Aaron Shust delivered Centricity Music an important milestone as My Hope Is In You stayed at #1 on the AC Indicator Chart for the third week, while the song is enjoying its fourth week at the top of the chart on the Soft AC chart. This marks Centricity Music’s first #1 AC single. At the same time, the song is #4 at AC Monitor, while reaching the #1 position on the Canadian Christian Radio Chart. My Hope Is In You is the first single from Shust’s debut project for Centricity Music, This Is What We Believe. This is Shust’s third chart-topping single of his career with My Savior, My God and O Come O Come Emmanuel going to #1 in 2006 and 2007 respectively.

Shust is currently on the road with The Called To Love Tour that launched Oct. 1. Shust joins his Centricity Music labelmates, Downhere and Jason Gray. For tour updates please visit www.centricitymusic.com.

As reported by the Christian Post.com, The senior pastor of America’s largest Christian church said Tuesday that he not only would have no problem voting for a Mormon presidential candidate, like Republican Mitt Romney, he also would not rule out the possibility of some day voting for a Jewish or even Muslim candidate for the nation’s highest office.

“Sure I could,” said Joel Osteen, leader pastor of Houston’s Lakewood Church, in an appearance on Piers Morgan Tonight, which airs on CNN. However, he added, “90 percent of America is Christian so I’m pretty sure I’d find somebody who more shares my beliefs.”

Among those beliefs, said Osteen, is that the Bible explicitly instructs Christians to support the nation of Israel. Thus, said the pastor, “We stand with the Israeli people.”

Osteen expressed empathy with the Palestinian people, who currently are seeking statehood. “Our hearts go out to the Palestinian people,” said Osteen. “They want peace. They want to live their life in victory, as well.”

The popular pastor and his wife Victoria actually visited Israel this past February, where their “Night of Hope” worship service played to a full auditorium. Contrary to perceptions here in the United States, Victoria Osteen told CNN’s Morgan, the couple found Israel “very peaceful.”

The Osteens appeared on Morgan’s nightly show to promote the pastor’s latest book, Every Day a Friday, which this week hit Number 1 on the New York Times Advice, How-To, and Miscellaneous Hardcover best seller list.

Aside from presidential politics and Middle East policy, Joel Osteen was asked his positions on such hot-button issues as abortion, the death penalty and same-sex marriage.

The pastor reiterated his previously-stated opposition to abortion. “Every baby should live,” he told Morgan. But he was considerably more equivocal in discussing his views on executions and gay marriage.

“It would be against my faith to marry two gay people,” said Osteen, noting that, of the many marriages mentioned in the Bible, none were same-sex. Yet, Lakewood’s senior pastor and his wife said they would have no problem attending a same-sex wedding, if the gay or lesbian couple happened to be friends of theirs.

Osteen neither said he supported or opposed capital punishment. He told Morgan he had not really studied the issue sufficiently to make up his mind, notwithstanding the fact that his home state of Texas executes more offenders each year than any other state.

Music World Gospel/Interface Entertainment recording artist and international worship leader, Micah Stampley, will release his fifth CD, One Voice, in stores October 18, 2011. One Voice features 12 songs, including two interludes. The CD is produced by Micah Stampley and co-produced by Cameron Sankey.

Currently, “Shout” and “Hosanna” are both at gospel radio. Micah brings each track on the CD vibrantly to life—from the thumping, joyful world-beat of “Hosanna,” to “Shout,” a celebratory, praise and worship song that calls believers to action because of their victory in Jesus Christ, which is a song that will resound in congregations around the globe. In writing songs for his new album, Micah didn’t have to go far to work with his favorite collaborator. His wife, Heidi, co-wrote much of the album, including the potent title track, “One Voice.” “I wrote the music and Heidi wrote all of the lyrics for that song,” said Micah. “She began to write the lyrics of that song: ‘different colors, many expressions, but when we worship, we sing to an audience of one, we are salt and light, the world must see us unified,’” Micah says reciting the lyric. “It was just amazing to hear. She’s such a poet. I feel that ‘One Voice’ is definitely my best album to date. I hope that by listening to this album people around the globe will experience a spiritual awakening and renewed passion in their relationship with God.”

The album opener, “Heaven on Earth,” is a vibrant anthem that is connecting powerfully with people. “Desperate People” is a moving ballad that resonates with the body of Christ, it speaks of people seeking a deeper relationship with God. “Overcome & Worthy” is among Micah’s favorite songs. “The first time I heard it was at our local church in Houston,” he says. “I fell in love with the song, it was so powerful and so amazing.”

“Call of Love” was written by Heidi. One evening Micah and Heidi had loaded up their car with blankets and thermos full of hot chicken soup to distribute among the homeless in Houston. “We went under the bridge downtown and began distributing hot soup and the blankets,” recalls Micah. “I remember one gentleman shook my hand. He was freezing. He was shivering he said, ‘I thought that He had forsaken me, but I now believe that God really does love me.’ I cried and cried and cried. Heidi and I were literally crying driving home and singing the song that Heidi had written early last year [2010]. It was uncontrollable and I said, ‘this is what true ministry is.’ So ‘Call of Love’ speaks of that type of work—‘for the broken and the shamed, let my heart burn like a flame, let me be the conduit of perfect love.’”

Named the 2004 Stellar Awards National Star Search winner, Micah Stampley is a musical prodigy who has been performing since the age of seven. He is widely known as an international worship leader and for his astounding bass-to-first soprano vocal range. In 2005, Billboard magazine placed him on its Top 10 Gospel Music Artists list and AOL Black Voices included him on its roster of the Top 11 Gospel Geniuses. Micah is married to Heidi, a kindred spirit with whom he now raises five children, ages six to 16. A partner in life and in music, they are the co-founders of Interface Entertainment and Operation I Believe, Inc., a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, launched in 2006 with platforms that include humanitarian and outreach initiatives. Micah is a third-generation license preacher.

As reported by the Baptist Press, Sherwood Baptist Church once again shocked Hollywood over the weekend when its latest film “Courageous” finished No. 4 in total gross, No. 1 among new movies and No. 1 in per-theater average, nearly doubling most of the competition in that category.

Its $9,063,147 ended up fourth behind “Dolphin Tale,” Moneyball” and “The Lion King 3D.” But all three of those other films — and every other film in the Top 10 — played in at least 2,300 theaters, significantly more than Courageous, which opened in only 1,161 theaters and still beat three new films with much bigger budgets and far more screens — “50/50,” “Dream House” and “What’s Your Number?” While Courageous’ production budget was $1 million, the average budget of the other films in the Top 10 was $41 million.

Courageous’ per-theater average of $7,806 blew out the competition, with The Lion King 3D’s $4,537 coming in second. Courageous follows the story of five men — four of them police officers — as they seek to become better fathers. 

Sherwood Films are the makers of other popular Christian films “Fireproof’ and “Facing the Giants.”  Click Here to read the report by the Baptist Press.

America’s favorite television channel for uplifting music and family entertainment, announced today that it will begin production in October on a new GMC World Premiere Series, She’s Still Not Our Sister, for airing in December.

The limited-run series, starring Jackée Harry, is based on the GMC World Premiere Gospel Play, She’s Not Our Sister, which aired to stellar ratings in June. She’s Not Our Sister was the highest-rated GMC World Premiere Gospel Play to date and reached over one million viewers on its premiere night.

She’s Still Not Our Sister will pick up where the play left off, when the sisters buried their father, and discovered he had millions of dollars and an illegitimate fourth daughter. In the four original episodes premiering in December, the sisters are at it again: Cynthia (Drew Sidora) plans her wedding to D’Andre (Christian Keyes); Deniece (Azur De) graduates from college; Vivian (Kellita Smith) goes to Paris; and Allison (Jazsmin Lewis) overcomes her addictions. Aunt Connie (Jackée Harry) is still in everyone’s business. The series also stars Clifton Powell as Reverend Beckley and Tony Grant as Elliot.

“We are delighted to be bringing back the cast and crew of She’s Not Our Sister in order to continue a story that was thoroughly enjoyed by our viewers,” said Leslie Chesloff, GMC’s executive vice president, programming. “In She’s Still Not Our Sister, the sisters will deal with the aftermath of shocking family revelations as they each seek to find their own way in the world.”

About GMC: GMC (www.watchGMCtv.com) is America’s favorite television channel for uplifting music and family entertainment. The Parents Television Council™ recently awarded its Entertainment Seal of Approval™ to GMC for being “an authentic family-friendly cable network.” GMC was the only television network to receive the highly coveted honor in 2010. GMC can be seen in more than 51 million homes on various cable systems around the country, including DISH Network on channel 188, on DIRECTV on channel 338 and on Verizon FiOS on channel 224.

“The Story Tour” to Launch This December. With a ‘who’s who’ line-up, one might expect nothing less than five-star reviews for the monumental project (Music Inspired By) The Story available nationwide. Such is the case as it released this week debuting at No. 1 on iTunes® Christian & Gospel Album Chart with critics nationwide singing its praises:

“This is the most inspiring and emotionally stirring collection of songs I’ve ever heard. There’s something for everyone: Chris Tomlin, MercyMe, Jeremy Camp, Mandisa, Francesca Battistelli, Lecrae and eighteen other artists all brilliantly bring us to the throne room by passionately performing these soul-piercing songs perfectly orchestrated by Nichole Nordeman and Bernie Herms. This is a five star compilation that needs to be heard and experienced.” – NewRelease.com

Furthermore, in-depth interviews with the critically acclaimed singer/songwriter Nichole Nordeman, who penned all 18 tracks on the musically diverse album, can be found at Yahoo.com, in CCM Magazine and Christianity Today.

This was an experience that Nordeman will never forget: “As a songwriter, being involved in The Story has been, without a doubt, the most fulfilled I’ve ever felt creatively,” says Nordeman. “To be charged with giving Biblical icons a modern voice and then to get a front row seat as those songs are brought to life by such gifted artists, was an honor I could never have imagined. As Bernie and I wrestled with these songs, I was reminded daily, sometimes hourly, that Scripture was meant to live and breathe in our lives. Not as mere history or cultural context, but as bold evidence that God really does long to be the Author of our own pages. This experience has deeply changed my own story, both as an artist and a Christian.”

(Music Inspired By) The Story is the first release from the revolutionary partnership between EMI CMG, Provident Label Group, Word Entertainment, Zondervan, World Vision, Proper Management and CAA. The 2-disc album was built on the foundation of Zondervan’s best-selling Bible, The Story, Randy Frazee’s book The Heart Of The Story and Max Lucado’s Book God’s Story Your Story, and features a top-notch cast Matthew West, Leigh Nash, Mark Hall & Megan Garrett (Casting Crowns), Brandon Heath, Bart Millard (MercyMe), Michael Tait (Newsboys), Blanca Callahan (Group 1 Crew), Lecrae, Nichole Nordeman, Amy Grant, Chris Tomlin, Peter Furler, Mandisa, Todd Smith (Selah), Francesca Battistelli, Mac Powell (Third Day), Steven Curtis Chapman, Natalie Grant, Dan Haseltine (Jars of Clay), Matt Hammitt (Sanctus Real), Jeremy Camp, Michael W. Smith and Darlene Zschech. See full track/artist listing below.

Produced by the esteemed Brown Bannister and acclaimed Bernie Herms, all of the 18 new songs Nordeman wrote from a first-person perspective based on principle biblical characters and accounts telling God’s story from Creation to The Second Coming.

“When I first started working on The Story, I made a ‘dream list’ of 24 artists who I wanted to be part of this project,” says Executive Producer Norman Miller. “God showed us tremendous favor, because we ended up with 22 of these 24 artists singing on the record. I believe that Nichole wrote the best lyrics of her life and Bernie matched her every step of the way with wonderful melodies. Brown Bannister and Bernie Herms were the ultimate production team and this has resulted in The Story being my favorite record of all time”.

In support of the album, a new website has launched, www.thestorycd.com where fans can access exclusive video content, the latest breaking news and more.

Additionally, fans can see The Story come to life this December as Lucado and Frazee join multi-platinum selling artist Steven Curtis Chapman, award-winning band Newsboys, Francesca Battistelli, Natalie Grant and other artists featured on the album will travel around the country on “The Story Tour.” Sponsored by World Vision “The Story Tour” will be a fully produced multi-media experience with the artists performing the album in its entirety and will include stunning visuals to accompany every song projected on a massive screen encompassing the entire stage. See full list of tour dates below.

For more information on (Music Inspired By) The Story, please visit www.thestorycd.com.

(Music Inspired By) The Story Track Listing Disc 1
1) CREATION (“I Am”) – Overture 2) ADAM/EVE (“Good”) – Matthew West & Leigh Nash (Sixpence None The Richer) 3) ABRAHAM/SARAH (“Who But You”) – Mark Hall & Megan Garrett (Casting Crowns) 4) JOSEPH (“Bend”) – Brandon Heath 5) MOSES (“It Must Be You”) – Bart Millard (MercyMe) 6) JOSHUA (“Bring Us Home”) – Michael Tait, Blanca Callahan (Group1Crew), Lecrae 7) RUTH/NAOMI (“I’m With You”) – Nichole Nordeman & Amy Grant 8) DAVID (“Your Heart”) – Chris Tomlin 9) DANIEL (“No Compromise”) – Peter Furler 10) ESTHER (“Born For This”) – Mandisa 11) JOB (“Broken Praise”) – Todd Smith (Selah)

Disc 2
1) MARY (“Be Born In Me”) – Francesca Battistelli 2) JESUS (“When Love Sees You”) – Mac Powell (Third Day) 3) THIEF (“How Love Wins”) – Steven Curtis Chapman 4) MARY MAGDALENE (“Alive”) – Natalie Grant 5) DISCIPLES (“Empty”) – Dan Haseltine (Jars of Clay) & Matt Hammitt (Sanctus Real) 6) PAUL (“Move In Me”) – Jeremy Camp 7) SECOND COMING (“The Great Day”) – Michael W. Smith & Darlene Zschech

“The Story Tour” Dates:
* all dates subject to change
December 1 – Wichita, KS
December 2 Dallas, TX
December 3 – Tulsa, OK
December 7 – Orlando, FL
December 8 – Atlanta, GA
December 9 – Winston-Salem, NC
December 10 – Va Beach, VA
December 11 – Woodbridge, VA (Washington DC area)
December 15 – Grand Rapids, MI
December 16 – Chicago, IL
December 17 – Minneapolis, MN
December 18 – Kansas City, MO

About World Vision:
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. Visit worldvision.org.

From Sheilah Belle of The Belle Report:

Gospel superstar Marvin Sapp is set to follow up his highly successful 2010 album “Here I Am” with a live album of all new songs, which he’s gearing up to record this Friday, October 7 at the Evangel Cathedral near Washington, D.C., for a 2012 release.

“It’s the first time I’ve actually done a live record outside of my comfort zone of Grand Rapids, Mich.,” says Sapp, who’s the founding and senior pastor at Lighthouse Full Life Center Church in his hometown. “D.C. is one my largest audiences. They buy tons of records of mine in Washington, D.C.”

Sapp also tells Sheilah Belle of the Belle Report, “My mother and all of my children will be there with me, but this will be the first time my wife will not. Before I use to run my songs past by wife, but this time I ran them by my children.”

Sapp also stretch a bit with this project as he offered the public an opportunity to be apart of the recording. “Sheilah you know I have always tried to give new writers a chance, so I tweeted the opportunity. I got more than 2,000 songs sent my way and we decided to use 4 of them for the recording.”

As for his new CD, Sapp says it will speak to how he has managed during a rough period in his life, a five-year stretch during which he lost several people close to him, including his father and, last year, his wife MaLinda to colon cancer. “The focus of this record,” he explains, “is how you can come through situations and still remain on top. It’s about how the enemy has a way of hitting you with stuff to cause you to fold and buckle, but I’m still standing.”

As for being a single father, Sapp says, “We’ve got a slogan — ‘us four, no more, ’” he said. “Right now it’s just us, and as long as that remains the focus, I believe the rest of our days will be blessed.”

When describing what to expect on his upcoming CD, Sapp says it’s going to be a bit edgy, a little more high-energy, the production’s gonna be a little tighter.

Mapp also stayed with those he trusted from his last project including music producer Aaron Lindsey and Myron Butler.

But he adds, “Even though I’m doing the whole album live, some is going to sound live and some will sound like it’s studio. We’re gonna mix it up.”

Sapp — a former member of the group Commissioned who went solo in 1996 — has been on a career-winning streak. “Here I Am” debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 — the highest charting album ever by a Gospel artist.

Nevertheless, Sapp contends that, “I feel no pressure because I’m not trying to do anything but stay in the niche I’ve grown accustomed to. One thing I’ve learned is that as long as I do what my audience enjoys, I’m gonna be all right. I know what they like. I have a formula, and my formula is if it’s not broke, don’t fix it. Keep doing what you do and people that enjoy what you do are gonna buy your music and love on you.”

For the third straight week, the season three winner of BET’s Sunday Best is in the #1 position on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart.  Le’Andria’s CD ‘The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson’ is proceeded by the hit single ‘Jesus’ that is impacting radio nation-wide.  Check out our interview with Le’Andria on this month’s cover of Path MEGAzine.

Also congratulations to Kirk Franklin.  He is ever so consistent with the sales of his CD ‘Hello Fear.’

Here’s the rest of this weeks Top 10 Gospel CDs:

1 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson…
2 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
3 | Isaac Carree – Uncommon Me
4 | WOW Gospel 2011
5 | Donald Lawrence – YRM (Your Righteous Mind)
6 | Da’ T.R.U.T.H. – The Whole Truth
7 | Mary Mary – Something Big
8 | Trin-i-tee 5:7 – Angel & Chanelle
9 | Dorinda Clark Cole – I Survived
10 | Deitrick Haddon – Church on the Moon

Get ready this week we will find out how the sales of Jessica Reedy, Andraé Crouch and CoCo Brother’s new albums did in stores.  Make sure you support their projects.

Bishop Eddie Long has officially asked for the return of settlement money paid to three of his accusers, Jamal Parris, Spencer LeGrande and latecomer, Centino Kemp, as a result of their sexual coercion lawsuit. Long reportedly had his attorneys, Eckl & Farnham, send a letter to each plaintiff requesting the return of nearly $1 million for breaching the confidentiality terms of their agreement.

Parris and LeGrande both recently sat down with Atlanta’s Fox 5 for an interview, discussing further details of  their questionable relationships with Long. The pair also revealed plans to write a tell-all book about their experiences.  Both assert the damage done to them due to Long’s alleged conduct extends beyond what money can resolve, and expressed little concern about the possibility of having to repay it.  

“Money doesn’t buy happiness so you don’t really care if you lose it,” LeGrande told the interviewer.

Kemp has been interviewed by various media outlets and has written and performed a song alluding to his ties to the megachurch pastor.

Terms of the settlement were kept confidential, but the amount paid out to the Bishop’s accusers to compensate them for damages and keep them quiet is estimated to be at $1.5 million, based on the letter and the fact that the young men were paid equitably. However, the money reportedly didn’t come out of Long’s personal finances; the church, New Birth Missionary Baptist, and its members picked up the tab through its insurance.  Since the accusations had to do with Long’s position as head of the church, the situation reportedly fell within the guidelines of what the policy would cover.

The letter sent to Kemp, LeGrande and Parris outlines the plaintiffs’ “demand for arbitration” though no legal documents have been filed.

Read More on rollingout.com.  Watch the WSBTV News report below.

Contemporary Gospel trio Soulfruit was presented with the 2011 Rising Star Award by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee and the Gospel Music Heritage Month committee this past Friday, September 30, 2011 at New Light Church (East) in Houston, TX which is led by Bishop I.V. Hilliard.

This years featured Gospel Music Heritage Month concert guests included Yolanda Adams, Le’Andria Johnson, Chad Brawley, Trin-i-tee 5:7 and V. Michael McKay to name a few.

Soulfruit recently released their music video “No Grudge” (below) and looks forward to a National album release next year.

For more information on the group, visit www.Soulfruit.net