The award winning Mississippi Mass Choir will once again “Go ye into all the world;” evangelizing in song; with a tour of South Africa. Hosted by the I Can Foundation, the tour will take place June 9-20th and included services in Johannesburg, New London, Hazyview, and Pretoria.

According to Dr. David Molapo, Chairman and Co-Founder of the I Can Foundation, “We are looking forward to hosting the world renowned Mississippi Mass Choir in the Motherland! Over the years their music has made an impact in the lives of many South Africans. We believe that this ministry tour will spread a message of hope and be life transforming for all involved.”

Fresh off of a fourteen city tour of Spain and the Canary islands, the choir has been blessed to grace international stages throughout the Bahamas, Japan, Italy, France, Portugal, and Greece; becoming the first Gospel group to perform at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, at the base of the iconic Acropolis in Athens, Greece. While attending the famed Umbria Jazz Gospel and Soul Easter Festival in Terni, Italy, the choir received an unexpected invite to sing for Pope John Paul II at his summer residence in Castelgandolfo.

Over their 23 year music ministry career, they have either won or received nominations for every industry award; including the Grammy, Stellar, Soul Train, Dove, National Association of Record Merchandisers, 3M Visionary, and Mississippi Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts. On three occasions Billboard Magazine recognized them as Gospel Artist of the Year. The single “God Made Me” from their new release is currently in the “Top Ten” on the Billboard Gospel Song Chart. Arguably their crowning industry achievement came in 2010 at the 25th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards where they were awarded the “Thomas A. Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award.”

You would think that after such a long and distinguished career, they would be resting on their laurels and enjoying the fruits of their labors. “Not so,” says Executive Director, Jerry Mannery, “We are scouting out new fields to till and sow seeds for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Bishop Eddie Long defied critics who said his church is collapsing by announcing Sunday that the Lithonia, Ga.-based megachurch is starting a New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama.

The announcement of the start of New Birth Birmingham comes just weeks after news broke that New Birth plans to open a satellite location in Denver. New Birth, a predominantly black congregation, also has locations in Charlotte, N.C., and Oakland, Calif.

Besides the Birmingham church announcement, Long also revealed in his sermon that New Birth was audited in 2009 and 2010.

“We just got our audit back, certified audit back from 2010 and 2009; we already had 2010 totally clean audit from an independent auditing firm,” said Long. “All your money is being done right and calculated right.”

He asked members of his Atlanta megachurch to donate $500 to $1,000 as seed offerings.

The announcements of the start of New Birth locations in Denver and Birmingham came just weeks after Long arrived at a settlement with four young men who accused him of sexual misconduct. All four plaintiffs were former members of New Birth. They accused the megachurch pastor, who espouses the prosperity gospel, of lavishing them with gifts and abusing his spiritual authority to lure them into sexual relationships.

Since the case was settled outside of court, the details of the scandal will remain confidential.

But even if the exact details of the case remain unknown, the scandal itself has nonetheless adversely affected the church. The faith website Elev8 reported that a source said some members at Long’s church are ready to find another congregation because of the sex scandal and other problems.

New Birth elder Rev. Bernice King, Martin Luther King, Jr.’s youngest daughter, announced her intention to depart from the church on May 30, which will likely cause other members to follow. Her departure has not been tied to the recent lawsuits. King has said she is leaving to start a new ministry.

The source also said there has been a significant decrease in the church’s revenue.

“Attendance is down, forcing the church to make dramatic cutbacks,” said the source to Elev8.

In March, New Birth announced that it will cut staff and reduce employee salaries by 10 percent because revenue was down. The church attributes the decrease in funds to the economic downturn.

And another reason why people are leaving, according to the source, is because Long lacks humility as seen in his lavish lifestyle that provoked the Senate to investigate the church several years ago.

“Now there are a whole bunch of people trying to figure out what their place is, what’s going to happen to the church and what’s going to happen to them,” said the church source to Elev8.

The new documentary Rejoice and Shout, which opens in select theaters this weekend, celebrates the history of gospel music in America as told through some of its most famous and influential icons.

Director Don McGlynn, a veteran of the music documentary genre, wanted to trace gospel from its earliest roots to its current incarnation in the music world. The film even plays the first known recording of gospel music, a record made in 1902 by the Dinwiddie Colored Quartet.

“I was so startled by that recording,” McGlynn tells All Things Considered host Rachel Martin, “because what you’re basically hearing is barber shop quartet approach, and that slowly evolved in the next few years into a whole ‘nother tradition.”

That evolution is chronicled in the documentary, told through the stories of and about some of its greatest singers. The Five Blind Boys of Mississippi, The Ward family, The Staple Singers, Marie Knight and Mahalia Jackson are all featured prominently in the film.

Mahalia Jackson, know as “the Queen of Gospel,” is one of McGlynn’s favorites.

“There’s just something so fascinating, gripping, spiritual, about her singing,” McGlynn says.

Jackson was the first gospel singer to perform at Carnegie Hall and in Rejoice and Shout we see footage of one of her earliest television appearances on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” Several times throughout her successful career, she was offered opportunities to record and sing secular music but always turned them down, despite the fact that they could have made her an even bigger star.

“Early on she said I really can’t follow this track of Bessie Smith, you know, singing the blues…it’s the same old God and Devil argument,” McGlynn explains.

The gospel music of today is represented very differently from where it first began, but as we see in Rejoice and Shout, the feelings and emotions that the music evokes remains the same.

“They’re singing with body and soul, you know, this is very intense for them,” McGlynn says, “and I think that’s one of the reasons that the music just comes over so powerfully.”

Hello Fear, the latest release from Kirk Franklin, celebrates its tenth week atop the Billboard Top Gospel Charts. The album also sits at #7 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Charts and #36 on the Billboard Top 200 Charts. Tedashii‘s new release, Blacklight debuts at the #2 position this week. The album also sits atop the Top Christian Albums charts, #8 on the Independent Albums charts, #9 on the Top Rap Albums charts, #11 on the Digital Albums Charts and #63 on the Billboard Top 200 charts. Mary Mary‘s latest release Something Big moves to the #3 position this week, while the WOW Gospel 2011 compilation comes in at #4. Becoming, the brand new release from Yolanda Adams, rounds out the week’s top five albums. In other chart news, I’m Back, from Lonnie Hunter featuring Structure, moves twenty-three places to #14, while Marvin Sapp‘s latest Here I Am moves seven places to #16.

In the world of radio, “I Smile” from Kirk Franklin celebrates its eighth 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 “Walking” from Mary Mary rounds out the week’s top five songs.

Choir Master and Light Records recording artist Ricky Dilliard speaks to BET, and gives his Top 5 tips on how to have a successful choir.  If you have a choir that’s looking to record a national CD project, you definitely don’t want to miss these helpful tips.  Even if you don’t want to record professionally, there are some solid tips mentioned that will help your choir stand out on Sunday.  Watch the video below.

So, what does all of this money talk have to do with the Kingdom of God? Hypothetically, let’s say that the preacher from the paragraph above pulls in three to four million dollars a year. Now, let’s say that he owns a 1.5 million dollar home and several luxury cars. The house has five rooms. He has a wife, no children and rarely has visitors. The maintenance and upkeep of the home and cars is extremely high. In the midst of all the things He has, God places a vision in the heart of one of his spirituals sons/daughters. The initial financial backing for the vision was given to the spiritual father by God. However, the father’s money is tied up in a huge house that he does not need and cars he does not drive. So, the money that God had intended to back His vision has been squandered. Though I can’t give you a concrete name, trust and believe this is happening all over the world. God is giving seed to the sower and it is being mishandled and used inappropriately.

There are visions that God is giving to his people. There are assignments, ideas, ministries that are being birthed daily that need to be backed financially. Prayer changes things! However, often times, God sends people in an answer to prayer. If God were to send for you, would He find that you were prudent and wise over what he had blessed you with? Financial increase does not always mean splurge sometimes it means sow! This is how kingdoms are run. They are run understanding that my resources are not my own, they are the kingdom’s. If my brother needs what I have in order for him to function effectively in his assignment in the kingdom then I give it to him freely. My success will mean little if I can’t help you be successful too! That is where we have to get to. In a marriage, they say what’s mine is yours and vise versa. That principal should be found at work in the minds of those who are of the kingdom of God. God does not do stingy and selfish! Stay on the Path!

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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’ 

Bishop Eddie Long has responded to the departure of Bernice King from his New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, saying he is in “full support” of King’s decision to leave the congregation and pursue a new calling from God.

King, the youngest daughter of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King., Jr., announced that she would no longer be a member or serve as an elder at the Atlanta megachurch. After eight years of sharing the New Birth pulpit with Long, King said she felt God was calling her to launch a new ministry and pursue a “pastoral calling.”

“Reverend Bernice King has made tremendous and profound contributions to New Birth as an Elder and faithful servant of our Lord Jesus Christ,” said Bishop Eddie Long in a statement.

“For some time now, Reverend King and I have been in discussion and prayer about the call of God on her life to continue the legacy of her father and mother, the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Coretta Scott King,” he continued.

“This is a compelling mandate that places Reverend King squarely in the center of God’s Will for her life and I am in full support of her decision to leave New Birth in pursuit of this worthy endeavor.”

King’s last day at New Birth was on Sunday, the same day that Long preached his first sermon since lawsuits against him were settled. Four young men launched suits last fall alleging the pastor of sexual misconduct. Media speculation arose as to whether King’s departure was related to the case since her decision to leave New Birth Became public just two days after a settlement had been reached in the Long case.

In February 2011 gospel legend Melvin Williams was appointed US Music Ambassador for the US Department of State’s initiative, The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad administered by Jazz at Lincoln Center.

In the 1950s, the U.S. government sent Jazz musicians such as Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Dave Bruebeck across the globe to share America’s culture.

Melvin Williams is singing lead for his newly formed band, The Melvin Williams Group that is comprised of bassist/BGV, Castro Coleman, vocalist, Andre Tate and percussionist/BGV, Bridget Fleury.

During this 5 week tour, Williams will visit a selection of Europe and Eurasia countries like Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Georgia. His mission is to introduce and perform traditional gospel music through concerts and educational workshops to regions around the world that wouldn’t otherwise get much exposure to Gospel music.

“The mission of The Rhythm Road is to share America’s unique contribution to the world of music and to promote cross-cultural understanding and exchange among nations worldwide.

Building on the rich legacy of the legendary Jazz Ambassadors, the program has expanded in recent years to include music that is quintessentially American.”-Adrian Ellis, executive director of Jazz at Lincoln Center

The Melvin Williams Group is one of 10 ensembles selected as U.S. Music Ambassadors to represent The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad. Since 2006, the program has sent more than 100 musicians on tours to 97 different countries, most of them outside the reach of American music.

Melvin Williams has been in the industry for 50 years. His dedication to gospel music has garnered him 6-GRAMMY® award nominations and a host of Stellar Awards collectively as a solo artist and with The Williams Brothers.

Lead actor of “I Fell in Love with a Church Girl” Ja Rule is getting ready to serve a two-year sentence for weapons possessions.

In a recent interview, the 35-year-old revealed that before preparing to serve his sentence he will end his Twitter feud with rapper 50 Cent.

He told The Life Files, “I just want to put it out to the world before I go in. It’s funny because, I’m about to go to jail, and my main concern is to make sure that I get this album done and out there for the fans.”

“I was a little ashamed of myself to be even involved with that. Because I’m like, yo, I’m 35 years old and I’m on Twitter beef? That’s not something I want to entertain, but I’m a man first, so I’m reading (expletive) like him sending Tweets and little things about me.”

Late last year, Ja Rule was cast in the faith-based film “I’m in Love with a Church Girl,” which chronicled the life of an ex-convict turned pastor. Pastor Galley Molina, shared his story on screen of how he was at the top of a major drug trafficking ring in the mid-1990s and turned to faith later.

The movie also co-stars Adrienne Bailon, Stephen Baldwin and TobyMac.

Molina shared with The Christian Post last year that during the filming “Ja Rule has been ministered to. He’s a dear friend. We’ve been praying for him a lot. He’s been open; he’s been so [receptive] to the word.”

The exact release date for the movie has not been announced. It is expected to be out this year.

Ja Rule is also set to feature in the original music inspired by the film, with artists such as Israel Houghton, Mary Mary, New Breed, TobyMac, Fred Hammond, India Arie, Beckah Shae, Anthony Hamilton, Third Day, Adrienne Bailon, T-Bone and others.

Ja Rule, whose real name is Jeffrey Atkins, is scheduled to begin his sentence on June 8, a day after his new album releases. He was convicted in December for having a loaded .40-caliber semiautomatic gun in his sports car in July 2007 after a concert.

According to The Associated Press, he is also scheduled to be sentenced on June 13 for tax evasion charges. He could face up to one year in prison and $100,000 in fines on each count.