Four-time Stellar Award winner Myron Butler and Levi follow up their critically acclaimed debut project Set Me Free, with their sophomore CD appropriately titled Stronger, which is scheduled to hit stores Tuesday, August 28.

Stronger maintains the vibe and lyrical relevance from the singer's debut album. Butler modestly refers to his sophomore release as a continuation of the first album with a stronger message. "It's what God has given me to give his people," adds the singer, "My goal as a songwriter and as a leader is to deliver a message that empowers people to do what God has called them to do."

Butler proves more than ever his ability to write meaningful & life-changing songs, while extending his take on an increasingly popular sub genre style of hip hop/ soft rock gospel music.

Myron Butler and Levi fans can expect exactly what the title suggests from the new album–a lyrically stronger and more inventive sound. The 10-track CD largely produced by Butler, features the group's harmonious style absorbed in the 70's funk guitar church driven song, "Jesus Saves." "I Live" is another stand out track that features a gospel-rock simulated sound and showcases the singer's edgy lead vocals. Additionally, the Dallas native rewrote his blueprint for a successful hit radio single with the album's title track "Stronger," which has all the makings of a universal mantra with a hint of hip hop flair.

"The album is a little bit of everything," explains Butler, "I really try to cover all the base …GOD is not just one thing and our music shouldn't be either. Everybody is at a different place and they may need something different to propel them into their destiny."

In addition to the release of the Stronger CD, the group will release their first ever full-length concert DVD of the same name, on October 2. The video features show-stopping vocal performances, compelling new age dance chorography, and special bonus interview footage. The Gospel Music Channel recorded the concert in front of an auditorium of adoring music lovers in Nashville, TN. The GMC programming executives plan to air the concert on their signature show Front Row Live, this summer. Check your local cable provider for listings.

Stronger, shows Myron Butler & Levi for what they will be perpetually known for – great musical talent, diversity, innovation, relevant lyrics and much more.

There is no stopping the Truth! Pastor Earl B. Hall, II, your host for “Let’s Talk Truth” is launching the first ever live call in gospel internet radio show. This show will be heard by thousands of people and you can participate in this ground breaking endeavor. This call in talk show is by invitation only! Go now and get your free invitation by going to www.letstalktruth.net. There you will be able to get your access code and pin number to be able to call into this worldwide controversial talk show. You can call in using any phone and even popular web based phones like Skype and Yahoo Pager!

Your participation in this ground breaking history making show is just a mouse click away. Go now to www.letstalktruth.net and complete a onetime registration that will enable you to call in and participate in this world wide talk show. We will have inspiring and engaging guest that will be there to answer the tough questions from a true biblical perspective.
This show will launch worldwide July 11, 2007 at 3:00pm CST (4:00pm EST) from the HolyRevialRadio Studio in Milwaukee, WI. For this and all other information, go to www.letstalktruth.net or www.holyrevivalradio.com.

Participants in the prestigious Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) Internship Program attended a reception held at New York Life Insurance Company on Friday, July 13, 2007. At the reception, interns asked a panel of young African-American executives from New York Life questions about their personal and work-related achievements. Seven of this year's 41 selected interns are pictured with the event's moderator and senior executive from New York Life Investment Management, LLC and a representative from the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc.

    Pictured (from left to right): Sean Roker, from St. Albans, NY; Laurence Wilson, from Florissant, MO; Ralph Tyler, from Cleveland Heights, OH; Jefferson C. Boyce, senior managing director, New York Life Investment Management, LLC; Lynn Jennings, internship program manager, CBCF; Argatonia Weatherington, from Miami, FL; Elan Mitchell, from Atlanta, GA; Ashley Johnson, from Birmingham, AL; and Jermaine Alexander, from Jamaica, NY.

    This summer program allows talented undergraduate students to work on Capitol Hill with a member of the Congressional Black Caucus. Mr.
Roker is interning for Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (D-6-NY); Mr. Wilson is interning for Rep. William Lacy Clay, Jr., (D-1-MO); Mr. Tyler is interning for Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-11-OH); Ms. Weatherington is interning for Rep. Kendrick B. Meek (D-17-FL); Ms. Mitchell is interning for Rep. John Lewis (D-5-GA); Ms. Johnson is interning for Rep. Artur Davis (D-7-AL); and Mr. Alexander is interning for Rep.
Charles B. Rangel (D-15-NY).

    This is the seventh year the program has been funded in part by a grant from the New York Life Foundation. Through its Nurturing the Children initiative, the Foundation supports organizations, programs and services that target young people, particularly in the areas of mentoring, safe places to learn and grow, and educational enhancement opportunities.

Domestic violence occurs in all cultures. It exists in every country of the globe. It occurs within every faith community. Yes, women in the church are abused. There was a time when believers dismissed all of this as something that rarely occurred in Christian homes. No longer can we maintain such naiveté. And, DV knows no socioeconomic boundaries. Rich women, poor women, black women, white women, Hispanic women, educated women, illiterate women, religious women, beautiful women –all women are potential targets of violence and therefore all are at some degree at risk.

And while domestic violence is generally viewed as “violence against women”, in reality, both men and women are assaulted, and it occurs in same sex (homosexual/lesbian) and heterosexual relationships. Statistics indicate that of those victimized by an intimate partner, 85% are women and 15% are men. In other words, women are 5 to 8 times more likely than men to be victimized by an intimate partner.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, domestic violence is a serious, preventable public health problem affecting more than 32 million Americans, or more than 10% of the U.S. population. It should be noted that the figures referenced above are only a sampling of the true incidence of DV because many victims are reluctant to report the abuse.

During next month’s issue, “Domestic Violence –Part Two”, we will discuss the causes of DV, why victims stay in the relationship, and possible ways to address this concern.

( July 16, 2007) Ingrid Saunders Jones, senior vice president, The Coca-Cola Company and Chair of The Coca-Cola Foundation, awarded four $50,000 grants to Louisiana HBCU's Dillard University, Grambling State University, Southern University and Xavier University for students impacted by Hurricane Katrina at a press conference to kick off the Essence Music Festival presented by Coca-Cola and its return to New Orleans.

Pictured left to right:
Dr. Horace Judson, president, Grambling State University, Dr. Victor Ukpolo, Chancellor, Southern University at New Orleans, Ingrid Saunders Jones, senior vice president, The Coca-Cola Company, Dr. Norman Francis, president, Xavier University, Dr. Marvalene Hughes, president, Dillard University and Maurice Jenkins, senior vice president, UNCF, were all on hand to receive this much needed support for students at their institutions

God has already forgiven us. He has given us the Band-Aid to cover the wound but we fail to apply it because we feel like we have done too awful to deserve to even be healed. Are there any real people reading this? As long as we keep our wound exposed, people can affect you, they can constantly remind you of what you used to be and what you used to do and they can pour salt into your wound and in fact they can even advance the initial infection. Understand this, when you come to Christ, there is no condemnation (Romans 8:1), so stop beating yourself up about not being worthy enough because even without the mistake, you still aren't worthy enough. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The same people who are talking about you, they too have fallen. They may have not bungee jumped but it does not matter because sin is sin. Forgive yourself, realize that you are worth it, not because of anything you did but because God says so. After you have identified the issue and forgiven yourself, it is MOST important that you make sure you repent. Repentance is not asking for forgiveness, repentance is the act of turning away. What good is it to call the police on an abusive spouse, and then stay with them? Logic says that they are going to probably come back with a greater vengeance when they get released from prison and it will only get worse. When you made the statement that you wanted to be free, you bound up that issue but because you did not leave, because you did not turn away from the issue, you give it the ability to come back into your life. Understand that once we forgive ourselves, let the issue go and repent.  We are then at a place where God can use us. Many of us hold and harbor so much, so many times, that we are spiritually paraplegic. We have the gift, even the anointing, but the fact that we close our hands around the issues and grasp them; it means that we are not able to lay hold of what God has for us. In order to be able to grab something, your hands have to be empty. Your hands have to be free! They have got to stop working to form their own devices for success!

See we not only need to let go of our issues but we need to let go of our wills. So many of us are holding on to what we want to do that we are not laying hold of what God wants us to do and we keep wondering why we can't move. Well, plain and simple, if God is not in it, it won't succeed. God is throwing out this lifeline and you are trying to get a hold of it but you are so busy trying to maneuver around your man-made handicap that you are complaining that it is too hard. Then, when you do manage your way on the saver, it gets so uncomfortable that you slip and you have two options, falling to a place that was lower than where you started or freeing your hands of your will, your issues, your problems and fully grabbing hold to Jesus. Let it go, it is time for God to use you. Stop trying to fix it. What’s done is done. Forgive yourself and move on and for the people who are in the latter of the article, your "will" will not override God's, so either get in his or be ready to hit the water real soon.

The strategic collaboration of Alpha Dog and Tyscot Records has garnered a historical #1 debut on the Billboard Gospel Charts. 

      Tyscot Records celebrates its first #1 album debut in the 31 year history of the longest running independent Gospel label in the country as Bishop Jones and his church choir rejoice for charting at number 1 with their first CD.

      The forecast for the project looked promising well before its June 26 release.  Bryant Scott, Tyscot President stated online sales for Welcome to the City were at a record 15 times more that any other new project they have touched. That includes works by John P. Kee, the Anointed Pace Sisters, Deitrick Haddon and other top names in gospel.

      "This is exciting because this is Bishop Jones' first release and not many artists have a #1 debut on their first project," says Bryant Scott – President, Tyscot Records. "We are very proud of this CD, which is in stores and online everywhere, along with the exclusive two-disc DigiPak version sold exclusively at Wal-mart and walmart.com."
 
      A grand album release concert was held at the Gardena, CA sanctuary on the Sunday before the album release which featured a pre-recorded congratulatory message from Diddy, who is a member of the 20,000 City of Refuge.

      Still climbing the Radio & Records charts is the lead off single "Not About Us" produced by Gerald Haddon.

Bishop T.D. Jakes' MegaFest, which many consider to be his signature event, is getting shelved for a second year. The Bishop has decided to focus his efforts on conferences such as For Ladies Only, For Men Only, etc. His explanation for the decision is below.
 
      "After much thought and consideration, we have decided not to host MegaFest in 2008. The Potter's House will revisit the idea of hosting MegaFest in future years and will announce that decision publicly, once made. The Potter's House has immensely enjoyed the popular event and we are overwhelmed with the support and interest that we have received in Atlanta as well as nationally, regarding MegaFest.
 
      At this point and time, we have decided to focus our efforts on our other events such as For Ladies Only, For Men Only, The Pastors' and Leadership Conference and our Faith for Africa missionary efforts, to name a few.
 
      I would like to emphasize that the ministry's decision does not in any way reflect negatively on Atlanta. Mayor Shirley Franklin and the citizens of Atlanta, as well as the city's government including the Georgia Dome, Georgia World Congress Center, Philips Arena, the Convention and Visitors Bureau officials, hotels and restaurants have all gone beyond our most ambitious expectations as they made our conference attendees feel welcomed and their presence appreciated. On behalf of The Potter's House church family, our partners, and friends, we extend our sincerest gratitude to the great city of Atlanta.
 
      The Potter's House is focused on and committed to providing our members and those that attend our events with a thought-provoking, moving, meaningful and spiritually based experience. We will continue to look at our events to ensure they accomplish these goals."

Monday, July 9, 2007, Atlanta, GA—The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) today announced the winners of the 2007 Christian Book Awards during the 2007 International Christian Retail Show (ICRS) in Atlanta. New York Times and USA Today bestselling novelist Karen Kingsbury won the 2007 Christian Book of the Year Award for her novel Ever After (Zondervan, December 2006). Kingsbury, who has more than six million books in print, accepted the award in person. Interviews with Kingsbury are available upon request (Karen Campbell, Zondervan, 616-698-3246).

Presented annually to the finest in Christian publishing, the 2007 Christian Book Awards recognize excellence in six genre categories. Titles are nominated by member publishers and then evaluated by a panel of expert judges. The Christian Book of the Year is chosen from all 30 finalists and factors in sales. The 2007 category winners are:
Bibles – Archaeological Study Bible NIV (Zondervan, March 2006, ISBN-13: 9780310926054)
Bible Reference & Study – The IVP Atlas of Bible History by Paul Lawrence (IVP Academic/InterVarsity Press, September 2006, ISBN-13: 9780830824526)
Children & Youth – Sexy Girls by Hayley DiMarco (Revell/Baker Publishing Group, February 2006, ISBN-13: 9780800730840)
Christian Life – What Jesus Demands from the World by John Piper (Crossway Books, September 2006, ISBN-13: 9781581348453)
Fiction – When Crickets Cry by Charles Martin (Thomas Nelson, April 2006, ISBN-13: 9781595540546)
Inspiration & Gift – Pearls of Great Price by Joni Eareckson Tada (Zondervan, December 2006, ISBN-13: 9780310262985)

ECPA is partnering with major retailers, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, Crossings, and numerous Christian retailers, to feature these winning titles in-store and online. Additional consumer promotional support is provided by Christianity Today Inc. (CTi) via its website and family of magazines.
The Christian Book Awards, established by ECPA in 1978 as the Gold Medallion Book Awards, are the oldest and among the most prestigious in the religious publishing industry. The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) is an international non-profit trade organization, comprised of 260 member companies worldwide, representing a combined revenue of more than $2.3 billion. For more information, visit www.ecpa.org or call 480-966-3998.

PYONGYANG, North Korea – The Voice of the Martyrs (VOM), an international organization that assists persecuted Christians around the world, today launched a worldwide campaign to free a North Korean man awaiting public execution for the crime of simply being a Christian.

For more than a year, Son Jong Nam, former North Korean Army officer turned underground evangelist, has been beaten, tortured and held in a bleak, North Korean death row basement jail in this capital city. He has been sentenced to public execution as an example to the North Korean people.

VOM has been joined in the initiative by U.S. Senator and presidential candidate Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), a noted supporter of human rights for North Korean refugees. Brownback sent letters last week, also signed by Senators Baucus (D-Mont.), Durbin (D-Ill.), Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Vitter (R-La.), asking U.S. Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice and U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to work to secure the release of the Christian prisoner.

The Voice of the Martyrs (www.persecution.com), headquartered in Bartlesville, Okla., is a non-profit, interdenominational organization with a vision for aiding Christians around the world who are being persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ, fulfilling the “Great Commission” and educating the world about the ongoing persecution of Christians.