Lonnie Hunter continues his promotional tour promoting his new CD release.  The Black Smoke recording artist will visit Pastor Gregg Patrick’s ‘The Bridge Church’ located in Houston, Texas on Friday June 24th.  The concert is Free and open to the public.  Review the flyer below. Visit www.swcbc.net for address and additional information.

Yolanda Adam’s recently appeared on BET’s ‘The Monique Show’ hosted by Monique.  Yolanda says that she asked God for something special when Radio 1 gave her a nationally syndicated talk show.  Yolanda says that she gladly wakes up at 3:30 a.m. every morning, and that the show allows her to spend a lot of time with her daughter Taylor. 

Tune into the video as Yolanda talks about her new CD, clothing line, and her everyday life being a mother and Gospel singer.

Another high profile minister is weighing in on the Bishop Eddie Long scandal.  Bishop Paul S. Morton has decided to make a public plea to Eddie Long.  He wants him to show remorse or repent publicly so that the healing can begin.

Bishop Eddie Long is rumored to have settled with the 4 plaintiffs accusing him of

sexual mis-conduct for either 15 or 25 million dollars.   Morton joins a growing list of ministers speaking out on the issue.  Mega-Church Pastor Creflo Dollar came out in support of Bishop Eddie Long recently, while Juanita Bynum and Bishop T.D. Jakes chose to speak only to say that we all should pray for those involved.  

On Sunday, during his Father’s Day sermon Bishop Morton addressed Bishop Long’s lack of humility and repentance over his actions.  He acknowledges that Eddie Long, who once spoke to him, won’t return his calls.

Therefore, he is saying publicly that he wants Eddie Long to stop hiding his actions in silence. Listen to the audio below: 

R&B superstar John Legend stunned locals in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by performing at a local church.

The star was a surprise guest at the Calvary Baptist Church in West Philadelphia and sang Aretha Franklin classic ‘How I Got Over’ with churchgoers.

The performance was captured on video, “I grew up singing and playing gospel music says Legend.”  “I played in a bunch of choirs as a kid, up through going to college.”  “I paid my way through school by being a director of music in church.”  

“A lot of the greatest soul singers in American history started in the black church.”  “It’s very obvious when you listen to gospel and soul music, you can see and hear and feel the connection. I haven’t performed in church for a while.”  

“I thought it’d be cool to go back in, do something that explored my roots a little bit, surprise the choir, surprise the church.” “It was cool, like the church calling out for me.”  “This has reminded me of my childhood.”

John Legend is on tour with Sade through September. 

Construction continues on The Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial in Washington, DC. The 28-foot-tall statue of the slain civil rights leader will be dedicated later this summer.

The dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on the National Mall in August may draw as many as 400,000 people — more than the 1963 March on Washington, organizers say.

Former secretary of State Colin Powell, Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin are among the people expected to participate in five days of concerts, dinners, seminars and prayer services celebrating King’s legacy, says Harry Johnson, CEO of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation..

The $120 million memorial, the only one on the Mall that does not commemorate a president or a war, will be dedicated Aug. 28, the anniversary of the march and King’s I Have a Dream speech, which drew an estimated 200,000 people.

Johnson says the National Park Service is planning for 400,000 people. Sgt. David Schlosser, spokesman for the U.S. Park Police, would not confirm that figure, saying his office does not give out crowd projections.

The memorial, designed around the themes of justice, democracy and hope, is on 4 acres between the Jefferson and Lincoln memorials. It features a sculpture of King and excerpts from his sermons and speeches.

“This is the first time on the Mall that there will be a memorial dedicated to a man of peace, a person of non-violence, and to someone who was never elected to political office,” says Rep. John Lewis, a Democrat representing Atlanta. Lewis was a King protégé and one of the organizers of the March on Washington. “For the memorial to be literally between Jefferson and Lincoln, that says something.”

Organizers are in the final stretch of a 15-year fundraising effort, started by Alpha Phi Alpha, King’s fraternity. They have about $8 million left to raise. “I have to believe that as giving as the American people are, that they’re going to close the gap on this,” Johnson says.

The dedication will cap a five-day celebration. Actor Jamie Foxx and singers BeBe Winans and Lionel Richie have promised to appear, Johnson says. President Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and former president Bill Clinton have been invited but have not said if they will attend.

Powell’s office says he hopes to come, though his schedule is not firm for August.

“Dr. King held up a mirror to America and said, ‘Look at who and what we are. Is this the America we want? Is this the America our Founding Fathers dreamed of, even if they could not realize it in their time? Is this the America that is supposed to be the model for the rest of the world?'” Powell says in a statement from his office. “The answer had to be, ‘No!'”

Free events include the dedication and two concerts. Tickets for other events range from $85 for a “civil rights pioneers luncheon” to $250 for a gala at the National Building Museum. Other events, including a service at Washington National Cathedral, are by invitation only.

Evelyn Lowery and her husband, Joseph Lowery, will be at the dedication. He founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference with King, and she founded a sister group, SCLC/Women’s Organizational Movement for Equality Now.

“It’s a big project, and with the economy what it’s been, it’s understandable it has taken longer than expected,” Evelyn Lowery says.

“But it’s worth the wait.”

TV evangelist Creflo Dollar is looking to expand his ministries to the Bronx, New York by purchasing the Kingsbridge Armory.  Dollar recently made a proposal to finance the development of the 5-acre facility.

Dollar “wants to turn it into a multi-use facility,” one source told the NYPost.com. “He’s got a huge following and needs an arena.”  Dollar offered to put up his own money for the renovations, the only bidder to do so.  

The proposal is coming with it’s share of criticism because the facility is currently city-owned.  The city recently blocked plans for a major company to build a $310 million dollar retail development.

If approved, Dollar would keep his other church location in Georgia which seats 8,500 people.

Some of the proponents against Dollar argue that a church can’t create enough jobs, and site Creflo Dollars’ prosperity teaching and extravagant lifestyle.  Dollar travels in a gulfstream jet, and brings in more then $65 million dollars a year through his ministries.  

The property would serve as a arena for rent, and a worship center.

Click Here to read the full story by the New York Post. 

So, the question comes; can your now handle the opportunity that will take you from where you are to where you are destined to be? It seems that we have neglected our now while trying to get to our future. It is important for us to understand that the only way to get to that elusive there is to be a good steward of here. That means that we must find ourselves being faithful in the areas that God has placed us in. It is never wrong to want more but we can’t let work go undone while aspiring to go somewhere else. We have to take on the mindset that where I am now will help me for where I am soon to go. There are crucial lessons that we are missing because we don’t value our now. When we excuse the current place God has us; we also excuse the preparation that comes with that place. You’d be surprised how much easier transition would be if you would be diligent concerning the things that you are already doing.

It would be ashamed for promotion to come with you out of position. Humble yourself and be found faithful doing what God has called you to do. When it is time for God to bring you into the next place, He will. At my job, there is a thing called releasability. This comes into play when employees are trying to post out of certain departments. In order for an employee to apply, their supervisor must deem them releasable. There are a lot of factors as to why this rule is in place. However, one of the factors really spoke to me. Supervisors don’t want to give other departments people who are not going to benefit them. So, if the opportunity of a life time came, would you be releasable? Would God allow you to go forward or would he think of you as unbeneficial? Be diligent! Stay on the Path!

__________________________________________________________________

 About the Author: Path contributing writer Calvin Walker has been writing editorial content for Path MEGAzine since 2007.  Calvin’s ability to break down the word of God with thought provoking analogies and real life analysis makes an impact on Christians seeking a closer walk with God.  An accomplished author, Walker released his debut book titled “The Gallery” early 2010.  Click here to read excerpts and purchase Walkers’   

Westchester, New York – PATH MEGAzine – Accomplished Songwriter and Producer Stan Jones is set to receive a prestigious ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) Award during its 24th Annual Rhythm & Soul Music Awards this week in Los Angeles, CA. 

“All I Need,” the soul-stirring worship tune written and produced by Stan Jones spent 92 weeks on the Billboard Hot Gospel Song Chart breaking the all-time record for the longest-running current single ever in the history of the Billboard Gospel Charts. 2010 Billboard Year-End charts would name Stan Jones as the #3 Songwriter and # 4 Producer of the year as well as Jones’ Above STANdard Publishing ranking as the #3 Top Publisher among other honors in the Gospel category.  “All I Need” went on to receive a 2011 GMA Dove Award nomination.

Current popular music credited to Stan Jones includes penning “He Has His Hands on You” as performed by eight time Grammy nominee Marvin Sapp; as well as writing and producing “I Worship Your Name,” a standout song from the current Trin-i-tee 5:7 album, Angel & Chanelle which recently debuted at #1 on both Billboard’s Top Gospel Album Chart and Top Christian/Gospel Album Chart, #2 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip Hop Album Chart, #5 on the Independent Chart and #19 on the Billboard 200.

The ASCAP awards ceremony will be held Friday June 24, 2011 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, also honoring Sean “Diddy” Combs with the highest honor: The ASCAP Founders Award. The ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards honors the most successful songwriters and publishers of the past year in R&B/Hip-Hop, Rap and Gospel music.

This week, Kirk Franklin’s Hello Fear, returns to Billboard’s #1 position after loosing the spot last week to Trin-i-tee 5:7′s Angel & Chanelle, the first time Franklin’s album was not #1 since its March release.

T57′s album moves to a respectable #2, followed by Mary Mary’s Something Big at #3.  Bishop Jakes’ Sacred Love Songs 2 project and WOW Gospel 2011 bring up the rear at #4 and #5, respectively.

The rest of the Gospel Albums top 10 is right here: (Sales)

1 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
2 | Trin-i-tee 5:7 – Angel & Chanelle
3 | Mary Mary – Something Big
4 | TD Jakes – Sacred Love Songs 2
5 | WOW Gospel 2011
6 | Tedashii – Blacklight
7 | Yolanda Adams – Becoming
8 | Deitrick Haddon – Church on the Moon
9 | Marvin Sapp – Playlist: The Very Best of Marvin Sapp
10 | Various Artists (EMI Gospel) – Gospel’s Best Worship

In the world of Radio Plays.. 

1 | Kirk Franklin –  “I Smile”
2 | Troy Sneed – “My Heart Says Yes”
3 | VaShawn Mitchell – “Nobody Greater”
4 | Trin-i-tee 5:7 – “Over and Over”
5 | William McDowell – “I Give Myself Away”
6 | Deitrick Haddon – “Well Done”
7 | Mary Mary – “Walking”
8 | Marvin Sapp – “He Has his Hands on You”
9 | James Fortune – “I Believe”
10 | Ricky Dilliard – “God is Great”

The fastest gainer on the charts goes to  Earnest Pugh’s new one “I Need Your Glory.”  Moving fast up the charts at #11.

BET has announced its performance lineup for the 2011 BET Awards.

Gospel greats, Pastor Shirley Caesar, Donnie McClurkin, Faithful Central Choir and Best Gospel Nominees Mary Mary and Dietrick Haddon.  Best Gospel nominee Mary Mary is often credited with helping to broaden the gospel music fan base with hits like “Walking.”  Deitrick Haddon, also nominated, had his most recent album “Church On The Moon” debut at #1 on the Billboards Top Gospel charts and #65 On Billboard 200. 

Joining the list of world-renowned performers are newcomers and Music Matters Artists, Mali Music and Kimberly Nichole.   Mali Music has a huge social media and online following and has performed with such artists as Tye Tribbett, Kirk Franklin and other gospel greats. Seattle-born Kimberly Nichole is a very diverse songstress who combines rock, reggae, gospel and soul into her music. BET Networks’ Music Matters campaign highlights the next BET talents through music, bios, music videos, photos and intimate interviews with artists.  

The gospel performances are guaranteed to infuse the BET stage with praise and worship and bring the audience to their feet. Hosted by Kevin Hart, BET AWARDS ‘11 is a showcase of the best there is in black music and features performances and entertainment for the entire family. 

Other performers include Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Jill Scott, Chris Brown, Alicia Keys, Drake, Kelly Rowland, Ace Hood, and Lil Wayne.

This year’s event is hosted by comedian Kevin Hart and will air live on June 26, 2011 at 8p ET.