Atlanta, GA — Bishop Eddie Long is making headlines again. This time it’s because video of one of his church services has gone viral.

Long has recently returned to preaching church services again after briefly stepping down as head pastor from the church due to a sex scandal and subsequent divorce from his wife. This Sunday, however, he invited a special guest, Rabbi Ralph Messer. The church televised a very special edition of worship service as the rabbi crowned the bishop as “king”.

In this 14 minute-long video clip, Messer reveals to church members a priceless 312-year-old scroll apparently recovered from Auschwitz after World War II. After introducing Long, he says, “He was brought through the slaves, raised up in a city, and God now wants to release a new anointing.”

At around the five-minute mark, Messer wraps an emotional Eddie Long in the scroll. After more prayer and being fully wrapped in the scroll, which is said to be done for kings in Israel as a Jewish ritual, four men from the church proceed to “raise him up from a commoner to a kinship.” Long is paraded around the church stage so that members are able to applaud their new king.

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(In photo) The Rev. Marvin Sapp and his children at the 30th Ann. Giants Awards & Banquet held at DeVos Place.

Grand Rapids, Michigan — Many know the Rev. Marvin Sapp as an award-winning gospel singer or pastor of Lighthouse Full Life Center Church in Southeast Grand Rapids. But longtime friend Derrick Franklin knows the 44-year-old minister in another light.

Sapp and his wife of 18 years, MaLinda, who died in 2010 of colon cancer, were confidants who relied on each other to make Grand Rapids a city of hope and healing.

“When the Bible speaks of becoming one, they were best of friends,” said Franklin, who has known Marvin Sapp since they were members of a gospel group in junior high.

“When I see so many marriages fall apart, it was a great inspiration to see how they lived and how they treated each other.”

It was Sapp’s inspiration that took center stage Saturday night when he received the Giant Among Giants award, the top honor at the 30th annual Giants Awards and Banquet, at the DeVos Place.

MaLinda Sapp also was posthumously given the Ethel Coe Humanities Award.

Despite several gospel music awards and five Grammy Nominations, Sapp doesn’t have a smug bone in his body, said his older brother, Danny Sapp.

“What you see is pretty much what you get,” said Danny Sapp. “I think that’s what I love about him. Success hasn’t changed him. He’s as genuine as what you’re going to get. He practices what he preaches. He and his wife were great examples of walking out their faith seven days a week and not just on Sundays.”

Sapp’s faith isn’t of the Pollyanna variety, said Franklin. His growing-up years included smoking marijuana by age 12 and drinking and popping pills by 16. He quit cold turkey and committed his life to Christ at age 18.

“He’ll tell you his growing up years weren’t always doing the right thing,” said Franklin. “Knowing that helps my faith because of just the kind of guy he is. A lot of people may not want to admit to that when you’re at a high time in your life and singing about Jesus Christ the Lord, but it speaks volumes without saying a word.”

Losing MaLinda to cancer remains painful for his brother, said Danny Sapp.

“I know it was very difficult,” he said. “But he just stays the same, takes care of what he can take of and lets God do the rest.”

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Without Walls Central, the now vacant property in Lakeland, Fla., that belongs to Paula White, who also leads Without Walls International Church in Tampa, appears to have been “abandoned” by White and left to decay, at least thats what many are thinking after seeing the state of the property recently.  

Prophetic News radio show host Susan Puzio, operating on Blog Talk Radio, made these claims in a Jan. 6 discussion with Karen Pansler Lam, a Lakeland resident who visited the church property.

Without Walls Central has been standing abandoned, ramshackled and without electricity since August, earlier reports have suggested. Latest published reports indicate the property is still owned by White’s main campus, Without Walls International Church.

Pansler Lam’s account, complete with photos the woman says she easily obtained while walking around the megachurch’s vacated property, reveal the real extent of the estate’s decay.

Photos posted by the Internet radio show on the website reveal a church building that could be featured in a ghost town – with empty window panes, broken doors and dirty walls showing signs of mold, and the construction exuding signs of neglect.

The sister church of the Tampa, Fla., location ministered until recently by White, has not held a service since at least August, when the electrical supplier disconnected its power due to numerous missing payments amounting to over $50,000, local press reported in December.

The women criticized the church for not caring for its property, which was bought with money from congregants’ donations.

“If people are giving you money, and they’re entrusting you their money to invest it in church property, they expect you to maintain it. Just like God expects us to maintain anything he gives us,” Lam, who called in on the show after visiting the property, said. “We should practice good stewardship of our property.”

That in itself, Puzio said, is very un-Christian. The show host suggested it is ironic that the property lays abandoned while White still has the church in Tampa, Fla. Furthermore, White was recently appointed senior pastor at New Destiny Christian Center (NDCC) in Apopka, Fla., the former church of Zachery Tims, who died in August.

The radio host referred to the NDCC congregation as “those poor people” because White became their new pastor. The women spoke about White “abandoning” Without Walls Central, which she co-founded with Randy White at the time when both were still married. The couple divorced in 2007, which drew scrutiny from the Christian community.

The Lakeland building now looks a “wreck” inside, the caller said, to which the host replied: “It’s kind of like the spiritual state of Paula White’s life right now. A reflection of the whole ministry.” She also compared the fate of the church’s property to the judgment of God.

The caller suggested that the sad fate of White’s church is a proof that the “prosperity gospel,” which White preaches, is simply not working. “Prosperity gospel” claims the Bible teaches that financial blessing is the will of God for Christians. This doctrine has been often questioned during the period following the financial crisis of 2008.

Without Walls reportedly bought the Lakeland property – with a capacity for 9,000 congregants – for $8 million in 2005. However, the church did not manage to attract enough followers, and by 2008 the property was put up for sale, according to The Ledger, a local newspaper.

White reportedly fell out of many congregants’ grace and faced criticism from church leaders following the news of her scheduled appointment as NDCC’s senior pastor in December. Several prominent church leaders have criticized her for allegedly misrepresenting her relationship with Tims, and some NDCC congregants staged a rally protesting her appointment at the time.

According to her biography on Without Walls International Church’s website, Pastor White is the “Apostolic Overseer” of both the Tampa campus and NDC

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Nominees for the 43rd Annual GMA Dove Awards will be announced on Wed, Feb 22!

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The music world is in shock and sadden as news about the death of Don Cornelius continues to surface.

The producer and television host who created the dance show “Soul Train,” was found shot dead in his Los Angeles home early Wednesday morning in what appears to be a suicide, the Los Angeles Police Department and the county coroner’s office said. He was 75 years old.

A person called the police from Mr. Cornelius’s house on Mulholland Drive in the Sherman Oaks neighborhood just before 4 a.m. and reported shots had been fired, a police spokesman, Chris No, said. When officers arrived, they were let into the house and found Mr. Cornelius lying lifeless on the floor with a gunshot wound to the head that appeared to be self-inflicted, said the Los Angeles County assistant chief coroner, Ed Winter.

Mr. Cornelius was taken to Cedar-Sinai Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 4:56 a.m., Mr. Winter said. “It was reported as a suicide, a self-inflicted wound,” he said. “I have investigators at the hospital.”

“Soul Train” was one of the longest-running syndicated shows in television history and played a critical role in spreading the music of black America to the world, offering wide exposure to musicians like James Brown, Aretha Franklin and Michael Jackson in the 1970s and 1980s.

“I am shocked and deeply saddened at the sudden passing of my friend, colleague and business partner Don Cornelius,” said Quincy Jones, according to the Associated Press. “Don was a visionary pioneer and a giant in our business. Before MTV, there was ‘Soul Train.’ That will be the great legacy of Don Cornelius. His contributions to television, music and our culture as a whole will never be matched. My heart goes out to Don’s family and loved ones.”

Mr. Cornelius, a former disc jockey, created the show in 1970 in Chicago on WCIU-TV and served as its writer, producer and host. Quickly becoming a success, the show was broadcast nationally in 1971, beginning its 35-year run. Besides the performers, the program showcased young dancers who would strut their stuff, laying the groundwork for countless dance programs, including current hits like Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance” and MTV’s “America’s Best Dance Crew.” “We had a show that kids gravitated to,” Mr. Cornelius said.

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OSCAR WEEK

Celebrating The UNTOLD STORES of FAITH on Making It in Hollywood

Co-Hosted by BET’s “The Game” Actress Wendy Raquel Robinson and

“Everybody Hates Chris” & “The Expandables2″ Actor Terry Crews

Friday, February 24, 2012 12noon-3pm

Taglyan Complex, Hollywood Ca.

www.GospelGoesToHollywood.com

Co-Hosts Wendy Raquel Robinson and Terry Crews

 Hollywood, CA – theHELPPPPagency, dubbed as the FIRST EVER  ”Red-Carpet” Event Producer in the Gospel/Christian community back in Feb./06 is proud to celebrate Gospel Goes To Hollywood Awards Luncheon. Tomeka Holyfield, Executive Producer says “Our objective is to produce a Inspirational Event that celebrates the  UNTOLD STORIES of FAITH during OSCAR WEEK in Hollywood”.

After the HUGE success during NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles, theHELPPPPagency is bringing that same concept to Hollywood during Oscar Week. What a great opportunity to share in the excitement by celebrating the UNTOLD STORIES of Actors/Actresses/TV-FILM Producers/Directors and Philanthropists ”FAITH” on Making It in Hollywood and on the Big Screens/TV Networks.

“Oscar Week will NEVER be the same as it is our hope this event becomes one of the MUST ATTEND events during Oscar Week. We believe that ALL of Hollywood will look forward to celebrating that FAITH which fuels our TENACIOUS ENDURANCE, says Holyfield”.  Add the praise party as Grammy Award Winning CeCe Winans, Grammy Award Winning Donnie McClurkin and Stellar Award Winner Gospel Saxophonist Angella Christie who’s slated to perform and it becomes clear THIS is the event not to miss!

The star-studded event, co-hosted by Actress Wendy Raquel Robinson of the hit show “The Game” and Actor Terry Crews of the hit sitcom “Everybody Hates Chris” and the upcoming film “The Expendables 2,” will honor and highlight some of Hollywood’s most inspirational who have overcome hurdles and persevered through faith. Proceeds will benefit the Helppping Hands Foundation as they raise awareness and funds to assist abused and battered women and children throughout the world. 

Tons of Celebrities have confirmed as theHELPPPagency will announce the HONOREES in the coming weeks.  Gospel Goes To Hollywood Awards Luncheon has teamed up with The Taglyan Complex in Hollywood as the setting for such a grand affair. The WORD NETWORK and are the Official Media Sponsors along with other Media Outlets to be announced. GGTH is an INVITE ONLY CELEBRITY DRIVEN event with a LIMITED amount of TABLES opened to the public.

For more information, please visit the website @ www.GospelGoesToHollywood.com

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DETROIT – On Tuesday, a Detroit couple was on the verge of being evicted from their home of 22 years, before they were allowed to stay thanks to help from local advocacy groups including Occupy Detroit. The family is allowed to stay after a year of wrangling over the home’s foreclosure.

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William and Bertha Garrett have lived in their home on Pierson Street on Detroit’s northwest side since 1990 and had been making consistent mortgage payments for years before a botched laser surgery rendered William blind in one eye and cost him half of his income. After a second surgery in 2003 left William legally blind, the family began to struggle with mortgage payments.

“My parents’ mentality is, ‘My daughter got married there, my two sons got married there, babies have been born here, this is not just a house,’” Michele Finley, the Garretts’ daughter told the Huffington Post. “This is our life.”

For more on this story, go to theGrio.

WATCH THE GARRETTS SPEAK ABOUT THEIR PLIGHT:

The Oprah Winfrey Network continues to press towards the church community.  Last month, Winfrey and her crew spent time with Pastor Joel Olsten.  Now it has been confirmed that the talk show queen will include in its new primetime series, “Oprah’s Next Chapter,” an interview with Bishop T.D. Jakes, founder and senior pastor of The Potter’s House in Dallas, Texas.

“The series, which features Oprah as she steps outside of the studio for riveting, enlightening and in-depth conversations with newsmakers, celebrities, thought leaders and real-life families, will expand to air part two of her in-depth interviews starting Monday, January 30,” the network announced.

Winfrey will be visiting Jakes at his 30,000-member church, but the network did not reveal when the visit will be made nor when the recording of her visit with the megachurch pastor would air. Jakes, also an author and filmmaker, broadcasts his sermons on “The Potter’s Touch,” which airs on a variety of Christian broadcasting networks, including Trinity Broadcasting Network and Black Entertainment Television.

According to the Dallas pastor’s official website, Jakes has been named “America’s Best Preacher” by Time Magazine and ranks among the 25 Most Influential African-Americans.

Winfrey previously interviewed televangelist Joel Osteen, pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas.

If Jakes’ interview is anything like Osteen’s, viewers will be discussing the episode long after it airs. In their Jan. 8 interview, Winfrey questioned Osteen on his ego, the criticism he receives from both nonbelievers and believers, and his monetary income.

Besides Jakes, Winfrey will also follow actor and humanitarian Sean Penn to Haiti to observe his earthquake relief efforts at the nongovernmental organization J/P Haitian Relief Organization. She will also delve into the highly private and traditional communities of Hasidic Jews in Borough Park and Crown Heights in the NYC borough of Brooklyn, as well as have a slumber party with Southern cook Paula Deen at her Georgia estate.

“Oprah’s Next Chapter” has given a ratings boost to the struggling Oprah Winfrey Network. The special’s Jan. 1 premiere drew in 1.1 million viewers, making it the highest-rated premiere on the Oprah Winfrey Network.

The two-part series airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET and Mondays at 10 p.m. ET, beginning Jan. 30.

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Atlanta, GA — The Gospel Heritage Foundation presents the 16th Annual Praise and  Worship Conference, the nation’s #1 Worship Conference, February 16-18, 2012; featuring several award-winning artists who will not only perform but will participate in ground-breaking seminars. The 2012 conference will be held at The Potter’s House Christian Ministries (Church) in Jacksonville, Fl, and will feature some of the most celebrated personalities in the Gospel Music industry including:

           Bishop Hezekiah Walker (“Sold Out”)

·         Vashawn Mitchell (“Nobody Greater Than You”)

·         William McDowell (“I Give Myself Away”)

·         Wess Morgan (I Choose to Worship”)

·         Jonathan Nelson (“My Name is Victory”, “Right Now Praise”)

·         Jason Nelson (“Shifting the Atmosphere”)

·         Stephen Hurd (“Amazing”)

The Annual Praise & Worship Conference has a mission to preserve and perpetuate the Gospel Heritage of Praise & Worship. During the 2 ½ day event, daily classes and seminars are offered for pastors, ministers of music, praise teams/leaders, praise dancers/mimes, musicians and general worshippers; during the evenings dynamic keynote speakers are featured. This year’s line-up includes: (Pastor Kimberly Ray (Chicago, IL); and Bishop Vaughn McLaughlin, Host Pastor). Nighttime activities will also feature showcases and a special Friday night Worship Gala!  

Sponsors include the Coca Cola Company, Rejoice! Musical Soul Food Radio Network, Glory Communications, UGospel.com, and WCGL Radio. Another highlight will be the Artist Boot Camp led by Bishop Hezekiah Walker, VaShawn Mitchell, Benita Bellamy, Eboni Funderburk and leading Gospel artists and industry executives on Thursday, Feb 16, followed later that evening by the Artist Showcase (“Heritage Got Talent!”), where over $2,000 in cash scholarships will be donated.

The Gospel Heritage Praise & Worship Conference was conceived, founded, and nurtured by Dr. Teresa Hairston, who has built the Conference into a prestigious event that garners attendees from around the world. “The Gospel Heritage Praise & Worship Conference celebrates Worship as a lifestyle,” states Dr. Hairston. We celebrate and educate. People come away from the Conference inspired, empowered and changed!” Board members of the Gospel Heritage Foundation include: Rev. Willis Steele, Dr. John Guns, Pastor Wess Morgan, Bishop Hezekiah Walker and Trent Phillips.

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