- Created on 28 January 2013
Kirk Franklin Joins GSN's American Bible Challenge
GSN announced today that Grammy winner, musician and producer Kirk Franklin – known for his unique Style of Gospel music that blends contemporary sounds, flawless harmonies and inspiring lyrics – will join The American Bible Challenge as musical co-host for the second season of the network's highly rated original one-hour game show.
Franklin, along with musical director Kris Pooley, will lead the show's choir with additional new members joining to support GSN's hit series. Season 2 of THE AMERICAN BIBLE CHALLENGE, hosted by Jeff Foxworthy and produced by RelativityREAL, will premiere on Thursday, March 21st at 8 pm ET/PT on GSN.
"We are excited that Kirk will bring his exuberant sound to 'The American Bible Challenge'" said Amy Introcaso-Davis, Executive Vice President of Programming for GSN. "Kirk Franklin, the consummate musician, joins host Jeff Foxworthy, the consummate comedian – a combination of incredible talent that will prove to be entertaining, fun and inspirational in this truly unique game format."
"I'm very excited to create the musical environment for THE AMERICAN BIBLE CHALLENGE," says Franklin. "The show is a fresh and fun approach to celebrating the Word of God, and being able to provide an element of praise, worship and honor is both exciting and humbling."
or nearly two decades, Franklin has been a multi-platinum-selling artist with a unique Style of gospel music that incorporates soulful contemporary sounds – a pioneer in gap-bridging musicianship, uniting audiences across gospel, hip hop, pop, and R&B. His irresistible rhythms and rhapsodies have resulted in albums that consistently top both Billboard's Gospel and Christian charts and ascend into the Top 10 of the R&B/Hip Hop chart. He is also the New York Times bestselling author of The Blueprint: A Plan for Living Above Life's Storms (Gotham/Penguin).
Franklin is also the host and executive producer of the gospel talent show "Sunday Best," the highest-rated gospel program in BET network history, now heading into its fourth season. To date, the musical trendsetter has garnered nine Grammy Awards, an American Music Award, 39 Stellar Awards (gospel), 16 Dove Awards (CCM), eight NAACP Image Awards, two BET Music Awards, a Soul Train Award and numerous others.
Comedian and author Jeff Foxworthy hosts The American Bible Challenge, a studio-based game in which contestants compete based on their knowledge of the Bible. Utilizing current as well as historical references, questions are drawn from the rich, dense narrative found in the world's best-selling book. The contestants share their compelling back-stories and each team plays for a charitable organization.
The first season of The American Bible Challenge garnered the network's highest delivery in its 18-year history with 1.7 million total viewers for its series premiere and over 13 million total viewers during its run. The success of the show has extended to digital and Social platforms with the launch of The American Bible Challenge Game for iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle and Facebook, which currently has over 8 million game plays, and over 500,000 users.
The American Bible Challenge is produced by RelativityREAL for GSN, with RelativityREAL's Tom Forman ("Extreme Makeover: Home Edition") serving as Executive Producer on the project along with Janelle Fiorito ("Extra Virgin"). Nick Stuart and Maura Dunbar of Odyssey Networks are Consulting Producers.
Odyssey Networks is the country's largest multi-faith coalition dedicated to producing and distributing media that creates understanding among people of different beliefs and perspectives. Jeff Foxworthy also serves as Producer. Embassy Row's Michael Davies as well as Parallel Entertainment's J.P. Williams and Jennifer Novak serve as Executive Producers.
- Created on 25 January 2013
Assault Charges Against Pastor Creflo Dollar Dropped - Report
Creflo Dollar will not have to appear in court to face charges that he assaulted his 15-year-old daughter, according to a newspaper report from Fayette County.
The Fayatte County Citizen reports that state court prosecutors allowed Dollar to participate in a pre-trial intervention program that requires him to complete an anger management program and pay $1,072 in fees and court costs.
Dollar is the head of World Changers Church International based in College Park.
He was initially charged with simple battery and cruelty to children after investigators said he attacked his teenage daughter during an argument at their home.
According to a police report from the incident, Dollar's daughter called police to say her father attacked her after they argued about whether or not she could attend a party. The report said Dollar had choked his daughter, then threw her to the ground, punched her and hit her with his shoe.
Dollar denied the allegations when he spoke to his congregation immediately following the event.
"She was not choked," Dollar said. "She was not punched. The truth is, a family conversation with our youngest daughter got emotional. Things escalated from there."
Dollar told police he was trying to restrain his daughter when she "became very disrespectful," the report said.
Investigators said Dollar admitted to spanking his daughter and wrestling her to the floor, but said it was because she had hit him.
According to the Citizen report, State Court Solicitor Jamie Inagawa said he had reviewed the evidence and interviewed the daughter before deciding if the case met the criteria for the pre-trial intervention program.
- Created on 25 January 2013
Pop Star Katy Perry Says 'Speaking In Tongues is as Normal as ‘Pass The Salt’'
Speaking in tongues is rarely discussed. It is even rarer to be discussed in Hollywood.
Pop star Katy Perry also learned to speak in tongues while growing up with her strict religious parents. The singer previously said, "Speaking in tongues is as normal to me as 'Pass the salt' ... "My dad speaks in tongues and my mom interprets it. That's their gift."
She is not alone!
"Transformers" star Megan Fox says she has been speaking in tongues since she was a child and often has to restrain herself during trips to church. Fox, who was raised as a member of the Pentecostal church, says she used to take part in glossolalia sessions–the muttering of speech-like syllables as a form of religious expression–from the age of eight.
Fox admits she is a devout Christian and often feels overcome by religious fervor when she attends church services. She tells Esquire magazine, "The energy is so intense in the room that you feel like anything can happen... I have seen magical, crazy things happen. I've seen people be healed. Even now, in the church I go to, during praise and worship I could feel that I was maybe getting ready to speak in tongues, and I'd have to shut it off because I don't know what that church would do if I started screaming out in tongues in the back."
The origin of the practice is believed to be the miracle of Pentecost — as told in the New Testament book of Acts — when Jesus' apostles were said to be filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in languages foreign to themselves. And a gifted few are said to have done it in early Christian congregations. Saint Paul called it "speaking in the tongues of angels."
The practice is widely embraced by Pentecostals but looked at askance by many other Christian denominations.
- Created on 25 January 2013
Stellar Award 2013 Winners - Full LIst
Below is a full list of all the Stellar Award winners for 2013. The show opened up with Tye Tribett performing. Charles Jenkins lead the audience in a soul rousing chorus of his hit song “Awesome” as the closer!
Producer of the Year Award: Isaac Caree, Eric Dawkins, Warryn Campbell, Gerald Haddon & Rick Robinson
Traditional Duo/Group of the Year: The Williams Brothers!
The 2013 Choir of the Year: Pastor Charles Jenkins & Fellowship Chicago
The Contemporary Male of the Year Award: Fred Hammond!
Rap Hip Hop Gospel CD of the Year: Da’ T.R.U.T.H Truth On Duty
Traditional Male of the Year Award: Marvin Sapp
Contemporary Female of the Year : Le’Andria Johnson
Traditional Female of the Year: Vanessa Bell Armstrong
Urban/Inspirational Single/Performance of the Year: Mary Mary“Go Get It”!
Special Event CD of the Year: Mary Mary
New Artists of The Year: Le’Andria Johnson
Male Vocalist Of The Year: Marvin Sapp
Albertina Walker Female Vocalist Of The Year: Kierra Sheard
Group Duo Or The Year: Mary Mary
Choir of The Year: Charles Jenkins & Fellowship Chicago
Children’s Project of the Year: Anointed by God
Music Video of the Year Short Format:Darren Grant for “Go Get It”!
Thomas A. Dorsey Award honors Bishop TD Jakes
Song Of The Year: Charles Jenkins Awesome
Artist Of The Year: Marvin Sapp
Congratulations to the Winners!
Photo: Courtesy of Karanja A Ajanaku, Tri-State Defender
- Created on 24 January 2013
Do You Live In The Spirit?
Scripture tells us that John was filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb (Luke 1:15, 41) by Christ himself, whom Mary had just conceived by the Holy Spirit.
When Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth John lept in her womb as they were filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:41).
The fire of the Spirit dwelt in John and made him the forerunner of the coming Messiah. John was led by the Spirit into the wilderness prior to his ministry where he was tested and grew in the word of God. John's clothing was reminiscent of the prophet Elijah (see Kings 1:8). John broke the prophetic silence of the previous centuries when he began to speak the word of God to the people of Israel.
His message was similar to the message of the Old Testament prophets who chided the people of God for their unfaithfulness and who tried to awaken true repentance in them. Among a people unconcerned with the things of God, it was his work to awaken their interest, unsettle them from their complacency, and arouse in them enough good will to recognize and receive Christ when he came. Are you eager to hear God's word and to be changed by it through the power of the Holy Spirit?
Mark (1:1-8)
As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you;
he will prepare your way.
A voice of one crying out in the desert:
"Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths."
John the Baptist appeared in the desert
proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
People of the whole Judean countryside
and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem
were going out to him
and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River
as they acknowledged their sins.
John was clothed in camel's hair,
with a leather belt around his waist.
He fed on locusts and wild honey.
And this is what he proclaimed:
"One mightier than I is coming after me.
I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.
I have baptized you with water;
he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
Jesus is ready to give us the fire of his Spirit that we may radiate the joy and truth of the gospel to a world in desperate need of God's light and truth. His word has power to change and transform our lives that we may be lights pointing others to Christ. Like John the Baptist, we too are called to give testimony to the light and truth of Jesus Christ. Do you point others to Christ in the way you live, work, and speak?
