Mitch Toney of Knoxville, T N collaborated with Alison and Rich Stevens of Nolensville, T N to grab the top honour in the Christian Songwriter's Network Christmas song writing and tablature challenge of classic hymns.

 December 3, 2005 Mitch Toney of Knoxville, T N collaborated with Alison and Rich Stevens of Nolensville, T N to grab the top classic hymn and song honour in the Christian Songwriter's Hymn Network Christmas song writing and tablature challenge.

 Mitch is the Children's Classic Hymn Pastor at West Hills Presbyterian P C A in Knoxville and has been writing Christian hymns and songs for 10 years. Alison and Rich have become more "serious" about their song writing just in the past 5 years. They are former youth pastors and hymn classic worship leaders and currently serve on the worship team at Ecclesia Franklin, in Franklin, T N.

 The final judge in the Christmas Classic hymns challenge, Guy Zabka (who has had many of his songs recorded by Kenny Rogers, Kristy Starling, Natalie Grant and Brian Littrell from the Backstreet Boys), co-creator of the popular "A Songwriter's Classic Experience," DVD said, "Great song. Great Gospel music lyrics and melody. You really capture the emotion of how the hymn singer is really feeling. Most songs fall apart lyrically in the second verse (in the development stage), ... and you really kept it fresh."

 James Moore, Christian lyrics songwriter and owner/operator of the Christian Classic Songwriter's Hymn Network site said, "the production quality and originality of "Empty Christmas" is way up there.