In keeping with her mission to transform lives, heal hearts, and win souls, Pastor Paula White of Paula White Ministries (PWM) has partnered with Master's Touch Ministries Global to provide humanitarian relief and the Gospel message to impoverished countries located within the "10/40 Window," a rectangular region that spans across countries from western Africa to eastern Asia, and is home to over 82% of the world's poorest people.

While every major non-Christian religion is headquartered in the 10/40 Window – Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and a variety of indigenous religions, as well as millions of people whose beliefs are unaccounted for – most of the people in this region will never have a chance to hear the Gospel without missionary intercession.

"With PWM's support," says Dr. Bailey, "we can provide clean water to villages…educate our Palestinian children in the Jordan refugee camps…provide humanitarian relief for the refugees of Western Sahara who have been stranded in the scorching desert for several years…these are just a few examples of some of the outreaches that MTM is committed to."

Additionally, PWM's support enables MTM to continue to train world-wide leaders for Christ through its Global Impact Leadership Training Center, which offers an on-site six-month intensive training program designed to "equip stateside leaders and foreign nationals in Apostolic Missions by using a 'hands-on' and 'how-to' training method," says Dr. Bailey. "Students learn 21st century strategies for global and local outreach from the leading apostolic generals in our time."

To learn more about the minstry of Paula White and Paula White Ministries , visit www.paulawhiteministries.org. To learn more about Master's Touch Ministries Global, visit: http://mtmintl.org.

Belhaven College, a Christian Liberal Arts College in Jackson, Miss., has launched its new Virtual Online Education Program to help students all over the world receive a Christ-centered education.

The Belhaven Virtual Online Education Program is an accelerated program that offers a Bachelor of Science in Management and an Associate of Arts, which allows students to complete the Bachelor of Science program in less than four years. Classes are also available for home-schooled high school students who want to enhance their education or be dually enrolled in college without being on campus.

"Belhaven's program is unique among higher education distance learning courses because students also participate in a weekly real-time, online web cam class with professors and other students," said Provost Dr. Dan Fredericks. "This allows students to stay connected and motivated, reducing the traditionally high drop-out rates experienced by other online college programs."

Dr. Roger Parrott, college president, said, "the Virtual Online Education Program equips Christians both academically and spiritually for positions in mission, ministry or business." He adds that the Virtual Online Education Program combines Belhaven's 15 years of adult education success with a strong commitment to using virtual technology to meet the needs of students who are increasingly seeking online education.

Belhaven College has branch campuses in Houston, Orlando and Memphis, and is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Universities. Credits earned through the Belhaven Virtual Online Program are transferable. For more information, go to www.belhaven.edu or email virtualadmission@belhaven.edu.

The secret to achieving goals in theory is simple. It’s believing that you can accomplish them. Then you step out on faith, believing God will provide you with the tools necessary to complete each task. The tools could be money, or just people you need to cross paths with in order to complete the vision. In my career, the first thing I had to understand was that the vision was not mine. One day it hit me. All the trials it took to get where I am now, were stepping stones ordered by God. He allowed me to taste success, and then taste failure. He allowed me to get scammed, and then learn how to prevent such re-occurrences. The journey to achievement is a long, winding, up and down path. There will be caution signs, speed bumps, roadblocks, and even detours. Ultimately, if you stay the course and believe you will arrive at that goal.

Achievement eventually leads to being successful. However, I’ve

learned that not everybody has the same definition of success. Your idea of success may be contingent upon a yearly quota. Someone else’s success may be simply getting paid to do what they love to do. Inevitably, when you follow the path intended for your life, you keep re-defining your goals. Which propels you to higher and higher heights. When you’re not in your purpose it’s hard to be motivated to achieve. You will soon stop dreaming and setting goals. This will soon lead to complacency, and ultimately immobilization. “Many of us crucify ourselves between two thieves – regret for the past and fear of the future.”- (Fulton Oursler) I think not moving when the Lord moves you, gives birth to fear and immobilization. Don’t be afraid to move! You know what burns you. What your passionate about. Let God stir up the gift. You don’t need a million confirmations and prophecies. If God said it that settles it. Period! If you can’t hear from God, change what you’re doing that is clogging up the lines of communication. Change the worldly ideas you have of success. They feed into your psyche. God is all you need. Then you will hear him. Then you’re on the path to achieve. God Bless and Stay on the Path.

 

Theologian Offers New Views on Purpose
Professor Kirk Byron Jones

 
Is it wise to challenge traditional Christian understanding, especially when that understanding has helped to sell over 30 million copies of The Purpose Driven Life, pastor Rick Warren's best-selling book about finding your true calling?  Wise or not, a challenge is being waged by Kirk Byron Jones, a professor at Andover Newton Theological School.   

Jones sees the runaway success of Warren's book as an indication of how many people hunger for a definitive spiritual road map. But the purpose driven life notion of a divine plan for every human may not satisfy everyone. Jones says, “Many are either stuck not knowing their true purpose or stifled by a purpose that does not bring them genuine fulfillment because they believe God’s will is something other than their wholesome dreams and aspirations.” Jones offers, “Purpose was never meant to be secretive, mysterious, or drudgery. Your purpose has to do with the wholesome aspirations and dreams God is constantly inspiring in you. We must be less hesitant and afraid about playing those holy inspirations.”

Award-winning gospel twosome, BeBe and CeCe Winans, are gearing up for a much-anticipated reunion album and tour after more than 13 years apart. The brother and sister team officially kicked off their reunion with a performance with Melinda Doolittle on American Idol's sixth season finale. They are the first gospel artists to perform 'Idol.'

BeBe and CeCe, two of ten siblings of one of gospel music's first families, began their careers in 1987.  Over the years, they have won five Grammy Awards, eight Dove Awards, two NAACP Image Awards, one Soul Train Award and over a dozen Stellar Awards.  In 1994, BeBe & CeCe parted ways to pursue successful solo careers. 

BeBe pursued his musical passions with a number of solo albums and added acting to his repertoire with appearances on stage and in films. Of this newest chapter in their career BeBe says, "I'm grateful for BeBe & CeCe's past accomplishments.  But I'm so excited about coming back together and blazing new trails of hope into the hearts of people all around the world." 

CeCe, who released seven award-winning platinum and gold certified albums, states, "I'm very excited that the time has finally come for BeBe and I to reunite and encourage the world with uplifting, soul-changing music."

Bishop Charles E. Blake, presiding bishop of the Church Of God In Christ (COGIC) has appointed a new Chief Operating Officer (COO) to the international Pentecostal denomination. Bishop Charles E. Brown of New Orleans, Louisiana will manage the day-to-day activities of the denomination as the COO.

Brown will act on behalf of the presiding bishop to conduct business for the Church Of God In Christ. In the absence of the presiding bishop, Brown will negotiate contracts, execute documents, direct national church staff, and manage operations for the denomination.

Brown is the founder and senior pastor of Full Gospel Church Of God In Christ headquartered in New Orleans with an additional campus in Houston, Texas. He has also been an executive board member of the Church Of God In Christ since 1984. Brown is the president and founder of Church Growth Fellowship Conference USA, the coordinator of the National Leadership Conference for the Church Of God In Christ and is a board member for Save Africa's Children, a private, non-profit relief and development organization working in African nations to deliver aid and assistance to needy children.

He also serves as chaplain for the New Orleans Police Department and Spiritual Advisor for New Orleans Mayor, Ray Nagin.

Donald Lawrence's music is soaring on the charts. Of Billboard's current Top 5 gospel songs, the accomplished producer-songwriter produced four of them. The chart-topping songs currently on Billboard's Top 5 are:

#1 Encourage Yourself (Tri-City Singers – written & produced by Donald Lawrence);
#2 Faithful Is Our God (Hezekiah Walker & LFC – produced by Donald Lawrence);
#3 Blessed and Highly Favored (The Clark Sisters – produced by Donald Lawrence);
#4 Let Go (DeWayne Woods – executive produced by Donald Lawrence).

In addition to his production success, Lawrence is currently in talks to score the film adaptation of "Mama I Want to Sing" as well as contributing to Stevie Wonder's upcoming inspirational CD.

Lawrence is a multiple Grammy nominee and recipient of more than 15 Stellar Awards. He founded Quiet Water Entertainment, home to DeWayne Woods and The Murrills, in 2001.

Book, music and lyrics written by Miami Vice star Philip Michael Thomas and Sandi Morais

Sacha on Broadway is an original musical fairy-tale about a young girl's dream to become a Broadway star but she battles with the demons of fear and self-doubt. Sacha has the chance of a lifetime when she auditioned for a Broadway show. Overpowered by fear she messed up the routine and was thrown out. Feeling crushed she decided to quit and give up on her dream. Her mother Olive Goodman who gave up on her dream of becoming a prima ballerina is determined to stop Sacha from continuing on with the cycle of broken dreams.

Sacha on Broadway is a family musical that sends a positive message about love, hope, courage and the power within. The show is being produced in collaboration with Dr. Ruth Joyce Colbert Barnes Principal/CEO and cheif consultant for the Colbert Group.

Sacha on Broadway opens June 1st @ 8:00pm, June 2nd @ 8:00pm, June 3rd @ 3:00pm.

Venue: Jones High School Auditorium, 801 South Rio Grande Avenue.

For more information visit www.sandimorais.net

Tickets can be purchased online at www.peoplestheatre.org

Yolanda Denise King, daughter and eldest child of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., has died, said Steve Klein, a spokesman for the King Center.

King died late Tuesday in Santa Monica, Calif., at age 51. Klein said the family did not know the cause of death but that relatives think it might have been a heart problem.

The actor, speaker and producer was the founder and head of Higher Ground Productions, billed as a "gateway for inner peace, unity and global transformation." On her company's Web site, King described her mission as encouraging personal growth and positive social change.

King was also an author and advocate for peace and nonviolence, and held memberships in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference — which her father co-founded in 1957 — and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Her death comes little more than a year after the death of her mother, Coretta Scott King.

She appeared in numerous films and played Rosa Parks in the 1978 miniseries King. She also appeared in Ghosts of Mississippi and founded a production company called Higher Ground Productions.

Born in 1955 in Montgomery, Ala., King was just an infant when her home was bombed during the turbulent civil rights era.

She was the most visible and outspoken among the Kings' four children during activities honoring this year's Martin Luther King Day in January, the first since Coretta Scott King's death.

At her father's former Atlanta church, Ebenezer Baptist, she performed a series of one-actor skits on King Day this year that told stories including a girl's first ride on a desegregated bus and a college student's recollection of the 1963 desegregation of Birmingham, Ala.

She also urged the audience at Ebenezer to be a force for peace and love, and to use the King holiday each year to ask tough questions about their own beliefs on prejudice.

"We must keep reaching across the table and, in the tradition of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, feed each other," King said.

When asked then by The Associated Press how she was dealing with the loss of her mother, King responded: "I connected with her spirit so strongly. I am in direct contact with her spirit, and that has given me so much peace and so much strength."

A flag at The King Center, which King's mother founded in 1968 and where she was a board member, was lowered to half-staff on Wednesday.

Yolanda King is survived by her sister, the Rev. Bernice A. King; two brothers, Martin Luther King III and Dexter Scott King; and an extended family.

Arrangements were to be announced later, the family said in a statement.

— Associated Press