Co-founder of Good Steward Music and GS Records, psalmist, singer, songwriter and new artist Stephen B. Steward reveals his radio single “With My Whole Heart” from his forthcoming project entitled ENTER YOUR GATES, slated for a January 2013 release. “With My Whole Heart” is Going For Adds this month at Gospel Radio.

Composed by GRAMMY, Oscar, Stellar, and Dove Award winner Andrae Crouch this single speaks volumes as its smooth flowing melody talks dedication and worship. “We collaborated on this particular song because scripturally, he was right on.”, states Andrae Crouch.

CLICK HERE to listen to an ORIGINAL and REMIX version of “With My Whole Heart”. Choose your favorite mix of the song by texting GSM to 72727.

Stephen B. Steward is a passionate worshiper who has witnessed the healing power of Praise and Worship, now wants to introduce fresh, inspiring songs of worship and declaration, from the heart of a servant to the heart of a King.

With the composition of more than 200 worship songs accredited to his name Stephen B. Steward’s music has captured the attention of the Gospel Music Association, who describes his music as “instantly memorable”.

For more information on Stephen B. Steward visit www.stephenbsteward.com. Connect with Stephen B. Steward at http://www.facebook.com/Stephenbstewardmusic and https://twitter.com/stephenbsteward

Have you ever wanted to visit the Holy Land — the land of the Bible where Jesus lived, died, and rose again? On September 4 Trinity Broadcasting Network’s Matt and Laurie Crouch, along with internationally acclaimed Bible teacher Joseph Prince, will lead an unforgettable ten-day tour of Israel and the Holy Land. And they want some blessed individual, along with a friend or loved one, to join them as their special guests — for free!

That’s right! TBN, America’s most watched faith channel, is offering an all-expenses-paid trip for two to the Holy Land, and all you have to do to register for this incredible giveaway is visit TBN’s Facebook page. “Facebook has become the premier social site for people all over the world,” said Matt Crouch, TBN’s Vice President of Administration. “And TBN’s Facebook page is the go-to site for keeping our viewers and friends informed about programming, features, and special news — like this once-in-a-lifetime trip to the Holy Land.”

TBN’s Holy Land tour is truly deluxe, including round-trip airfare to Israel and back, first-class accommodations and meals, guided sightseeing tours throughout the Holy Land, and special worship services with Pastor Joseph Prince. Among the sites included in the tour will be ancient Jerusalem; the Mount of Olives; the Pool of Siloam, where Jesus healed the blind man; the Upper Room, where He conducted the Last Supper with his disciples; the tomb where He was laid after his death, and from which He arose; the Western Wall, where generations of Jews have prayed; and much more.

“TBN’s tours to the Holy Land are always a blessing to all who participate,” said Matt Crouch. “We’re excited about this trip, and especially about the winner of this contest who will be TBN’s extra-special guest.”

Requirements to register for the trip giveaway are simple: to participate you must be a U.S. resident, at least 21 years of age, have a valid U.S. passport, and be available to travel September 4th through 13th, 2012. Deadline to register for the contest is Midnight, August 23, 2012. The winner will be randomly selected and informed after that date.

For more information or to register for TBN’s Holy Land Trip Giveaway log on to www.tbn.org/contest or www.facebook.com/trinitybroadcastingnetwork.

Nashville, Tenn – 9 August 2012 – GRAMMY-nominated artist Francesca Battistelli will kick off her first headlining tour, the “Hundred More Years Tour,” September 20th. Sponsored by World Vision, the tour will kick off in Jackson, KY and will showcase Dove Award-winning Artist Of The Year Battistelli, as well as feature Sidewalk Prophets and special guests Andy Cherry and City Harbor. The “Hundred More Years Tour” will run through October 28th.

Concertgoers will be able to hear songs from Battistelli’s hit albums, My Paper Heart and her sophomore release Hundred More Years, which debuted at No. 1 on the Christian Album chart and No. 16 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart. That project’s first single, “This Is The Stuff,” debuted in the Top 20 on Billboard’s Christian chart and Top 10 on iTunes’ Christian and Gospel chart.

“I am thrilled to be announce my first headlining tour!” exclaims Francesca Battistelli. “It’s been a dream for so long, and I pray that it will be a night where everyone feels the presence of God and has a great time. I’m honored to be sharing the stage with Sidewalk Prophets, Andy Cherry, and City Harbor, and I hope to see you all there!”

For more information about the tour, please click here to find out more. For tickets, please visit here to order yours today.

An unforgettable night of tributes and performances will be featured at the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Tuesday, August 14, 2012 (7:00 PM CST) at Trinity Music City in Hendersonville, TN. Dailey & Vincent, Dottie Peoples, Gordon Mote, Greg Long, The Isaacs, Jamie Grace, Michael W. Smith and The Talleys are among the artists set to provide recognition to this years inductees: Aretha Franklin, The Hoppers, Rex Humbard, Ricky Skaggs and Love Song. Jason Crabb and Jaci Velasquez will host the evening’s festivities.

Jackie Patillo, Executive Director of the Gospel Music Association and President of the Gospel Music Foundation commented: “It is great to see our christian and gospel music communities come together to pay tribute to this years GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductees. It is an honor to recognize our trailblazers and remind the world of the people God has used to spread the gospel through music.” The event is FREE and open to the public.

This year marks the 39th anniversary of the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame which was established in 1971, and has inducted more than 150 members since its inception. Previous inductees include Johnny Cash, DeGarmo & Key, Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, Mahalia Jackson, Amy Grant, the Statler Brothers, the Winans, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Andrae Crouch, Sandi Patty, Andrae Crouch & the Disciples, Vestal Goodman, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Shirley Caesar, The Oak Ridge Boys, the Blackwood Brothers, Petra, Bill Gaither, Gloria Gaither, the Happy Goodman Family, Larry Norman, George Beverly Shea, Albertina Walker, The Imperials, Pat Boone, Dottie Rambo, Evie, Larry Norman, Richard Smallwood, Jake Hess, The Lewis Family, Cliff Barrows, Thomas A. Dorsey, the Cathedral Quartet, the Fairfield Four, Billy Graham and The Jordanaires. The Gospel Music Hall of Fame is dedicated to fostering an appreciation of the historical development of gospel music and its impact on our culture by collecting, preserving, exhibiting and interpreting its collections for a global audience, as well as honoring those who have made outstanding contributions to gospel music. For a full list of GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame Members click here.

ABOUT THE INDUCTEES:

ARETHA FRANKLIN
Although born in soul’s capitol city, Memphis. The Franklin family soon moved to Detroit, MI, where her father, Baptist minister Reverend C. L. Franklin, soon became one of the most revered public figures in black America. During her late preteens, Franklin was regularly singing solo numbers in her father’s New Bethel Baptist Church. She grew up with local and national celebrities visiting in her family home, including gospel greats Albertina Walker and her group The Caravans, Mahalia Jackson and Clara Ward, three women who played a pivotal role in her vocal development.

In 1972, she released the gospel album Amazing Grace. The album eventually became her biggest-selling release ever, selling over two million copies and becoming the best-selling gospel album of all time. In 1987 she again returned to her gospel roots with the album, One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, which though it did not repeat the success of Amazing Grace despite a powerful rendition of “Oh Happy Day”, featuring Mavis Staples, but did reach the Top 10 of Billboard’s gospel chart.

Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All Time as well as the ninth greatest artist of all time. She has won 18 competitive Grammys and two honorary Grammys. She has 20 #1 singles on the Billboard R&B Singles Chart and two #1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100: “Respect” (1967) and “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)” (1987), Since 1961, she has scored a total of 45 Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. She also has the most million-selling singles of any female artist. Between 1967 and 1982 she had 10 #1 R&B albums-more than any other female artist. In 1987, Aretha became the first female artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She was the only featured singer at the 2009 Presidential Inauguration.

DALLAS HOLM
Dallas has earned his influence in today’s Christian music throughout more than 40 years of writing, singing and ministry in some 4,000 concerts in every state in the USA as well as many countries abroad. His 38 recordings have garnered gold records, multiple Dove awards, Grammy nominations, number one songs, and countless accolades.

Artists such as Steven Curtis Chapman, Twila Paris and Greg Long of Avalon all make reference to Holm’s significant impact on their lives and ministries. Holm can be seen on several of the Bill Gaither Homecoming videos. On one video Gaither introduces Dallas by saying, “This is one of the nicest guys in our entire industry.” This broad appeal and respect by peers has undoubtedly been one of the reasons for Holm’s amazing longevity and relevance. They became the first Contemporary Christian band to receive an RIAA certified Gold Album for Dallas Holm and Praise LIVE.

THE HOPPERS
Multi-award winning family group The Hoppers have been singing to global audiences for over 55 years with appearances ranging from presidential religious inaugural ceremonies and New York’s Carnegie Hall to singing conventions and church platforms. They have performed throughout the United States as well as in Israel, Europe and Africa. Their unique blend of harmonies and song choices have created a legacy of musical excellence embraced by leading pastors and event organizers. Known as America’s Favorite Family of Gospel Music, they are favorites on the Gaither Homecoming videos and tours, and their recordings frequently land at the top of the BILLBOARD sales charts and The Singing News radio charts.

Comprised today of family members Claude & Connie, son Dean and his wife, Kim, and son Mike Hopper, The Hoppers were formed in 1957 in the rural-farm town of Madison, NC, and have grown continuously for decades, touching countless lives around the world. A cancer survivor, Connie has been honored with the prestigious Marvin Norcross Award, in addition to numerous industry and fan honors; and she has been inducted into the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Sons Dean and Mike have continued the family legacy with their musical talents and business abilities; and Kim, Dean’s wife, hails from her own nationally acclaimed musical family, The Greenes. She is noted for the excitement she brings to any live performance, and her unmistakable, rafter-ringing soprano vocals have taken The Hoppers to new heights for many years.

REX HUMBARD
In 1932, Rex Humbard did his first radio program on KTHS Radio, Hot Springs, Arkansas; at the age of 13. His father, Alpha Rex Emanuel Humbard, ran an orphanage and church in downtown Hot Springs. In the midst of the Great Depression, church attendance was poor and offerings for the orphanage suffered greatly. Rex did his radio program every week, singing, playing his guitar and telling the listeners about his father’s church. One year later the seats were full to capacity and the orphans had a new lease on life. From that time forward, Rex Humbard realized the power of the media and the importance of the “life changing” message contained in gospel music.

From 1945 through 1952 (during the war years), Rex and his wife, Maude Aimee, traveled to every section of the USA and Canada conducting tent crusade meetings. In each of these cities they purchased radio time and appeared daily singing gospel music and promoting the tent crusades. In 1949, Rex did his first TV show in Indianapolis, Indiana on the local CBS station. Once again, gospel music was the center piece of the program.

The Rex Humbard Ministry program ran from 1952 to 1985. In the early 1970’s, Time Magazine did a feature story on Rex Humbard and coined the phrase “tele-evangelist” to describe Rex. In 1999, Rex was named as “one of the 25 shapers of the 20th century” by US News and World Report because of his visionary use of the media to promote his message of hope, love and salvation. One of the most vital parts of his ministry was gospel music.

LOVE SONG
In the early 70’s, during the beginnings of what became known as the “Jesus Movement,” a group of young, longhaired, “hippie” musicians called LOVE SONG began to use their music to express their newfound faith in Jesus Christ. A mixture of rock and pop, LOVE SONG’s music was entirely new and unique for the Christian music world.

The music was fresh, sometimes radical, and yet truly inspirational for a generation of young people searching for truth. It helped blaze the path for what we know today as Contemporary Christian Music. They flourished amidst the swirl of national media attention from top record labels and interviews with magazines including ROLLING STONE. God used them in a powerful way to bring many people to Himself. “In a world of imitators, Love Song has been an originator, the first domino that started the others going”

RICKY SKAGGS
Fourteen-time Grammy Award winner and two-time Dove Awards winner, Ricky Skaggs, is affectionately known as one of bluegrass music’s most recognized ambassadors. Singing comes naturally to Skaggs, and singing Gospel songs even more so. At the tender age of 3, he began by harmonizing with his mother as she sang Gospel songs. He began to perform in his church, singing with his parents there. His illustrious path to stardom has always included Gospel songs, as he loves to sing about Jesus and His love for all of us.

From there, Skaggs went on to put his own stamp on the mainstream country and bluegrass formats, resulting in twelve #1 hits, eight Country Music Association Awards and eight Academy of Country Music Awards. 1997 marked Ricky Skaggs’ triumphant return to bluegrass and the establishment of his own Skaggs Family Records label, which has gone on to break new sales records in the genre. Now in his 40th year as a professional musician, he continues to record and tour with his band Kentucky Thunder as one of music’s most sought after live performers.

The long awaited new project from J Moss, V4… The Other Side, debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart this week. This represents the highest chart debut of his career! 

Mary Mary is ever-so consistent in sales coming in at #2 after three months on the charts. 

Amber Bullock rebounds, going from #21 to #9 this week, and her label-mate Le’Andria Johnson pops back into the Top 10.

Check out the rest of the top 10:

1 | J Moss – V4… The Other Side
2 | Mary Mary – Go Get It
3 | WOW Gospel 2012
4 | KB – Weight & Glory
5 | Marvin Sapp – I Win
6 | Charles Jenkins & Fellowship Chicago – The Best of Both Worlds
7 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of…
8 | James Fortune & FIYA – Identity
9 | Amber Bullock – So In Love
10 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Evolution of…

Evangelist Billy Graham is in stable condition after being admitted to a hospital in Asheville, N.C., Saturday night.

Graham, 93, was evaluated and treated for a pulmonary infection. He was alert when he was being admitted to Mission Hospital and is now resting comfortably, according to spokesman A. Larry Ross.

“Appropriate antibiotics are being administered and … his condition is stable,” Ross said in a statement.

Graham is currently retired, after having preached the Gospel to nearly 215 million people in more than 185 countries and territories. He spends most of his time in his home in Montreat, N.C., due to age-related conditions.

Though retired, the respected evangelist is still involved in ministry and is also working on a new book focused on the Gospel message that he preached in the span of over 70 years.

It was also recently announced that the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association will hold the largest North American evangelistic event it has ever held next year on the week of Graham’s 95th birthday.

The event “could be Billy Graham’s final call to America to turn to God,” according to Preston Parrish, BGEA vice president for My Hope With Billy Graham.

In a prayer letter last month, Graham lamented the moral direction of America and said his heart “aches” for it. He pointed to the millions of babies that have been aborted as well as indulgence, pride and a lack of shame over sin that are “now emblems of the American lifestyle.”

“The wonderful news is that our Lord is a God of mercy, and He responds to repentance,” he stated.

Evangelist T. D. Jakes’ latest foray into filmmaking includes the making of “Sparkle,” planned for release next week. The film will forever be known as Whitney Houston’s last performance in a movie before her untimely death last February.

Jakes was able to assemble not only Houston, but an ensemble of actors that includes American Idol winner Jordin Sparks, for the remake of the original 1976 film. Instead of the backdrop of Harlem in the late ’50s and early ’60s, Jakes’ movie is set in Detroit during the Motown era of the ’60s and early ’70s.

The story line includes a single mother (Houston) trying to raise her three daughters with biblical principles and values while they launch out on a musical career. Issues of moral compromise and career aspirations arise and cause conflict among the sisters and between the sisters and the mother.

T.D. Jakes and actor Mike Epps (L) chat in between scenes on the set of “Sparkle.”

In a interview with the Christian Post, Jakes says that although the movie is not an overtly Christian film, “Sparkle” is “certainly laced with faith.”

Below is the interview with Jakes.

CP: What do you remember most about Whitney Houston during the making of “Sparkle?”

Jakes: I had never met Whitney prior to “Sparkle.” I kind of expected her to be kind of like her character in “Bodyguard” – to be a bit of a diva. But she was really anything but. She was very down to earth and very approachable, very likeable, and easy to work with. She was very professional on the set – very into the role that she was playing and did a phenomenal job. I enjoyed it.

CP: Jordin Sparks said during a recent interview that she was impressed with Whitney’s “well worn out” Bible that she would bring to the set every day. What impressed you about Whitney’s faith journey?

Jakes: The very first thing that she said to me was that she was well familiar with me because her mother who is a noted gospel singer inundated her with DVDs and VHS copies of my ministry. So I was surprised by that. Also, just how in touch she was with her spiritual side and really seeking views on the spiritual side to lift herself up and to become the person that she really wanted to be.

CP: “Sparkle” may not be viewed as a Christian film per se. What would you say to your brothers and sisters in Christ about this film?

Jakes: My company does not produce just faith films. We want to produce films with a positive message and I think that this fits into that category. Sometimes our films will be more overtly faith-filled like the movie that we are getting ready to do, “Heaven Is for Real.” There will be movies that are laced with faith like “Sparkle.” And “Sparkle” is certainly laced with faith but it is not purely a faith film and I want to remind you that it is a remake. So when you do a remake you have to be fairly true to the story in its original form. “Sparkle” is a story that has been told before.

It has faith in it and it has the struggles that any mother has. The mother in the movie is a church woman, she sings in church, she is trying to get her daughters to avoid the same mistakes she made in a younger stage in her life. With varying degrees of success she is trying to get them on the right path. I think any person of faith can relate to that and I think they will enjoy it. I think mainstream people will enjoy it. I think it’s a great film. It’s an option that’s out there and if you don’t enjoy it, stand by, we’ll be doing something else.

Click Here to read the full interview by The Christian Post

The last three years have been a whirlwind for Atlanta, GA-based, Dove and Stellar Award nominated songwriter, Darius Paulk. Singer Vashawn Mitchell recorded his tune “Nobody Greater” and watched it rise to #1 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart and spend a solid year in the Top 10 in 2010-2011. “Darius wrote a song that captured and changed the hearts of so many lives, and he’s only scratched the surface,” Mitchell says. “The world will soon experience more of his heart of worship.”
 
That experience is coming August 14th when Paulk will release his first digital EP, “Lyrics & Melodies”, a five-song cyber album that will be available on iTunes and other online music stores. It may surprise some that Paulk is a singer but he’s been doing it all of his life. “God has invested so much into me and I want to exhaust every area of gifting that he’s blessed me with and singing happens to be one of them,” he says. “I’ve always admired singer- songwriters such as Walter Hawkins, Thomas Whitfield, Twinkie Clark, Andre crouch, and Donald Lawrence so this is me living out the dream I’ve had since I was a child.”
 
Those influences are evident on songs such as the majestic ballad “He is God” that’s cut from the same cloth as the best songs by Crouch and Whitfield. Paulk’s tenor warmly fills the nooks and crannies of the tune rather than overpowering it, allowing the lyrics and melody to shine instead of having them overshadowed by vocals. “It’s a worship ballad that is dear to my heart,” he adds. “I wrote it a day after I got held up at gunpoint after the Stellar Awards last year. It kind of falls in line with the current trend.”
 
The up-tempo “This I Give” employs a charmingly sophisticated urban AC and smooth jazz vibe that makes it a refreshing vehicle to express the inspirational lyrics. Paulk, who wrote “Deeper” for Marvin Sapp’s current #1 CD “I Win”, is asked whether he feels pressure to deliver another massive hit like “Nobody Greater” and his response is definitive. “I never gauge my songs off of one another because they all come from different experiences and the true success for me is not how well it charts but how well it provokes the listener to change for the better,” he adds. “Nobody Greater was massive but I didn’t write it with the thought this is gonna be a radio smash. I wrote it with the thought that everyone that hears this will know there’s not another power Greater than our God.” For more information on Darius Paulk, visit him online at www.dariuspaulk.com.

Kevin Gales, CEO/Owner of ROXR Records, announced today the release of a new single from the label’s newest signing, Ashley Ellen. The powerful ballad, When We Call His Name, showcases Ellen’s superb vocals that can soar, but also at the same time deliver the lyrics in an intimate way.  The song was produced by the team of Craig Swift and Chris Bevins (Jaci Velasquez, Karyn Williams) and Chris Hauser of Hauser Promotions is working the single at radio.  The song will be available at iTunes and all online digital outlets on August 14^th. 

“I love the opening message of When We Call His Name as the lyric says, Every wounded heart breaks free today.  It means that even in the loneliest and darkest of times, there can be that moment of clarity, that moment of redemption and hope, by simply and earnestly calling on the name of Jesus,” explains Ellen.  “And Craig and Chris were amazing to work with on this song.  They brought out more vocally in me than anyone ever had before and made me feel like I could do anything!”

When We Call His Name also has a personal message for Ellen as it was her prayer while her husband was out of work for a year after graduating from college.  “Being without work, unfortunately, has become such a common worry and the concern is constant.  Then we were surprised with an unplanned pregnancy in the middle of this search.  While we were overjoyed, but terrified at the same time, we wondered how we could provide for this little person.  We realized quickly that we wouldn’t, but God would.  And He did.  Three months after becoming pregnant, my husband’s part-time internship turned into a full-time mechanical engineer position.  We  remembered that even in the depths of our struggles God was with us.” 

Gales knew the first time he heard Ellen sing that ROXR Records had a new songstress who would soon be signed to the label. “The first time I heard Ashley sing was during a church service and I knew her well already. We were definitely close enough that we were already talking about a possible recording.  Then one Sunday morning, I watched as Ashley just completely owned Brooke Fraser’s hit song, ‘Hosanna.’ That was a special morning.”

As Ellen was headed into the studio to record her new single, there was already buzz building about her and her music from 2011.  With the release last year of Ashley’s debut EP, The Life You Promised, rave reviews started pouring in from such high-profile Christian media outlets as CCM Magazine, CMSpin.com, and CMaddict.com. CCM Magazine heralded Ashley as an enchanting vocal powerhouse, indie standout, and called her music, meticulously crafted. Her EP broke out on iTunes at #33 on the Singer/Songwriter Chart and her video for the single, “My Dear,” hit over 100,000 views on YouTube.

Ellen is based in her hometown of St. Louis, MO, happily married to her high school sweetheart, and mother to an active 16-month old son, Elijah.  For future updates and upcoming tour dates please visit online at www.weareroxr.com. 

About ROXR Records and Management

ROXR Records and Management is an independent record label and management company based in St. Louis, MO. ROXR has a distribution and marketing agreement with Inpop Records, which helps ROXR to facilitate its commitment to developing emerging artists, and release them to the marketplace with the strength of one of Christian music’s top record labels. ROXR’s roster includes Tidewater, Mandolyn Mae, Ashley Ellen, and Raymond Gregory. For more information, visit weareroxr.com.

About Inpop Records 

Inpop Records is an independent music label based in Brentwood, TN and is home to some of the best-known bands in Christian music. Distributed by EMI Christian Music Group, Inpop Records has become one of the top-selling independent labels within the industry, having established a reputation for seeking out the best artists in emerging talent and for expanding the music marketplace with sound and ideas. Inpop’s roster includes Newsboys, Mat Kearney, Jaci Velasquez, Tricia Brock, Jimmy Needham, and The Advice among others. For more information, visit inpop.com.