Did you know that one word from God can change your entire life? When God sent Abraham into a foreign land it was all by a word and through obedience, he contacted his destiny as a father of faith. Born and raised in Kenya, Pastor Phinehas Kinuthia is no stranger to such instruction from God. 10 Years ago, he received a mandate from God to move to the United States as a missionary. He left his family and his country to come to the U.S. not in search of a better life only, but to share the love of God with America; a country that has done so much to spread the gospel in Africa.

We caught up with Pastor Phinehas who believes that men are treasures hidden in ordinariness, but only valuable when discovered. It is through this quest that he has launched a platform to discover and awaken greatness in believers at Global Enlightenment Center, (GEC). According to Pastor Phinehas, GEC was birthed on May 30, 2010 with a vision of “Raising a new breed of believers that will transform our generation.”The mission here as he said is kingdom oriented with a goal to ignite passion for self-discovery, through a renewed relationship with God. So each one of us will discover and live a life of purpose through the wisdom of God.  We believe in a practical gospel that appeals to the spiritual, psychological, social and human needs. 

Today, GEC is reaching the Katy, TX community with various projects. Such most recent projects include a Back-to-School Block Party, with donations for school supplies to hundreds of kids and also teachers’ supplies. GEC has also adopted a local Tier 1 elementary school where they are engaged in mentorship and volunteer services. GEC is also partnering with other local organizations to meet the social needs of the community and other justice programs. GEC, being Global oriented, has worldwide impact by supporting missions, church plant organizations, Bible schools and orphanages in Kenya and South Africa. 

Looking to be a small part of a big thing? GEC is looking for Kingdom minded, God loving, purpose oriented people that want to make a difference through serving God. There are several effective places to plug, connect and serve. Maybe it’s working with children at their renowned Transformers or New Breed Children’s Ministry, or maybe it’s through their young adults program “The Lounge” or The Women’s Connect Group. Those with a heart and gift for music, can also connect through the “Hazardous Praise or Night of Worship” occasionally hosted by Local Christian Radio DJ’s of Praise 92.1FM. 

Regardless of your education, race or social-economical background there is a place for everyone at GEC. Do not go through life one more day uncertain about what on earth you are here for?  Or what God’s will and plan for your life is? Be a part of this great movement where no followers are made but leaders are born. Visit GEC gathering on Sundays at 10:30 am or Fridays at 7pm at 1718 Fry Rd. Suite 260, Houston, TX 77084 for interactive question and answer discourse geared towards self development and personal growth. You may also visit them online at www.gecus.org for upcoming events and to purchase any of their life changing messages on CD or DVD. Call their church office at 832-209-2109 for more information and directions to their beautiful facility.

Budding Gospel star Mali Music is taking heat for signing with Rap Star Akon.  

Akon’s label Konvict Music is traditionally a secular rap label, but Akon promises his attentions with Mali are pure.  “This kid is incredible, the world needs to hear him…I don’t want to change him, just want to take his message to the masses,” says Akon. 

Akon was in somewhat of a bidding war with labels interested in signing him.  So emotions ran high when Mali Music’s camp announced that he will be signing with Akon.  

Mali Music who’s real name is Jamaal Polard, caught the eye of Akon during the 2011 BET Awards.  Mali Music feels that the signing with Konvict Music will allow him to reach people that don’t know the Lord.  

In the interview featured below Mali Music was asked about the criticism that some feel is an unequally yoked partnership. 

“I know exactly what it looks like,” says Mali Music. “But at the same time the Lord said to go into the places where the Gospel hasn’t reached.”  Mali emphasizes that he’s not going to throw around scripture defending his decision.  He just wants people to trust what he’s doing.  Mali wrote a song called “GO” that illustrates his feelings on the issue.  That song can be heard in the video below.  

To understand the conflict you don’t have to look far to find the controversy.  Akon’s label is called “Konvict” Music for a lack of better names.  Non-the-less the majority of Mali Music’s followers trust that he is sold out for Christ, even with Mali doing a song called “New Life” with Akon.  The song will be featured on Akon’s upcoming album. 

Mali Music’s’s powerful poetic style has captivated legions of fans, who’ve shared their passion worldwide and made him an internet sensation with over 2 million views on YouTube and over 1.3 million plays on MySpace.

Rapper Akon will collaborate with Relevé Entertainment and SoundWalk Music Group in managerial duties on Mali Music’s promotions.

Singer/songwriter Isaiah D. Thomas and group Elements of Praise are preparing to return with the release of their new project titled I Dare You. Now signed to Bronx Bridge Entertainment in association with F. Hammond Family Entertainment, the 12-track release will feature the radio singles “I Dare You” and “Ain’t No Harm” along with a cover of the previously released “Jesus Is” and the David Frazier-penned “Touch And Agree”.

Thomas is a 2-time Stellar award winner, winning the honors for “Song of the Year” for “I Will Bless The Lord”, made popular by Byron Cage. Thomas is also known for the foot stomping church tune “Said He Would Be with Me.”

Look for the new CD release ‘I Dare You’ to hit stores Nov. 15.

Singing and ministering is powerfully and awesomely entrenched in this young anointed woman of God.  Shree Newman-Isabell is an emerging new talent with a voice unique in texture.  Her opulent tone authenticates the churchy tunes she skillfully blends in velvety smoothness.
 
Shree belts out rich vocals and original lyrics on her debut solo independent project Life Of A Worshipper.  This Tennessee native with a noticeable southern dialect, cheerful personality and graceful charm is on a mission to keep the “churchy” sound in gospel music, but to develop her own distinctive sound and innovative style.
 
Life Of A Worshipper is comprised of original music penned by Shree. “Every song is linked to a memory or experience I had,” explains Shree.  “That’s where the inspiration for the CD was derived. Through those experiences, I remained a worshipper!”  As a songwriter, Shree believes listeners will truly engage in the music when lyrics are pure, not whimsical or laced with swelling words, but instead, thought-provoking lyrics that are biblically based words of life.  She continues, “When I write songs and listen to gospel music, I love to hear lyrics that point directly back to God.”

“City Called Heaven” is the first radio single from the project that is quickly becoming a hand clapping favorite gospel tune that Shree executes with effortless power.  Stand out track “I’ll Always Worship” was birthed from a very low point in Shree’s life.  While going through a divorce and losing her home to foreclosure Shree would meditate on the lyrics of the song.  “I continued to repeat ‘look past my pain’ and I knew it would get better,” she testifies.  “I had to carry an internal attitude of positivity.”
 
Shree received a prophetic utterance, that although Shree was from a small town, she did not have a small town anointing.  Not only is Shree an anointed singer, she’s also a sought after preacher who has been blessed to preach across the country crossing organizational and denominational lines.  Shree is passionate for ministry and worship recognizing that one of her assignments is to invoke spiritual hunger into the lives of people.  It is her steadfast love for God, which she has carried all of her life, that has fueled her pursuit of Him.
 
Although she has been privileged to sing along side of Lee Williams & The Spiritual QC’s, Harvey Watkins & The Canton Spirituals, Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson, The Marable Twins, and many others, Shree is humbly positioned now to be one of Gospel music’s future leading female vocalists.  Shree has been deemed as “Nashville’s Best Kept Secret”, but the word is now out, the world will soon know about the music and life of a worshipper – Shree Newman-Isabell!

Radio Single:  “City Called Heaven”
Impacting Gospel Radio NOW!
Radio Contact: Norma DeShields Brown
773-418-7999

Television mogul Oprah Winfrey and stage and movie producer Tyler Perry created a stir with a surprise appearance at Pastor Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, Sunday for an 11 a.m. service.

“Awesome to have you!” said Osteen, announcing their presence and welcoming the celebrities to the church. “We’re so honored to have you both here, and we just celebrate and pray for you guys with what God is doing in your lives.”

Winfrey was in the area to interview Osteen as part of her new series “Oprah’s Next Chapter,” which is set to premiere in January on her channel, the Oprah Winfrey Network. She reportedly joined Osteen and his wife, Victoria Osteen, for lunch at their home and discussed topics with them such as power, marriage and faith, according to The Houston Chronicle.

The non-denominational evangelical Christian megachurch, located in Houston, Texas, and headed by Osteen, is the largest congregation in the country averaging over 40,000 attendees per week. Osteen, author of numerous books on spirituality and whose services are broadcast worldwide, has been known to spark controversy in the Christian community on his views about certain fundamental beliefs of the church, such as homosexuality.  Read the Rest on www.christianpost.com.

Yesterday Dr. Conrad Murray was found guilty of involuntary man-slaughter for medicine he administered that led to the death of music icon Michael Jackson.

Murray, a deeply religious man, can be seen on TMZ leaving church the day before the verdict was read.

Dr. Conrad Murray attended West Angeles Church of God on Crenshaw Boulevard, where Bishop Charles E. Blake is the Pastor.  In service Rev. White with the church told Murray that to find the peace he sought he needed Jesus. “You can have Hollywood,’ Rev White told Murray, ‘but who you really need is Jesus.” Later on Rev. White would say, “If you chase Jesus…God can wipe the slate clean.”

While walking to the car Murray tells the photographer that “God is good,” and that he “loves the Lord.”

Now that the trial moves on to the sentencing phase, Conrad Murray faces up to four years in jail. After the verdict was read, Murray was immediately handcuffed and taken away by deputies after Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor denied bail.

Sentencing was set for November 29, with Murray facing up to four years in prison on the conviction.

Defense attorney Ed Chernoff told CNN the defense team’s main job right now is to prepare for sentencing and limit the amount of time that Murray spends in jail.

“What matters most right now is trying to keep Dr. Murray from taking up a prison cell in this community,” Chernoff said. “That’s what we’re focusing on right now and we’ll deal with an appeal after that.”

When asked if he was shocked by the verdict, Chernoff said, “No.”

Another of Murray’s lawyers, Nareg Gourjian, told CNN on Monday night the outcome may have been different had the defense been able to introduce additional evidence — like on Jackson’s past drug use and “financial condition.”

Gourjian described his client as “devastated” by the verdict, adding Murray is trying to stay positive with more legal options ahead of him.

“We’re hoping that the appeals court will have something to say about this,” the lawyer said. Murray served as Jackson’s personal physician as Jackson prepared for his comeback concerts, with Murray giving him the surgical anesthetic propofol to help him sleep nearly every night for the last two months of his life, according to testimony. The drug propofol is a drug that’s normally only administered in hospital situations.

Nashville, TN (November 8, 2011) —- Centricity Music’s high-profile band, Downhere, won two major categories during the recent GMA Covenant Awards in Canada. The group won Song of the Year (Let Me Rediscover You) and Pop/ Contemporary Album of the Year (Two At  A Time).  Two At a Time was released in the summer of 2010 and had two new songs plus B-sides and demos in order to satisfy the high demand for new Downhere music between albums.  Downhere’s current project, On The Altar Of Love, released in late August and as a result didn’t qualify for this year’s awards. 

“It is such a thrill when artists we have been developing and working with get the recognition they deserve,” states Steve Ford, VP of Marketing, Centricity Music. “To have Downhere continue to garner the accolades from their Canadian fans is overwhelming. “

Downhere continues to generate tremendous reviews for their projects, with JesusFreakHideout.com calling On The Altar Of Love “one of the best releases of the year.” The band is currently on The Called To Love Tour with labelmates, Jason Gray and Aaron Shust that ends November 13^th in North Carolina.  Downhere will launch their highly anticipated How Many Kings Christmas tour on December 1^st in Overland Park, KS.   At the same time, co-lead singer, Marc Martel, has become a music sensation with his Queen Extravaganza video audition that generated more than 4-million hits.  It led to an appearance on the Ellen Show, winning the MTV O Awards 2011 for Best Fan Cover and Queen drummer, Roger Taylor, announcing in a FOX News interview that Martel “is an extraordinarily good singer.”  The fan voting process begins November 14^th at www.queenextravaganza.com and concludes November 25^th.  Winners for the Queen Extravaganza Live Tour will be announced in December.

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 Jaime Jamgochian, Downhere, Aaron Shust, Jason Gray, Andrew Peterson, High Valley, Sixteen Cities and Me In Motion. For more information about Centricity Music visit online at www.centricitymusic.com.

Eaglemont Entertainment’s Country band, High Valley, won big award categories during the GMA Covenant Awards in Canada.  High Valley won five categories that included: Group of the Year, Artist of the Year, Country/Bluegrass Song of the Year (“The Father’s Love”), Country/Bluegrass Album of the Year (High Valley), and Video of the Year (“A Father’s Love”). 

“I’m so proud of High Valley and the Covenant awards they won recently,” says Jeff Berry, Manager, Eaglemont Entertainment.  “They are one of the hardest working artists out there and I’m proud to be on their team.   Though they have had great success with four top 20 Country singles in Canada this past year, they spent many of their early days singing in churches so it’s very special that the GMA community would honor them in this way.

High Valley signed with Centricity Music in 2007 and the group is comprised of three brothers; Brad Rempel (lead singer/guitarist), Curtis Rempel (background vocals/mandolin), and Bryan Rempel (background vocals/bass), who hail from Alberta Canada.  Within the last year, Brad has moved to Nashville with his wife and two children and is becoming a well-known songwriter in the country music community, having co-written with such high-profile writers as Rivers Rutherford (“When I Get To Where I’m Going,” “Real Good Man”) and Casey Beathard (“No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problems,” “Right Where I Need to Be”).  High Valley’s video for “On The Combine” just went into rotation at CMT Pure Country and is part of the fan voting for Pure 12-Pack Countdown each week.  The group has garnered quite a loyal fan following in Canada, and now also in the states, where they have played festivals/concerts with such superstars as Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire, and Michael W. Smith.  They played their first concert at CMA Music Fest last year on the Hard Rock outdoor stage to a tremendous response from the crowd.

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 Jaime Jamgochian, Downhere, Aaron Shust, Jason Gray, Andrew Peterson, High Valley, Sixteen Cities and Me In Motion. For more information about Centricity Music visit online at www.centricitymusic.com.

Henry County native Dr. Bobby Jones was among seven new inductees for the Music City Walk of Fame in Nashville Sunday.  The seven were honored in a ceremony with their very own star on the sidewalk along the Music Mile at Walk of Fame Park, on Demonbreun between Fourth and Fifth avenues.

Also honored were fashion designer Manuel Cuevas, broadcaster Dan Miller, gospel great Dottie Rambo, electric guitar pioneer Les Paul and country legends Alan Jackson and Kix Brooks.

The stars honor those who have left a lasting creative mark in Nashville.  Sunday’s seven joined 51 past inductees, including Ernest Tubb, Elvis Presley and Jimi Hendrix.

Jones, an award-winning gospel singer, is most recognized for the BET program “Bobby Jones Gospel.”

“God’s been in my life, and we are pleased that he’s shown us favor to let us deliver the word,” Jones told The Tennessean.

Coming off the huge success of Lisa Page Brooks’ #1 Billboard Gospel Charting song “I want to say thank you”, Habakkuk Music releases Hidden Treasures: The Best of Lisa Page Brooks on November 15^th.

Hidden Treasures: The Best of Lisa Page Brooks is the initial release from the Hidden Treasures series.  The Hidden Treasures series is a Collection of Timeless Inspirational Songs.

The Best of Lisa Page Brooks is a treasure CD filled with some of Lisa’s most memorable and heartfelt songs. Every song is uplifting and centered on God’s greatness.

History was made when Stellar award winner Lisa Page Brooks shared the timeless song “I want to say thank you” with the nation. As a special treat, fans will experience the previously unreleased live version of “I Want To Say Thank You” on Hidden Treasures: The Best of Lisa Page Brooks.

Hidden Treasures: The Best of Lisa Page Brooks includes the songs, “More Than You’ll Ever Know”, “Fully Persuaded”, “I Want To Say Thank You (Live Version)”, “No Other God”, “Waiting” and more.

This unique project is a great edition to Lisa Page Brooks’ many career highlights!

Hidden Treasures: The Best of Lisa Page Brooks will be in stores and online November 15, 2011.

For More information visit: www.habakkukmusic.com