The New Album By Todd Dulaney, Your Great Name | @ToddDulaney #LyricVideoThe New Album By Todd Dulaney, Your Great Name | @ToddDulaney #LyricVideo

eOne Nashville announces Todd Dulaney’s
Upcoming Album YOUR GREAT NAME

Nashville, TN – November 17, 2017 – eOne Nashville announces Your Great Name, the upcoming album from passionate worshipper, Todd Dulaney.

The striking album cover depicts the singer comfortable and confident in his element – surrounded by worshippers and standing strong in the midst of the overwhelming goodness of God.

Your Great Name is scheduled for release on January 19, 2018. It will be Dulaney’s third full-length album. The first single, the title track, continues to build an audience at Gospel radio.

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Featuring such standout tracks as “King of Glory” and “Stand Forever”, Your Great Name vows to touch the hearts and lives of all who hear it. The album embodies the common thread of Dulaney’s music: invite listeners to worship, ignite bold confessions of their faith, and incorporate musical elements that reflect an array of cultures.

“I want everyone to be drawn to my music, no matter what their background is,” says Dulaney. “My hope is that I will be successful at pointing people to Jesus. That is my goal and that is what I want my legacy to be.”

“Todd’s personality is infectious and that same guy is the one who ushers you to the presence of God. Without the heart, the songs are just words on paper. Todd’s heart and enthusiasm for Jesus shines through with each song and he makes you want to grab your piece of what he’s holding on to”, says Gina Miller, VP and General Manager, eOne Nashville

Todd Dulaney has delivered some of the biggest worship anthems of the past three years with his remake of the Planet Shakers’ CCM hit “The Anthem”, and “Victory Belongs to Jesus”, which Dulaney penned. Dulaney’s sophomore album The Anthem, and its debut single of the same name both went to #1 on the Billboard charts, resulting in Dulaney being named Billboard‘s New Gospel Artist of the Year in 2016.

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RCA Inspiration and Provident Garner Top Honors On Billboard’s 2017 Year-End Gospel Charts

Billboard’s 2017 Year-End Gospel Charts

RCA Inspiration and Provident Garner Top Honors On Billboard’s 2017 Year-End Gospel Charts

Nashville, TN (December 18, 2017) – RCA Inspiration continues to deliver an incredible year of inspiring artists and music, with top rankings for the label and artists spanning across 15 of Billboard’s 2017 Year-End Charts for Gospel, in addition to the magazine’s 2017 Year-End Charts for Songwriting, on Hot Gospel Songwriters with four artists on that chart.  RCA Inspiration topped both of the Billboard 2017 Year-End Gospel Charts at #1 on Gospel Albums Imprints and Hot Gospel Songs Imprints, while Verity was also honored at #4 on Gospel Albums Imprints. 

 

Its parent division Provident Label Group also garnered #1 honors on three of Billboard’s 2017 Year-End Gospel Charts, topping the Top Gospel Labels, Gospel Albums Labels, and Hot Gospel Songs Labels Charts.  Kirk Franklin, Travis Greene, Donnie McClurkin, and Marvin Sapp garnered numerous Top 10 honors on Billboard’s 2017 Year-End Gospel Charts, while albums and songs from the label in years past have also remained beloved staples for countless fans throughout 2017.  The late summer and fall new releases from Marvin Sapp and Travis Greene, as well as rising artists The Walls Group and Koryn Hawthorne, also made a splash on Billboard’s 2017 Year-End Gospel Charts.   

RCA Inspiration and Provident Garner Top Honors On Billboard’s 2017 Year-End Gospel Charts

RCA Inspiration’s SVP and GM, Phil Thornton says, “The RCA Inspiration family is incredibly honored to be recognized across these year-end charts and celebrate the artists and creation of vital music that continues to make an empowering impact on listeners worldwide over this past year! We’re grateful to Billboard for the honors and celebrate all the fans who continue to support and experience this musical journey with us.” 

 

Billboard 2017 Year-End Charts

Label Gospel Charts Honors

No. 1-GOSPEL ALBUMS IMPRINTS, RCA INSPIRATION

No. 1-HOT GOSPEL SONGS IMPRINTS, RCA INSPIRATION

No. 1-TOP GOSPEL LABELS, PROVIDENT LABEL GROUP

No. 1-GOSPEL ALBUMS LABELS, PROVIDENT LABEL GROUP

No. 1-HOT GOSPEL SONGS LABELS, PROVIDENT LABEL GROUP

No. 2-CHRISTIAN/GOSPEL ALBUMS LABELS, PROVIDENT LABEL GROUP

No. 2-GOSPEL ALBUMS DISTRIBUTORS, SONY MUSIC

No. 4-GOSPEL ALBUMS IMPRINTS, VERITY

 

Donnie McClurkin

No. 7–GOSPEL AIRPLAY ARTISTS

No. 7–HOT GOSPEL SONGS PRODUCERS

No. 8-HOT GOSPEL SONGWRITERS

No. 8–GOSPEL AIRPLAY SONGS, I Need You

No. 10–HOT GOSPEL SONGS ARTISTS

No. 12–TOP GOSPEL ARTISTS

No. 12–HOT GOSPEL SONGS, I Need You

No. 16-TOP GOSPEL ALBUMS, The Journey (Live)

No. 24–GOSPEL DIGITAL SONGS, I Need You

 

Fred Hammond

No. 7–GOSPEL STREAMING SONGS, No Weapons (Fred Hammond & Radical for Christ, Verity/RCA Inspiration/PLG)

No. 20-TOP GOSPEL ARTISTS

No. 22–TOP GOSPEL ALBUMS, Worship Journal Live

No. 27–HOT GOSPEL SONGS, Father Jesus Spirit

No. 28–GOSPEL AIRPLAY SONGS, Father Jesus Spirit

 

Kirk Franklin

No. 1-HOT GOSPEL SONGWRITERS

No. 2-TOP GOSPEL ARTISTS-MALE

No. 3–GOSPEL ALBUMS ARTISTS

No. 3–GOSPEL AIRPLAY SONGS, My World Needs You feat. Sarah Reeves, Tasha Cobbs, & Tamela Mann (Fo Yo Soul/RCA/RCA Inspiration/PLG)

No. 4–GOSPEL STREAMING SONGS ARTISTS

No. 4-TOP GOSPEL ALBUMS, Losing My Religion (Fo Yo Soul/RCA/RCA Inspiration/PLG)

No. 5-TOP GOSPEL ARTISTS

No. 8–GOSPEL DIGITAL SONGS ARTISTS

No. 9–GOSPEL AIRPLAY ARTISTS

No. 9–HOT GOSPEL SONGS PRODUCERS

No. 13–HOT GOSPEL SONGS, My World Needs You feat. Sarah Reeves, Tasha Cobbs, & Tamela Mann

No. 13–GOSPEL STREAMING SONGS, My Life is in Your Hands (God’s Property from Kirk Franklin’s Nu Nation, B-Rite/Gospo Centric/PLG)

No. 14–GOSPEL DIGITAL SONGS, My World Needs You feat. Sarah Reeves, Tasha Cobbs, & Tamela Mann

No. 14–GOSPEL STREAMING SONGS, Imagine Me (Fo Yo Soul/Gospo Centric/RCA/RCA Inspiration/PLG)

No. 16–GOSPEL STREAMING SONGS, Lean on Me featuring Mary J. Blige, Bono, R. Kelly, Crystal Lewis & The Family (Gospo Centric/Legacy)

No. 18-TOP GOSPEL ALBUMS, The Essential Kirk Franklin (Fo Yo Soul/Verity/Legacy)

No. 32–GOSPEL STREAMING SONGS, Wanna Be Happy? (Fo Yo Soul/RCA/RCA Inspiration/PLG)

No. 38–GOSPEL STREAMING SONGS, Now Behold the Lamb (Kirk Franklin and The Family, Gospo Centric/RCA/RCA Inspiration/PLG)

No. 44-TOP GOSPEL ALBUMS, Hello Fear (Fo Yo Soul/Verity/RCA Inspiration/PLG)

No. 46-TOP GOSPEL ALBUMS, The Nu Nation Project (Gospo Centric/RCA/RCA Inspiration/PLG)

 

Koryn Hawthorne

No. 50-HOT GOSPEL SONGS, Won’t He Do It

 

Marvin Sapp

No. 3–GOSPEL STREAMING SONGS ARTISTS

No. 5-TOP GOSPEL ARTISTS-MALE

No. 5–GOSPEL STREAMING SONGS, The Best in Me (Verity/Legacy)

No. 6–GOSPEL ALBUMS ARTISTS

No. 10–TOP GOSPEL ARTISTS

No. 10–GOSPEL DIGITAL SONGS ARTISTS

No. 13-TOP GOSPEL ALBUMS, Playlist: The Very Best of Marvin Sapp (Verity/Legacy)

No. 21–GOSPEL STREAMING SONGS, He Has His Hands on You (Verity/RCA Inspiration/Legacy)

No. 22–GOSPEL DIGITAL SONGS, Never Would Have Made It

No. 24-TOP GOSPEL ALBUMS, Close

No. 25–GOSPEL STREAMING SONGS, Praise Him in Advance (Verity/Legacy)

No. 31–HOT GOSPEL SONGS, Close

No. 37–GOSPEL AIRPLAY SONGS, Close

 

The Walls Group

No. 40-HOT GOSPEL SONGS, My Life

No. 49-TOP GOSPEL ALBUMS, The Other Side (Fo Yo Soul/RCA/RCA Inspiration/PLG)

 

Travis Greene

No. 1-TOP GOSPEL ARTISTS-MALE

No. 2-HOT GOSPEL SONGWRITERS

No. 2–GOSPEL DIGITAL SONGS ARTISTS

No. 3-TOP GOSPEL ARTISTS

No. 3-TOP GOSPEL ALBUMS, The Hill

No. 3–HOT GOSPEL SONGS ARTISTS

No. 3–HOT GOSPEL SONGS PRODUCERS

No. 3–GOSPEL DIGITAL SONGS, Made A Way

No. 4–GOSPEL ALBUMS ARTISTS

No. 4–GOSPEL AIRPLAY ARTISTS

No. 5–GOSPEL STREAMING SONGS ARTISTS

No. 9–HOT GOSPEL SONGS, Made A Way

No. 11–HOT GOSPEL SONGS, You Waited

No. 11–GOSPEL STREAMING SONGS, Intentional

No. 14-TOP GOSPEL ALBUMS, Crossover: Live from Music City

No. 15–GOSPEL AIRPLAY SONGS, You Waited

No. 18–GOSPEL DIGITAL SONGS, You Waited

No. 19–GOSPEL STREAMING SONGS, Made A Way

No. 23–GOSPEL DIGITAL SONGS, Intentional

No. 27–GOSPEL AIRPLAY SONGS, Made A Way

 

William Murphy

No. 9-HOT GOSPEL SONGWRITERS

No. 10–GOSPEL STREAMING SONGS ARTISTS (The William Murphy Project, Integrity/Epic/Legacy)

No. 13–TOP GOSPEL ARTISTS

No. 15–GOSPEL STREAMING SONGS, Praise Is What I Do (The William Murphy Project, Integrity/Epic/Legacy)

No. 16–HOT GOSPEL SONGS, Everlasting God feat. Bishop James Morton

No. 16–GOSPEL AIRPLAY SONGS, Everlasting God feat. Bishop James Morton

No. 20–TOP GOSPEL ALBUMS, Demonstrate

No. 41–HOT GOSPEL SONGS, Arise (You Are Good)

No. 41–GOSPEL STREAMING SONGS, It’s Working

No. 44–GOSPEL AIRPLAY SONGS, Arise (You Are Good)

 

WOW Gospel Albums

No. 2–TOP GOSPEL ALBUMS, WOW Gospel 2017 (Motown Gospel/Word-Curb/RCA Inspiration/PLG)

No. 23–TOP GOSPEL ALBUMS, WOW Gospel 2016 (Motown Gospel/Word-Curb/RCA Inspiration/PLG)

No. 36–CHRISTIAN/GOSPEL ALBUMS, WOW Gospel 2017 (Motown Gospel/Word-Curb/RCA Inspiration/PLG)

 

Catalog RCA Inspiration, Verity Releases

No. 9–GOSPEL STREAMING SONGS, Every Praise (Hezekiah Walker, RCA Inspiration/PLG)

No. 16–GOSPEL DIGITAL SONGS, Every Praise (Hezekiah Walker)

No. 18–GOSPEL STREAMING SONGS, Let Go (DeWayne Woods & When Singers Meet, Quiet Water/Verity/RCA Inspiration/PLG)

No. 26–GOSPEL STREAMING SONGS, Grateful (The Reprise) (Hezekiah Walker & LFC, Verity/RCA Inspiration/Legacy)

No. 29–GOSPEL STREAMING SONGS, I Almost Let Go (Kurt Carr & The Kurt Carr Singers, Verity/RCA Inspiration/Legacy)

No. 39–GOSPEL STREAMING SONGS, God Favored Me feat. Marvin Sapp & DJ Rogers (Hezekiah Walker & LFC, Verity/RCA Inspiration/Legacy)

No. 45–GOSPEL STREAMING SONGS, I Need You to Survive (Live) (Hezekiah Walker & The Love Fellowship Crusade Choir, Verity/RCA Inspiration/Legacy)

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AWARD-WINNING CHART TOPPER TRAVIS GREENE RELEASES NEW SINGLE “YOU WAITED”

Travis Greene releases new single “You Waited”! | @TravisGreeneTV #LiveVideo

Travis Greene – You Waited

AWARD-WINNING CHART TOPPER TRAVIS GREENE RELEASES NEW SINGLE “YOU WAITED”

“You Waited” Marks Lead Single from Highly-Anticipated New Album

NASHVILLE, TN – May 12, 2017 – Chart-topper Travis Greene releases his new single “You Waited” – via live performance and interactive social experience.  The acclaimed recording artist – who jump-started the year with worldwide buzz and career accolades including 2 GRAMMY^® nominations, and winning a leading 7 awards at the 2017 Stellar Awards – now marks “You Waited” as the lead single from his highly-anticipated upcoming album Crossover: Live from Music City. 

Check out Travis Greene’s new video for “You Waited”: smarturl.it/YouWaited-Y

Buy N“You Waited” is available now via digital service providers and begins impacting radio on May 15^th.  The video for “You Waited”, captured at Greene’s sold-out live album recording in Nashville, precedes the launch of Crossover Radio, an interactive game-themed platform allowing fans to engage with their local radio stations to petition for airplay

Greene’s release of “You Waited” comes just before the 2017 Billboard Music Awards, where he is nominated for all 3 awards within the Gospel categories.  Greene continues to perform both domestically and internationally, with upcoming appearances in Accra, Ghana (May 20^th), JoyFest in Charlotte, NC (May 27^th), Glow Fest in Scarborough, Trinidad and Tobago (June 15^th), Warri, Nigeria (June 21^st), MegaFest 2017 in Dallas, TX (June 30^th–July 1^st), and more.  

Download “You Waited” by Travis Greene 

from Amazon or iTunes

Travis Greene: “You Waited”

Retail Link: http://smarturl.it/YouWaited-All

To connect with Travis Greene, please visit:

Website:   www.TravisGreene.TV  

Contacts:                              

W&W Public Relations

Aliya Crawford / Aliya@w-wpr.com

Tony Ferguson / Tony@w-wpr.com

Jacinda Chen / Jacinda@w-wpr.com

Coy Plus

Jen Coy / Jen@CoyPlus.com

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LYRICS: “You Waited” by Travis Greene

You came out of your way

You sat down to speak to me
What amazing grace
That you’ve shown
So patiently

And you
Waited
For me
Just for me
Oh…

You called out my name
Knew my past, covered my shame
This amazing grace
You’ve shown
So patiently
You’ve shown
So patiently

And you
You waited
For me
Just for me
Oh…
You
You waited
For me
Just for me

Where would I be
If you left me there
Where would I be
If you left me there
Whete would I be
If you left me there
Where would I be
If you left me there

But you waited, waited
You waited, waited
You waited, waited
You waited, waited

Where would I be
If you left me there
Where would I be
If you left me there
Where would I be
If you left me there
Where would I be
If you left me there

You waited, waited
You waited, waited
You waited, waited
You waited, waited
You waited, waited
You waited, waited

Where would I be
If you left me there
Where would I be
If you left me there
Where would I be
If you left me there
Where would I be
If you left me there

What amazing grace
You’ve shown
So patiently
You’ve shown
So patiently

And you, you waited
For me
(Just for me)
You, you waited
For me
(Just for me)

---

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JEKALYN CARR PREPARES FOR JUNE 22nd LIVE RECORDING

Jekalyn Carr Prepares For June 22nd Live Recording | @JekalynCarr

Grammy Award-Nominee, Billboard Music Award-Nominee, and Stellar Award-Winner, Jekalyn Carr, is in the throes of preparing for her second live recording, which will take place on June 22nd. The recording will take place at Brown Baptist Church in Southaven, MS, which is just a stone’s throw away from her native hometown of Memphis, TN.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD is a call for all of God’s people to unite as just that, removing the limitations of race, religion, denomination, organization, locale, gender, or class. With this new release, Carr addresses how God desires to see His people, and how we should see ourselves – as one united body of believers. God’s love for us all is consistent. The same love, grace, and mercy that He extends to one, He extends to all. From America to Africa, to Russia, to Asia, and all around the world – God’s love is able to reach all and cover all.

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ONE NATION UNDER GOD will be Carr’s second live recording, and comes on the heels of its sole predecessor, the popular and widely celebrated The Life Project, which has been considered by many as Carr’s coming-of-age release. The live setting set the perfect stage upon which Carr could seamlessly blend her music and her inimitable, dynamic ministry. The powerful scenario resulted in The Life Project becoming her first #1 album, and producing her first #1 single (“You’re Greater”), garnering multiple nominations for The Stellar Awards, and her first nominations for both the Grammy Awards and the Billboard Music Awards.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD will, once again, place Carr in a live setting, surrounded by worshippers and people after God’s own heart, as she presents her new music and creates an atmosphere of unity and solidarity among the people of God.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD is more than a recording – it is a movement; a call to action.
All roads lead to Brown Baptist Church in Southaven, MS on June 22nd as Carr presents ONE NATION UNDER GOD. Doors open at 5:30 and attendees are encouraged to arrive early to insure their place in this room which is guaranteed to release a sound and a charge that will shift the mindsets of separation and designation, and restore an atmosphere of unity and inclusion.

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I vow to serve God for the rest of my life – Davido gives testimony in church [VIDEO]

I vow to serve God for the rest of my life – Davido gives testimony in church [VIDEO]

Renowned Nigerian music star, born David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido was pictured at a church in Lagos State on Sunday sharing testimonies.

He stood before the congregation at the Redeemed Christian Church of God parish, RCCG, City of David, Victoria Island.

“Praise the Lord,” he screamed.

“I normally wake up late but I woke up this morning and my friend beckoned on me, ‘OBO, let’s go to church.’

“God has been blessing me so much I never really have time to come and thank Him.

“So I decided to come and thank Him.”

Also, on his Instagram page @davidoofficial, he wrote: “Happy Sunday peeps. Come and see the Lord is good.

“I vow to serve you for the rest of my life. Everlasting father.

“2017 will be great for all of us.”

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Donnie McClurkin Tells Christians to Stop Protesting Donald

Donnie McClurkin Tells Christians to Stop Protesting Donald
   

Pastor Donnie McClurkin believes Christians should leave protesting President Donald Trump to the world and shift their focus.

"We need to know what our vote really means and how to utilize it. But I don't want us to get caught up in this protest," the gospel singer and pastor of Perfecting Faith Church in Freeport, New York, said on syndicated radio show Get Up! Mornings With Erica Campbell. "The protests do nothing but rile [people] up. It causes people's anger to rise up and it gives us a false sense of involvement."

For McClurkin, "the true sense of involvement is at the voting booth."

However, Campbell disagreed with the sentiments that protesting is meaningless. The syndicated radio host who got her start singing in Mary Mary insisted protesting captures the attention of the necessary people.

"It stops their progress. It makes the police have to respond and they have to spend money, they have to clear the streets and they have to organize," she said. "So it makes them pay a little more attention..."

However, McClurkin insisted that the only money being spent in those situations were taxpayer dollars. While the pastor and "We Fall Down" singer insisted that he didn't vote for Trump because of his "lack of policy, misogynistic ideals, [and] racism," he called for Christians to deal with Trump's presidency with prayer instead of protest.

"Now is our time to pray for him. This is the job of the church," he said. "Let the world protest but the job of the church now is to go into prayer and pray that, number one, he succeeds, because if he fails, we have to deal with the consequences as a nation," he said before quoting 2 Chronicles 7:14. "America is in a place that it has never been before and the Christian has got to be who God has called us to be."

While Campbell didn't totally agree with her friend McClurkin, her sister, fellow gospel singer Tina Campbell, sang a different tune by writing an open letter to Trump that she shared on social media last week.

Citing Ephesians 3:20, Campbell revealed why she is choosing to publicly show compassion for the president even though she disagrees with him.

"I believe that understanding and compassion is absolutely necessary for the progress of all people. So, although I don't always understand or agree with Mr. Donald Trump's politics, perspective, and approach, I believe that the same God that created all of us has deposited greatness inside of him that goes far beyond what many of us have seen and what many of us could imagine," she wrote on social media. "I believe that God can do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think, according to the power that works in us. I believe that the power that works in us is our ability to love, and unify, and humble ourselves, and forgive, and hope, and pray, and educate ourselves, and apply wisdom and hard work to knowledge."

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Kari Jobe Talks of Healing Birthed From New Album After Family Tragedy

Kari Jobe Talks of Healing Birthed From New Album After Family Tragedy

   

Grammy-nominated worship leader Kari Jobe shared with The Christian Post the intimate details surrounding the tragedy and healing that led to the release of her new album, The Garden.

Two years before Jobe's new album release, she found herself in a season of celebration. She had just gotten married to her husband, Cody Carnes, and shortly after got pregnant and moved to Nashville. Both she and her sister were pregnant at the same time and she said everything was really "fun" and exciting, until tragedy struck.

Toward the end of her pregnancy, Jobe's sister had to give birth to what Jobe calls a "sleeping angel." Her sister's baby did not survive and it devastated the family.

"She was already back with Jesus before we got to meet her," Jobe told The Christian Post. "Just navigating those emotions in that difficult season, while being pregnant and also still having life growing inside of me was uncharted waters. So it took me a season to get the air back in my lungs."

Jobe remembered being so overwhelmed with sorrow and filled with disappointment and questions.

Jobe and her family, being people of faith, were praying that the outcome would be different but when their prayers weren't answered the singer said it forced her to take a minute and ask God what His plan was in all of it.

"You have to turn your why into something. You can't just sit in those questions because it just causes more questions," Jobe explained. "I just began to pour my heart out in song. Praying that God would meet us in that place of pain and speak to us."

The 35-year-old said she had to fight a lot of fear before the birth of her son because the cause of her sister's loss was not determined. She took extra precaution and put herself on bed rest. She stopped flying, changed her diet, and quit working out.

"I think I went to the ER about three or four times out of fear. I just wanted to hear his heartbeat," Jobe explained.

While writing and creating The Garden, Jobe went on to give birth to a healthy baby boy named Canyon.

"Canyon has brought a lot of joy and a lot of healing to our family through it all," she said. "It's just one of those things that's uncharted but God walked us through it."

She turned every step of her journey into songs on The Garden and the music is built to reach the heart of God and the souls of people who are willing to surrender their pain to Him, as Jobe did.

Although the pain was intense, Jobe said God was with them every step of the way.

"At the same time there was such a sense of God's presence, of His goodness surrounding us. Looking back, I sensed His presence so strong and my sister was just so gorgeous walking through it. She would call me and just tell me, 'I can't wait to meet your baby, I'm so excited,'" Jobe shared.

As Jobe turned to prayer and her album to cry out to God, she offered advice to the many people in her generation that are hurting over the current condition of the world.

"Honestly, if I was sitting in a room with millennials, people of my same age and younger, I would just say, 'OK, stop whining and stop being fearful and get on your face and pray. We have to pray. We have to take it to prayer before we take it to social media," she advised.

"We're so surrounded with sharing our feelings and making sure our opinions are put out there because we know people are listening and watching so we feel like there's a responsibility to say something, but I'm trying to be careful to not say something before I've prayed it."

She admitted that like others she can also find herself being fearful and not praying at all if she stays on social media and watches the news all day.

But then she asks herself, "'What's the perspective of God?' It comes back to some of the stuff that I just wrote for this album. God, you knew this was gonna happen before it happened, nothing surprises Him."

She said instead of stressing out she just decides to walk in peace and pray Scripture over her life.

The Texas Native echoes the posture she hopes for people to be in with hit single "Heal Our Land." Jobe referenced 2 Chronicles 7:14, which instructs people to humble themselves and pray.

"It's pretty strong language from God. Pray, but not just pray - Seek Him as well! That means taking time to really hear the heart of God," the songstress stated. "I think it would really change what people are saying. I think people would be talking a little bit more out of faith than fear."

Jobe said her song "Speak to Me" is her favorite on the album.

"That's one my favorites, and I think I love it because sometimes we just need to sit and wait," she explained. "Because of social media and the way that our culture is now we're so quick to share everything. Sometimes I think we just need to create space again to wait on God and not be in a hurry."

She challenged people to examine whether or not they make space for God.

Now married and a mother, Jobe said she has to make space for God and her family in the midst of her busy tour schedule.

"I have learned to put my phone down and be fully present, take deep breaths and not be in a hurry," she said of spending time with her son. "I don't want to look back and regret missing anything because I was busy."

The worship leader ended the interview by talking about the importance of praise.

"We all are created to worship and we all worship something even if we're not worshiping God. The fruit of our lives will speak for what we are worshiping," she maintained. "For me personally, worship music is something that helps me pray and say things to God that I haven't been saying. Or it helps me connect to Him."

Jobe doesn't believe that worship should be put in a box and said sometimes she finds herself worshiping to songs that aren't what standard "worship music" might sound like.

"There's some Lecrae songs that I'm like, 'That's incredible. I wouldn't have thought to say that in that way.' But if it catches something that you've been needing to say to God, I think that's worship," she concluded.

Her album, The Garden, is now available and Jobe will be touring for the record on "The Garden Tour." She will also be offering worship workshops in certain cities specifically for people who feel called to lead in worship.

To get the album or for more information, visit her webs

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Is Donald Trump 'the Last Trump' Before Jesus Christ's Return?

Is Donald Trump 'the Last Trump' Before Jesus Christ's Return?

   

Is Donald Trump specifically named in the New Testament prophecies about the end times? Some are speculating that the new U.S. president is "the last trump" that is mentioned in the Bible and that his geopolitical moves are heralding the end times. But one biblical expert says not so fast.

Dr. Samuel Lamerson, professor of New Testament and president of Florida's Knox Theological Seminary, told The Christian Post that such analysis is "ridiculous."

"First of all, it only works in the English language. The New Testament was written in Greek. Second of all, it only works in the King James Version and some other older translations. Many other translations will have 'trumpet' instead of 'trump,'" Lamerson explained.

Historian David Montaigne, who has written End Times and 2019, Antichrist 2016-2019, and The Two Witnesses of Revelation, pointed to two Bible passages in an online post last year that refer to "trump:"

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1 Thessalonians 4:16 reads: "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first."

I Corinthians 15:52 states: "Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."

Montaigne noted that it is possible to look into such verses and explore what they might be saying about God's plans concerning Trump.

"I am not suggesting that Donald Trump absolutely *IS* the last trump – but since the LAST TRUMP is one of the most clear and final signs in end times prophecy, can we overlook the possibility that a presidential candidate named Trump is being used as a sign by God?" he posed.

Rejecting the argument, Lamerson told CP that he doubts that any New Testament scholar with legitimate credentials would give weight to such reading of prophecy.

"It's a textbook example of how not to read the text," Lamerson stressed. "It's what we would call an exegetical fallacy.

"These ideas that somehow the current president is named in the New Testament is the sort of thing that I teach my students to avoid at all costs."

Lamerson pointed out that this kind of discussion took place from Barack Obama's presidency all the way back to Abraham Lincoln.

"I think that often people forget that the book of Revelation was written 2,000 years ago," he said. The notion that what the Scripture says applies to the shape of the political world today "is to totally misunderstand what exactly is going on there," he added.

Other end times prophets have focused on the wider impact of Trump's presidency so far, such ashis criticism of the European Union, particularly when it comes to allowing millions of refugees to enter its territory.

Author and commentator Erika Grey, who analyzes Israel, the U.S., Russia, and other major players in geopolitics today and their role in biblical prophecy, has linked Trump's opposition to the EU to factors that could bring about the end times.

While previous U.S. administrations all embraced the EU, Trump has taken the opposite stance, Grey noted, and aligned himself with Britain's Nigel Farage of the UKIP party, who successfully oversaw Brexit, or Britain voting to leave the EU.

"In end time Bible Prophecy we know that the EU is going to become the greatest most powerful world empire to have ever existed and it is going to be an economic powerhouse," she wrote on her website.

"Despite BREXIT and Donald Trump in Bible Prophecy the EU is still going to move forward despite taking these bumps. With Donald Trump as president there is a new sheriff in town and the era of EU, US relations has come to an end, but with the new president will come a geopolitical shift and the EU will continue to move forward even to the surprise of some EU officials."

People have long been making predictions about U.S. presidents playing a part in end times prophecy, Lamerson noted, and they have all turned out to be wrong.

"I suppose sooner or later, just by pure luck, somebody is going to be right," the Knox Theological Seminary president commented. "But it will not be because they have carefully understood the text. One of the things about biblical prophecy is that often, it needs to be fulfilled before we can really understand it. It's intentionally vague. And often the fulfillment is much better than what we could have ever expected."

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Morgan Freeman Hears 'Extraordinary' 9/11 Survival Story As He Searches For Proof Of God

Morgan Freeman Hears 'Extraordinary' 9/11 Survival Story As He Searches For Proof Of God

Academy award winning actor Morgan Freeman has met with a 9/11 survivor in a search for "proof of God", calling the survivor's story "extraordinary".

Concluding season two of the National Geographic's The Story of God with Morgan Freeman, the actor this time visited New York City to explore the possibility of the proof of God, the Christian Post reports.

Freeman reflected on how distracting life in the city can be, and how in contrast to previous generations, many today are consumed with looking down at their screens.

Freeman said in his introduction: "But even in our modern world we still share something with our ancestors, that is the desire to find proof that God exists. Have we cut God out of our modern lives? Or are there special moments when God breaks through and makes his presence known?"

Freeman then met with Sujo John, a committed Christian who claims that he felt God's presence with him on September 11, 2001, and that it saved his life.

John and his preganant wife both worked at the Twin Towers at the time of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. John was on the 81^st floor of the north tower when the planes hit the towers, but managed to make it out alive. John immediately ran for the south tower to find his wife, but it was then that the towers collapsed.

"As the building is collapsing there is people with me and I'm huddled with them. I felt God speak to me in a very still voice, I felt God say, 'It's going to be OK,'" John told Freeman.

Freeman then asked, "You heard the voice of God? [He] spoke to you?"

John responds, "I did not hear God speak to me in an audible way but I felt God's inner voice speak to me and ask people to pray with me."

John said that he then called on the name of Jesus and he and others prayed as falling debris came down on them. John was stuck beneath the rubble, until he saw a red light which then enabled him to crawl out from beneath the wreckage. Those he has been with did not survive, and John expected the same of his pregnant wife.

Yet John suddenly received a phone call, from his wife. She asked: "Babe, are you alive?"

"So we're looking at a miracle right here," said Freeman.

"Yes, and it was God that preserved and saved my life. It's proof that there is a God," said John, who tells more of his story in the video below.

Freeman then asked why God hadn't saved everyone on that day.

John said: "Life on earth is such that no one is guaranteed today or tomorrow. Every human being on this earth will face death.

"But here's what I know from my experience. When you walk with God and go through the storms of life you have this peace in the presence of God. So if you carry the presence of God, even if it's going to be death, it's going to be ok."

Concluding, Freeman reflected on his meeting with John: "Sujo John's survival is extraordinary. Some say it's miraculous. What's most remarkable to me is that Sujo felt the unmistakable presence of God even while death and destruction were all around him."

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Hacksaw Ridge Isn't Just An Explicitly Christian Film, It's Also A Deserved Oscar Nominee

Hacksaw Ridge Isn't Just An Explicitly Christian Film, It's Also A Deserved Oscar Nominee

Lionsgate

Hacksaw Ridge won't win Best Picture at the Oscars next month, but its deserved presence on the shortlist represents something of a redemption story for director Mel Gibson. Ten years ago, his reputation was in tatters after an infamous drink-driving incident in which he reportedly made antisemitic remarks. After a long, deserved spell in the wilderness, during which he was effectively black-listed in Hollywood, Hacksaw Ridge represents his return to mainstream cinema, and perhaps also his forgiveness by the film community.

Fittingly, the movie tells its own remarkable story of redemption. Set around one of the most important battles in World War Two, Hacksaw Ridge is a biopic of Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield), a Christian pacifist whose religious beliefs wouldn't allow him to fire or even hold a gun in battle. Yet unlike most conscientious objectors, Doss also felt compelled to enlist and join the fight as a medic – an idea which simply didn't align with military thinking at the time.

The film is very much a story in two very differently-themed halves. In the first, we see something of the life he leaves behind, including his courtship of wife Dorothy (Teresa Palmer), and then his attempt to make it through basic training without being thrown out of the army. At first he's accepted by his fellow enlistees, but when Drill Sergeant Howell (Vince Vaughan, in a brilliant piece of stunt-casting) informs them of Doss' pacifism, they quickly turn him into an outcast. Yet despite the soldiers trying to bully him out, and the officers trying to court-martial him out, Doss receives blessing to "run head-first into the hellfire of battle without a single weapon to protect him".

True to the word of the general who speaks that line, the second half of the story takes place in a pretty-much literal hell on earth. The Ridge of the title represents an almost-unconquerable Japanese stronghold, and as the Americans try to take it through repeated advances, Doss and his fellow medics are kept horrifically busy. Unfazed by the waking nightmare around him, Doss continually prays to God to help him rescue "one more... just one more" from the battlefield. As the casualties pile up, the apparent religious nut, rejected by his peers, slowly writes himself into US military history.

Gibson, who has also been nominated for an Oscar, does a tremendous job behind the camera, proficiently delivering tender romance, tense drama, and epic spectacle in the film's various component parts. The slightly uneven pacing is not surprising given the episodic structure, but the story never fails to engage throughout. We really care about what happens to Doss, mainly due to Garfield's mesmerising portrayal of an apparently simple man who is more complex than anyone gives him credit for. It's a stunning performance, and rivals any of the others on the Best Actor shortlist.

The film takes an extremely sympathetic view of faith, and certainly makes space for divine intervention, but unlike Martin Scorsese's recent Silence (which notably only received a single Oscar nomination), it doesn't bash you over the head with theological content. For me, Hacksaw Ridge presents the most positive and attractive portrayal of Christianity that I've seen on film. Faith is seen not only as a route to good personal morality, but also as a dynamic driving-force for good. Doss is propelled by his faith to perform extraordinary feats of courage, all while holding to counter-cultural principles about violence and behaviour. That's not to say that Christianity is seen simply as a great worldview; God himself is also seen as present and powerful in assisting Doss in literal miracles.

At one pivotal moment in the story, an officer tells Private Doss: "No-one ever won a war by dying for it." That line might be a little on-the-nose for some, but as Doss sets about to disprove it, the exposure of that flawed thinking creates a beautiful case for the Way of Jesus. Ridiculed by all those around him at first, Doss' worldview begins to make more and more sense in the context of a world gone mad and at war.

Having created The Passion of the Christ, and now said to be working on a Resurrection-based sequel, no-one in the world today is making a better case for the truth of Christianity – and on such a large scale – than Mel Gibson. But what's really remarkable about Hacksaw Ridge is that not only does it act as an awesome piece of pre-evangelism, but it's also a great film. It might not have the joyous escapism of La La Land or the dramatic oomph of Manchester by the Sea, but it is alternately moving and spectacular, and absolutely deserves to be recognised among the films of the year; faith-based film-making finally leading the way in art, instead of simply trying to replicate it.

Director Mel Gibson accepts the Hollywood Director Award for "Hacksaw Ridge" as cast members Andrew Garfield (L) and Vince Vaughn look on at the Hollywood Film Awards in Beverly Hills, CaliforniaReuters

It's important to be aware of our own biases when we're engaging with apparently faith-affirming media like this. Yet I believe Desmond Doss' story stands above them. Here was a man who truly understood what it was to live out his faith, and therefore to provide a witness to the work of God within him. Gibson has successfully magnified that witness to a global audience, and in a way that invites people to sympathise with Doss' faith, rather than alienating them because of it. Given where he was a decade ago, that's quite a redemption story.

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From Violent Witchcraft To Christ: Young Man's True Story Of Transformation

From Violent Witchcraft To Christ: Young Man's True Story Of Transformation

 

Emmanuel used to be part of a violent witchcraft gang. His life was transformed through the work of the Bible Society.Bible Society

A young man has shared of how his life was transformed from one of violent activity in a witchcraft gang to living a new life in relationship with Jesus.

Emmanuel, aged 16, from Congo Brazzaville was once lured into a violent witchcraft gang. At his initiation Emmanuel had to hold a venomous snake and chant strange prayers whilst other gang members cut into his arms "to make him strong," the Bible Society reports.

Emmanuel had been sent to an orphanage at age nine when his mother was too sick with AIDS to support him. At the orphanage Emmanuel was vulnerable and needed somewhere to belong. He was lured into a gang that promised magic powers and super strength found through special mantras and spells.

After initiation, Emmanuel was soon groomed into being a criminal. He was taught how to pickpocket and steal from street stalls. He began drinking and became increasingly violent. As the Bible Society said, "he'd beat up anyone if they had a disagreement."

Everything changed when Emmanuel met Jesus. The Bible Society visited his orphanage to run the Good Samaritan programme. The course uses the famous Biblical parable and interactive workshops to teach young people social values and how to be a "loving caring citizen".

At first Emmanuel was wary of the programme, and watched from the back, listening but not participating. Over time though, he heard more about Jesus, and began to engage more until his life was changed.

"The Good Samaritan showed me how to live differently" says 16 year-old Emmanuel.

"Now my life is very different," he says.

Emmanuel has been motivated by the parable of the Good Samaritan to help more at his orphanage.Bible Society

"I went to a pastor and talked to him about the things I had been doing. I started praying and reading my Bible."

Emmanuel has now forgone his life of crime. He has cut ties with the witchcraft gang, and prays for them instead. He helps out with chores at the orphanage, teaches other young orphans football skills and serves as a mentor. He now studies hard at school, and hopes to become an accountant. 

"I want to tell young people like me to avoid bad things and to accept Jesus Christ." Emmanuel says.

"I have done bad things. I have stolen from people and hurt people. But now I respect people because of Jesus."

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Church Whose Pastor Was Caught Sleeping With Married Congregant Says 'We're Prayerful'

Church Whose Pastor Was Caught Sleeping With Married Congregant Says 'We're Prayerful'

   

Despite a firestorm of media reporting on his conduct, the congregation of a Tallahassee, Florida, pastor who was forced to flee naked after he was caught having sex with a parishioner's wife are standing by their pastor but said they are "prayerful" about the situation.

In a defensive conversation with The Christian Post Wednesday about Simmons remaining as pastor at the church, a female representative said: "We're not at liberty to discuss that right now and we're prayerful about the situation."

Just two Fridays ago on Jan. 17, according to the Tallahassee Police Department, the Rev. O. Jermaine Simmons Sr., 37, pastor of the popular Jacob Chapel Baptist Church was caught in bed with Claynisha Stephens, 34, by the woman's husband, Benjamin Stephens III. Both Claynisha and Benjamin are his parishioners.

The woman's shocked husband quickly reached for a small handgun forcing the frightened pastor to flee without his clothes.

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Two days later, Pastor Simmons was back in the pulpit declaring to his congregation that God and his wife had already forgiven him for his infidelity and he had no plans to vacate his position at the helm of his church.

"What I want from God I've already received it and that's His forgiveness. What I am asking of our members is something I may or may not get and that is your prayers. And I'm asking for your forgiveness," Simmons said as his congregation said "amen" and gave him a standing ovation.

"I was reminded that I can't run through this. And I got somebody who said, and I believe her, that she's gonna walk with me," Simmons added, apparently referring to his supportive wife and mother of his son.

He then declared that his sin should not prevent him from doing the Lord's work.

He said he will not be deterred from God's work regardless of what the public or dissenting members of his congregation might think of his decision to remain at the helm of his church.

"If I stop preaching, if I stop doing what the Lord called me to do over this, it presupposes that I was qualified to do it in the first place. If I quit, if I walk away over this, it presupposes that I deserved to preach last Sunday when there was no scandal. I was wretch [inaudible] I'm a work in progress now but what the Lord allows. We will move forward," he reasoned with his congregation. "I'll never be sorry enough for some people ... I don't have the energy for that right now. But I have to be clear that God is pushing us forward. Pushing us forward."

Simmons' speedy pardon of his behavior, however, has continued to attract strong rebuke from the public online who overwhelmingly believe he needs to step aside for biblical restoration.

"As a former pastor, this man needs to resign. He may have received forgiveness but that doesn't mean that there are no consequences," said Sarah Butler Laudadio. "A murderer may receive forgiveness but that doesn't change the fact that they have to pay for the crime with life in prison or loss of their own life. I'm not saying he can never pastor again, but if he has issues this way, it is not the right career choice for him.

"... according to God's word, he needs to step down for a time of correction and restoration by those he makes himself accountable to at the very least. He has disqualified himself from the Biblical requirements of leadership and as such should not be preaching anything to anybody right now," she added.

Claynisha Stephens, the parishioner who was caught sleeping with Simmons, had previously threatened to press charges against her husband but as of Thursday afternoon, officials at the Leon County Court in Tallahassee told CP that there were no charges against her husband on record.

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‘Pastor’ Caught in Adultery With Member’s Wife, Fleeing Naked Won’t Resign Since He’s ‘Already’ Forgiven

‘Pastor’ Caught in Adultery With Member’s Wife, Fleeing Naked Won’t Resign Since He’s ‘Already’ Forgiven

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The leader of a popular congregation in Florida is refusing to resign after being caught in bed with a member’s wife—fleeing naked—as he states that he has “already received” God’s forgiveness.

“What I want from God I’ve already received it and that’s His forgiveness,” O. Jermaine Simmons, pastor of Jacob Chapel Baptist Church in Tallahassee, told his congregation on Jan. 22, just days after the incident.

“What I am asking of our members is something I may or may not get, and that is your prayers. And I’m asking for your forgiveness,” he continued, receiving an “amen” from those gathered, as well as a standing ovation.

Simmons, who is married, said that he was sorry that his members had to try to defend him, and that acknowledged that sin cannot be defended. But he contended that he cannot step down from preaching because it will appear like his worthiness to serve as a pastor is based on his performance.

“I have to be clear that God is pushing us forward,” he stated. “If I stop preaching, if I stop doing what the Lord called me to do over this, it presupposes that I was qualified to do it in the first place. Does that make sense? If I quit, if I walk away over this it presupposes that I deserved to preach last Sunday when there was no sin.”

According to reports, the incident occurred on Jan. 17 with member Claynisha Stephens, 34, who attends Jacob Chapel with her husband Benjamin Stephens III. Stephens told police that she had been in a relationship with Simmons since October.

That day, Simmons went to Stephens’ house to “talk over starting a business, patents and trademarks, and providing less fortunate kids with clothes and shoes.” But during the get-together, the two went to Stephens’ daughter’s room to have sex.

In the meantime, Stephens’ husband came home unexpectedly and found his pastor in bed with his wife. He grabbed a gun and yelled “I’m going to kill him,” according to reports.

Simmons fled the couple’s home naked, and Stephens called the police. Her husband took Simmons’ clothes and belongings and threatened to go to the church about the matter, as well as to expose the pastor on Facebook.

However, in negotiations with police, he agreed to arrange for the return of Simmons’ possessions and surrendered his gun to the NAACP.

While the congregation is largely supportive of Simmons’ refusal to resign, others find the situation deeply concerning.

“He made his sexual sin of adultery into a sermon. Yes, yes they say. … Get out of the pulpit, seek counseling, and be under church discipline. This is Scriptural reconciliation,” one commenter remarked. “If he remains in his position without any consequences, he will continue to [commit sin with] other men’s wives and it will spread throughout the church. He is only sorry he got caught. The show must go on.”

“He said if he stops preaching over this it presupposes that last Sunday he was okay to preach when there was no sin. What is he talking about? The man’s wife said they had been getting together … for months,” another noted. “It is the right thing to do to openly apologize if you truly meant it, but as far as preaching he needs to be sat down for a while. … He is fortunate that he didn’t lose his life that day.”

Simmons was just about to hold a signing of his new book “I Need a Man,” which “offers a fresh perspective on the issues of godly manhood and mentoring.”

1 Corinthians 9:27 reads, “But I subdue my body and I enslave it, lest I who have preached to others would be disqualified myself.”

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