BeBe Winans, the critically acclaimed superstar R&B and gospel vocalist-songwriter-producer, and six-time Grammy Award winner, has released his latest album, AMERICA AMERICA (Razor & Tie). Winan’s will perform on July 4th on ABC’s Good Morning America and his television special, BeBe Winans’ America America, will also air on July 4th on Centric at 8:00 PM EST (with an encore presentation at 11:00 PM EST). Legendary singer Gladys Knight will join Winans on “America the Beautiful” and the great Cicely Tyson will contribute special readings to the evening.

BeBe Winans will also be featured on QVC July 3rd at 10:00 pm EST/ 7pm PST. The QVC version of Winans’ album AMERICA AMERICA includes three exclusive tracks, “Amazing Grace”, “Right Now (We Need One Another)” and “Star-Spangled Banner (Reprise).”

America America, Winans’ seventh solo release, is comprised of seven classic patriotic songs including “America The Beautiful,” “Lift Every Voice,” “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” and our national anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner,” all imbued with his distinct soul-stirring touches. Winans also wrote three new songs for the album – the beautifully hopeful title track and first single, “America America,” the upbeat “We’re The United States of America,” and the heartfelt “Ultimate Sacrifice,” dedicated to our troops.

A flurry of promotional appearances greeted the new album’s release: TBN: Praise The Lord, NBC/Better TV, WNBC Weekend Today in New York, Good Day LA, Entertainment Tonight/The Insider, Access Hollywood, CNN Showbiz Tonight, and much, much more. Winans also introduced the musical performance of “Porgy and Bess” at this year’s nationally televised Tony Awards ceremony at New York’s Beacon Theater.

Winans is a six-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and producer, including his Grammy for co-producing the song “Jesus Loves Me” on Whitney Houston’s smash film soundtrack from ‘The Bodyguard.’ He has achieved wide notoriety both as a solo artist and as part of the hit-making duo BeBe & CeCe Winans (the first brother and sister duo to be awarded a prestigious Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame). He is also a noted actor who has appeared on the stage (in the Broadway production of ‘Oprah Winfrey Presents The Color Purple’) and screen (2003’s ‘The Manchurian Candidate’). Winans’ poignant memories of the late Houston, his dear friend and frequent musical collaborator, is shared in his upcoming book, The Whitney I Knew. The book will be in stores on July 31, 2012. No one can forget the emotional performance and moving eulogy Winans delivered during Houston’s nationally televised funeral.

BeBe Winans recently joined Dave Koz as featured performer on an exciting summer tour.

Proving their unparalleled ability to connect with listeners, Grammy-nominated, American Music Award and multiple GMA Dove Award winners MercyMe have been standing tall in the top spot on the Christian AC chart for a solid month now, with their multi-week No. 1 smash “The Hurt & The Healer.”

As the lead single from the studio album of the same name–the band’s seventh project–the song has also snagged the No. 1 position for multiple weeks on other charts including AC Indicator, National Christian Audience and the Soft/AC Inspo chart. In addition, MercyMe have released a live performance video of the track, filmed during a recent tour stop.

This success at radio caps off the month following the release of their newest album via Fair Trade Services, which was met with overwhelming critical praise, including the following:

“With all of their success, MercyMe might have thought getting ‘comfortable’ would be the easy route. But this latest album shows that the band continues to push itself to greatness. They tackle difficult subjects and stretch themselves musically…this is their best project to date.” – CCM Magazine

“All the way around, Healer is sure to please, with enough diversity and pathos to continue to provide encouragement and inspiration to the fans who have made MercyMe one of the most beloved acts in Christian music.” – Crosswalk

“Full of heart, melody, and sure to find a massive radio time, The Hurt and the Healer stays the course. The strength of one of the most eminent bands in Christian music has always been their ability to have fun. MercyMe don’t take themselves too seriously, leaving them able to provide musical insight for full radio-friendly impact.” – Worship Leader

As the band celebrates their new album, MercyMe will visit markets across the country throughout the summer. More information about tour dates can be found on MercyMe’s official site.

For more information on MercyMe and The Hurt & The Healer, please go to www.mercyme.org.

About MercyMe Since their debut in 2001, Grammy-nominated, American Music Award and multiple GMA Dove Award winners MercyMe have sold over 6 million units in CD and DVD sales, while being one of few Contemporary Christian music groups to have had all of their recordings certified Gold or Platinum, as well as garner 23 No.1 multi-format Christian radio singles, and four consecutive mainstream radio hits with “I Can Only Imagine,” (No. 4 AC/top 25 on Top 40/Hot AC), “Here With Me” (No. 4 AC), “Homesick” (top 10 AC), and “So Long Self.” In 2009, BILLBOARD named MercyMe’s “Word Of God Speak” the #1 Song of The Decade and the group the #1 Christian Songs Artist of the Decade, with an additional #1 as the Christian AC Song Artist of The Decade as one of the industry’s most notable talents. MercyMe made history as “I Can Only Imagine” surpassed 1 million digital downloads, making it the first song in Christian music to go platinum in the digital domain. The multi-platinum selling band has sold out venues including Radio City Music Hall and has been seen on The Tonight Show, CNN, Fox New Channel’s Fox & Friends, ABC News, CBS’s The Early Show, and on the pages of Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, USA Today, Billboard, and more. www.mercyme.org

Many in the Gospel industry continue to be shocked by Charles Jenkins who holds down the #1 spot for a second straight week.  Sales for Jenkins’ new album “The Best of Both Worlds,” puts them ahead of Mary Mary who comes in at #2 this week.

Byron Cage released his new CD last week and sales for his new album “Memoirs of a Worshipper” debuted at #3.

Outside of the top 10, BeBe Winans debuted his solo project “America, America” at #18.  And congratulations to the new quartet group Tim Rodgers & The Fellas, who debuted their new project “Real” at #21.

The Rest of the Top 10:

1 | Charles Jenkins & Fellowship Chicago – The Best of Both Worlds
2 | Mary Mary – Go Get It
3 | Byron Cage – Memoirs of a Worshipper
4 | Marvin Sapp – I Win
5 | Andraé Crouch – The Journey
6 | William McDowell – Arise
7 | WOW Gospel 2012
8 | James Fortune & FIYA – Identity
9 | JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise – After This
10 | Various Artists – Joyful Noise (Soundtrack) 

Xist Music and UpLift! Group have joined forces with world-leading child-sponsoring organization Compassion International to present the MOVE TOUR—the highly anticipated follow up from the producers of the acclaimed 25-city MISFiT Tour 2011. MOVE TOUR 2012 is a movement to challenge, refresh and ignite the world through a life-changing MOVE of God. This annual tour brings excitement, inspiration and a strong transformative Biblical message through an electrifying musical experience that will engage any audience.

This year’s MOVE TOUR brings together the fierce creative explosion of seven of today’s leading voices in music & ministry—BET’s “Sunday Best” favorite Jessica Reedy, Hip Hop generals Da’ T.R.U.T.H. & The Ambassador, Christian Hip Hop’s multi-talented rapper/singer/producer Sean Simmonds, Urban Pop artists B.Reith and/or Jai in select markets, and Hip Hop’s favorite event emcee/producer/recording artist DJ MaL-Ski.

In March, MOVE Tour 2012 announced their strategic partnership with FrontGate Media for exclusive representation of sponsorship over the next five years. Scott A. Shuford, founder of FrontGate Media, has experienced this tour and its fan base firsthand. “The MOVE Tour is a cross-market, cross-ethnic, Cross-centric experience of what the church is today. They have created a great opportunity to join in the evangelistic movement God has commissioned to redeem people through the most popular music genre around the world. We at FrontGate see this tour as exactly the kind of value and reach that our company was created to support by making new connection points for companies and ministries with this audience.”

Joining Xist & UpLift! this year for the first time will be Compassion International. “We are thrilled to be the ministry partner for The MOVE Tour,” says Paul Haddix, Director of the Artists Program. “The opportunity to share Compassion’s ministry with MOVE Tour attendees is wonderful and we are excited to see them respond to the needs of children living in poverty around the world.” Returning as national sponsors are brand innovators designbySPIRIT and online ticketing vendor Trinity Ticket Solutions joined by entertainment company Mylache Concerts and new media partners leading Rapzilla.com, HearItFirst.com and HM Magazine.

On Saturday, July 14th, the tour kicks off in Atlanta, GA. A list of current dates with purchase links is provided below, but stay tuned to MOVETour.com for up to date information on new cities being added!

Sat., July 14, 2012—Atlanta, GA Wed., July 25, 2012—Amarillo, TX Sat., August 11, 2012—Jamaica, NY

Sun., July 15, 2012—Raleigh, NC Thurs., July 26, 2012—Phoenix, AZ Tues., July 17, 2012—Nassau, Bahamas Sat., July 28, 2012—Los Angeles, CA Thurs., August 16, 2012—Smyrna, DE

Wed., July 18, 2012—Freeport, Bahamas Thurs., July 19, 2012—Mobile, AL Fri., August 3, 2012—Chicago, IL Sat., August 18, 2012—Roanoke, VA Sat., July 21, 2012—Houston, TX Sat., August 4, 2012—Indianapolis, IN Sun., August 19, 2012—Charlotte, NC Sun., July 22, 2012—Dallas, TX Fri., August 10, 2012—Washington, DC

Visit www.movetour.com for more information on the tour and how promoters can bring the experience to their city or sponsor the tour nationwide.

TOUR BREAK

Fri., August 17, 2012—Virginia Beach, VA

Sun., August 12, 2012—Bridgeport, CTAbout Xist

Xist Music is the recording label of Xist Worldwide, which produces innovative projects from our award-winning artists, who are leaders in the inspirational urban music industry. Xist Worldwide was founded by Terverius Black and Sean Simmonds to become the leading producer of inspirational urban entertainment, lifestyle and media content. With properties in music, film, publishing and other lifestyle projects, Xist Worldwide acquires, produces, markets and distributes inspirational urban content. Visit Xist at www.xistmusic.com for more information and follow them at www.twitter.com/xist_music.

About UpLift! Group

The UpLift! Group is a management, marketing consulting and coaching firm that partners with individuals and organizations to help them See their vision, Soar towards it and Succeed at bringing it to pass. A ministry-focused firm, UpLift! develops and strive to provide the best in spiritual and personal development resources and lifestyle products in partnership with a stellar portfolio of clients including: GRAMMY® nominated Christian Hip Hop artists Da’ T.R.U.T.H. and The Ambassador, award-winning producer and Pop artist JR, Essence bestselling author and Certified Empowerment Coach Felicia Scott, dynamic spoken-word artist Oraia and Lamp Mode recording artist shai linne. Visit UpLift! at www.upliftgroup.com and follow them at www.twitter.com/UpLiftGroup.

About Compassion International

Compassion International is the world’s largest Christian child development organization that permanently releases children from poverty. Founded in 1952, Compassion successfully tackles global poverty one child at a time, serving more than 1 million children in 26 of the world’s poorest countries. Recognizing that poverty is more than a lack of money, Compassion works through local churches to holistically address the individual physical, economic, educational and spiritual needs of children, enabling them to thrive, not just survive. Compassion has been awarded ten consecutive, four-star ratings by Charity Navigator, America’s largest charity evaluator. Visit Compassion International at www.compassion.com and follow them on www.twitter.com/Compassion.

This Sunday the BET Awards will air, and Gospel music will be represented with performances by Jessica Reedy, Yolanda Adams, Y’Anna Crawley and Amber Bullock. 

The BET Awards will be broadcasted LIVE from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, and hosted by actor Samuel L. Jackson.

Other highlights include Cissy Houston joining in on a special tribute to her daughter, the late Whitney Houston.  Rev. Al Sharpton is receiving the State Farm Humanitarian Award and Frankie Beverly and Maze is being awarded the Cadillac Lifetime Achievement Award.

The awards will air this Sunday, July 1st on BET.

BET Awards 2012 Best Gospel nominees are:

Fred Hammond
James Fortune & FIYA
Kim Burrell
Trin-i-Tee 5:7
Yolanda Adams

To see the full list of nominees Click Here

Most-likely by now you’ve heard that Gospel star James Fortune & Wife Cheryl have been named in a lawsuit that stems from Child abuse allegations from 2001. Fortune is now beginning to fight back, releasing a series of statements over the last couple of days.

PATH has learned that James Fortune is “shocked by the lawsuit” but the father filing the suit says he’s not sure why.  

Pictures have now been uncovered revealing the extent of the child’s injuries.  You can watch the video to view those images and hear the 911 call by clicking here.

James Fortune, according to court documents, punished his 4-year-old stepson by putting him in scalding hot water.

The photos, taken by investigators, of the 4-year old’s second and third degree burns are graphic and disturbing.  “The injuries look like he has been burned with fire,” says the 4-year-old’s biological father Roderick Davenport.

“He is burned from just above his penis down to the soles of his feet and the upper portions of his buttocks and his hands up to his wrists,” says Davenport’s attorney Toni Jones.

Davenport has filed a civil lawsuit against James and Cheryl Fortune.  Cheryl is Davenport’s ex-wife.  It was November 2001 when the 4-year old was with his stepfather, James Fortune, and Fortune allegedly disciplined the 4-year-old because he colored on a table at school.  

“The child recalls being told to take his clothes off and being whipped naked and pushing him in the tub and not letting him out of the tub,” says Jones.  

“I could not believe that someone would do that to a 4-year-old,” says the boy’s father.  

Davenport tells MyFox 26 that he was told by doctors the 4-year old was likely held in that scalding bathtub of water in order to receive such severe burns.  According to court records, Fortune first said the 4-year old caused his own injuries.

In a 911 recording, Fortune is heard saying, “My son just burned himself in the bathtub.  He was messing around in the bath and turned the water on hot”.  

At times during the call, you can hear the 4-year-old’s screams in the distance.

The 4-year-old spent 63-days at Shriner’s Burn Hospital in Galveston after he was flown there by life flight.  Child Protective Services took custody away from Cheryl.  After an investigation Davenport was granted custody and Cheryl was given visitation.  

“He has had dreams that awake him at night. He remembers the helicopter,” says Davenport.  “He remembers pain.  He remembers screaming. He remembers crying.  The child has flashes of memory of skin and blood in the water,” adds Jones.  

In 2003, James Fortune pled guilty to Felony Injury to a Child and was given six years deferred adjudication.  “You want to be there for your child and you want to protect them as much as you possibly can and I felt I had dropped the ball that I was not there for him,” says Davenport.
              
Here’s James Fortune’s entire statement:  

“Several months ago I received a demand for payment from my stepson’s father for an injury to my stepson that occurred in 2001.  In the midst of negotiating a settlement regarding that injury, I was served with a lawsuit and now my wife and I are defending ourselves in civil court. At no time in my life was I convicted of felony injury to a child.  Following my step-son’s injury, there was a criminal investigation and all matters were resolved. 

Since that time, my family and I, including my stepson, have maintained a continuous loving family environment.  Although his father has maintained custody, Cheryl and I have enjoyed continuous uninterrupted open visitations with my step-son since 2001.  

We are shocked by this lawsuit but understand people are free to use the court system to pursue matters, whether or not the claims are baseless. We are confident through this process, the ultimate decision maker will render an outcome that is just and fair. We believe in our American justice system and know that once all facts are made transparent justice will prevail in our favor. 

This lawsuit is a direct result of our desire to continue the uninterrupted love, commitment and financial support as well as to protect the ongoing wellbeing while enhancing the current living conditions of our son. We have given our stepson who is currently in our care during his summer break continuous support and understand these allegations are a direct result of not only our increased profile and financial viability but an individuals desire to exploit such.  

We intend to vehemently defend our right to protect our family while maintaining the character integrity and trusted core values the Fortune family has been blessed to exemplify.” 

Davenport is suing for five million dollars.  He says he filed the suit because now at 15-years-old his son is old enough to get plastic surgery to correct some of the scarring and Davenport says Fortune was not agreeing to pay for those expenses.

J Moss returns with V4…THE OTHER SIDE, a 14-track set that reflects life “on the other side” of adversity, while highlighting the impeccable vocal skills that have made him a mainstay in Gospel music.

“Good & Bad,” is receiving great response at Gospel radio and is quickly approaching Top-10. The song is a fervent, jazzy reminder of God’s faithfulness to His people. “The mindset of hopelessness that is so prevalent today was the inspiration behind this song,” says Moss. “People think God and church no longer care. ‘Jesus ain’t thinkin’ about me.’ I got tired of reading that on Facebook and seeing it in faces of the people all around me. People just want to give up. The Lord gave me that song to give people hope in time of storm.’”

Moss’ cousins Kierra Sheard and Karen Clark Sheard, join him on the spirit rousing “Good Day,” an upbeat reminder that it is up to you, through your faith in God, to make each and every day a good day. The roof-raising “The Prayers” featuring Hezekiah Walker and Dorinda Clark-Cole has a traditional congregational shout meeting a new school beat. The funky “God’s Got It” boasts a straight forward message not to worry about what we can’t control; while “Caught Up in Love” mesmerizes with a heartbeat pulse and a vibration of pure rapture.

Moss’ deepest testimony is found on the title track “The Other Side of Victory.” Accented by the heart-tugging acoustic strings of a mandolin, the lyric “I see now/ that you really/ care about me, God,/Thank you for delivering me/ to the other side of victory” says it all. “This was one of the first songs written for this album,” says Moss. “The Lord took me into deeper thematic contemplation for this one…and this is the message He wanted me to convey.

“There’s always a lot talk about the storm but nobody talks about how we’re supposed to be when we get to the other side,” says Moss. “We have to celebrate our brotherhood. We have to know how to behave as stronger, wiser, better people in Christ, and we have to thank God for getting us through.”

Three years after stepping down as senior pastor of Without Walls International Church, Randy White returned last week to help restore and rebuild the Tampa, Fla., church.

“We’ve gone through trials and tests and storms … and we can dwell on that if we’d like. But not this preacher!” he told the congregation on Sunday. “Forget the past. I forget everything we’ve been going through. I stand flat-footed in this pulpit and say there’s a brighter day coming!”

Christian Post.com reports that for the last three years, Without Walls has been led by White’s ex-wife, Paula White. The two had founded the church together in 1991 and grew it to be one of the largest churches in the country. But reports of trouble began surfacing in 2007. The couple divorced that year and Randy White took the lead at the church as Paula White pursued her own ministry works.

Amid mounting debt and a shrinking congregation, Randy White gave the leadership to his ex-wife in 2009. He cited health concerns for his resignation.

He’s now back.

He returned to the pulpit last Wednesday and preached at Without Walls’ two services on Sunday.

“I know this church has been through a lot,” he said as he preached from Nehemiah. “I began to scratch my head and ask ‘Lord, why is that?’ Because the devil wants to destroy this ministry. “But we have to understand that no weapon formed against us … shall prosper.”

During his sermon, he rejected reports that he and his ex-wife were fighting all the time. “That is not the case whatsoever,” he stated emphatically. “In fact, we get along great.”

“Life happens,” he continued. “The devil gets behind stuff. But the devil is a liar.” He assured the congregation that Paula White “cares very much for this church” but that “she’s been so busy in Orlando.”

White was named senior pastor of New Destiny Christian Center near Orlando late last year after the sudden death of its founding pastor, Zachery Tims. White has been leading the megachurch since January while still serving as senior pastor at Without Walls.

Currently, Paula’s White name is no longer listed on the staff directory of Without Walls. Randy White, however, is listed as a pastor. WWIC did not immediately respond to a request seeking clarification on Randy White’s new role.

Both preachers subscribe to the controversial teaching known as the “prosperity gospel.”

“I told her (Paula) I’m gonna get in here and help,” he explained on Sunday. “We’re gonna build this church and we’re gonna see what the Lord is going to do.”

“It could be that we get property on the West Coast, the East Coast, through all of central Florida,” he said. “And we can have a big church meeting in Lakeland.”

Click Here to read the Full Report from ChristianPost.com