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Events

Michael W. Smith to be Inducted into Gospel Music Hall of Fame

By Kevin P. Donovan - Christian Post Reporter - Fri, Jan. 09 2009

Christian music legend Michael W. Smith and Country music star Dolly Parton will be among the latest additions to the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, according to an announcement this week.

The Gospel Music Association Foundation (GMAF) will also be inducting Dr. Bobby Jones, The Dixie Hummingbirds and music producer Lair Goss into the GMA Gospel Hall of Fame next month, announced GMAF president and CEO John W. Styll on Wednesday.

"This year’s class of GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductees have all achieved great professional and personal success in many different areas of the music and entertainment industries,” stated Styll, “but each shares a common heritage of the Gospel’s powerful impact on their lives.”

Established in 1971, the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame honors and celebrates the economic, cultural, social and spiritual contributions past and present that Christian and gospel music have made not only to Music City, but to the world.

Since its inception, the Hall of Fame has inducted more than 150 members, including The Winans, Elvis Presley, Amy Grant, Andrae Crouch, and Sandi Patty.

This year’s induction ceremony and dinner will be held on Feb. 2 at The Richland Country Club in Nashville, starting with a medallion ceremony and reception at 6:30 p.m. The induction ceremony and dinner will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Donnie McClurkin to Join Gospel Stars for Super Bowl Gospel Celebration

Josh Kimball - Christian Post Reporter - Sat, Jan. 10 2009

Grammy award-winning gospel singer and minister Donnie McClurkin will be taking part in the 10th Anniversary Super Bowl Gospel Celebration this month, joining Gospel music stars Mary Mary, Marvin Sapp and Hezekiah Walker.
“We are excited and honored that Donnie McClurkin, one of the greatest gospel artist of all time will take part in the tenth anniversary show,” announced Melanie Few, founder and president of Results, Inc., which produces the annual concert event.

“Donnie has been a longstanding supporter of Super Bowl Gospel Celebration and his performances are highly anticipated and beloved by the players and fans alike,” she added.

Last year, McClurkin directed the first NFL Players All-Star Choir, which consisted of more than 32 players including league stars and longtime event supporters such as Michael Gaines (Bills), Ovie Mughelli (Falcons), Richard Seymour (Patriots), Troy Vincent (Redskins/Retired), and Pro Bowlers Tommie Harris (Bears) and Ray Lewis (Ravens).

The All-Star Choir is scheduled to return this year when the Super Bowl Gospel Celebration invades the University of South Florida's SunDome in Tampa, Fla., on Jan. 30 – the Friday before Super Bowl Sunday.

"The unveiling of the players' choir at last year's show in Phoenix generated overwhelming excitement and we are planning for an encore performance in Tampa that will be equally as memorable," Few commented.

Since its inception, the "Super Bowl Gospel Celebration" has drawn crowds in the thousands and has demonstrated growth year-over-year, with recent sellouts of venues in major markets hosting the Super Bowl including Miami, Detroit, Jacksonville, Houston, and Phoenix. The idea behind the event is to provide athletes and fans a safe, entertaining venue to celebrate the Super Bowl and also to be inspired by the uplifting sounds and rich culture of Gospel music.

As the first and only gospel event sanctioned by the NFL for Super Bowl Weekend, "Super Bowl Gospel Celebration" has featured inspirational messages from some of the NFL’s key players, including Tony Dungy, Jerry Rice, John Elway, Chris Carter, Kurt Warner and Deion Sanders.

More than a concert, the event also serves as a local outreach as well as a fundraiser, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting national and local charities. Over the past nine years, over $200,000 has been raised for special causes.

Michael W. Smith Performs with the Jonas Brothers
Provident Label Group - January 12,2009

Michael W. Smith Performs with the Jonas Brothers at Ryman Auditorium- Last Sunday night, Michael W. Smith joined the Jonas Brothers in a sold-out show at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Michael W. Smith and the Jonas Brothers performed Smitty’s 1991 hit Place in This World. Later that evening Michael performed another song with Steven Curtis Chapman, Phil Vassar, Vince Gill and the Jonas Brothers. “A lot of the people we’ll bring up tonight are idols of ours,” Nick Jonas told the crowd. Other performers included: Jordin Sparks, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley and Amy Grant with Tim McGraw and Faith Hill introducing the trio. “They’re talented—this is more than just a boy band,” said Michael W. Smith of the Jonas Brothers.

ISRAEL HOUGHTON SELECTED TO PERFORM AT
2009 HEROES RED, WHITE & BLUE INAUGURAL BALL JAN. 20
Rick Hoganson - Thu, Jan 15, 2009

Multiple GRAMMY, Stellar, Dove Award Winner Joins Josh Groban, Anita Baker, Bebe and Cece Winans, George Duke, Slash, Donnie McClurkin, Robert Randolph, More
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Houghton Releases The Power Of One March 24, Begins Major Market Tour With Chris Tomlin Jan. 22

Nashville, Tenn., January 15, 2009 – Multiple GRAMMY, Stellar and Dove Award winner, Soul Train Award winner and double RIAA certified Gold-selling artist Israel Houghton, joins an all-star cast for the 2009 Heroes Red, White & Blue Inaugural Ball. Held Jan. 20 in Washington, DC, at the Warner Theatre beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET, the event is being executive produced by GRAMMY Award winning Nile Rodgers and hosted by Tiki Barber, sports broadcaster and former New York Giants (NFL) running back.

At the event, Israel plans to perform songs from his upcoming The Power Of One recording releasing March 24, 2009 on Integrity Music/Columbia Records. The album marks Israel's first solo studio offering after a string of highly successful New Breed live concert projects and features guest vocals from such genre-leading artists as tobyMac, Martin Smith of Delirious?, Mary Mary and Chevelle Franklyn. From its genre-blending roots reggae and heavy rock to sanctified funk and power pop, The Power of One features songs of hope, redemption and revelation.

In addition to Houghton, performers at the "Heroes Ball" will include Josh Groban, Anita Baker, Bebe and Cece Winans, George Duke, Slash, Naz, CHIC, Robert Randolph, Donnie McClurkin, Gary Morris, Lillias White and more. Billed as "Legends Past, Present and Future," the concert brings together multi-generational music icons to honor wounded servicemen and women recently returned from Iraq and Afghanistan, their families, active-duty personnel serving overseas, military leaders and other honored guests. The event will also benefit USO (www.uso.org) and TAPS (www.taps.org), and will be broadcast in its entirety to military bases around the world via the Pentagon Channel.

Limited tickets for this event are on sale now at www.heroball.org.

Immediately following the Heroes Ball, Israel embarks on a national major market, 37-city tour with Chris Tomlin (beginning Jan. 22). For his latest tour information, go to http://www.myspace.com/israelandnewbreedofficial.

Active as worship leader in his local church, Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church, Houston, Israel has written or co-written 11 CCLI Top 500 favorites, served as worship leader at Hillsong conferences, Franklin Graham crusades and is a featured CompassionArt songwriter and artist. Israel also ministers through concerts in the U.S. and around the world, including accompanying Alicia Keys at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards for a performance of George Michael's "Freedom '90," and as a performer at the 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards, taking part in a segment saluting Gospel music.

In 1995, Israel and Meleasa Houghton founded New Breed Ministries, an organization they continue to run and that is comprised of noted musicians and singers who serve within their respective churches and together serve the Church at large. Since then, Israel has amassed a legion of followers that bridges generational lines with popularity across African American, Latin and Caucasian listener lines. While blasting down barriers, he has been fittingly graced with 2 Gold-selling albums, 6 Dove Awards, 2 Stellar Awards, a Soul Train Award and 2 GRAMMY Awards, one for "Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album" for A Deeper Level and one for "Best Traditional Gospel Album" for Alive In South Africa. He also penned his first book with New Breed, A Deeper Level (Whitaker House), and wrote a chapter in the upcoming The Art of Compassion charity book.

Israel Houghton is signed to Integrity Music, distributed to Christian retail by Provident-Integrity Distribution and to the general market by Columbia Records/Sony-BMG Distribution. For more information, go to www.newbreedmusic.com.

4th Annual MOMENTUM AWARDS
Christian Press - Tue. Dec 16. 2008

NASHVILLE, TN– Indieheaven.com the leading Christian independent musician resource is excited to announce their 6th annual CIA Summit conference to be held March 25-28, 2009 at "The Foundry" in downtown Nashville, TN. The Summit has established itself as an event that focuses on the independent musician, encouraging attendees to create momentum, and to pursue passion and excellence in their music mission. Click Here for a recap of CIA Summit 2008.
CIA Summit founder Keith Mohr states, "In a time of rapid change in the Christian music industry, independent artists not only must be talented, they must also be educated on how to succeed as an independent, since 99% will remain indie. The CIA Summit equips, empowers, encourages, and delivers the truth about serving Christ through the medium of music."
At CIA Summit 2009, there will be plenty of performance opportunities for attendees, including an all day showcase on Thursday, March 26, 2009, plus concerts with top indie bands and singer songwriters each evening. To wrap up the conference, on Saturday evening, March 28, 2009, the 4th Annual MOMENTUM AWARDS will be held, which recognizes the pursuit of excellence in the independent Christian music mission. "We're going to have a great time and celebrate our independence, together," states Mohr.
The CIA Summit is open to musicians who create any style of music, for those just starting on their music mission, or seasoned veterans and former signed artists. Attendees will be encouraged to share their experiences and their missions through open discussions and networking.
Mentors include: Indieheaven President and CIA Sumit founder, Keith Mohr, Sue Ross of The Inner Vizion, Tom Jackson, Eric Copeland of Creative Soul, Wally Nason, Scott MacLeod, Byron Spradlin of ACT, with many more to come!
For more information on the CIA Summit, visit the Summit website at: www.ciasummit.com

Join NewSong At The Winter Jam 2009 Tour Spectacular!
NewSong - Thu. Dec 11. 2008

Coming To A City Near You
1/8/09 Roanoke, VA
1/9/09 Chattanooga, TN
1/10/09 Fayetteville, NC
1/11/09 Charlotte, NC
1/15/09 Augusta, GA
1/16/09 Tallahassee, FL
1/17/09 Tampa, FL
1/18/09 Macon, GA
1/23/09 Peoria, IL*
1/24/09 Des Moines, IA**
1/25/09 St. Charles, MO*
1/29/09 Cincinnati, OH
1/30/09 Cleveland, OH
1/31/09 Columbus, OH***
2/5/09 Southhaven, MS
2/6/09 Little Rock, AR
2/7/09 Birmingham, AL****
2/8/09 Duluth, GA2/13/09 Greensville, SC
2/14/09 Jacksonville, FL****
2/15/09 Mobile, AL
2/20/09 Columbia, SC
2/21/09 Greensboro, NC****
2/22/09 Norfolk, VA
2/26/09 Oklahoma City, OK
2/27/09 Tulsa, OK
2/28/09 Wichita, KS***
3/1/09 Council Bluffs, IA
3/6/09 Knoxville, TN*
3/7/09 Lexington, KY*
3/8/09 Tupelo, MS*
3/12/09 Grand Rapids, MI*
3/13/09 Ft. Wayne, IN*
3/14/09 Ypsilanti, MI*
3/15/09 Nashville, TN*

* No Brandon Heath; Also: The Afters
** No Hawk Nelson, Brandon Heath; Also: The Afters, BarlowGirl
*** No Hawk Nelson; Also: BarlowGirl
**** No Hawk Nelson; Also: Family Force 5
Over the past 13 years, Winter Jam has established itself as the largest annual tour in Christian Music. Last year over 311,000 people attended Winter Jam 2008 - out of which over 53,000 made a public decision for Christ! Our goal is to make Winter Jam 2009 our biggest and most impactful year ever!
As everyone knows, our current economic crisis has caused prices for practically everything to dramatically increase. Despite these financial challenges, Winter Jam has committed to maintaining our admission policy of ONLY $10 AT THE DOOR - no advance tickets, first come/first serve!
Please pray that God would bless the Winter Jam 2009 Tour Spectacular so that it is a powerful demonstration of His love and power!

Christian Ballet Ministry Takes Gospel to Israel

By Eric Young - Christian Post Reporter - Tue, Nov. 11 2008

America’s premier Christian ballet company kicked off their Israel tour Sunday, taking a story of hope, forgiveness and reconciliation to the world’s only Jewish state.

Ballet Magnificat!’s 13-day tour will hit Jerusalem, Haifa, and Tiberius before ending Nov. 22 in Tel-Aviv. At each stop, the Christian ballet ministry will be performing The Hiding Place, a powerful ballet based on the story of renowned holocaust survivor Corrie ten Boom, who has used the events that took place in the lives of herself and her family during the Nazi invasion to teach the world the power of forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

“I am thrilled to sit among the Israelis and breathe in their experience of Hiding Place,” commented the ballet’s choreographer, Jiri Sebastian Voborsky, in a public statement.

Though Israel forbids Christians from evangelizing in the country, the Jewish state has honored ten Boom as one of the Righteous Among the Nations for helping many Jews escape the Nazis during World War II.

Ten Boom and her family, all strong Christians, had become very active in the Dutch underground in 1942, hiding refugees and rescuing many Jews from certain death at the hands of the Nazi Party’s “Shield Squadron.”

After about two years of taking in refugees, the ten Booms were arrested in 1944 and sent to Scheveningen prison, where Corrie’s father died after ten days. Corrie’s sister also died later after the family was moved to the notorious Ravensbrück concentration camp in Germany. Corrie was eventually released on Christmas Day of December 1944 due to a clerical error. The women prisoners her age in the camp were killed the week following her release.

"God does not have problems. Only plans," she said following her release.

After the war, ten Boom returned to the Netherlands to set up rehabilitation centers. She returned to Germany in 1946, and traveled the world as a public speaker, appearing in over 60 countries, during which time she wrote many books – her most famous being The Hiding Place, which was made into a film in 1975 as well as the ballet performance performed by Ballet Magnificat!

Ballet Magnificat! – founded by Keith Thibodeaux and his wife, 1982 USA IBC silver medalist Kathy Thibodeaux – has taken the story of ten Boom from coast to coast in the United States, in addition to Honduras, Belize, Czech Republic and the Netherlands.

Since its founding in 1986, Ballet Magnificat! has been dedicated to presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world through the medium of dance. Other performances include Ruth, Deliver Us, and The Scarlet Cord, inspired by the story of Rahab.

The company tours the United States visiting Christian churches to showcase their work and features dancers who have won medals at the USA International Ballet Competition.

Their work is “truly one of the most outstanding tributes to our Lord Jesus Christ that I've ever seen," exclaims Dr. Ed Young, senior pastor of Second Baptist Church in Houston, in a public endorsement.

"I've loved having the opportunity to work with Ballet Magnificat!,” adds singer and songwriter Twila Paris. “They are extremely talented and gracious people who understand why they do what they do and truly offer their gifts to the Lord and to the body of Christ in ministry."

Ballet Magnificat!’s tour in Israel follows a trip to Columbia, South America, where Ballet Magnificat! represented the United States in the IV International Festival of Dance. It also comes as Israel marks its 60th anniversary year.

DecembeRadio Kicks Off 'Satisfied'Tour

By Kevin P. Donovan - Christian Post Reporter - Tue, Nov. 04 2008

Christian rock band DecembeRadio has kicked off their three-week fall tour in support of their new release, Satisified.

The Satisified Tour, which will hit 10 cities before concluding on Nov. 21, will feature bands Ruth (Tooth & Nail Records) and Sevenglory (7 Spin Music) in addition to speaker Billy Wayne.

The band’s set will feature new songs from the recent release, described by Billboard magazine as “Christian rock that will make you drive fast and pray loud” and by Stereotruth.net as a “sledgehammer.”

The album “hits you over the head like a ton of bricks and doesn’t let up until you’re well into the whole disc,” Stereotruth wrote.

Ahead of their upcoming tour, DecembeRadio lead singer and bass player Josh Reedy reported that the band was “stoked.”

“We are most at home when we are playing live, and the songs on the new record are full of energy,” he said in an announcement.

“They have already been a blast to share with audiences,” Reedy added.

The frontman also expressed the band’s excitement over having Sevenglory and Ruth out with them and “our good friend Billy Wayne,” who has been speaking to youth for over 20 years.

“It’s gonna be a night of 'rock 'n roll for your soul,” he exclaimed.

Since coming on to the scene five years ago, DecembeRadio has won a Dove Award for "Rock Album of the Year" with their self-titled 2006 album and was nominated for "Best Rock Or Rap Gospel Album" at the 49th Grammy Awards with the same album.

DecembeRadio’s new release, the band’s fourth, debuted at No. 3 on the CCM chart and at No. 116 on the Billboard Top 200 chart on street week.

It features the band’s new CHR single, “Believer,” which has been No. 1 at CHR radio with Most Increased Airplay and its rising rock single, “Better Man,” which has appeared at No. 1 on the New and Active chart and continues to gain momentum.

Released in August 2008, Satisfied was recorded during breaks between the band’s tours.

Evangelism Experts Prepare to Equip, Inspire Church Leaders for Outreach

By Eric Young - Christian Post Reporter - Sun, Nov. 02 2008

Over 2,000 Christian leaders from across the nation will be gathering in San Diego this week for one of the largest and most influential conventions on church outreach in the world.

And after a year of dismal church growth figures and amid startling anti-Christian trends, organizers and past participants of the National Outreach Convention say the need for the Nov. 5-7 gathering is clear.

“There’s nowhere like the National Outreach Convention to come and get ideas and inspiration and just get charged up evangelistically,” commented speaker and author Mark Mittleberg.

“When you’re with like-minded people who have a passion for evangelism, and not only that but you’re with some of the top experts in the world in the area of evangelism … for me, it’s a ‘cannot miss’ conference,” added Dr. Nancy Grisham, founder of Livin’ Ignited.

“There’s an energy [at the convention] that just refuels me in a special way,” she said.

Presented by Outreach magazine, this year’s National Outreach Convention comes at a time when 90 percent of churches are not growing and after a year that saw only two percent of church members invite an unchurched person to church and only 50 percent of churches having at least one person come to Christ.

It also comes as one of the most significant shifts in the nation’s culture is the declining reputation of Christianity, especially among young Americans.

A decade ago the vast majority of Americans outside the Christian faith, including young people, felt favorably toward Christianity’s role in society. According to a Barna study released late last year, however, just 16 percent of non-Christians in their late teens and twenties said they have a "good impression" of Christianity.

Common negative perceptions include that present-day Christianity is judgmental (87 percent), hypocritical (85 percent), old-fashioned (78 percent), and too involved in politics (75 percent).

“Their (young non-Christians’) perceptions about Christianity were not always accurate,” commented David Kinnaman, the president of The Barna Group, “but what surprised me was not only the severity of their frustration with Christians, but also how frequently young born again Christians expressed some of the very same comments as young non-Christians."

As a result of the increasingly hostile and negative toward Christianity, half of senior pastors interviewed by Barna for its study contend that ministry is more difficult than ever before.

With the ever-changing societal landscape, church leaders across the nation are being encouraged to attend – if not send an entire team – to this week’s National Outreach Convention to gain concepts and ideas that can be used to help them develop their churches and strengthen their outreach.

“I think the greatest takeaway for us as a church is that our entire team gets to come together and hear concepts and ideas, and we’re processing them together and we’re going to be able to take all of that, digest it, go back home and then figure out how to interpret it for our context,” commented Joe Handley of Rolling Hills Covenant Church. “That’s the greatest take home value.”

During the upcoming three-day outreach convention, pastors and church leaders will hear from leaders of some of the most innovative churches in the United States. Featured speakers include author and speaker Erwin McManus, apologist Lee Strobel, pastor Dan Kimball of Vintage Faith Church in Santa Cruz, pastor Miles McPherson of The Rock Church in San Diego, and LifeWay Christian Resources director Ed Stetzer.

The National Outreach Convention also features an exhibit floor where participants can find and explore the latest products and services that can empower their church for effective ministry. More than 120 resource providers will be present at this year’s convention.

In addition, there will be more than 50 workshops on topics including youth outreach, community outreach, creative outreach, and targeted outreach. Outreach ideas and innovations as well as emerging trends will also be shared.

Since 2003, NOC has been inspiring, equipping, and energizing church leaders who have a passion for reaching the unchurched in their local communities. It is billed as the single largest gathering of church leaders, and resource providers for the sole purpose of outreach.