years in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Jeff then moved to Statesville, North Carolina to become pastor of the home church of Ronald and Mark after their father accepted pastorate of a new church.

Then started the twenty years in the making of what we know as VALOR III. The Moore Brothers along with Jeff began singing at their home church when Ronald and Mark were home and God placed the ministry of VALOR III into their hearts at that time. It wasn’t until after twenty years of pastoring that God said, “Now’s the time.”

Ronald states that all things happen in God’s time. We prayed for twenty years that God would someday allow us to sing together. In July of 2006, God answered that prayer. Since that time, there has been no stopping VALOR III. Not only did God place us together to sing, but also to become an evangelistic team singing and preaching the message of God placed in our hearts some twenty years earlier.

Speaking of God's timing , Ken Turner joined Valor III in November 2011 . Ken is well know throughout the Southern Gospel Music Industry. Ken's career began with The Palmetto State Quartet and The Dixie Echoes, but most noted was his 25 years with James Blackwood and the Blackwoods. During Ken's outstanding he has been the recipient of 5 Grammy and 10 Dove Awards. He has received The Living Legend Award and has been inducted into the Southern Gospel Music Hall Of Fame . Valor III is honored and greatful that God has allowed Ken Turner to become a member of our group.

As Ronald stated above we will continue to be an evangelist ministry oriented group following God's leadership.

VALOR III has adopted Psalm 146:2 as their source of strength and encouragement. Psalm 146:2 – “While I live will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.”

Many things can be said of the ministry of Valor III and their accomplishments in gospel music, but these men say “To God Be All Glory and HIS Name Be Praised For HE Is Worthy.”