It’s Here! The long awaited CD from one of Gospel music’s best-loved choirs – Dr. Charles G. Hayes and Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer Choir (The Warriors) BACK AGAIN. After fifty years of contributing a rich legacy to the history of Gospel music, BACK AGAIN marks the first release on Dr. Hayes’ own label Cosmo Sounds. “I am excited about our new release. After more than 30 records, you would think this would be an easy task, but we treated this recording like it was our first,” states Dr. Hayes. “We’re back again and being used as God’s vessel. We pray that listeners will experience the presence of God.”

Chart-topping recording artist Jason Gray released his first Christmas project earlier this year and is now scheduled to headline his first holiday tour.  The Christmas Stories Tour will launch November 28^th in Illinois and run through December 9^th in Ohio.  The ten-city tour will feature Gray performing with a full band spotlighting songs from Christmas Stories: Repeat The Sounding Joy, presenting a deeper story celebrating the birth of Christ, while focusing on the details inside the Christmas narrative.

“This is my first official headlining tour and I’m so excited to bringing my family and friends with me to help tell the Christmas story!,” says Gray.  “I’ve dreamed of a tour like this for years and am so grateful: my sons will be on stage and behind the scenes, my wife will be sharing her passion for serving the poor with World Vision, and my closest musician friends will be making me sound better than I ought to. I’m also excited to bring my new friend Ben Rosenbush out as the guest artist. Ben is an independent artist from Minneapolis and I’m a big fan.  I’m excited to share him with others, as both he and his music are very kind. “

Christmas Stories: Repeat The Sounding Joy is already receiving strong support with coverage or upcoming coverage from Christianity Today, Phantom Tollbooth, NewReleaseTuesday.com, gmctv.com, Christian Musician, Power Source Magazine and more. JesusFreakHideout.com says, Those looking for something accessible but a little more meaningful than songs about snow and sleigh bells could find a real holiday treasure in this collection. Best-selling author and Pastor Max Lucado added his voice to the accolades, saying, “I love Jason’s voice, his songs, and most of all his heart. This Christmas release is a Christmas gift for us all!” 

For tour updates and Gray’s latest blogs, videos, and information please visit online at www.jasongraymusic.com

Christmas Stories: Repeat The Sounding Joy Tour Dates: (Subject to change)

11/28 – La Harpe, IL

11/29 – Hot Springs, AR

11/30 – Jackson, MO

12/1 – Aura, IL

12/2 – Weston, IL

12/5 – Rapid City, SD

12/6 – North Mankato, MN

12/7 – Waukesha, WI

12/8 – Zeeland, MI

12/9 – Zanesville, OH

They are five biological brothers from Georgia who have been singing together for many years.  These brothers have been making quite an impact recently in Gospel music with high profile television appearances, tour dates from East coast to West coast, and a music ministry that blends intricate acappella harmonies, beautiful soulful R&B ballads and high energy quartet arrangements.  There are no other groups in Christian music quite like THE WARDLAW BROTHERS.  

The versatile and gifted Wardlaw Brothers have been promoting their forthcoming release GOD’S BEEN THEREand have just inked an exclusive distribution contract with Nashville’s New Day Christian Distributors.  GOD’S BEEN THERE will be released in January 2013 by New Day Distributors, TWB Records (The Wardlaw Brothers own record label located in Vidalia, GA), and with marketing powered by The Bellamy Group.  The CD has already garnered radio success with the urban inspirational single “Somewhere Listening“, has established a quartet fan favorite “Right Now Lord” and has a special tribute to the military “Welcome Home Soldiers” that has become a Youtube video hit.  GOD’S BEEN THERE is produced by Grammy™ Award winning producer Cedric Thompson, Dove Award winning producer Antonio Neal and Martin Luther Wardlaw. 

For more information on TWB, log on to www.TWB5.com. 

Pictured:  Back- Martin Luther Wardlaw, Matthew Beckett (Attorney), Jamie Wardlaw, Carl Wardlaw.  Front- Thomas Rollins (New Day Distribution), Rodney Wardlaw, Tony Wardlaw.

A North Texas pastor was killed Monday by an attacker who rammed a car into a church wall, chased the pastor and beat him with an electric guitar, police said.

Police in Forest Hill, a suburb of Fort Worth, did not say why the unidentified suspect attacked the Rev. Danny Kirk Sr., the founding pastor of Greater Sweethome Missionary Baptist Church.

The suspect, who police used a Taser to subdue, also died a short time after being taken into custody.

Forest Hill Police Chief Dan Dennis said the suspect drove his car into a church wall before noon Monday, apparently on purpose. The suspect got out of the car and began to attack the pastor in the parking lot before chasing him into the church, Dennis said. The church secretary hid and called 911, Dennis said.

Police arrived to find the suspect assaulting Kirk with an electric guitar that they believe was already inside the church, Dennis said. An officer used a Taser on the suspect, handcuffed him and put him in the back of a patrol car.

By then, Kirk had died, Dennis said. A maintenance worker who tried to help Kirk was injured and taken to an area hospital. His condition was unknown.

The car that was crashed into the Greater Sweethome Missionary Baptist Church sits in place in Forest Hill, Texas, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012 

Dennis said the suspect was found unresponsive shortly after being detained and was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Dennis said he didn’t know if the suspect knew Kirk, attended the church or why he might have attacked the pastor.

Hours after the incident, hundreds of people remained outside the church, where crime-scene tape was wrapped around a small statue of Jesus near the wrecked car. Some hugged each other and cried, while others recalled Kirk as a dedicated minister who also had a bubbly personality and knew the all names of the several-hundred church members.

“He really was concerned about our souls,” Montoya McNeil, a member for eight years, said as she wiped away tears. “You looked forward to being here. … I’m not asking God why, because I know where he (Kirk) is, but we won’t get those big bear hugs and those great sermons anymore.”

According to former Forest Hill mayor James Gosey, Kirk started the church years ago in a strip mall before building the red-brick church.

Kirk was also an unofficial volunteer chaplain who occasionally counseled members of a local high school football team, Fort Worth school district spokesman Clint Bond said.

“Our hearts are heavy right now,” said Reginald Wilson, an associate minister at the church.

This is the latest incident involving violence inside a church.  Last week at Creflo Dollars Mega-church, a man opened fire killing one.  

As Hurricane Sandy continues to bring high winds and flooding, Christian music artists are expressing their thoughts and prayers towards those in the path of Sandy.

The 1,000 mile hurricane is responsible for a undetermined amount of deaths in the Northeast and more than 5 million people are without power.

Here are some of the prayers and thoughts from some of the Christian music artists towards affected ones:

OFFICIAL Nicole C. Mullen

Let’s continue to pray for those on the East coast as Hurricane Sandy approaches. Our hearts go out to you!

Sandi Patty

Praying praying for safety to all those in the path of hurricane! 

Sanctus Real

Our thoughts and prayers are with those of you in the path of hurricane Sandy. Stay safe! 

Martha Munizzi

Praying for everyone being affected by the hurricane. I speak protection over you in Jesus name!!

Jason Crabb

Praying for all my friends in the path of the storm Sandy. FATHER, please keep your hand of protection on them!!!

Paul Wright ‏@pauldavidwright

Praying for everybody on the east coast in Hurricane Sandy’s path. Stay safe!

Mandisa ‏@mandisaofficial

PRAYING FOR THE EAST COAST. HAVE MERCY, LORD.

theafters ‏@theafters

Praying for those on the east coast who are in Sandys path!!! Join us in praying hard!!

Building429 ‏@building429

Praying for those in the path of #HurricaneSandy today. Please follow all the warnings and stay safe. Love you guys in the east coast.

Kerrie Roberts ‏@Kerrie_Roberts

Thoughts and prayers for my friends and everyone on the east coast.

Kurt Carr ‏@TheKurtCarr

My prayers are with each and every person that is in the midst of Hurricane Sandy near the Atlantic Ocean! I ask that God protect you and meet all of your needs!

Isaac Carree ‏@isaaccarree

Praying for all the folx in the path of #Sandy!!

PLANETSHAKERS ‏@planetshakers

We are praying for the east coast of the u.s as hurricane sandy approaches.

If your ministry is looking for that big break or just a large platform to minister on, the show America’s Got Talent is looking for you.

The hit show put out an open call today seeking choirs and singers to audition. 

If you’re interested you can click the link below to send your audition tape directly to executive producers.  

On the Drop Down Menu be sure to select TABITHA on the Producers List.

Winners of this years competition will win 1 million dollars! 

Click Here or visit www.agtauditions.com

View the flyer below for the official invitation.  Good luck to you! 

All roads lead to Jacksonville Florida, July 24-28, 2013 for the 5th Annual Rhythm Of Gospel Awards.  This national televised awards show is an annual event filled with a variety of innovative and exciting showcases, choir competitions, pageants and achievement galas, bringing in over 6,500 excited, tourists, church, social and civic groups, families and business professionals throughout the entire USA, Canada, and Bahamas.

Path MEGAzine has been nominated for 2 awards in the categories of Internet Media Group Of The Year and Internet Print/Press Group Of The Year.

This marks another storied achievement for the Gospel magazine that re-defined what you can do merging video production and Gospel news online.  PATH celebrates 6 years in January.

The Rhythm Of Gospel Awards is the Largest Independent Gospel Award Show, giving independent gospel artist both a national platform, and a positive collaboration which supports artist of all ethnicities in various genres of gospel music.

The Rhythm Of Gospel Award Show spotlights 52 categories of recognition through various Churches and Religious Groups, Business/Community Leaders, and Independent Gospel Music Artist, giving them the opportunity to network formally while congratulating trailblazers from various sectors of the community and music industry.

Contributions to the Independent Gospel Music industry have been the best-kept secret in America. This award show is an ongoing project and has been in existence for 5 years, and already has acclaimed excellence being rated #3 amongst some of the more prestigious awards shows in the nation. This newly acclaimed show is constantly growing and is said to become one of the nations best premiered events in the country for unfound gospel talent.

The turn out for the 2013 Rhythm Of Gospel Awards is said to be already a record breaker through advance marketing sales and revenue.

Online Voting will start November 1st – March 1, 2013. Log on to www.therhythmofgospelawards.com or call 210-745-5858 ext. 102 for additional questions.

Bishop T.D. Jakes is bringing the MegaFest conference, one of America’s largest Christian events drawing tens of thousands of people, for the first time to his support base in Dallas, Texas, in August 2013.

The conference, which can attract more than 100,000 participants, will run Aug. 29-31 at the Dallas Convention Center, according to The Dallas Morning News.

MegaFest is part of the ministry outreach of Jakes, senior pastor of the 30,000-member The Potter’s House church in Dallas.

The announcement was made Friday at the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau’s annual meeting as the city officially launched its new branding campaign, “Big things happen here.”

Phillip Jones, chief executive of the Dallas convention bureau, was quoted as saying that the event will occupy 6,000 rooms on its peak night and will be one of the largest “citywide” conferences of the year.

Jones added that MegaFest could get up to $2 million in reimbursement from a state fund for special events.

Read more full report at The Christian Post.com

Two of Gospel music’s biggest acts will share the microphone when Kirk Franklin and Tina and Ericka Campbell of Mary Mary co-host the 28th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards. The annual salute to Gospel’s best and brightest performers returns to Nashville’s iconic Grand Ole Opry House Theater Saturday, January 19, 2013. The Stellar Awards will air in broadcast syndication on 150 stations in over 125 markets around the country and on the GMC network from January 19 to March 3, 2013. Today the nominees in twenty-eight categories of excellence were announced via webcast (www.thestellarawards.com) and social media. 

With more than 30,000 fans logging online to cast their votes for their favorite projects of the year, show co-hosts and WEtv reality stars Mary Mary lead the list of nominees with nine total nominations based on their latest disc, “Go Get It.” Nominations include “Song of the Year,” “Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year,” and “Contemporary CD of the Year,” in addition to recognition for the project in the “Producer of the Year,” “Music Video of the Year” and “Recorded Music Packaging of the Year” categories.  

Newcomer Charles Jenkins who, in addition to earning a “Best New Artist” nomination for his debut CD “The Best of Both Worlds,” garnered recognition in seven additional categories including “Artist of The Year” and “Song of The Year.” Other multiple nominees include superstars Marvin Sapp and Fred Hammond with six nominations each, both nominated in the hotly-contested “Male Vocalist of the Year” and “CD of the Year” categories; legendary Andre Crouch with five nominations, including “Artist of the Year” and “Song of the Year” for his disc “The Journey”; and “Best New Artist” contender Isaac Carree with five nods for his solo debut “Uncommon Me.”

Full list of nominees:  As Announced by Kirk Franklin via Webcast