Gospeltainment
Former Mega-Church Leader Reveals Willful Act Of Courage In Powerful New Tell-All Book
'The Wall: Disaster Or Destiny? Lessons From Life's Crossroads'
Written By
Bishop Rick Hawkins
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS (April 15, 2014) - After hitting rock bottom and witnessing the many speculations, innuendos and rumors, former mega-church pastor Bishop Rick Hawkins releases the anticipated tell-all book, "The Wall: Disaster or Destiny? Lessons From Life's Crossroads."
Described as a 193-page account of his seven-year climb out of despair, Hawkins uses his downfall as an auto biographical-testimony on the mid-life madness that everyone faces, yet is too scared to address. He tackles hard topics concerning seasons of life and fearlessly puts his own life on display to produce "Lessons from Life's Crossroads."
Developmental psychologist and psychoanalyst Erik Erikson coined the term "midlife crisis" more than 30 years ago and whether the midlife transit is traumatic or just tricky, when you're a mega-church leader, husband and father, its no laughing matter.
In Hawkins' case he failed to resist temptation in many ways. As a result, church members left the congregation in droves-he recalls 700 in one week-he received flack regarding an "innocent relationship containing and maintaining the highest level of mutual respect and integrity," and his marriage of many years ended in divorce.
In "The Wall" Bishop Hawkins takes the reader on an emotional healing journey from his initial crash, his collision with the wall, and hitting rock bottom to the meaning of real friends, understanding recovery, renewed strength and so much more.
"Colliding with 'The Wall' causes different reactions for everyone, even if the very path leading to impact can have similar signposts for so many," states Hawkins. "Two things you can depend upon: Everyone remembers the moment they hit it; and once they do, they will be forced to reckon with the dizzying aftermath of its soul-crushing..."
"The Wall: Disaster or Destiny? Lessons From Life's Crossroads" is available in print at Amazon.com and is also available as an e-book for the Kindle, the Nook, and all Apple devices.
Gospel Jazz Saxophonist Todd Ledbetter Receives Nomination For The First Annual Gospel Blue M.I.C. Achievement Awards At Upcoming Independent Gospel Alliance Conference In Chesapeake, VA
Awards Ceremony To Be Held On Saturday, July 16, 2011 at 9:00AM EST
The First Annual Blue M.I.C. Awards is a breakfast ceremony which will honor those independent Gospel artists who have succeeded in Ministry, Industry, and Creativity. The Gospel Blue M.I.C. Achievement Awards is based on merit and works, not popularity and is organized by Brothaonline.com and the Independent Gospel Artists Alliance. A Blue Ribbon Panel has been selected to vote on nominees and winners.
Todd, who will be attending the event, is thrilled at the recognition. "I'm honored to be nominated for The First Annual Gospel Blue M.I.C. Achievement Awards," says Todd. "It's an exciting time to be an independent Gospel artist, and I hope more artists will get on board with this growing movement."
The industry is loving Todd's style and his unique merging of traditional jazz and inspirational music. CrossRhythms.com says, "By stripping back his band to a sparse trio of piano, bass, and saxophone, with drums on two tracks, Washington, DC-based saxophonist Todd Ledbetter definitely gets a long way towards achieving his aim of creating 'a musical tonic for the soul'. With a warm, rounded tone which at times resembles the best work of Grover Washington, Jr., (a luminary with whom Todd has worked), the musical textures here remain evocative and never descend to the elevator music clichés of some pop jazz offerings."
A true master of the instrument, Todd Ledbetter has worked with the crème of the crop including Grover Washington, Jr., James Moody, John Faddis, Eddie Harris, Ronnie Wells and Marcus Johnson. He's no stranger to gospel notables either having played with Bishop Walter Hawkins, Richard Smallwood, Byron Cage and Bryan Wilson. "The Jazz Psalmist", as he is known, has studied his craft at the University of Pittsburgh where he was tutored by Dr. Nathan Davis. For more information about Todd Ledbetter, log on to www.ToddLedbetter.com.
BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards premieres Sat, Feb 19th – Marvin Sapp, Beverly Crawford, Donnie McClurkin on Gospel Music Channel!!
THE ORIGINAL DREAMGIRL - JENNIFER HOLLIDAY
AND HER PASTOR - DR. RAPHAEL G. WARNOCK
BRINGING INSPIRATIONAL CD, “GOODNESS & MERCY”
Together, Jennifer Holliday – The Original Dream Girl and Two-Time Grammy Award winning recording artist, with the Rev. Raphael G. Warnock (pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta - the spiritual home of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ), have collaborated on their first inspirational CD, Goodness and Mercy (Euphonic Records). The project is a new form of ministry with a collection of sermons and songs that both Holliday and Warnock have written together to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ through word and worship to the world. This powerful duo will be ministering together at the historic Sixth Avenue Baptist Church (where Warnock was ordained as a minister) located at 1101 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SW in Birmingham, AL on Sunday, February 27, 2011 during the 8:30 and 11 a.m. worship services. Miss Holliday will be guest psalmist and Dr. Warnock will be preaching for this event that serves as the national kick-off for the rousing radio single, "God Is Faithful" that is now available as a digital download on CD Baby : http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/JenniferHollidayAndRevRaphael1 . The full "Goodness & Mercy" CD will be released later in the spring.
On Tuesday, March 1, 2011 @ 7:00 p.m. EST the duo will be in-studio guests for the on the nationally syndicated "Coco Brother Live" on the Radio One network.
As Warnock reflects on his own childhood with his father waking him up at 6 a.m. on a Saturday morning because no man should be laying in bed during daylight, Pastor Warnock opens the collection with an invitation to “Get Up!, Get Dressed, Get Going!” Over the eleven tracks comprising this unique project, Warnock and Holliday take turns providing listeners with inspiration to get them through life’s daily ups and downs.
Miss Holliday is most famously known for creating and portraying the dramatic role of Effie White in the original Broadway production of “Dream Girls” and her show-stopping signature song, "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going." Holliday has since recorded five solo CDs and two Broadway and movie soundtrack recordings. She has also made numerous guest TV appearances as an actress, most notably for playing the role of Lisa Knowles for five seasons on the hit Fox TV show, "Ally McBeal." Today, she continues to perform around the world in concerts and Symphony Pops Orchestra engagements, as well as, guest Broadway appearances.
Since 2005, Warnock has served as pastor of Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church. A graduate of Morehouse College, Warnock later earned Master of Divinity, Master of Philosophy, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from Union Theological Seminary in New York City. He interned at the Sixth Avenue Baptist Church where he eventually became a youth pastor prior to holding pastoral positions at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York City and Douglas Memorial Community Church in Baltimore. Warnock, known as a liberation theologian, is very passionate about Social-Justice. He is an "Activist-Pastor" and is constantly sought after as a speaker and guest commentator for CNN, ABC's "Good Morning America" and the CBS Evening News.
Gospel Legend and International Recording Artist
Vanessa Bell Armstrong Signs an Exclusive Recording and
Co-Management Agreement with Music World Gospel
(Houston, TX - February 28, 2011) -- Multiple GRAMMY® Award nominee and Stellar Award winner Vanessa Bell Armstrong today signed an exclusive recording and co-management agreement with Music World Gospel. Armstrong will be co-managed by Clive Ennis of CAnthony Entertainment.
"It has been a wonderful journey," said Vanessa Bell Armstrong. "I am so happy to have a new home with Music World Gospel. I am excited about working with my new team."
Since her 1983 debut solo recording, Peace Be Still, Armstrong has had a string of number one hit songs. She has recorded 15 critically-acclaimed and award-winning albums that include a mixture of traditional and contemporary gospel, praise and worship songs, greatest hits and "best of" packages. Throughout her career, she has worked and collaborated with numerous artists, including Pastor Shirley Caesar, Tramaine Hawkins, Yolanda Adams, Fred Hammond, Marvin Winans, The Winans, John P. Kee and the New Life Community Choir, among others. During the late 1980s, Armstrong had success as an R&B recording artist. Her self-titled 1987 album from Jive Records featured the Billboard charting hit "You Bring Out The Best In Me," as well as the club favorite "Pressing On." Her other career highlights include her 1987 Broadway debut at the Longacre Theatre, co-starring in Don't Get God Started with Giancarlo Esposito, BeBe Winans and Chip Fields, among others. In 1989, Armstrong had a cameo role in Oprah Winfrey's ABC miniseries, The Women of Brewster Place. She also recorded "Shine On Me," the theme song for the NBC hit series Amen. In 2011, at the 26th Annual Stellar Music Awards, Armstrong was presented with the Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones Legends Award.
Armstrong, who President Barack Obama has said is one of his favorite gospel artists, has a one-of-a kind gospel style and signature sound that is a perfect fit for Music World Gospel. "Vanessa Bell Armstrong is an extraordinary talent with an extraordinary gift," said Mathew Knowles, founder, President and CEO of Music World Entertainment. "We are honored that she chose Music World Gospel as her new home. She is one of the best vocalists of our time. She has influenced a generation of singers in various music genres. We look forward to continuing to build on her rich musical legacy."
"Vanessa Bell Armstrong's journey is a source of encouragement to many," said Clive Ennis, founder and CEO of CAnthony Entertainment. "She has flourished in several areas of entertainment throughout her remarkable career, making her one of the gospel greats of today. It is truly a privilege to work with such an exceptional individual and we are honored and excited about our new joint venture with Music World Gospel."
(Atlanta, GA) Premiering Sat, Feb 19th on the Gospel Music Channel, the BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards returns with some of gospel’s biggest stars including Marvin Sapp, Beverly Crawford, Donnie McClurkin, Kim Burrell, Ledisi and more.
Airing at 7:00 pm (EST), with an encore broadcast at 8:30 pm, this star-studded television special pays tribute to gospel legends Shirley Caesar and Commissioned.
Co-hosted by Donnie McClurkin & Kim Burrell, the 12th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards features unforgettable performances by gospel’s greatest vocalists including gospel powerhouse Beverly Crawford, Marvin Sapp, The Clark Sisters, Ledisi, and more!
For more information, please visit Gospel Music Channel website:http://www.watchgmctv.com/
BeBe and CeCe Winans and Mary Mary, the top two duos in contemporary gospel, will embark on the "Still Something Big" tour this Spring.
The title of the tour combines the names of the group's latest releases. "Still" is the title of the Winans duo's highly acclaimed, twice Grammy nominated release and "Something Big" is the title of the upcoming CD from the Marys slated to be released on March 29.
The siblings teamed up for a holiday serenaded on Jay Leno in December and will kick off their joint tour starting April 1.
STILL SOMETHING BIG TOUR DATES:
April 1st— Detroit, MI: Fox Theatre
April 2nd— Chicago, IL: Chicago Theatre
April 3rd—St. Louis, MO: Fox Theatre
April 6th— Washington, DC: Lincoln Theatre
April 8th—Upper Darby, PA: Tower Theatre
April 9th—New York, NY: The Theatre at Madison Square Garden
More dates to be announced shortly.
Ochocinco tweets about Beverly Crawford’s riveting performance on BET Celebration of Gospel!
"Beverly Crawford, y'all watching her cut up, I love her”
(Los Angeles, CA) In a tweet to over 1.5 million of his fans, NFL Star Chad Ochocinco raves about inspirational singer Beverly Crawford riveting performance on this year’s BET Celebration of Gospel TV Special.
The wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals is the latest in a long line of ardent fans including President Obama, Fantasia, Natalie Cole & Patti LaBelle who count JDI Records artist Beverly Crawford as one of their favorite singers.
