The Gospel Music Association is partnering with Christian Copyright Licensing International and PraiseHymn Sound Tracks to provide a chance for churches of all denominations and cultures to send in a version of their church choir singing “How Great Is Our God,” the no. 1 church song in the nation the past several years. 

As a result, selected choir entries will then be compiled into a collage of the song to be presented throughout The 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards broadcast on April 24, 2011 on GMC at 7:00p.m. EST. Additionally, choir submissions will also enter a random drawing for three iPads and hundreds of dollars worth of iTunes gift cards. The Campaign, will hand out the awards on Wednesday, April 20th at the historic Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia. Tickets for the 42nd Annual Dove Awards are available at http://www.ticketmaster.com/ or at the Fox Theatre’s box office.

Howard Rachinski, President/CEO of CCLI and GMA Board member says, “It is a real privilege for CCLI to be partnering with the GMA in the Dove Awards celebration of church choirs. This exciting campaign is a befitting tribute to our rich heritage of song, as evidenced in hundreds of thousands of churches every week across our nation.

Jackie Pattilo, GMA Board member says, “The heart and soul of the Gospel music industry is directly rooted in, and derived from, the songs that are birthed in our churches. We are delighted to express our appreciation to churches everywhere with this special celebration.”

The landing page for church choirs to submit their video is http://www.ccli.com/CCLITV/dove/?. Submissions must be made by March 21st.

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Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth, reality TV star has received her preacher’s license and has begun teaching the word of God at the Weller Street Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles.

“Sunday was a very special day for me in terms of my ministry and spiritual growth,” the one-named TV talent told blackvoices’ Jawn Murray. “God is in control and I’m moving in divine direction!”

The 37-year-old former contestant on “The Apprentice” has been a member of the church for two years and is loving it.

“I love my church! It’s a small little church, but God is doing big things,” she shared.



The first episode of the new Trin-i-tee 5:7 series “A New Day, A New Journey…on the Road with Trin-i-tee 5:7” is out!  The girls are inviting you to join them on their journey toward their new CD release titled “Angel and Chanelle” In Stores May 31.  Watch the first episode in the video below.

Ted Williams, the homeless man who became an overnight viral sensation with his “golden voice,” is getting his own reality show.

Williams’ rep told TMZ Tuesday that he signed a deal to film “Second Chances at Life,” a series that will document the 53-year-old’s journey as he rebuilds his career and personal life.

PICTURES: Ted Williams: Before and After

The show will reportedly begin filming in two weeks.

His rep did not say whether a network picked up the series, but did add that it is already planning a Season 2, which will showcase other people who deserve a second chance.

The news comes a month after Williams left a private rehabilitation facility in Texas against medical advice, two weeks after checking in for drug and alcohol dependency. 

He voluntarily entered the rehab following a one-on-one conversation with Dr. Phil in January.

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Elev8 posted video of an exclusive listening session & performance from the 3x Grammy Award Winning Duo Mary Mary. They performed songs from the upcoming release of “Something Big”!  Get a glimpse of what to expect when the album hits stores March 29th. 

This is going to create quite a sales dilemma.. Kirk Franklin’s album drops one week before.  I’m just going to have to get both of these albums. 

Problably the most anticipated CD all year will hit the shelves on March 22, 2011.  The project “Hello Fear” by Kirk Franklin is one that many are marking their calendars for.  You can now pre-order the CD by clicking here.  Check out the artwork for the album.  I think it gives us a clue for what the album is going to help us get through.

Track Listing for Hello Fear:

1. Hello Fear
2. Interlude
3. Before I Die
4. I Am
5. But The Blood
6. Everyone Hurts
7. I Smile
8. Give Me featuring Mali Music
9. Never Alone Interlude
10. The Altar featuring Marvin Sapp & Beverly Crawford
11. Something About The Name Jesus Pt. 2 featuring Rance Allen, Marvin Sapp, John P. Kee & Isaac Carree
12. Today
13. The Moment #1
14. The Moment #2
15. A God Like You

The U.S. Central Command said negotiations for the release of the hostages were ongoing when there was gunfire at approximately 1 a.m. ET Tuesday.

U.S. Forces responded to the gunfire aboard the pirated vessel, named the Quest, by boarding the yacht but discovered that all the hostages had been shot.

“Despite immediate steps to provide life-saving care, all four hostages ultimately died of their wounds,” the U.S. Central Command said in a statement.

The Quest was owned by Scott Adams, who obtained a master of theology degree from Fuller in 2010, and his wife, Jean. Two other Americans – Phyllis Mackay and Robert A. Riggle – were on board when the vessel was hijacked by pirates off the coast of Oman on Friday.

U.S. Forces responded with four U.S. Navy warships as they sought to recover the Quest. They were closely monitoring the Quest for three days before the hostages were shot.

Gen James N. Mattis, U.S. Central Command Commander, stated, “We express our deepest condolences for the innocent lives callously lost aboard the Quest.”

Fuller Seminary had requested urgent prayers for the four hostages on Monday.

“Adam … is a beloved friend of the seminary. We ask that all members and friends of the Fuller community keep Scott, his wife, and their two accompanying friends in their thoughts and prayers,” the Southern California-based seminary stated on its website.

Scott and Jean Adams were retired and had been sailing around the world for the past six years on their yacht. The couple was on a worldwide trip to distribute Bibles.

On the couple’s website, Jean Adams wrote, “Another aspect of our travels is friendship evangelism – that is, finding homes for thousands of Bibles, which have been donated through grants and gifts, as we travel from place to place.”

The couple wrote on their website their 2011 trip plans, which began in Phuket, an island off of Thailand, and would end in Crete in April. In between, the couple would stop in Sri Lanka, India, Oman, and Djibouti, among other places.

After Crete, the couple had planned to also travel to Turkey and London.

According to the U.S. Central Command, it is believed that 19 pirates were involved in the hijacking of the Quest. Two pirates were killed during confrontation on the vessel and 13 were captured and detained. Two were already in U.S. Forces custody and another two were found dead aboard the yacht.

Christian Post reporter Michelle A. Vu contributed to this story.

BET Sunday Best Returns — BET’s hit singing competition Sunday Best is preparing to return for its fourth season. Auditions for this year’s show kick off on Feb. 19 in Dallas, TX at The Potter’s House (Main Campus). Auditions will continue in Los Angeles (March 5) and Atlanta, GA (March 12). Celebrity judges Donnie McClurkin and Mary Mary will return and Kirk Franklin will again serve as the show’s guest host.  The show will air in April on BET.

Sunday Best 4 Auditions:

Dallas, TX (COMPLETED)
Saturday February, 19 (7am-1pm)
The Potter’s House (Main – Dallas Campus)
6777 W Kiest Blvd
Dallas, Texas 75236

Los Angeles, CA (COMPLETED)
Saturday, March 5 (7am-1pm)
West Angeles Cathedral 
3600 Crenshaw Blvd.,
Los Angeles, CA 90016

WANT MORE GREAT NEWS!

Atlanta, GA
Saturday, March 12 (7am-1pm)
Greater Travelers Rest Baptist Church
4650 Flat Shoals Parkway
Decatur, GA 30034

APPROVED SONG LIST:

1. Amazing Grace
2. He Touched Me
3. It Is Well With My Soul
4. I Know Who Holds Tomorrow
5. Old Time Religion
6. Every Time I Feel The Spirit
7. When We All Get To Heaven
8. Love Lifted Me
9. Jesus Is On The Mainline
10. Go Tell It On The Mountain
11. Silver & Gold (Kirk Franklin)
12. Stand (Donnie McClurkin)
13. The Best In Me (Marvin Sapp)
14. You Are God Alone (Marvin Sapp)
15. I Need You Now (Smokie Norful)
16. Encourage Yourself (Donald Lawrence)