::THE SLICE REPORT WITH MONA AUSTIN

By Mona Austin Ahead of the May 31 release of his 13th studio album, Kirk Franklin blessed his most faithful fans in DC with a free listening party on Wednesday.  Held at Bishop Alfred C. Owens' Greater Mount Calvary Holy Church and hosted by local radio personality Cheryl Jackson of Praise 104.7-FM, the Q&A format of the event had an intimate vibe as Franklin took questions from and selfies with a few audience members, between playing cuts from the album.  Kirk is the first to admit that singing is not his forte. He shines brightest as musician, producer and songwriter. Franklin is truly in his element as a writer on the "Long, Live, Love" project.   Fans have grown accustomed to jammable beats and feel good hooks, but this work is more heart-impacting as he lends the same strong pen he displayed for Tamela Mann's hits to himself to provoke self examination and spiritual excavation with the goal of embracing God's matchless kind of  love.  God's...

buzzz worthy. . . Archbishop Alfred C. Owens , leader of the Greater Mt. Calvary Holiness Church is recovering from a mild heart attack.  Shortly after the 8:00 a.m. service on Sunday, a service that was dedicated to the 65th birthday of Co-Pastor Susie Owens, while sitting in his office Bishop Alfred C. Owens, he began to feel ill. He was soon taken by paramedics to the Washington Hospital Center. According to an official statement from the church, extensive evaluation and testing concluded on Monday that he had suffered a mild heart attack, likely in his office after the service.  For the love of the people and his beloved wife, Bishop “preached his heart out.” Now with his wife at his side and a cadre of family and friends praying for him, Bishop is doing well at home. Co-Pastor Owens said, “Having Bishop alive is the best birthday gift I could have."