As Seen on myhoustongospel.com – Written By: Brian McCoy

Gospel star Judith McAllister is preparing for Church of God in Christ’s (COGIC) AIM Convention. One of the most sought after parts of the convention is the music. COGIC has no lack of talent on its music staff.  Houston’s Pastor Kim Burrell is the V.P. of the International Music Department and Dr. Judith McAllister is the President of the department. Min. Ron Summers serves as local music chair.

Dr. McAllister made her way to the bayou city to teach the local “Texas Connection Choir” songs for the convention, many of which she wrote herself. The choir is set to sing almost every day during the convention.

She encouraged choir members and reminded them that for “Those who labor in ministry, it should not be a strain.”

The next rehearsal is June 27th, 7:30pm at Williams Temple COGIC 2524 Delano St. Houston, TX. All denominations are welcome to attend.

Listen to Judith McAllister’s lastest single “Sound the Trumpet” below.

Presidential candidate Herman Cain said in a recent interview that if he was president he would require muslims in his cabinet to take a special oath of commitment to the U.S. constitution.

In the video below Cain is asked if Catholics or Christians would have to take the same commitment oath, and he replies ‘No.’ Listen to his reasoning in the video below. Do you agree with him?

New Birth Missionary Baptist Church is denying rumors that Bishop Eddie Long’s wife, Vanessa, has moved out of the couple’s house, calling the claims “completely and absolutely false.”

“Recently, some blog entries have surfaced claiming to have anonymous sources stating that New Birth First Lady Elder Vanessa Long has moved out of the house. That claim is completely and absolutely false,” said church spokesman Art Franklin in a statement Tuesday on behalf of New Birth. “Mrs. Long is very much a loving, dedicated and committed wife and mother.”

The rumors surrounding Mrs. Long’s departure recently escalated in the weeks following Eddie Long’s announcement that his sexual misconduct case was settled out of court. Four young men filed lawsuits last fall accusing the Atlanta megachurch pastor of coercing them into sexual relationships. In May, both parties reached a settlement and the lawsuits were dismissed in court.

One blog, citing unnamed sources that include present members and current employees of New Birth, reported that Vanessa Long had moved out of the couple’s home months ago, taking along their children, due to the scandal. On Monday, the blog claimed that Mrs. Long has also left New Birth and is now worshipping at another Atlanta church, Word of Faith Family Worship Cathedral, which is led by Bishop Dale Bronner.

Another blog claimed Mrs. Long “allegedly agreed to stick by Long until the sex scandal drama was over and then she’d leave.”

New Birth is calling on the blogs and bloggers to retract their reports.  

“It is unfortunate that anyone would make such hateful and damaging false claims of this nature,” said Franklin in the New Birth statement, which doesn’t mention the names of any blogs. “These cruel and insensitive rumors have the potential to cause immeasurable pain and suffering. Those involved should feel obligated to retract their earlier statements.”

In the statement, the church said it initially chose not to respond to the rumors about Vanessa Long but it felt compelled to following the multiple blog entries.

“However, in this new digital world, along with a steep decline in quality reporting, many people can’t discern the difference between legitimate journalists and irresponsible bloggers,” read the New Birth statement.

Vanessa Griffin Long is the bishop’s second wife. They married in 1990 and have three children together.

Long has one child with his first wife, Dabara S. Houston, whom he divorced after a brief marriage.

Integrity Media, a distributor of Christian media, announced today the sale of their assets to the Colorado ministry David C Cook. Integrity’s CEO, Michael Coleman, said in a statement that the decision was necessary due to the changes in the music industry and the low sales as a result. “At the end of 2010, music business sales were less than half of what they had been 10 years ago,” said Coleman. “Music sales and licensing in the U.S. alone dropped from $14.6 billion to $6.3 billion between 1999 and 2009 and the decline has continued into 2011. And on top of the general economic downturn, music companies are facing challenges like digital piracy and a shift in consumer thinking from ‘ownership’ to ‘access.’”

He added, “The company has been making changes to try to adapt to these monumental shifts in the marketplace but it has been quite a challenge. An earlier staff reduction and the listing of our property in West Mobile were part of the most recent changes. This combined with the sale of our music assets will help us address a number of issues as we navigate this changing landscape.”

In addition to the sale, Alabama-based Integrity plans to sell their international divisions located in the United Kingdom, Singapore and South Africa.

David C Cook’s former senior vice president of sales and marketing, C. Ryan Dunham, will serve as the president for Integrity Music.

He stated, “The acquisition of Integrity Music makes sense from both a ministry as well as a business standpoint. Both organizations are widely respected for their international reach and their worship music catalogs.”

“David C Cook is no newcomer to the worship music ministry. In 1993 Cook acquired Kingsway, a worship music company in Eastbourne, England, and partnered with EMI Christian Music Group to produce the Thank You Music song catalog,” Dunham continued.

While Integrity will operate independently within David C Cook, its headquarters will be relocated in Colorado Springs after the 90-day transition is completed. The sale’s impact on the artists was not directly addressed in the statement, but the company promised a fresh perspective and a greater variety of worship titles. The company also said it will provide more options for a meaningful worship to the global church.

Coleman told Charisma, “Cris Doornbos (CEO of David C Cook.) and I share a deep passion for serving the global church and for the role worship music plays in making disciples around the world.

“As Integrity prepares to celebrate 25 years in ministry, I look forward to seeing the expanding impact of Integrity songs and products around the world.”

Ex-New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress, a week after his release from prison on gun charges, pledged on Monday to preach against gun violence to America’s children.

The 2008 Super Bowl star said the volunteer effort was the right move after serving nearly all of his 20-month sentence for weapons possession. In November, 2008, Burress carried a gun into a Manhattan nightclub and accidentally shot himself in the leg.

“I paid a tremendous price for a bad decision,” said Burress at a news conference organized by his partners in the effort, the National Urban League and the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

“All those 20 months and all those days I was saying to myself how can I take the next step and how can people learn from what happened to me,” he said.

Burress, 33, who hopes to return to play in the National Football League, said he plans to speak with audiences around the country and will be mentored by former NFL coach Tony Dungy, who has helped disgraced football star Michael Vick resurrect his reputation.

After months of anticipation leading up to the elevation of Bishop Hezekiah Walker, the special day finally came this passed weekend.

Thousands packed into the new sanctuary of the Prayer Tabernacle Cathedral in Bridgeport, CT to witness the “Enthronement” service to officially install Bishop Walker into the office of Presiding Prelate of the Pentecostal Churches of Jesus Christ (PCJC).

Some of the pictures can be seen below.  Lets congratulate and pray for the Bishop as God enlarges his territory.

Pictures Take By: Dre Photography/Dr.D

Gospel artist Yolanda Adams says she had to put recording on the back burner for several years as other business and career opportunities began crossing her path. And if a turkey burger hadn’t been simmering on the front burner, we may still be waiting for a new album from the teacher-turned-singer.

After securing her own syndicated radio show in March 2007, and launching a new clothing line, fragrance and real estate business, the Texas native looked up and discovered five years had passed since the release of her last studio album, “Day by Day.”

“I was having so much fun, I forgot about the music,” she tells EUR in an exclusive interview.

“Then finally, I was meeting with some of the executives at Walmart about a turkey burger that I’m developing for busy moms, and they said, ‘Well what about the music?’ I said, ‘Oh yeah. We should do that, huh?’”

Adams said they gave her an offer she couldn’t refuse, an album she would release on her own independent label, N-House Music Group, to be available exclusively in its stores nationwide.

CLICK HERE to Read More on EurWeb.com

Yolanda Discusses Her Single Be Still

It’s official; Fantasia will play the role of Mahalia Jackson in the upcoming film “Mahalia” based on Jules Schwerin’s 1993 book, “Got to Tell It: Mahalia Jackson, Queen of Gospel.” According to the New York Post, the budget for the production is $23.9 million and the singer will earn a percentage of the film’s gross profits.

For those of you who don’t know, Mahalia Jackson, was one of the most influential Gospel singers of all time.  Mahalia was the preeminent voice of Gospel for decades. Her voice was the voice of the Civil Rights Movement and she was well-respected by all races during a time of extreme racial tension.

The producers previously stated that Fantasia would lip-sync over Mahalia’s vocals. Personally I would like to hear Fantasia sing some of Mahalia’s legendary hits!

No word yet about when the film will begin production.

The International Auxiliaries In Ministry Convention (AIM), the annual summer convention of the multi-million member Church Of God In Christ, Inc., will convene July 4 – 8, 2011 in Houston, TX. AIM is expected to attract over 30,000 delegates for a week of training, fellowship and spiritual renewal.

The music ministry, under the leadership of International President Dr. Judith McCallister & International Vice President Kim Burrell, is preparing to fulfill its duty of awesome praise and worship for the convention now! The local music and worship arts ministry is headed by Minister Ron Summers.

All denominations are invited to attend the rehearsals. Participants (choir members & musicians) must register with COGIC AIM to participate. Registration is available at rehearsals.

Rehearsal dates:

May 2nd, 7pm New Life Tabernacle COGIC 3021 DeSoto Houston, Texas 77091

May 16th, 7pm Kingdom Harvest COGIC [215 N. Masters Drive – Dallas, TX 75217

June 6th & 20th, 7pm Williams Temple COGIC 2524 Delano Street Houston, TX 77004

Event dates:

May 20th, 7pm Pre-AIM Choir Mania at New Life Tabernacle COGIC, featuring Texas Connection Choir, Kevin Lemons & Higher Calling & guests from around the nation.

July 1st, TBD Gospel Explosion

July 3rd, TBD AIM Musical

Elder Carl Davis is host pastor.

Angel & Chanelle, the new release from Trin-i-tee 5:7, makes a strong entrance, debuting atop the BillboardTop Gospel Charts. The album also sits at #2 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Charts, #5 on the Independent Albums Charts and #20 on the Billboard Top 200 Charts. Kirk Franklin‘s Hello Fear takes the #2 position this week and also sits at #8 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Charts and #33 on the Billboard Top 200 Charts.  Tedashii‘s new release, Blacklight comes in at the #3 position this week. The album also remains atop the Top Christian Albums charts, #9 on the Top Rap Albums charts, #14 on the Independent Albums charts, and #87 on the Billboard Top 200 charts. Mary Mary‘s latest release Something Big moves to the #4 position this week, while the new compilation effort T.D. Jakes Presents: Sacred Love Songs 2 rounds out the week’s top five albums. In other chart news, I’m Back, from Lonnie Hunter featuring Structure, moves six places to #8, while Troy Sneed‘s latest My Heart Says Yes moves four places to #21. 

In the world of radio, “I Smile” from Kirk Franklin celebrates its ninth week at the top of the radio charts. Vashawn Mitchell‘s “Nobody Greater” holds to the #2 spot while “My Heart Says Yes” from Troy Sneed moves to the #3 position. “Well Done” from Deitrick Haddon moves to the #4 spot while “I Give Myself Away” from William McDowell rounds out the week’s top five songs.