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

Calls have apparently been increasing for Zachery Tims’ former wife, Riva Tims, to return to the Florida megachurch they founded together 15 years ago to fill the gap left by Tims, who passed away last month.

In a post published on her official Facebook page Monday, Riva Tims addressed questions from members of New Destiny Christian Center (NDCC) who wanted to know if their former first lady would be returning to fill the position her ex-husband left behind.

“In response to so many of your inquiries… I have gotten an overwhelming response from my New Destiny Family to come home and/or at least minister to them,” Riva Tims wrote. “However, I have not been contacted by NDCC staff to return or to assist in the transition. I will continue to pray and cover NDCC, that the vision Zack and I birthed will continue! Thanks for all of your love and prayers.”

Many of those who responded to the statement on whether Tims would be returning, expressed agreement with her decision.

“That’s good, God will open the door if it His will. Leave it in God’s hand,” wrote Elizabeth Bernardo.

Tim Walker echoed Bernard’s comment, writing, “God will open the door. Stay encouraged Pastor Tims!!!”

Other visitors to the page, however, expressed an ardent desire for Tims to return to NDCC, with some comments indicating that the Apopka, Fla., church was only overlooking the obvious.

Mississippi JoMae wrote, “Pastor Riva contact NDCC staff directly, request a meeting! Remind them that you were co-founder and you know the vision that God shared with Pastor Tim! If they are not receptive, God will not hold you accountable! I am in prayer, waiting on a Praise report, I just might fly in your first Sunday of merging the two churches!”

Apostle Stephen Clarke wrote, “They better get it together ASAP…and stop playing around with the souls of God’s people. Hope you return.”

Angela L. Neely said, “I pray that you return as well…..they need you!!! Praying for hearts to be humbled and souls are the top priority!

“It is definitely my prayer that they make that DIVINE CONNECTION! The Vision that the two of you BIRTHED as ONE didn’t divide in divorce. The Vision is STILL alive! I pray they make that call,” Michelle Mikki Jackson-Powell commented. The Tims founded NDCC in 1996, but after the couple divorced in 2009, amid allegations that the charismatic preacher had been unfaithful to his wife, Riva left and started her own ministry – Majestic Life Ministries in Orlando. Tims made an appearance at NDCC to address the congregation just days after her ex-husband was found dead in a New York City hotel room. “Zachery’s death may have caught us by surprise, but it has not taken God by surprise,” Tims told church members and supporters Monday, Aug. 15. She also told them, “God is a good God … He’s looking for one body, not individual groups … He’s looking for us to come together as one body … to advance the kingdom of God.”

“I stand before you tonight in all humility with the power and grace of God and also with the spirit that Zach left behind to press on and not give up.” Before leaving the pulpit, Tims encouraged church members to keep on keeping on.

“You got to go through (the fire),” she said. “We’re going to go through and we’re going to make it. We’re going to come together as one body. I love you.”

As NDCC goes through the process of finding a new pastor to lead the nearly 8,000-member congregation, various ministers have been preaching at the church, with Paula White being the first minister to address the congregation the Sunday after Tims was buried.

New York police have been investigating Tims’ death, which was not ruled suspicious. Toxicology results, expected this week, should confirm whether the preacher died of a drug overdose, as reportedly suspected by officials investigating the case.

By: Sheilah Belle

The Church of God in Christ 104th Holy Convocation will convene October 31-November 9 in St. Louis, and is expected to be the biggest convention of 2011 in St. Louis, according to the St. Louis Business Journal.

The St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission said the 2010 convocation attracted 35,000 attendees that spent upwards of $35 million during the eight-day convention. This year’s convocation attendance is already expected to increase in size and economic impact to the region. This “places the convocation squarely on top of the St. Louis Business Journal’s list of the city’s largest 2011 conventions and group meetings” the journal reported.

Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake Sr. said the convention will be an opportunity for the members of COGIC to “set down our buckets to receive the latter rain of inspiration, instruction and the work of ministry.”

Delegates will experience myriad speakers and performers of gospel music. The official Holy Convocation website has just launched and includes up-to-date information about the 104th Holy Convocation, including a list of events, speakers and musical artists for the week. Visit www.cogic.org and click on the Holy Convocation banner for more information.

The Church of God in Christ is the fifth largest Protestant religious denomination in the United States, with churches in 60 countries worldwide and an estimated membership of nearly 6.5 million members.

This weekend, the Christian Broadcasting Network will mark their 50th anniversary of its first television broadcast.

A celebration is planned starting at 11 a.m. Saturday at the CBN campus in Virginia Beach.

Among the free festivities include concerts, a rock climbing wall, a petting zoo, train rides and an antique car show.

Gov. Bob McDonnell and CBN founder Pat Robertson will speak Saturday night and a fireworks display will cap the celebration.

The network took to the air on Oct. 1, 1961, operating out of a bare-bones studio in Portsmouth.

Shirley Murdock is currently gearing up for a huge ministry assignment in Atlanta, GA. On October 1st, Murdock will join Corey “Coco” Condrey, Bishop T.D. Jakes, Tye Tribett, Bishop Leonard Scott, Deitrick Haddon, Leandria Johnson, Jason Upton and many others for the Stand One Body 2011 Event at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

Yes, Murdock has made many stops this year and the Stand One Body event is indeed a special opportunity for her to join with the Body of Christ in advancing the kingdom.

Murdock’s first Atlanta stop will be on Friday, September 30, where she will do an interview on the Coco Brother Live radio show.

The following day, Shirley will encourage the body to believe as she ministers her current radio single “Dream” at 5:40 p.m.

For More Information on the Stand One Body 2011 Event contact: (404) 223-4636 and www.cocobrotherlive.com

Shirley Murdock Live: The Journey CD and Music DVD will be released on Tyscot Music & Entertainment on October 18, 2011.

The new movie COURAGEOUS is the highly anticipated new film from Sherwood Pictures.  The new movie is from the creators of FIREPROOF and FACING THE GIANTS.

Synopsis:

From the writers of Fireproof and Facing the Giants comes a story about four law enforcement officers whose lives are deeply tested as they embrace their calling to serve and to protect.

As crime fighters, they must face danger every day. Yet when tragedy hits close to home, they are left wrestling with their hopes, their faith, and their priorities as men. Like iron sharpening iron, the power of their friendship invites them to face their hidden struggles as fathers. It is out of this honesty that comes a life-altering decision. With action, drama, and humor, the fourth film from Sherwood Pictures embraces God’s promise to “turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers”. Your soul will be stirred and your heart will be challenged to be…Courageous!

COURAGEOUS the movie debuts in theaters nationwide Sept. 30 from TriStar Pictures, Sherwood Pictures, Provident Films and AFFIRM Films. www.Courageousthemovie.com. 

STARRING:

Alex Kendrick, Ken Bevel and Kevin Downes

DIRECTED BY: Alex Kendrick

For more information:
CourageoustheMovie.com  
EPK.TV/Courageous