Category: News

Pastor Shirley Caesar to dedicate Youth Night of her 2013 annual conference to Martin

The 41st annual conference of Shirley Caesar Outreach Ministries will be held August 4-9, at the Mount Calvary Word of Faith Church in Raleigh (see flyer).  This year, she is making a call to all the youth.  Read more here: Pastor Shirley Caesar shows support in memory Trayvon Martin!

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Rance Allen chats with Tavis Smiley on PBS – July 2

(Indianapolis, IN) Rance Allen continues to make his rounds across the country promoting The Rance Allen Group‘s current project Amazing Grace as well as the accompanying documentary, Music Majors: The Rance Allen Group. His latest stop is in Los Angeles, CA for a chat with renowned journalist and host, Tavis Smiley.
A longtime fan of the group, Smiley invited Allen as a special guest on
his PBS program to discuss the group’s influence on gospel music, the
current project and more.
The interview will air on July 2, on PBS. Check your local listings for times in your area or click here for more information.
The Rance Allen Group’s current project, Amazing Grace,
is currently available in stores and online. This 2-disc CD/DVD special
package features the new songs from the legendary group as well as
their documentary, Music Majors: The Rance Allen Group. For more
information, visit www.tyscot.com.

Mavis Staples talks to NPR about new album

Grammy winner Mavis Staples has a new album.  Hear the story behind it here: Gospel Legend Mavis Staples Comes ‘Full Circle’

GMF’s Libra Boyd is guest on Bob Marovich’s “Gospel Memories” Radio Show – June 15

Libra & Bob in 2011

Tune in to Chicago’s WLUW 88.7 FM (or the live webcast at www.gospelmemories.com) this Saturday, June 15 at 11am EST, for host Bob Marovich’s interview with GMF’s Libra Boyd.  Bob is a friend of GMF as well as an author and walking encyclopedia of gospel music history.

“Libra Boyd, founder and editor of Gospel Music
Fever who helped raise the money for the Barrett Sisters documentary,
is our special guest on Saturday’s Gospel Memories. She’ll share with us
her other brushes with gospel royalty.” – Host Bob Marovich

Livre’ to appear on VH1’s Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta

Update (6/11/13) – From the J. Hardy Agency –

“Due to miscommunication Livre’ will be appearing on the 10th episode (JUNE 24, 2013) of VH1’s Love & Hip Hop Atlanta NOT the 10th Day of June 2013. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and hope that you will tune in on Monday, June 24, 2013! Thanks for your continued support!”

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Atlanta, GA (Tuesday, June 4, 2013) –  Contemporary gospel’s brightest newcomers Livre’ (pronounced LIV-RAY) will make their network television debut aboard next week’s episode of VH1’s hit reality series Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta.  Their appearance on the docu-soap, set to air Monday, June 10, at 8 PM EST, marks just one of many reasons the Bronx-bred sextet have to
celebrate as reports also indicate their newest single “I Will Be Alright” has blasted back onto Billboard’s Top Gospel Singles Chart this week at #26. Listen below.

 

Are you a youth with talent? “Wilson Idol” Talent Search 2013 wants you!

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Summerville Promotion and Production Company (SPPC) has begun its search for talented youth to compete in the first annual “Wilson Idol” contest. Wilson Idol is a local competition sponsored by SPPC and Teaching Academics for Life Learning Outreach Ministries (TALL-1 OM) which will find musical, dance and acting talent from Wilson’s youth, ages 10-18.
The competition will give Wilson’s youth an opportunity to showcase their talent in the areas of solo music, band/group music, dance/step and acting. Cash prizes will be awarded and the top performer will be given an opportunity to perform for Pastor Shirley Caesar, Queen of Gospel and will be given a part in the onstage production of the award winning gospel play, “Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child” written and produced by Dr. Mildred Summerville. All winners will be featured in TPC Magazine and within The City Insight and posted on their websites, www.tcpmagazineusa.com and www.thecityinsight.com. This event will showcase diverse talents throughout the community and give all interested youth an opportunity to reach their full potential while building their confidence, social skills, and communication skills.

The competition is being produced by Dr. Mildred Summerville, Founder/CEO of Teaching Academics for Life Learning 1-Outreach Ministries (TALL1-OM). Dr. Summerville established TALL 1-OM, a community-based nonprofit organization, to strengthen academic achievement and bring about a multicultural awareness within the community on various issues hindering students’ academic success. This awareness serves as a strong force for overcoming barriers such as gangs, crime, drug abuse, teen pregnancy, tobacco use and HIV/AIDS prevention. In addition to its focus on academic achievement, TALL-1 aims to help youth with learning enhanced social and life skills to assist them in becoming healthy functioning members of the community.

As a means to carry out its mission, TALL-1 established the James and Leanther Summerville Academy, named to honor Summerville’s parents. The Academy is a community base school serving suspended students from Wilson County Schools offering them an opportunity to continue their education. Its fundamental purpose is to improve academic performance and reduce negative behavior, leading to a decrease in the number of suspensions and dropouts.

Youth can obtain the Wilson Idol Rules and Application Package by calling Dr. Mildred Summerville at 252-230-2689, Marjie Slagle at 252-265-2688, emailing your request to [email protected], or by picking one up at the J&L Summerville Academy, 618 Tarboro St. NE, Wilson, NC 27893. Additional information on Summerville’s Entrepreneur Program can be obtained by calling Dr. Summerville or emailing her at [email protected].

Damon Little recovering well, personally thanks fans for payers

(Baltimore, MD)  Damon Little announced two weeks ago that he would
have surgery on April 22, but he entered the hospital earlier, on April
15, for emergency open heart surgery, and now he wants everyone to know
his progress in this update letter: 

I just want to take some
time to inform my fans, friends, family, and the gospel music industry
on the progress of my surgery. As momma used to say, “this is from the
horse’s mouth.”  Thanks be to God, my operation went very well.
Although I had a few slight setbacks, I am alive and I want to give God
all the praise.  I was told before surgery that I probably would need
stents, a pacemaker, or animal parts for the bypass surgery, but God
fixed it that when the doctors opened me up they were able to repair my
heart without those things because a supernatural healing had
already begun. I didn’t need a pacemaker, or foreign animal parts to
complete the surgery.

The surgery should have only lasted four
hours but lasted almost eight hours instead. The chief surgeon explained
to me that they fought hard to restart the heart because it was only
working at 18%.  My body was rejecting the heart and would not let the
pulmonary-lung machine go.  The chief surgeon did not want to give up,
and did few other techniques to restart the heart. He believed I was too
young and strong to go out like that.  The doctor told me that he
remembered hearing me say, “yea though I walk through the valley, I will
fear no evil for though art with me” before I received anesthesia.
Saints, God was truly with me because my heart restarted and climbed to
36.5% and has continued to climb. 

After entering ICU, I had
another setback, where mucus began to build up all over my body. My ICU
nurse treated me horribly that night after my surgery. She wasn’t aware
that I was coherent and the more I attempted to communicate with my
hands for help, the more she medicated me for comfort, thinking I was
delirious.  Once again I was at death’s door, but God sent an angel, who
was the morning nurse. He had been off for three days and decided to
come in two hours early for his shift. He found me choking, and started
working on me. Since then I’ve remained stable, and I am now in cardiac
rehab.  I want everyone to know, that I don’t have to assume. I know God
is truly a way maker, so please keep me in your prayers and I will be
speaking to my pastors, radio announcers, promoters, sponsors, and
colleagues in the industry, friends, and family very soon.

On April 27, Damon celebrated “a true birthday of being renewed in spirit
and happy to be alive.”  You can continue to send well wishes to
P.O. Box 29806, Baltimore, MD. 21216, [email protected],
or 410-462-5371.   
Damon has one more request: “Everyone eat a slice of sugar-free cake on my
birthday for me. Lol…I look forward to personally making calls in
May—God Bless.”

Carolyn Pettiford-Ryals hosts her popular “It’s You And Me” Women’s Retreat – May 11

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Desmond Pringle joins Cancer Treatment Centers of America for concert series

(Zion, IL)  Noted gospel singer/songwriter Desmond Pringle is teaming up with Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) to present a three city inspirational concert event to inspire hope in Chicago, Charleston and Los Angeles as Kingdom Records releases his new CD, Fidelity, on May 14, 2013. His current radio single “Can’t Even Imagine” is #22 on Billboard magazine’s Hot Gospel Songs chart.

The series of music and worship-filled events kicks off in Chicago on Thursday, May 2, with the city’s leading pastors and choirs participating in “An Evening of Inspiration” at 7:30 PM at Grace Apostolic Faith Church.

“I’ve worked with the most prominent Christian artists and leaders of our time, Pringle said, “and I am so very honored to partner with Rev. Percy McCray and Cancer Treatment Centers of America.” Rev. McCray leads the Our Journey of Hope program at CTCA in Illinois, a community outreach program to assist faith based organizations establish ministry programs to support parishioners and their families who are facing life threatening illnesses.

“We are so grateful to the Lord for providing us with this opportunity to serve our congregations most challenged members,” he stated.

“We are going to have a beautiful and inspired time,” said Rev. McCray, who will serve as the MC of the events. “We are offering a night of inspiration and hope with a stellar lineup of invited guests, choirs and ministries. We are extending an invitation to all of the people living with cancer and their supporters to come and bask in the glory,” he added.

On Saturday, May 11, Pringle will perform for leaders in the faith-based community at the Inaugural Red Carpet Awards Dinner Gala at the Alfred Williams Community Center in Charleston, SC.  The Los Angeles “Evening of Inspiration” event, scheduled for June 2013, will feature Pringle and the area’s prominent religious leaders and gospel musicians.

All events are free and open to the public.

Riva Tims announces plans for center in memory of former husband Zachery

(Orlando, FL)  In honor of the late pastor Dr. Zachery Tims,
Jr., his former wife Pastor Riva Tims and their children (Zoelle, Zachery III,
Zahria and Zion) are coming together with others to celebrate his life and
legacy on April 18, 2013. Family, friends, local pastors and others will gather
at The Kingdom Church to remember the late Dr. Tims. He touched thousands
of lives with his preaching and television program. Now, Riva Tims and the
family are planning to establish The Dr. Zachery Tims, Jr. Enrichment Center
to continue his good works.

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The center will function as a retreat oasis for ministerial leaders suffering
from emotional and spiritual burnout and will also serve as a rehabilitation
facility for people struggling with addiction and depression. The center
will allow leaders to recuperate, rehabilitate, rejuvenate and rebound in a
confidential, nurturing environment. The Tims family has a five-year
projection plan to attain funding, acquire property and to hire staff for the
center.

There has been media attention around the Tims family over the last few months.
Recently, Riva Tims and family members were saddened and disappointed when
a popular African-American magazine published an article on the late Dr.
Tims that they felt exploited his legacy with inappropriate graphics and
statements taken out of context. However, Riva Tims has not let negative
news accounts keep her from moving forward in her efforts to perpetuate the
memory of all the good Dr. Tims accomplished when he was alive and the
good he will continue to do in his demise through the enrichment center’s
mission to help leaders in crisis.

Event Details:
Thursday, April 18,
2013
7:30 PM
The Kingdom Church
5225 Alhambra Drive
Orlando, FL 32808
For more information,
call (407) 296-8587.
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Editor’s Note:  GMF was one of the first media outlets to
confirm Pastor Tims’ passing in August 2011. 
At that time, GMF highlighted his connection to gospel music by noting
that in 2006 he released a music project on the Zion Records label entitled ‘Dr.
Zachery Tims Presents’ A New Praise.  Just prior to his death, he was
the host of the Orlando radio show “102 Gospel Jamz.”