Say good-bye to the NIV Bible as we know it and say hello to the updated, gender-inclusive NIV Bible which debuts in stores this month.

Mega-publisher Zondervan printed 1.9 million copies of the updated NIV Bible in this first run, up from the original 1.4 million.

“This laydown of the NIV update is bigger than we imagined,” said Chip Brown, senior vice president of Bibles for Zondervan, to The Christian Post. “A couple of retailers came in a little higher after seeing the marketing and products.”

This spring and summer, the company is releasing 33 titles and 177 product SKUs featuring the updated NIV text. A second batch of 188 SKUs, including the updated edition of the NIV Study Bible, will join the new line this fall.

The updated NIV Bible is being promoted as the first update to the NIV in 25 years. In reality, the 2005 TNIV was the first attempt to update the 1984 NIV but fallout from the evangelical community over its overt “gender inclusive” language led to its demise in 2009.

With the updated NIV Bible now in print form, it is expected that more evangelical scholars and pastors will fully weigh in on the revised translation in the coming weeks.

The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, one of the leading critics of the TNIV, promised a full review of the updated NIV after it goes to print. In November, when online text of the updated NIV became available, the group released a statement saying it could not recommend the new NIV Bible because of “over 3,600 gender-related problems” that were previously in its critique of the TNIV.

In other initial reviews, some evangelicals praised the clarity of the new edition while others were still unconvinced that the gender-related problems of the TNIV were resolved. Statistics compiled by Christian web techies Robert Slowley and John Dryer show that 31 percent of the TNIV is retained in the updated NIV.

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It is no secret that VaShawn Mitchell has been enjoying incredible success as an artist. He has one of the hottest singles in the country and recently received two Grammy nominations, but did you know that he is also an accomplished songwriter? It’s true. VaShawn was (and still is) a much-sought after songwriter and has penned hits for a various gospel artists including Smokie Norful, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Bishop Paul Morton, and Bishop Larry D. Trotter. On today, March 15th, Tyscot Records will release a special project of his earlier work that celebrates his songwriting gift.

“My Songbook”, the Deluxe Edition CD/DVD, is a collection of Vashawn’s early hits. The economical bundled project is the first comprehensive set of VaShawn’s greatest music. My Songbook includes 14 hit songs that have been sung during many church worship services across the nation like “Only a Test” and “(Encouragement Medley)”. It also contains previously unreleased material such as, “God Cares For You” and “Don’t Last Nu Remix” and a full Music DVD of some of his most cherished songs performed live.

Along with enjoying the My Songbook CD/DVD, fans may NOW enter the “Share YOUR Songbook” Contest.

Enter the “Share YOUR Songbook” Contest Today by clicking here.

My Songbook will be available In Stores and Online March 15, 2011!

Click banner below to purchase today!

Twinkie Clark of the legendary Clark Sisters, is set to release her new CD “With Humility” on April 5, 2011. You can listen to the first single off the album called “God’s Got A  Blessing” below.

I love it!  It’s some feet stomping church singing music.. What do you think?

This just in to Path MEGAzine: The Word Network is proud to announce the return of the critically acclaimed talk show, “The Lexi Show”, which is hosted by Stellar Award nominated gospel music artist, Lexi. After nearly a one year hiatus, the network has renewed the show for its fifth season. Dave Sheffield, Operations Manager, of the Word Network states:  “We are proud to have Lexi as one of the faces of the network. Her talk show provides inspirational and motivational content that our viewers crave to watch. We stand behind her show one hundred percent.”

The year 2010‘s season four of the “Lexi Show”, featured hard-hitting interviews and subjects. Guests included were, Tonex, Bishop Carlton Pearson, Marvin Sapp, Shirley Caesar, DeWayne Woods, Debra Winans, Pastor Tony Smith, Prophet Todd Hall, Bishop Thomas Weeks and many more. Season five promises to be just as entertaining and uplifting. Archived editions of the program can be viewed on YouTube

Currently, Lexi can be heard every Friday morning delivering the entertainment segment of the “Yolanda Adams Morning Show” on Radio One/Syndication One. The segment is perfectly entitled “Inside Inspiration with Lexi”. Lexi is also the featured entertainment correspondent on the BET show, “Lift Every Voice”. As if the return of her talk show and both entertainment correspondent jobs weren’t enough, she is also putting the finishing touches on her new album, “Phenomenal”.

Record labels, artists, media personal and fans can submit their show ideas and pitches to info@foreverlexi.com. The new season of “The Lexi Show” will premiere this fall, September 2011.

 
For booking inquiries contact: booking@wessmorgan.com

WOW Gospel 2011, the latest installment of the popular WOW Gospel series, celebrates its fifth week atop the Billboard Top Gospel Charts. The album also sits at #45 on the Billboard Top 200 Charts. Church on the Moon from Deitrick Haddon holds to the #2 position. Triumphant from VaShawn Mitchell moves to the #3 position while William McDowell‘s As We Worship: Live moves four spots to the #4 position. Rehab from Lecrae rounds out the week’s top five albums. In other chart news, Wess Morgan‘s Under An Open Heaven jumps six places to #19 while The Promise from Y’Anna jumps fourteen places to #23.

In the world of radio, “Nobody Greater” from VaShawn Mitchell celebrates its fifth consecutive week atop the radio charts. William McDowell‘s “I Give Myself Away” holds to the #2 spot while “I Believe” from James Fortune & FIYA featuring Shawn McLemore and Zacardi Cortez takes the #3 position. “Walking” from Mary Mary takes the #4 spot while “He Wants It All” from Forever Jones rounds out the week’s top five songs.

Ted Williams does a follow-up interview with the Today Show.  After speaking with the Today Show in January, Ted talks about the roller coaster ride of fame, Christianity, and his new business ventures.  At the very end of the video, the way Ted said the words “Jesus Christ” made me smile.  I don’t really know why I smiled, but I was elated that God was given the glory.  So many times celebrities and us as people can forget who helped you when you were down and out.  As if it was our own power that gave you the strength to make it through.  Don’t forget where your help comes from.  Your help comes from the Lord. 

Keep Ted Williams in your prayers because his testimony is leading many to Christ, and keeping Christ on the minds of audiences many can’t reach.

Bishop Eddie Long told members of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church during his 11 a.m. Sunday service that he recently took a 40-percent pay cut. 

The economy, he said, has tightened the budgets for many churches, and the Lithonia-based megachurch is no exception.

Recently, the church said it was forced to lay off two full-time staffers and cut salaries by 10 percent. Additionally, the church said it had adopted a pilot program that adjusted the work week from five days to four.

Spokesman Art Franklin confirmed  that  Long and his wife, Vanessa, voluntarily reduced their compensation”  but I am unable to confirm the amounts at this time.

Long has been embroiled in several sexual misconduct lawsuits, filed by four men who allege he coerced them into having improper relations. The church, which has about 25,000 members, is also named in the four lawsuits and its LongFellows Youth Academy is named in three. The first mediation session in efforts to resolve the case before it goes to trial recently ended and more could be scheduled.

Long said his compensation is determined by an independent board, in accordance with IRS regulations. Additionally, the members’ supplemental (love)

offering goes into the general operating fund. He said the church was “not hiding anything.”

Money wasn’t the only thing on the pastor’s mind. He spoke out against the media and said New Birth is “under attack,” which brought cheers from many in the sanctuary.

The bulk of his sermon dealt with maintaining faith through adversity. He said people often ask him how he can get up and go to church on Sunday mornings when people are talking about him.

Long said, “Nothing can take away my integrity; nothing can take away my faith.”

Christian comedian Akintunde, whose résumé includes stints as a writer/creative consultant for BET’s late night smash The Mo’Nique Show and monologue writer for Chris Tucker and It’s Showtime At The Apollo, has signed as an artist with Georgia-based Arrow Records (Music That Pierces The Heart™).

The first comic signed to the label, Akintunde will work with Arrow in the creation of studio recordings, live performances, and special projects for the burgeoning Christian comedy market.

Currently set to headline the 2011 “Rebirth of Comedy Tour” (a partnership between Arrow Entertainment and No Joke Entertainment), Akintunde is launching “The Search for the One,” a nationwide talent quest for a bright, young, faith-based comedian to open shows along the tour route.  Akintunde is a key player in the Rebirth of Comedy brand, which is projected to extend across multiple media platforms.

A charismatic, provocative, and hilarious live performer, Akintunde is in great demand on the America’s comedy circuit having appeared on six national tours in the past four years, including It’s Time 2 Laugh Christian Comedy Tour (2007), Gas Too High Comedy Tour (2008), TBS Tyler Perry’s Meet The Browns – Brown Bag of Comedy Tour (2009), Creflo Dollar Change Experience Conventions (2009-2011), Radio One Family Comedy Tour (2010), and The Rebirth of Comedy Tour (2010).

Born Akintunde Warnock on October 23, 1971, he first tapped into his God-given power of comedy as a means of disarming bullies in junior high school.  By 1995, Akintunde was taking his stand-up seriously enough to be make an actual living making people laugh.He criss-crossed the country’s comedy circuit and appeared on BET’s Comicview and in the Turner South series That Comedy Show.

In 1999, Akintunde became a Christian and began to accept the idea that he was working for God, first and foremost, and that his mission was to spread the Word through the comedic instincts he’d been so freely given.

In 2003, he was named joke/monologue writer for the syndicated television series It’s Showtime at the Apollo and in 2004, penned monologues for the annual BET Awards Brutally Honest, Live at Right Direction, and launched a national tour under the same moniker. Shortly after teaming up with fellow comedian Chris Tucker, as monologue writer for the 2005 NAACP Image Awards, That same year Akintunde recorded his first live comedy album.

Akintunde expanded his tour schedule which culminated in two live DVD recordings in 2006, a year that included televised appearances on The Word Network, TBN’s Praise the Lord, and The Gospel Music Channel.

He debuted “It’s Time 2 Laugh,” an all new Web series, in 2007 and, in 2008, premiered his syndicated radio show, The Akintunde Show, in Washington, DC, through his company No Joke Radio.  In 2009, Akintunde performed at the Stellar Awards and the Trumpet Awards, as well as the Change Experience Tour, with Pastors Creflo and Taffi Dollar.  Akintunde was a welcome addition to the Change Experience performance rosters for 2010 and 2011.

A happily married father of five, Akintunde hears the love of God in the sound of laughter and is sharing his gifts through Arrow Records.

The host of the 42nd GMA Dove Awards, Sherri Shepherd, announced expected appearances at this year’s award ceremony to be held on April 20 in Atlanta, Georgia at the Fox Theater and broadcast the following Sunday in the St. Louis area. The announcement was made on Tuesday, March 8 via Twitter.

Sherri Shepherd will be the host of this year’s Dove Awards. She is known as a co-host on The View. But, before that was rooted as a comedian. Of the Christian faith and making her way as a single parent, Sherri Shepherd has been cast in other roles as well. She is also known as the host of the Newlywed Game and as the part of Angie Jordan on 30 Rock and on her own Lifetime TV sitcom, Sherri. She announced the following artists as being a part of the preliminary list of those to make their appearances at the award ceremony:

Francesca Battistelli

Jason Crabb

Natalie Grant

Mary Mary

Chonda Pierce

Marvin Sapp

Chris Tomlin

Most on the list are also up for at least one nomination to receive a Dove Award this year.

The Gospel Music Association 2011 Dove Awards can be seen in the St. Louis area on April 24 at 7:00 p.m. on the GMA Channel or online at their Website. The Dove Awards are given to Christian musical artists. The music of these artists can be heard in the St. Louis area on one of two Christian radio stations. 99.1 Joy fm can be heard throughout St. Louis and adjoining counties. WIBI 91.1 fm can be heard on the east side and if you’re lucky enough to catch a clear channel as far as west of St. Charles county. Both can also be heard in live streams online.