According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 70 percent of black children grow up in homes without their fathers. And Bishop T.D. Jakes, pastor of The Potter’s House in Dallas, will discuss this crisis at length during a special Christmas Day edition of Washington Watch with Roland Martin set to air on TV One.  The episode will re-air on New Years Day.

There is a crisis in the Black community of families without fathers. We all know about it, and we all know it has devastated our community. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 70 percent of Black children grow up in homes without their fathers. Children who grow up without fathers are more likely to act out, use drugs, quit school, become pregnant, and also go to jail. It is a tragedy that must be stopped.

For the next two weeks on “Washington Watch,” we will be exploring what it means to be an authentic father in the 21st century. We travel to Bishop T.D. Jakes’ mega church in Dallas to meet men and women, fathers, mothers, children and pastors, who have overcome the ordeal of growing up without a father. Here’s a preview.

The smooth sounding Gospel artist Brian Courtney Wilson released the artwork for his new CD “So Proud.”

It features a vintage look back at Brian as a young child, with the title ‘So Proud’ above it.”

Brian seems to pay homage to his mother and upbringing in the album similar to how he’s done in previous musical offerings.

I like the new cover because it stands out graphically. And that’s half the battle when it comes to people picking it up off store shelves.

You can listen to the title track “So Proud” below.

TBN’s Holy Land Experience invites everyone during this glorious season to come visit us on Friday, DECEMBER 23, 2011.

Doors will open at 6:30pm and the event starts at 7pm and ends at 9:30pm

The event includes a FREE Concert with Donnie McClurkin & The Holy Land Singers, Holy Land Dramas, Free Beanie Babies for everyone to give to a less fortunate child.

There will be special guest speakers that include Pastor Jonathan McKnight & Dr. Mark Chironna in the new Church Of All Nations!

All parking is Free.

The Holy Land Experience Ministries, Inc. is located at 4655 Vineland Road, Orlando, FL 32811

www.holylandexperience.com  (407) 872-2272

About The Holy Land Experience:

The Holy Land Experience brings together the sights and sounds of the world of the Bible in a unique and interactive way unlike anywhere else.

It is a living, biblical museum that takes you 7000 miles away and 2000 years back in time to the land of the Bible. Its combination of sights, sounds, and tastes will stimulate your senses and blend together to create a spectacular new experience.

But above all, beyond the fun and excitement, we hope that you will see God and His Word exalted and that you will be encouraged in your search for enduring truth and the ultimate meaning of life.

IMMERSE, the Gospel Music Association’s Music Training Experience, is pleased to announce the fourth annual event, to be held July 23-25 at Rocketown in Nashville, TN. An opening night worship event will be held July 22 to kick off IMMERSE and start participants with a time of inspiration and focus.

For the first time, all attendees will receive a complementary one-year “iMembership” to the Gospel Music Association which includes the privilege of voting in the annual GMA Dove Awards. As an added incentive for early registration, anyone who registers for IMMERSE before December 31 of this year will be allowed to vote in the 43rd Annual GMA Dove Awards.

Up and coming indie artists, songwriters and future business leaders will all find something to gain from the event which offers unparalleled training, intimate concerts, professional feedback and individual opportunities to connect with music experts. IMMERSE aims to continue to create a sense of community and camaraderie among the attendees and professionals who seek to spread the Gospel through music.

Along with new incentives, IMMERSE will be held at Rocketown in downtown Nashville. Founded by Christian music icon, Michael W. Smith, Rocketown moved into it’s new location earlier this year, creating an environment that both fosters community among the registrants and provides great flexibility for the various production elements unique to the IMMERSE conference.

Rates for IMMERSE 2012 begin at just $199 if registration is submitted before March 31, 2012.

“It is our desire to provide an atmosphere where creativity, camaraderie and learning can thrive,” says Jackie Patillo, the Executive Director of the Gospel Music Association. “The IMMERSE stage is set to welcome up-and-coming artists and songwriters to share their talents in front of today’s leading music professionals. As well as uncover some of the mysteries of artist development and music industry standards.”

Conference speakers, competition judges and live performers will be announced in the upcoming weeks.

Programming will include classes in music business, songwriting and artist development. As in past years, IMMERSE will offer unprecedented access to some of the most influential and established names in Christian music.

For more information on IMMERSE, please visit online at: www.experienceimmerse.com,

Last Saturday the edgy comedy show Saturday Night Live made headlines with a skit that offended many Christians.

The skit shows Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow in the locker room after winning a game when suddenly Jesus played by Jason Sudeikis, appears telling Tim Tebow to quiet down after being so ecstatic to see him.  The Jesus character went on to tell the Broncos team that he was tired of helping them out in the fourth quarter of games.

Tebow, known for his public praise of Jesus has been making headlines by openly praying before and after games. Often going to one knee on the sidelines with his head lowered in prayer.  The praying position has been dubbed “Tebowing.” 

Reviews have been mixed on the skit with some Christians stating that the sketch was funny, and to lighten up a bit. But the vast majority of Christians seem to have been offended by at least some part of the 4 minute comedy skit.

Some Pastors are even speaking out about the skit. Renown Televangelist Pastor Pat Robertson said the sketch is a part of “the anti-Christian bigotry in this country that’s just disgusting.” Tebow, quarterback for the Denver Broncos, “ought to be applauded,” Robertson said, for publicly expressing his faith at a time when the country’s “losing our moral compass.”

When Tebow said he consulted the Bible before games, the Jesus character suggested he add the playbook to his reading list.

The comedy bit has gathered more than 2 million views on YouTube as of Tuesday afternoon and has become a viral hit since airing on Saturday.

Watch the video below and let us know if you find it offensive as well.

According to EurWeb, Radio One has made the acute decision to take all Matthew Knowles related songs off the air.  

Radio One founder Cathy Hughes reportedly made the decision because of a on-going lawsuit associated with the Essence Music Festival.

Matthew Knowles’ Music World Music is listed in the lawsuit because his company brokered the deal for the Essence Music Festival that’s broadcasted on TV One.  His company is being accused of re-issuing the content to BET, MTV and BET’s Centric Network despite TV One’s four-year exclusivity agreement.

TV One is the sister company to Radio One, which also owns Interactive One and a string of online publications.  Radio One is the largest distributor of Gospel music that broadcasts FM quality radio signals.

EurWeb spoke to an anonymous Radio One employee who shed light on the radio ban. 

“All Radio One personnel were told to pull all Music World artists out of rotation immediately and indefinitely!  We were told that the mandate came straight from Ms. Hughes and that there would be ramifications for anyone playing or mentioning a Music World artist or song on air.”  The Radio One employee spoke under the condition of anonymity.

Previous bans placed on artists have left radio hosts without jobs just for playing songs that were banned by Radio One.  Their contracts with the network allow for termination without question.  

Removing all of Music Worlds songs is a tough pill to swallow.  The artists on Music Worlds roster are some of the most popular Gospel artists in the country.  Not only are they known for their music, but for their warm spirits as well.  Without radio plays, CD sales are dramatically impacted.  

Currently Music World Gospel boasts a roster that includes Trin-i-Tee 5:7, Brian Courtney Wilson, Juanita Bynum, Le’Andria Johnson, Micah Stampley, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, and Sunday Best winner Amber Bullock.  

Additionally, all songs from Destiny’s Child have also been pulled.  The ban does not include Knowles’ daughter Beyonce and Kelly Rowland’s latest solo albums since they were not under Matthew Knowles’ label at the time.

“Le’Andria Johnson’s song ‘Jesus’ was in heavy rotation on Radio One stations one day and the next day she wasn’t getting any spins.”  “New music by Trin-I-tee 5:7 and Micah Stampley, as well as recurring hits by Brian Courtney Wilson have been pulled as well,” the source added.

This is truly a sad development and PATH hopes all parties named in this lawsuit will resolve the matter peacefully and fairly.  It’s not fair to the hardworking artists, and people that are saved through their music.

Matthew Knowles is scheduled to make a statement soon addressing the ban and lawsuit.  

PJ Morton, a native New Orleans, LA, most often describes his music as “feel good music that lyrically tells stories about life and love…music that makes your heart think,” has signed with Young Money Records.
 
He made the announcement via his twitter account that he has become the newest member of Young Money Records.

The son of Bishop Paul S. Morton, who also coins his style of music as ‘soulful pop,” is an extremely talented songwriter who is responsible for the widely popular gospel songs “Let Go” and “Over And Over.” 

Young Money Records is founded by the hugely popular rapper Lil Wayne. This is the second recent signing of a predominantly Gospel artist to a secular label. Last month Gospel artist Mali Music was signed to Rapper Akon’s Konvict Music label.

Opinions on the signing have already flooded in on twitter resulting in a trending topic status highlighted by Twitter Monday.

 
This 27-year old musical prodigy who is also a member of the band Maroon 5, is indubitably a “true” seasoned musician who has garnered a reputation for writing and producing warm, heart-felt, and infectious songs that engage the heart. 
 

With PJ’s background in music, it is no wonder that he has found himself right at home in the music business. Coming from a musical background, PJ got his start singing in the church. He began to play the piano at the age of eight years old and by the age of 14; he was already writing and producing. His dream of becoming an artist began to take shape while he was in high school. 
It’s now safe to saying, his hard work and dedication is truly paying off.

Sheilah Belle Contributed to this report.

Well at least one prominent leader is fed up with the replacement process of Pastor Zachery Tims.  Mega-Church televangelist Bishop I.V. Hilliard set on the Bishop’s Council Committee that was created after Zachery Tim’s untimely death.  

In cooperation with New Destiny Christian Center officials, the task of selecting a new Pastor was given to the committee.  

“I was asked to be apart of a four bishop council, a committee of four bishops that would give wisdom and council and guidance to the board during their selection process,” Hilliard said.

In a special video announcement, Hilliard spoke openly about his decision.

“Now after being involved for sometime in the process, I have decided to resign my position in this bishop’s council. Now my commitment to integrity will not allow me to support something that I believe is deceptive and that compromises previously agreed upon procedures and protocol.”

Bishop Hilliard has one of the most successful chains of churches, planting several campuses throughout the state of Texas.  Hilliard leads the New Light Church in Houston, with its East campus seating over 8,000 people.

A teacher of church financial success, Bishop Hilliard’s opinions in such matters that New Destiny officials faced would be highly respected.  So when Bishop Hilliard made a video resigning his position on the council people wanted answers.  Hilliard took to twitter to emphatically voice his disapproval, declaring that a theft had taken place.

Hilliard tweets, “Who stands by and watches a theft take place and does not sound the alarm? Only the irresponsible and the uncaring….NDCC members we care.”

The selection of the new Pastor was supposed to be announced during the New Years Eve service, but several publications in Orlando are reporting that Pastor Paula White will be taken over as Pastor.  The speculation must have some weight because Bishop Hilliard tweets this shortly after, “It is my understanding it was announced…the members are outraged…I know the process was compromised…still in faith!”

Another tweet said, “Wow…Got the news about what happened at NDCC…shocking!!  NDCC Members you are not alone many in the body of Christ stand with you!”

Connecting the dots, it seems like Bishop Hilliard is prepping the public for an official announcement that is unfair to the New Destiny church members, and those applying for the pastoral position.  Even going as far as suggesting a theft had taken place, while distancing himself from the selection process.

IF speculation is true and Paula White is Pastor, it would break the terms set forth by the committee that the new Pastor be married.  Paula divorced years ago when she was married to Randy White, and the two led the highly successful mega-church Without Walls International.

Watch the video below to hear Bishop I.V. Hilliard’s resignation. 

A hearty congratulations are in order for Centricity Music’s Aaron Shust for reaching a career milestone.   Shust’s single, “My Hope Is In You,” this week became the longest running #1 song in 2011 on the AC Monitor chart, which remained in the top spot for eight weeks.  The single also was #1 on the iTunes Single Christian chart last week. This is the longest running #1 for Shust as an artist and is the first #1 hit at AC radio for Centricity Music. The project is Shust’s debut with Centricity Music and the song is from the album, This Is What We Believe.

“What an amazing song!  What an amazing artist!,” exclaims Mike Prendergast, Program Director, KLTY, Dallas, TX.

“With the economy and condition of our world the past few years so many people are losing hope,” says Joe Buchanan, Music Director, New Life Media.  “I’m so grateful we have a song like ‘My Hope Is In You’ to point people to where true hope can be rediscovered.” 

Shust’s follow-up single, “Risen Today” from This Is What We Believe, will go for adds at radio January 20, 2012.  The song is a re-make of the well-loved hymn, “Christ The Lord Is Risen Today,” and gives the classic tune an upbeat delivery but with the same respect for the message of the lyrics.  Fans will have the chance to hear Shust perform the song live on the spring leg of the highly-popular Called To Love Tour that launces in March 2012. 

About Aaron Shust

Shust exploded onto the Christian music scene in 2005 with his first album, Anything Worth Saying, which led to the artist signing with Brash Records.  The second single from the project, “My Savior, My God,” started generating airplay on its own and rose to #19 on the Christian Radio & Records chart before being released to radio.  Once released, it shot to #1 on six charts by April of 2006.  At the GMA Awards in 2007, Shust was honored with three Dove Awards for Song of the Year (“My Savior, My God”), Songwriter of the Year, and New Artist of the Year.  Shust’s second studio album, Whispered And Shouted, released in June 2007 and in 2009, Shust released his third and final CD for Brash Records, Take Over.  The project included the Christian radio hit, “To God Alone.”  At the 41^st Annual Dove Awards this past spring, Shust won two awards; Veggie Tales Music: Here I Am To Worship (Children’s Music Album) and Glory Revealed II: The Word Of God In Worship (Special Event Album).  Updates on Aaron Shust are available at www.aaronshust.com.

About Centricity Music

Centricity Music is an independent recording and publishing company based in Bellevue, Washington and Nashville, Tennessee.  The company’s mission is to enable our artists to create life-changing experiences for the world. Centricity Music’s artist roster includes Aaron Shust, Andrew Peterson, Downhere, Jaime Jamgochian, Jason Gray, Me In Motion, and Sixteen Cities. For more information about Centricity Music visit online at www.centricitymusic.com.

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