The release of Marvin Sapp's third and latest offering, THIRSTY, has garnered several career "firsts" for the singer. At retail, THIRSTY became Sapp's first ever No. 1 debut on Billboard's Gospel chart. Seven weeks later, the CD is still at #1 – making Sapp the only Gospel artist in 2007 to maintain the number one slot for longer than four weeks.

His runaway hit single "Never Would Have Made It" is Sapp's first and only No. 1 single on the Nielsen BDS Gospel chart. In securing the #1 spot, "Never Would Have Made It" 'jumped five positions on the chart – representing the biggest jump to #1 by any single to date on the BDS Gospel chart. It took "Never Would Have Made It" just under 12 weeks after entering R&R's Gospel Top 30 at No. 25 – the highest debut week of May 28th – to make it to #1. No other single since Kirk Franklin's "Looking For You" in November 2005 has successfully attained such a feat.

"When I first heard "Never Would Have Made It" I knew it was a powerful song and it speaks directly to the hearts of all who hear it, which undoubtedly is why it is performing so well," says James "Jazzy" Jordan, SVP/GM of Zomba Gospel. "Marvin Sapp has one of the most recognizable and magnetic voices in Gospel, and has consistently delivered great music. It is exciting to see him experience this level of success at this point of his career and we are looking forward to THIRSTY being at the top of the charts for many more weeks to come. It isn't going away any time soon."

Marvin Sapp's upcoming television appearances include BET's Bobby Jones Gospel and TV One's Gospel of Music With Jeff Majors. Additionally, Sapp will be performing next Friday, August 31, at The New York Call's "Brother-to-Brother Gathering" where Bishop T.D. Jakes will be the guest speaker.

Last week ArticlesOfInfo.com reported to you that Pastor Thomas Weeks was arrested for viciously beating his wife – popular televangelist Juanita Bynum. Since then, Weeks has hired a team of lawyers and a gang of publicists to aggressively defend him in what plans to be one of the most high profile "Black Church" trial ever.

But ArticleOfInfo.com has learned that Bishop Weeks has found a creative way to pay for all those lawyers and publicists. You see, the Pastor is asking his parishioners to pay for them.

Friends and family of Pastor Weeks are sending out word that they have set up a fund, called "The Raven Fund," which will cover all the expenses of defending the Pastor from any civil or criminal claims stemming from his brutal beating of Juanita.

But a lot of Weeks' congregants are reaching out, saying that they're not willing to foot the bill for the Pastor's disgraceful actions. Tells one of Weeks' parishioners, "He beat on Juanita and now he wants us to pay the bill for it … That's one debt he's going to have to pay for himself."

The estranged husband of national evangelist Juanita Bynum was facing turmoil in his personal life in the months before he allegedly lashed out and assaulted his successful wife in a hotel parking lot.

"I'm not going back," said Gilyard, who is engaged to be married. "How can he counsel people about their marriages if he can't take care of his own business. That was his wife."

August 1, 2007 (Valley Forge, PA)—More than 13 million children suffer hunger, homelessness and illiteracy in the richest nation on earth. In response to this startling statistic and the Christian community’s increasing concern for our nation’s poor, Judson Press has released Hope for Children in Poverty: Profiles and Possibilities, edited by Ron Sider and Heidi Unruh. Ten percent of proceeds from sales of this book will support the Children in Poverty initiative of National Ministries, American Baptist Churches USA.

Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president of the Children’s Defense Fund, sets our moral compass in her foreword for this important new resource. She writes “We all have a stake in improving the lives of America’s children, and for people of faith, this is more than just an opportunity: it is a mandate and a calling.” In Hope for Children in Poverty, Sider and Unruh respond to this mandate and calling by drawing together the expertise of academics, activists, pastors and social service professionals to consider the lives and special concerns—educational, physical, sociological and political—of children living in poverty.

But this comprehensive reader does more than simply analyze the issues. It explores real solutions through public policy and faith-based organizations. In its review, Publishers Weekly praised the book as “…a concrete starting point for those in government, social services and churches looking for solutions to these desperate problems.” A free online study guide complements the book and facilitates its use in small group settings.

About the Editors:
Ronald J. Sider is professor of theology, holistic ministry and public policy as well as director of the Sider Center on Ministry and Public Policy at Palmer Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pa. A widely known speaker and writer, Sider is also president of Evangelicals for Social Action, publisher of PRISM magazine and a contributing editor to Christianity Today and Sojourners magazines. His Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger was recognized by Christianity Today as one of the 100 most influential religious books of the twentieth century.

Heidi Unruh has researched and written extensively about church-based community ministry, including co-authoring the books Churches That Make a Difference and Savoring Souls, Serving Society. As director of the Congregations, Community Outreach and Leadership Development Project affiliated with the Evangelicals for Social Action, she serves as a trainer and consultant on faith-based community development.

Hope for Children in Poverty (ISBN 978-0-8170-1505-3, $16.00) is available from Judson Press, a publishing ministry of National Ministries, American Baptist Churches USA. Founded in 1824, Judson publishes Christ-centered leadership resources for the transformation of persons, congregations, communities and cultures. For a complete catalog of Judson resources, call 800-458-3766 or visit www.judsonpress.com.

Detroit Free Press recently called her "a marketing whiz on an almost immortal mission." Known as the "connector and PR coach," Pam Perry knows how to pull the right people together for the right project at the right time and garner the right publicity. Her public relations and advertising career spans over two decades.

Mastering print, radio and television, Perry has been employed at the Detroit Free Press, WNIC FM and Christian Television Network (CTN). She has even published a 40,000-circulation magazine, Soul Source. Perry has provided PR counsel to clients like McDonald's while at Hermanoff and Associates agency and provided fund development and public relations for Joy of Jesus, Inc. and The Salvation Army.

Perry is the founder of BART (Blacks in Advertising, Radio & Television), a nonprofit networking organization for African Americans in the media. Over a ten-year period, the organization hosted career conferences, award programs honoring African American heroes in the industry and organized professional development meetings. She is a past winner of the "One to Watch" Award from the American Women in Radio and TV – Detroit Chapter and jointly won an Emmy for her work as a producer for "The Edge with Jeffrey Miller.

"One of the nation's foremost experts in the African American Christian market, Perry is the chief visionary of Ministry Marketing Solutions, Inc. The public relations and marketing consulting firm which opened in 2000. Some of her clients include authors Bishop Thomas Weeks, Bishop T.D. Jakes, Bishop Donald Hilliard, Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook, Dr. Pat Bailey and Pastor Bill Winston.

A consummate communicator, Perry has taught journalism and penned columns for the Michigan Chronicle/ Michigan Front Page and currently is a columnist for Keeping Family First online magazine and on the board of Inspired Living magazine. Her work has also appeared in Gospel Today magazine, The Detroit News, The Detroit Free Press, CBA Marketplace Magazine, Precious Times Magazine, Christian Covenant News and The Christian Communicator.

Her passion is Christian books and assisting writers become authors through the American Christian Writers Association where she is president/founder of the Detroit Chapter. As a book publicity coach, she hosts weekly teleconferences on various PR/marketing topics with self-published authors and provides PR counsel to ministries nationwide and trains church marketing staffs. She is also the author of: Quick & Easy Ministry Marketing Solutions – 115 PR tips to brand your ministry.

For information about publicity coaching, ministry consulting or Pam Perry's availability for speaking engagements or seminars, contact her office.

Website: www.ministrymarketingsolutions.com 

The conference is designed to equip individuals who work and aspire to be apart of the music and fine arts industry. Recording artist, Lance Williams and True Worship will host its annual True Worship Retreat, Thursday, September 6th through Saturday, September 8th, 2007. The site for this year's event is the New Hope Baptist Church located at 106 Sussex Avenue, Newark, NJ. The retreat kicks off Thursday, September 6th with a concert Featuring today's most popular national artists. Including Byron Cage, JJ Hairston and Youthful Praise, Dewayne Woods, Sheri Jones-Moffett and more to be added! These groups reflect the varied sound and style that gospel music offers.

The concert is scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM and it is guaranteed to be a packed house, so make your plans now to attend. Pastor Sheryl Brady will take the podium on Friday, September 7th. Pastor, speaker, recording Artist, Wife, Mother and Grandmother. Sheryl Brady does it all with grace, wisdom and inspiration. She has traveled extensively around the globe for more than 25 years as a psalmist, and speaker at conferences and churches including Bishop T. D. Jakes at his MEGA-Fest conferences. Musical guest for that evening will be the incomparable Ms. Kim Burrell. The retreat would not be complete without finishing it off with an outstanding Saturday line up of worship leaders, gospel artists and pastors to facilitate the days' workshops sessions and services. Instructors include Richard Smallwood, Kim Burrell, Donald Lawrence, Jonathan Nelson, Natalie Wilson and DeWayne Woods. Three general services are also scheduled throughout the day with presenters: Pastor Hezekiah Walker, Bishop Kenneth Moales, Sr., and Bishop Liston Page. These heart-pounding expositors of the Word are sure to stir your heart, mind and soul. All-access invitations are being extended to the Press. Interview opportunities with any of the above mentioned artists or ministers can be scheduled upon request and availability. We invite all interested Press to contact True Worship Ministries at (732) 545-9301 or trueworshipsings@aol.com

Contact: Lox Entertainment Agency
Phone: (973) 351-1569
Email: Loxentertainment@aol.com
Website: www.Trueworship.org

Rebirth Clothing, an urban wear line, will serve as a sponsor for the BET Bobby Jones Gospel celebrity gift bags to be distributed at the signature Bobby Jones Gospel tapings taking place in Washington, DC on July 20 – 22 and July 27 – 29, 2007.

      The pre-taped Bobby Jones Gospel episodes are scheduled to later air on the BET network in the Fall 2007 season.

      The selection of Rebirth as a sponsor aligned with Bobby Jones Gospel's spirited theme of "inspiration and uplift through gospel music." Rebirth provides a collection, which blends bold colors and printed double entendre messages that include phrases such as: "I Ain't Mad At Ya…, Respect Me, and 4Given.

      Launched in 2005, Rebirth Clothing's mission is to combat the negative images often reinforced in fashion by creating a brand that is trendy yet offers an uplifting message to those who wear it and those who observe it. "I realized that there was a significant need for apparel that was fashionable and that combined today's culture with the word of God,' said Cyril Guerra Jr., founder and head designer for the company.

      As title sponsor of the Bobby Jones Gospel celebrity gift bags, Rebirth will provide apparel to be included in giveaway packages to show participants and select audience members.

      Viewers can also look forward to seeing Rebirth Clothing on other BET programs this year such as "Lift Every Voice," where show host Brother Gerard will be seen wearing the company's signature shirts.

      For more information, contact the Rebirth Clothing media relations at 1-888-2-Rebirth or visit online at www.rebirthstore.com.

25,000 women are expected in Orlando Florida, August 8 – 11, as Juanita Bynum presents the, 2007 Women On The Front Line Conference, which will be held at the Orange County Convention Center. Speakers and Musical Guest include Dr. Bridget Hillard, Darlene Bishop, Tramaine Hawkins, Myron Williams, Kierra "KiKi" Sheard, and The Clark Sisters, just to name a few.

Women On The Front Line is a conference that was started 5 years ago, by Juanita Bynum, the founder of Juanita Bynum Ministries, Flow Records and Flow Publishing. She has established herself as a chart topping singer, with the release of Piece of My Passion which made her the best selling female gospel artist of 2006, a New York Times best selling author of The Threshing Floor, No More Sheets, and The Matters of The Heart, and continues to speak to millions nationwide.

Dr. Bynum created Women On The Front Line as an intimate way of connecting women from around the world for 4 days of empowerment seminars, networking, and fellowship. This is going to be one of the largest women's conferences in history. Dr. Bynum is calling all women who have ever attended a WOFL conference to come together for a Frontline Reunion. Women will receive information regarding taking their careers to the next level, guides to healthy living, and tools to embrace their inner-beauty, strength and spirituality.

"I'm so excited to see everyone because God has made such provisions for so many new things that I will be able to share with them during our 4 days together," said Dr Bynum.

A new area that is being introduced this year is, Little Women On The Front Line. This is a new segment being offered for young girls from ages 12 to 18. Dr. Bynum feels that our girls are in crisis and as WOMEN, we cannot leave them behind. A separate mini-conference with workshops and general sessions are planned just for them, with chart topping musical guest Kiera "KiKi" Sheard, coming to share her testimony and discuss issues that are facing young women today.

Dr. Bynum states, "I have gone through many transformations in my life and overcome adversities that would have made many give up. There was a time when I was broken emotionally and financially. I could have allowed the pain, and all that happened to me throughout my whole life destroy me. Instead I decided one day that if I stayed pitiful, broken and sad, waiting for someone to come along and make me happy then everyone who had ever hurt me in my life would have won, and that's too much power to give any one person. What better word for me to share than, encouraging my sisters to take back their lives and to become Women of Authority."