Mega-Church leader Pastor Creflo Dollar, who was arrested last week on charges of choking his teenage daughter, slamming her into the ground and hitting her with a shoe–told churchgoers on Sunday that he did not beat her.

“The truth is, she was not choked, she was not punched,” Creflo Dollar, the pastor, said before delivering his Sunday sermon at World Changers Church International in Atlanta on Sunday.

Police in Fayette County were called to Dollar’s home at 1 a.m. on Friday. According to the police report, Dollar’s 15-year-old daughter said he “put his hands around her throat and began to choke her … then slammed her to the ground, punched her and beat her with his shoe.” There was a scratch on her neck, police said.

“There were not any scratches on her neck,” Dollar said. “The only thing on her neck was a prior skin abrasion from eczema. Anything else is an exaggeration and sensationalism.”

“The truth is that a family conversation with our youngest daughter got emotional,” he said. “And emotions got involved and things escalated from there.” His daughter told police the argument was over whether she could go to a party the next night.

Dollar was arrested on charges of simple battery, family violence and child cruelty. He spent the night in Fayette County Jail before posting $5,000 bail. He was released early Friday.

“I will say this emphatically: I should have never been arrested,” Dollar said on Sunday.

He also criticized police for rushing to judgment.

“To come and take a picture of a mark that’s been there for 10 years, and not have enough intelligence to at least ask the parent what it is, is appalling.”

According to the Associated Press, Dollar “got an enthusiastic ovation as he took the pulpit” on Sunday.

“As a father I love my children and I always have their best interest at heart at all times,” Dollar said in a statement through his attorney on Friday. “I would never use my hand to ever cause bodily harm to my children. The facts in this case will be handled privately to further protect my children. My family thanks you for your prayers and continued support.”

According to CNN’s Belief blog, the World Changers Church International is “an $18 million sanctuary that resembles a golden-domed spaceship atop a hill.” It has 30,000 members.

According to Dollar’s biography on the church website, he has five children with Taffi Dollar, his wife and co-pastor.

Also Read: Pastor Creflo Dollar Arrested on Battery Charges

Megachurch Pastor Creflo Dollar has been arrested after authorities say he slightly hurt his 15-year-old daughter in a fight at his metro Atlanta home.

Fayette County Sheriff’s Office investigator Brent Rowan says deputies responded to a call of domestic violence at the home around 1 a.m. Friday.

Rowan says the 50-year-old pastor and his daughter were arguing over whether she could go to a party when Dollar “got physical” with her, leaving her with “superficial injuries.”

Dollar faces misdemeanor charges of simple battery and cruelty to children. He bonded out of Fayette County jail Friday morning.  After the $5,000 bond was posted, Dollar’s lawyer Nikki Bonner said he’s gathering information on the case and had no comment.  

Dollar is the pastor for World Changers Church International in College Park, Georgia.

Following the release of a hot single (“Go Get It”) and a new hit album of the same name, R&B/gospel recording duo Mary Mary still make time to get around town. On June 3rd, for the second year in a row, superstar sisters Erica and Tina Campbell attended the 7th Annual ‘A Cinderella Ball,’ a yearly event in the nation’s capital that seeks to improve the quality of life of students with disabilities or life-threatening illnesses, and one of their favorite charities. Students are treated to a prom, including a private dinner, concert and dance. The event was held at the Willard InterContinental Hotel in Washington, DC, just steps away from the White House. Mary Mary rocked the event with rousing performances of five songs including Just The Way You Are, Ordinary People, Can’t Give Up Now, Go Get It and Shackles.

The next evening, June 4th, the siblings performed in New York City in honor of mega-platinum-selling R&B/pop star Lionel Richie and late soul legend Etta James as the legacy performers were inducted into the world-famous Apollo Theater’s Hall of Fame. Also on the bill for the gala evening was Chaka Khan, performing a tribute to the late Whitney Houston; Eddie Levert, in honor of Soul Train creator Don Cornelius; and Valerie Simpson, in honor of her legendary husband Nick Ashford.

GO GET IT, released on May 8, 2012, is the newest album release from Mary Mary, featuring two brand new songs, “Go Get It” and “Sunday Morning,” and remixed and remastered versions of some of the duo’s greatest hits, including “Walking,” “God In Me” and “Shackles.” Their hit TV show, “Mary Mary,” has just been renewed for a second season on cable network WE tv.

Yancy’s popular Little Praise Party CD/DVD Series for preschool age kids is being featured this summer (June 1-July 12) on endcap displays in all of the nearly 300 Family Christian Stores locations nationwide.

Little Praise Party: Happy Day Everyday and Little Praise Party: My Best Friend provide sing-along fun and worship for the youngest generation that the whole family can enjoy. A companion DVD of animated videos for each song is also available.

“Though this is a children’s album, I found myself rocking out to it much like I would anything in the rock scene.” said TheFrontRowReport.com of the new release, Little Praise Party: Happy Day Everyday. Adds JaysMusikBlog.com, “Yes, adults will enjoy most of these rocking tunes, too!.”

AlphaOmegaNews.com wrote, “Little Praise Party is definitely fitting for a Sunday school program, VBS, or just worshiping at home. It’s an excellent tool for families of preschoolers and I would even say those up through 3rd or 4th grade could have fun with this (and learn something at the same time).”

Retailers interested in featuring the Little Praise Party CD/DVD series for preschoolers can contact New Day Christian Distribution, Anchor Distributors or STL Distribution.

For more than a decade, Yancy has released radio friendly pop/rock albums and multiple projects for kids and young adults, all while sharing the stage with such artists as Mute Math, Newsboys, 4Him and Nichole Nordeman. As a writer, Yancy has teamed up with Third Day’s Mac Powell, wrote Avalon’s #1 hit “I Don’t Want To Go” and Jaci Velasquez’s “Something Beautiful,” and still found the time to compose two devotional books for worship leaders and musicians and a devotional book for pre-teens. In 2011, Yancy teamed up with Standard Publishing for an exclusive partnership to write and produce content for Standard Publishing’s 2012 Vacation Bible School. She’s also the receipient of About.com’s 2012 Readers’ Choice Award for Best Christian Indie Solo Artist.

Following two back-to-back Billboard Top 200-selling, GRAMMY Award-winning solo studio albums, Israel Houghton returns with New Breed for their first live recording in five years, JESUS AT THE CENTER, releasing Aug. 14 on Integrity Music. Recorded live with thousands of worshipers at Houston’s Lakewood Church, this double-CD, 17 song album with three additional studio singles features Israel & New Breed returning to their roots, delivering new anthems for the modern day church. The recording follows the group’s critically acclaimed, GRAMMY Award-winning, A Deeper Level (2007).

Joining Israel & New Breed to produce the studio version of the soon to be released Christian AC single from Jesus At The Center, “Your Presence Is Heaven,” is hit maker Ed Cash (Chris Tomlin, Britt Nicole), while acclaimed vocalists Jason Nelson and James Fortune are featured on the studio version of “It’s Not Over (When God Is In It).” Other guest vocalists featured on the live recordings are Aaron W. Lindsey,Michael Gungor,T-Bone, Bishop Michael Pitts, Jeremiah Woods, Daniel Johnson, Charlin Moore, Adam Ranney, Tina Baker, Onaje Jefferson, Krystle Harper and Israel’s daughter, Mariah Houghton.

“The overarching story of the album is that sometimes we can be so ‘churched’ that we can lose sight of the ‘who, what, why’ of worship,” says Houghton. “This project simply places Jesus where he is supposed to be. We intentionally removed the metaphors and simply focused on his name.”

Co-writing all the songs, except the Bob Dylan cover, “To Make You Feel My Love,” and “You Have Me,” by Michael and Lisa Gungor, Israel said that it was time to do another live album with New Breed. “We’ve always been known for what we do live and we felt like we had songs that could serve as a resource to the church worldwide.”

“The concept started with the title track, ‘Jesus At The Center.’ We felt strongly that it was necessary to make sure that these were all Christ-centered songs that would, for the most part, find a place of effectiveness in the worship experience of any church. ‘Rez Power,’ ‘Your Presence Is Heaven,’ ‘Speechless,’ ‘Jesus The Same’ – these songs accomplish that and resource worship teams and listeners alike,” notes Israel.

In addition to the JESUS AT THE CENTER two-disc album, a companion DVD was recorded live in high-definition and features all 17 songs along with behind the scenes footage, story behind the song vignettes and other bonus material. Israel & New Breed will also simultaneously release an exclusive iTunes® LP. The LP follows Houghton’s Love God. Love People LP that became the first-ever Christian artist iTunes LP and first LP, mainstream or Christian, which included various interactive capabilities. The JESUS AT THE CENTER LP will include the new music, but also video Work Tapes, a Photo Montage and the “Jesus At The Center” video tutorial.

In 1995, Israel and Meleasa Houghton founded New Breed Ministries, an organization they continue to run and that is comprised of noted musicians and singers who serve within their respective churches and together serve the Church at large. Since then, Israel & New Breed has amassed a legion of followers that crosses generational lines with popularity across African American, Latin and Caucasian listener lines. While blasting down barriers, Israel has been fittingly graced with 2 Gold-selling albums, 3 GRAMMY Awards, 12 Dove Awards, 2 Stellar Awards and a Soul Train Award.

Active as worship leader in his local church, Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church, Houston, Israel has served as worship leader at Hillsong conferences and Franklin Graham crusades. He has written or co-written 11 CCLI Top 500 favorites, been featured on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, performed on BET’s Celebration of Gospel and Bobby Jones Gospel; accompanied Alicia Keys at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards for a performance of George Michael’s “Freedom ’90,” and performed at the 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards. He uses his own multi-cultural upbringing as a reference point with a desire to draw people of all races, ages and cultures together. More information on Israel & New Breed is available at www.newbreedmusic.com.

About Integrity Music: Kingsway and Integrity Music compose the music division of David C Cook, a nonprofit global resource provider serving the Church with life-transforming materials. Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Kingsway and Integrity Music’s resources are distributed in more than 160 countries and sold worldwide. Additional information can be found at http://kingswayworship.com and www.integritymusic.com.

Gifted praise & worship leader, recording artist and minister William McDowell, to host a live worship concert and DVD recording. This is McDowell’s first DVD recording and will take place Friday, June 29, 2012 at Faith Assembly, located at 9307 Curry Ford Rd, Orlando Fl.

McDowell has received critical and consumer acclaim in recent years with his two top selling albums, 2009’s As We Worship, Live and 2011’s ARISE. McDowell is best known for setting a powerful live worship atmosphere while his music transcends both genre and denomination. Touching a universal chord with his breakthrough song “I Give Myself Away,” McDowell has a remarkable gift of creating a tone and atmosphere of worship that is unmatched. Through his music he is able to allow listeners to have an individual experience with God.

“I am beyond excited about this DVD and believe it has the potential to be the best thing we have ever done,” said McDowell. “I am humbled and honored to have some of my favorite worship leaders join me in releasing a sound that will glorify God.”

The live event will feature many of McDowell’s songs from both albums as well as new songs and include appearances by several special guests including Pastor Jason Nelson; Steve Crawford & Dadra Greathouse; Tasha Cobbs and BJ Putnam.

Taking place at Orlando’s Faith Assembly’s ‘new campus’ the event will be free and open to the public and starts at 7:00pm.

McDowell’s ARISE, debuted at Number 1 on Billboard’s Top Gospel and Praise & Worship Charts when it was released last November. The CD retained the Number 1 slot on the Praise & Worship Chart for 15 weeks and on the Gospel Chart for 6 weeks. His current radio single, “I Won’t Go Back” peaked at Number 1 on the gospel radio charts and continues to remain in the Top 10.

For more information on William McDowell and the live recording go to www.williammcdowellmusic.com.

It was announced this week by James Robinson, President of Light Records, the signing of former Destiny’s Child member and Broadway star, Michelle Williams.

Williams, who is well known as one-third of record-breaking R&B and Pop sensation Destiny’s Child, is also a multiple award-winning international singer, songwriter, record producer and actress. Guided by her faith and deeply rooted in church, Williams will release an all-new gospel album set for a January 2013 release.

A long-time fan of Gospel music, Williams has released two previous gospel recordings, 2002’s award-winning “Heart To Yours” and the critically praised “Do You Know” in 2004. She has collaborated with several artists including the legendary Shirley Caesar. The yet untitled album will include a variety of producers including Tommy Sims and James Fortune.

Robinson and Williams’ management, Phil Thornton of Ten 2 One, handled the deal. “It’s an honor to work with an icon like Michelle Williams and her team,” said Robinson. “As a fan of her other two inspirational projects, I was drawn to Michelle’s comfort, confidence and genuineness. With her pure heart for God and people, our goal is to continue her brand of love, faith and encouragement through song.”

“I am very excited to partner with Light/eOne. I am honored to follow in the footsteps of Light Record legends, THE WINANS and ANDRAE CROUCH,” said Williams. “When I was a little girl I would listen to them and to be on the same label they once were is amazing! Light/eOne has been very supportive of my vision to inspire and give hope through my music.”

In between recordings and concert tours, Williams has conquered yet another challenging mountain as an actress. She has appeared on Broadway to rave reviews in 2003 in “Aida” and in 2007 joined the cast of hit “The Color Purple” for its national tour where she dazzled in the role of Shug Avery. In 2009, she joined the London West End production of “Chicago” making history as the show’s first African American to play the lead role of Roxie Hart. Williams later reprised her role in February 2010 on Broadway.

In addition to recording music and acting, Williams is active in several charities and recently worked with the American Heart Association. This year she partnered with the AHA on their Power to End Stroke & Most Powerful Voices Singing competition an education and awareness campaign that unites people to help make an impact on the high incidence of strokes within their communities. She also recently hosted and performed at the Million Meals concert for Lauren Bush Lauren’s charity FEED.

Williams’ new album is slated for next year and a new single will be at radio this fall.

Pastor Rick Warren was recently invited by world champion boxer Manny Pacquiao to interview him about his increasingly vocal faith in God. It was during that discussion last week that Warren learned Pacquiao was a “Bible-quoting maniac.”

A video of the taped interview was shown during worship services at Saddleback Church this past weekend. Warren introduced the video by saying Pacquiao was the “world’s greatest boxer. The only guy to win the world championship in eight different weight categories.”

“Manny started out as a young man in a very poor family of six and his mom couldn’t take care of him so she kicked him out at 14 and he lived on the streets of Manila. That’s where he learned to fight,” Warren told his congregation attending Saddleback’s main church campus in Lake Forest, Calif., and an online audience.

“He read Purpose Driven Life and came to Christ. He told me, ‘Rick, the first time I read through that book I cried through every chapter.’ And he said, ‘I’ve given it out to everybody who I know. Now, I’m a Christian, I make all my team … we all memorize Scripture together,'” he continued to say during the introduction of the video.

Warren said the short video segment of his long interview with Pacquiao that he was about to show was a discussion on the importance of “doing the Word, not just studying the Word.”

In the video, Warren is seen with Pacquiao – a Catholic – and the boxer’s wife, Jinkee.

Pacquiao answers, “Believing and praying is not enough. In James 2, verses 19 and 20, it says, ‘If you believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that and shudder. You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without action is useless?’ In Luke 6:46 it is says, ‘Why do you call me Lord, Lord and you do not do what I say?’ It’s action again. It’s action again. In Matthew 7 verse 21 it says, ‘Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.’

“So, only the one who does … it’s all in action,” he added. “You have to do it. We believe in prayer … [but] we have to apply it in ourselves.”

When asked by Warren to talk about his training, Pacquiao took the opportunity to tie-in his outlook on his upcoming fight with Timothy Bradley to Christian faith.

“I have the fight on June 9. I believe 100 percent that I am going to win. I have faith that I am going to win. But how can I win if I don’t have faith? Same thing in worship … you have to hear it, but you have to apply it in yourself,” said Pacquiao, near the end of the video segment.

Pacquiao was recently thrust into the public debate about same-sex marriage when the boxer, who is also a Filipino congressman, responded to President Barack Obama’s endorsement of gay marriage by saying that he stands behind the traditional definition of marriage as between one man and one woman.

A media storm ensued when he was banned from a Hollywood mall where he was scheduled to give an interview.

A five-part series of video on an interview done by boxing promotion company Top Rank, “Pacquiao: A Spiritual Awakening,” includes the boxer talking about how he came to realize that he could not stop from sinning and that by immersing himself in the Bible, and giving himself fully to Jesus Christ, he was able to have a new focus.

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Oprah Winfrey has reportedly been demoted at her OWN Network. OWN, which never quite achieved the success Oprah and all of America envisioned, seems to be scrambling to turn things around and in so doing, may have replaced the talk show queen.

Numerous sources report that Winfrey has been “stripped of executive powers at her struggling OWN network. The media mogul was reduced to tears when her chief financial backer decided to curtail her control over the network she had worked her fingers to the bone to launch, say sources.”

Winfrey reportedly retains the CEO title, but, according to The Enquirer, “it’s in name only, revealed an insider.” Discovery Communications, which co-owns the Oprah Winfrey Network, pulled the plug on Winfrey’s executive power, with the insider squealing, “They now realize that she was too inexperienced to run the network. So she was stripped of her power. She’s no longer in a position to make executive decisions or hire staff without consulting top Discovery executives first.”  

Oprah or her representatives have yet to confirm the reports.