Christian music’s preeminent soul singer Sean C. Johnson is on tour!  Sean’s effortless smooth grooving Neo Soul ballads and poetic hip hop infused style of worship can be experienced LIVE!  Sean has embarked on a 10-city tour to promote his Simply A Vessel Vol 3: Surrender All release which recently landed him at #2 Amazon Praise and Worship Chart, #3 Amazon Soul Chart and #4 Amazon Christian Contemporary Music Chart.  

Sean launched his Surrender All Tour in Dallas, TX and is set to impact the east to west coast – from Tennessee to California.  His Vol 3: edition is available online and continues to elevate the soul-singer as Christian and Gospel’s most popular Soul artist.

Acclaimed Actress, NAACP Image Award Nominee and Dove Award-Winning Singer TAMELA MANN is set to release her highly-anticipated Gospel CD BEST DAYS on August 14, 2012 through TillyMann Music Group Inc. and distributed by Central South Distribution. That week, Mann also celebrates the release of Sparkle, starring Jordin Sparks and Whitney Houston, in which she is featured playing the role of Houston’s best friend, “Sarah Waters.” The film hits theaters on August, 17, 2012. The first single from BEST DAYS, “Take Me To The King,” penned and produced by Tamela’s long-time friend and Gospel icon, Kirk Franklin, is taking radio by storm. The first week of release, the track was the most added and received most increased plays debuting at #20 on the Gospel chart. This week, “Take Me To The King” climbed to #11 on the Gospel radio chart. “I want to present music that people can be blessed by and that can be healing,” said Tamela about the new CD. “We have to put music out to keep people encouraged and keep lifting the body of Christ up, and even the ones that haven’t become Christians. We need to encourage them that the best thing that they could ever do is become a child of God.” Produced by Myron Butler and Kirk Franklin, the 12-song CD showcases Tamela’s powerful vocals and meaningful lyrics. The title track, penned by Butler, is a jubilant celebration of God’s promises.”It’s a very encouraging song and gives a lot of hope,” Tamela said. “It’s about looking back on your past, but not letting it take over your life. You can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Things will be better.” Surrounding the release of “Take Me To The King” to radio and in preparation of the CD release in August, a multi-city promo tour is scheduled for Tamela over the next few months, making stops at churches, radio stations and events across the country. Tamela will share new music from BEST DAYS, pre-sell CDs, and sign autographs for fans. Please stay tuned towww.tillymannmusic.com and www.facebook.com/davidtamelamann for her updated tour itinerary. In addition to launching her new CD, Tamela appears in the upcoming film Sparkle, in theaters on August 17. Sparkle, a remake of the 1976 film, tells the story of a young musical prodigy from a Harlem gospel choir, who is pushed into the limelight and struggles to become a star. The title character, Sparkle (Jordin Sparks) is the youngest of three sisters in the 1950’s girl group who faces issues that are tearing apart their family in her road to stardom. Along with Tamela and Sparks, the stellar cast also includes Houston, Derek Luke, Mike Epps, Carman Ejogo, Tika Sumpter, Omari Hardwick, Cee-Lo Green among others. To access Tamela’s online press page for downloads of her bio, CD cover, press images and more, and to stream her hit single “Take Me To The King,” please visit www.TamelaMannPress.com. Username: press Password: takemetotheking

ABOUT TAMELA MANN Tamela Mann is an accomplished NAACP Image Award nominated actress, singer, songwriter, producer, and businesswoman. Starring as “Cora Simmons,” the loving and churchgoing “but woe to those who cross me” daughter of beloved Deacon Leroy Brown and the iconic Madea Simmons on the hit TBS comedy Tyler Perry’s Meet The Browns, Tamela makes millions laugh every week while she enjoys a unique personal double blessing. Continuing the role she originated in Perry’s 2004 play and 2008 film of the same name, the sassy, high spirited multi-talented singer and actress is able to work every day with David Mann, her husband who plays Leroy. Tamela’s highly successful, Dove Award-winning CD “The Master Plan” remained at the top of the Gospel sales chart for almost a year, and in 2010, Tamela released “The Master Plan Deluxe Edition” which contained not only all the songs from the best-seller, but David’s CD, “Mr. Brown’s Good Ol’ Time Church,” and a full bonus DVD of behind the scenes footage and music videos. Tamela and David’s new cooking and lifestyle show, “Hanging With The Manns,” will be coming to television this fall. For more information about Tamela Mann, visit http://www.tillymannmusic.com.

Apostolic Truth Tabernacle Church in Indiana is receiving backlash for a video that surfaced on the internet of a 4-year-old boy standing in front of his congregation singing an anti-gay song at the church altar, which included the lyrics “Ain’t no homo going to make it to heaven.”

Afterwards, the entire congregation erupts in cheers as the boy is praised for his song.  You could even hear someone in the video yelling out, “That’s my boy.”

Apostolic Truth Tabernacle Church in Greensburg, Indiana

Criticism from LGBT activists has been swift, prompting the church to post this statement on its website:

The Pastor and members of Apostolic Truth Tabernacle do not condone, teach, or practice hate of any person for any reason. We believe and hope that every person can find true Bible salvation and the mercy and grace of God in their lives.

We are a strong advocate of the family unit according to the teachings and precepts found in the Holy Bible. We believe the Holy Bible is the Divinely-inspired Word of God and we will continue to uphold and preach that which is found in scripture. 

Check out the video below. Are children this age too young to be taught that homosexuality is wrong?

Pop/rock band Building 429 (Essential Records) sets a new record on the Billboard National Christian Audience chart with “Where I Belong” holding the top spot for 15 consecutive weeks. The group continues its momentum through 2012 with an impressive summer festival circuit and non-stop fall touring.

Written by Building 429 frontman Jason Roy, and award-winning songwriter/producer Jason Ingram, “Where I Belong,” is from the band’s fifth studio project, Listen to the Sound, released in May of 2011. The album, which debuted at the top of iTunes’ Christian & Gospel Albums chart, has turned out three hit radio songs to date, including No. 1 CHR and Top 5 AC radio single “Listen to the Sound” and “Made For You,” Top 5 on the Christian CHR charts.

“Where I Belong” is Building 429’s most successful radio single from the project, surpassing songs by tobyMac and Phillips, Craig & Dean, who held the top spot on the Billboard NCA chart for 11 straight weeks. In addition, the song maintained top billing on the Billboard AC Monitored chart for 11 consecutive weeks and was No. 1 for multiple weeks on the Christian CHR chart.

News of the song’s success is par for the course for Building 429 this year. The foursome has maintained one of its busiest tour seasons yet, kicking off 2012 with a 47-city “Winter Jam” tour, which saw attendance exceeding 500,000. Building 429 will go on to make appearances at summer festivals including AtlantaFest, ALIVE Festival, Ichthus Music Festival, LifeLight Festival, Kingdom Bound, Unity Music Festival, JFest, and others, while hosting international tour dates in Canada, Denmark, Norway and the Philippines. The band will also head out this fall on Newsboys’ “God’s Not Dead” tour before joining Newsong’s 2012 Christmas tour.

For a current list of tour dates and appearances, visit www.Building429.com. To view the “Where I Belong” music video, click this link: http://is.gd/2gpfs9

About Building 429:
Building 429 comprises Jason Roy (vocals), Jesse Garcia (guitar), Michael Anderson (drums), and Aaron Branch (bass). The band first broke through with its 2004 No. 1 hit “Glory Defined,” which was named BMI’s Christian Song of the Year in 2005. That same year, Building 429 was also named New Artist of the Year at the Gospel Music Association’s Dove Awards.

The group has since amassed a dedicated fan following, playing more than 150 live shows a year while developing its own touring brands “Winter Blast” and “Summer Blast.” In the fall of 2011, Building 429 went from a 30-city “Sounds of Hope” co-headlining tour with Leeland straight into the 47-city “Winter Jam” arena tour in 2012, reaching audiences of more than 500,000.

Building 429 released its fifth studio project, Listen to the Sound, on May 10, 2011. Produced by Jason Ingram (Chris Tomlin, Sanctus Real), Rusty Varenkamp (Tenth Avenue North, Sanctus Real) and Rob Hawkins (Fireflight, Anthem Lights), Listen to the Sound debuted at the top of iTunes’ Christian & Gospel Albums chart, while its title track hit No. 1 on the CHR chart and Top 5 on Billboard’s National Christian Audience Chart. Follow up single, “Made For You,” reached Top 5 on the Christian CHR charts, and most recently “Where I Belong” has continued to peak at No. 1 on Billboard’s National Christian Audience chart for 15 consecutive weeks and AC Monitored charts for 11 weeks. The occasion sets precedent as the longest-running No. 1 single on the Billboard Christian Audience chart to date.

For more information on Building 429,
visit www.Building429.com or www.facebook.com/building429.

 

Meagan Good, 30-year-old “Think Like a Man” actress, recently joined with preacher and producer fiancé DeVon Franklin to give people insight about why they decided to remain abstinent until marriage.

Franklin, an executive with Sony Pictures Entertainment and Seventh-day Adventist minister, proposed to Good in March, months after she proclaimed that she would focus on God to bring her the right man. Last month, the actress revealed that she would not be intimate with her future husband until they officially became one in marriage.

“Our wedding night will be the first time we’re actually together,” Good told Life & Style magazine.

She told the publication that she knew Franklin was meant for her after he agreed to wait for intimacy.

“Because he was willing to be celibate with me for a year,” Good told the publication. “He loves God, more than I love God, so I don’t think there’s anything wrong [with him].”

At minister T.D Jakes’ 35th Anniversary Gala in Dallas last weekend, Franklin said he hoped other couples could look to him and Good for inspiration.

T.D. Jakes 35th Anniversary Gala presenters, DeVon Franklin, Sony Pictures executive, and actress Meagan Good enjoy each other’s company on the red carpet. (Photo Credit: Cooper Neill, courtesy of The FrontPage Firm)
“We want our marriage to be one of truth, one of love, and hopefully model God’s love. In reality we’re not perfect,” Franklin said while on the red carpet at the event. “But we are striving to live a life of Christ. We are striving to be an example of what his life looks like on this earth, and hopefully through our union people will be inspired, people will see themselves in us.”

Good accompanied her soon-to-be husband at the gala and spoke about the benefits of waiting to experience intimacy with her partner.

“The relationship is completely different. When you know somebody and you know their heart, it’s not even a question about the physical part of it that comes into play completely later on,” the actress said. “You really just get a chance to understand what you’re getting. You don’t just want to be with this person on Friday night, but Saturday afternoon too.”

 

An audio tape of the 911 call made by megachurch Pastor Creflo Dollar’s 15-year-old daughter has been released by the Fayette County Police Department. During the call made early Friday, the girl told the 911 operator that she was allegedly punched and choked by her father, adding that this was not the first time such an incident has happened.

“I just got an altercation with my father. He punched me and …(inaudible) choked me. It’s not the first time it’s happened. I feel threatened by being in this house,” the 15-year-old girl is heard telling the 911 operator.

“I don’t know what can be done but I’m scared. I’m shaking. I don’t…I don’t know what to do.”

Creflo Dollar, who was arrested Friday then released on $5,000 bail, has admitted to “spanking” his daughter, according to a police report by the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office. He told a deputy that after she became disrespectful, he tried to restrain her. When she began to hit him, that’s when he reportedly wrestled her to the floor and spanked her bottom and back of her legs.

On Sunday, the prominent black preacher appeared before his World Changers Church International congregation in Atlanta and emphatically denied punching or choking his youngest daughter.

“The truth is that a conversation with our daughter got emotional and things escalated from there,” Dollar, a father of five, told the 30,000-member congregation.

“The truth was that she was not choked, she was not punched,” he stated. “There were not any scratches on her neck but the only thing on her neck was a prior skin abrasion from eczema.”

Dollar received a standing ovation throughout his entire statement before the church. The statement was made prior to his Sunday sermon.

“I should have never been arrested. Never!” he said. “And when the facts of this come out, you will be appalled.”

The 911 call lasted about 5 minutes. During the call, the 911 operator asked if there were any weapons, drugs or alcohol involved; the girl answered, “No, ma’am.”

The 911 operator also asked if she had any “injuries,” “visible injuries,” to which the girl also answered, “No, ma’am.”

The operator then proceeded to ask what the argument between the girl and her father was about.

Dollar’s daughter told the 911 operator that they were arguing about her going to a party on Saturday. She said after her father brought up her grades, she started crying and then walked out of the room to the kitchen. The girl said her father followed behind her and asked why she was crying. When she told Dollar, “I do not want to talk to you,” he allegedly started to get physical.

“And he went off. He came, put his arm around my neck, choked me, and bent me over the table,” said the teenager in the audio recording of the 911 call.

“I threw him off of me. He threw me on the ground and punched me in my face. And this is going on for a good two, three minutes. And my mom came in the room and he stopped. And then my mom asked him what happened and he said that I hit him first, which is a lie.”

The dispatcher then asked for the girl’s age, her father’s name and birth date, and whether her parents were aware of the 911 call. The girl said her parents did not know she was calling 911, only her sister did.

Dollar’s 19-year-old daughter, who witnessed the altercation, corroborated her sister’s story to the police. At first, she gave a different account “due to her parents being outside with her while she was writing it,” according to the deputy’s report. In her second statement, made after being separated from her parents, the 19-year-old daughter said her father slapped and choked her younger sister.

Pastor Creflo Dollar said the incident was part of the devil’s plan to “discredit” him and his ministry.

“The devil knows in order to discredit the message, you have to first of all discredit the messenger,“he said Sunday. 

Reading from Psalm 35, Dollar said, “Malicious witnesses testify against me. They accuse me of crimes I know nothing about.”

“Wake up! Rise to my defense! Take up my case, my God and my Lord. Declare me not guilty, O Lord my God, for you give justice,” he continued. “May those who rejoice at my troubles be humiliated and disgraced.”

On Facebook, hundreds have come to Dollar’s defense, including parents who empathize with having a teenage daughter. Many have also poured out prayers for the Dollar family, calling on others to withhold judgment before all the facts emerge in the case.  

Read More by The Christian Post 
 

 

Kingdom Records has repackaged the platinum-selling Shekinah Glory Ministry’s groundbreaking 2001 double-disc, praise and worship opus, “Praise Is What I Do” CD, just in time for Black Music Month. The newly remastered CDs divide the original 22-track album into the sets, “Worship” (SRP: $13.99) and, “Praise” (SRP: $13.99).

Shekinah Glory Ministry is a leader in African-American praise and worship music over the last dozen years. The million-selling SGM is not a choir. Instead, it’s a dynamic ensemble of psalmists, minstrels, and banner bearers who perform “under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. “ Their Hebrew name means: “the glorified presence of God.” Their debut CD was released in spring 2001 as a custom CD. The soul stirring, nine -minute ballad, “Praise is What I Do” was led by a then-little known Atlanta pastor named William Murphy. The simple lyrics touched a chord with a nation heartbroken over the 9/11 terrorist attacks and seeking some spiritual resolve amid the chaos. “Through the good and the bad, I’ll praise you,” Murphy sang in his urgent tone. “I’ll praise you, whether I’m happy or sad, I’ll praise you In all – In all that I go through because praise is, is what, is what I do.”

Over the next two years, the song dominated gospel radio playlists throughout the USA and instantly put Shekinah Glory Ministry on the music map. Furthermore, the CD, “Praise Is What I Do”, peaked at #5 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart and spent another 48 weeks on the survey. In the gospel world, only a handful of artists such as Kirk Franklin or Mary Mary ever earn a gold record, so it was quite a fete that Shekinah Glory Ministry’s first CD, on a tiny little start-up label, would be certified gold on November 18, 2005.

The CD, “Praise”, boasts ten songs from the project such as the radical “Forever Praise” and the pulsating track, “We Magnify Your Name.” Then, there are congregational sing-a-long tunes such as “Lift Up the Name of the Lord” and the soaring ballad, “Hallelujah Praise.” The CD, “Worship”, is comprised of 11 tracks such as the mellow, “Fall on Me” and the tender love song to God, “I Embrace You.” It also includes the full version of “Praise is What I Do” that clocks in at over sixteen minutes. Meanwhile, Kingdom Records is putting the final touches on Shekinah Glory Ministry’s next live CD, “Surrender”, that will be released September 25, 2012. For more info on Kingdom Records or Shekinah Glory Ministry, log on at www.kingdomrecordsinc.com.

 

For the first time sense he was carjacked Pastor Marvin Winans came face to face with the men accused of attacking him at a gas station in Detroit. On Monday, Pastor Winans relived that horrible scene in court as he gave a vivid testimony of what happened on that day.

A judge will decide later this week if the case against three men charged with robbing and carjacking the Rev. Marvin Winans will go to trial.

The 54-year-old popular Detroit pastor and Grammy-winning gospel singer was attacked May 16 while pumping gas in the area of Linwood and Davison. The robbers took his 2012 Infiniti QX56 SUV, Rolex watch, cash and credit cards.

Winans suffered only bruises and scrapes.

He is pastor of the 4,500-member Perfecting Church and delivered singer Whitney Houston’s eulogy in February.

Detroit residents Montoya Givens and Christopher Moorehead, both 20, and Brian K. Young, 18, of Macomb County’s Clinton Township are charged with carjacking, unarmed robbery and conspiracy.

The charges carry up to life in prison.

Winans takes the stand.  Winans said he knew something was wrong when he noticed he had been followed by the group of men, but that they were talking about music and he even spoke with Givens.

“He asked me what I was listening to and I said, “Al Sharpton,” Winans said.

Winans also testified that Givens was the one to initiate the attack.

“He struck me right underneath my left eye,” Winans said. “They were hitting me with their hands at first. Then they threw me to the ground and they began to kick me.”

One of the suspects began to say, “Get that money. Get that money,” Winans said.

“When I gathered my thoughts and realized, ‘Wow, this is happening,’ I threw a punch. I said Jesus, Jesus and all three ran around the corner,” he said.

Records: Winans was driving on suspended license.  

According to records from the Michigan Secretary of State, Winans’ license was suspended on May 9 for two unpaid tickets out of Hazel Park – one for impeding traffic and the other for driving on a previous suspended license.

His driving record shows a slew of tickets since September of 2005.

Winans statement: “The traffic issues listed in driver’s record that was recently released was in the process of being handled prior to the Wednesday, May 16 incident. The proof of payment and formal letter addressing the issue was submitted. I was not aware of any suspension of license due to change of address. All day-to-day correspondences are facilitated by my administrative staff. If something was a matter of great urgency they would have brought it to my attention.”