Compassion LIVE and Bri Babineaux are excited to announce the virtual album release concert for Babineaux’s soon to be released album The Encounter Continues on February 26th. The new album comes on the heels of The Encounter, a project that embodies worship experiences where believers intimately encounter God.

The exclusive virtual album release concert encompasses fan favorites from The Encounter as well as new music from The Encounter Continues. The event, which will include special surprise guests and a VIP meet and greet with Babineaux, is sure to make fans want to dance, jump, and worship.

“I’m super excited to be doing a live virtual experience of The Encounter Continues with Compassion International!” exclaims Babineaux. The organization is very important to me and I believe partnering with them provides the ability to understand someone else’s situation and the desire to take action to improve or help their lives. I’m truly honored to have them be a part of such a fun night.”

“I can’t wait for my fans to hear the new music and experience what we felt the night of the recording,” Babineuax continues. “I’m also thrilled to have two very special guests who I call sisters to me be part of the experience! I’m telling you it’s going to be AMAZING. You don’t want to miss it! We’re pulling out all of the stops!”

By sponsoring a child with Compassion International, concert goers gain entry to the concert and receive VIP access. VIP access gives fans an exclusive Zoom meet and greet with Bri that will include a Q&A, special song requests, and more.

Tickets are available at www.compassion.com/bribabineaux.

For more information about sponsoring a child, The Encounter Continues Virtual Album Release Concert, or Compassion International, please visit www.compassionlive.com.

ABOUT BRI BABINEAUX

Bri Babineaux burst onto the music scene as a social media phenom and has evolved into one of the most buzzed about artists in Gospel music. The passion and earnestness of Babineaux’s voice have taken the social media stratosphere by storm. Over the past three years, Babineaux has amassed millions of YouTube and Instagram views of her spontaneous worship moments. Babineaux has captured the attention of notable artists like: Rihanna, Brandy, and Drake. Her debut album, “Keys to My Heart,” hit #1 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart and spawned three charting singles: “Holy Spirit,” “Jacob’s Song” and the Top Ten hit, “I’ll Be the One.” Babineaux also enjoyed notable airplay on the Urban AC/Smooth Jazz radio format with “My Everything.” Babineaux is back with a new album, The Encounter, that she hopes touches listeners, blesses them, and inspires them to have encounters with God. With over half a million followers on Instagram, Babineaux is an influential voice for this generation.

ABOUT COMPASSION LIVE

Compassion LIVE, established in 2014 by Compassion International, provides the highest quality events for families to join together and grow with others in faith. Compassion LIVE partners with impact-making leaders, artists and communicators to produce life-changing events that share the message of faith and impact the church for children around the world. For more information, visit www.compassionlive.com.

Founded in 1952, Compassion International is a Christian child development organization that works to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name. Compassion revolutionized the fight against global poverty by working exclusively with the Church to lift children out of spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty. Compassion partners with more than 6,700 churches in 25 countries to deliver its holistic child development program to over 1.8 million babies, children and young adults. Compassion’s child sponsorship program has been validated through independent, empirical research.

For more about the ministry, visit compassion.com or follow them on Twitter @compassion.

Stay Connected With Compassion LIVE:
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The basic function of the church is to be involved in every facet of the life of the believer. This is evidently because the church is where God’s people are taught God’s Word so they can grow spiritually.

But to UK-based Ghanaian Afro-Gospel musician Joseph Matthew, also known as JM, the church today is not living up to its true billing. According to the award-winning musician, the Church has rather become one of the major places causing bountiful traumas for people.

“The Church is one of the places that cause a lot of trauma for people. One of the environments that causes trauma is the church but we are in the church, in the choir, and you are singing and your pastor or senior pastor is constantly talking down on his members .this is actually the dangerous type of trauma people experience in the church. It starts off with acute, then becomes persistent so over the years do you know how many people go through mental health issues in the church,” Matthew said.

He continued, “because your senior pastors talking down on pastors, your church leaders talking down on the youth – constantly, these kids go home and they feel the pressure to perform or to attend to do things …it’s one of the places where you have clicks, you have gangs in the church and then they gang up on people and secretly crashing and breaking them …people don’t even know about all these things all in the name of God.”

Joseph Matthew who is well noted for hit songs such as “Hallelujah”, “Nyame Ye” and “My Story” which has currently earned him a nomination at the 2021 Ghana National Gospel Music Awards made these comments while speaking as a special guest at the ‘I unravel event’- a youth worship night and seminar which was hosted by Anna Efah in London.

Watch the video below:

Macon, GA — David Frazier has been a principal force in the Gospel music industry for 30 years as a musician, producer, and award-winning songwriter. His hit songs “I Need You To Survive”, “Favor” and “God Is Doing Something Wonderful In Me” are sung around the world in various worship settings by diverse audiences. David is a creative mastermind who has recorded over 100 songs and written five books to date. His musical aptitude, experience, and teachings on worship, arts, and the music industry have established David as one of Gospel music’s most distinguished contributors to the genre.

David garnered a Billboard Top Ten hit with his solo single “God Is Doing Something Wonderful” and has written top ten Hits for many artists including:
Ricky Dillard – “Release”; Hezekiah Walker and The Love Fellowship Choir – “Second Chance”, “I’ll Fly Away”, “How Much We Can Bear”, “We Made It”, “Power Belongs To God”, “I Need You To Survive”; Karen Clark Sheard – “Holy Thou Art Holy”; Pastor Shirley Caesar – “Favor”; Bishop T. D. Jakes – “His Presence Is Here”.

“I’ve been blessed to write songs for over three decades and it’s amazing to me just how powerful messages can be through song and music,” David says. “My focus was never to write music to win awards, but to write music to get people from Sunday to Sunday. I have always tried to write music that is very usable and singable for the Sunday morning experience.”

His singable songs have garnered numerous Stellar, Dove, and Grammy® nominations and awards. David’s most recent noteworthy accomplishment is a Grammy® nomination for “Release” recorded by Ricky Dillard. The 63rd Grammy Awards show will be broadcast live on March 14 on CBS. (check local listings for time)

Stemming off the heels of the recent successes of the “Release” single and the Pastor Carlos Kelly Presents BBC Worship 2018 album by Beulahland Bible Church where David is Director of Worship and Fine Arts, David has released his new solo single “Never End”.

“Never End” is a contemporary Gospel song with a lyric and uplifting flow to remind us of the eternal hope and everlasting light of Christ. As we remember His goodness, our song of praise can never end. “Never End” is written and produced by David and co-produced by Raymond Darius Jackson.

“I’m excited to share this song and was blessed to write this less than 30-days ago,” David explains. “The lyrics have a great message with such timely significance.” He continues, “We all are going through so many things right now – Covid-19, job loss, social and racial injustice, and brutal weather, but in the midst of it all, we cannot stop or give in. Our worship and our praise to our God must never end.”

“Never End” is available now on all digital music outlets and is released via David’s independent record label God’s Music, LLC. “Never End” will be impacting Gospel stations and actively going for adds.

The L.A. Times has noted that David is “One of the most recognizable Gospel songwriters of our time.” This is undeniably true as David continues to prove his anointed and appointed position as a chief Levite and significant songwriter in Gospel music. “Never End” is another addition to his catalog of melodies in the lyrical journal God designated David to compose.

Kelontae Gavin celebrates a new milestone with two #1s on the Gospel music radio charts, as his single “Hold Me Close” hits #1 on both the latest Billboard Gospel Airplay Chart and the Mediabase Gospel Chart.

The double #1s for “Hold Me Close” also mark another milestone as Gavin’s first #1 hit single at Gospel radio, following his previous Top 5 hit Gospel radio single “No Ordinary Worship,” which was featured from his debut album The Higher Experience.

“Wow!! I’ve got to give thanks to God for giving me this gift and being able to serve Him and other people with this song. We’ve all been to a place in life where we needed God to hold us close. Whether you’ve experienced a break up or break down, divorce, diagnosis, or heartbreak, I’m asking God to hold you a little tighter. Thank you all for your love and support!”

Kelontae Gavin

“Hold Me Close” Live Video:

Kelontae Gavin has continued to capture attention as a Gospel star on the rise since he first became a viral sensation on YouTube as a teen in 2014, singing the Gospel classic “I Won’t Complain” in high school. “Hold Me Close” is the lead single from Gavin’s upcoming second album The N.O.W. Experience, which is due out Friday, March 5th. The young worship leader, songwriter and musician co-wrote “Hold Me Close” with Marquis Boone, a love letter from his heart to God to get closer to Him.

Kari Jobe, in conjunction with Premier Productions, has announced The Blessing USA Tour. Sponsored by illumiNations and CovidSafeChurch.com and named after Jobe’s GRAMMY-nominated and Dove Award-winning hit, Jobe is excited to hit the road for the first time in a year and spend an evening of worship in 22 cities across the U.S.

Also featuring Cody Carnes, the tour will kick off on April 15 in Pittsburgh, and continue on to markets including Dallas, Orlando, Minneapolis, Atlanta, and Houston. Tickets will go on sale to the public next Friday, February 19th. For more information and tickets, please visit PlatformTickets.com.

“This past year has been so difficult for a lot of us,” Jobe remarked. “We had no idea that the timing of ‘The Blessing’ would fall at such an incredibly sensitive time for our globe. I have cried so many times as I’ve watched different people all over the world declaring this song over their families, their churches and their nations. It has been so sweet. I’m so thankful that His promises are promises of peace and strength.”

In order to allow for a safe experience for everyone, the tour is implementing socially distanced and/or reserved COVID-safe seating and capacities in each venue. Additionally, tour members will be tested and everyone entering will be temperature checked in addition to other standards and local requirements.

“There have only been a few times where we have gotten to lead this song at a gathering,” Jobe continues, “so we are so excited to finally get to bring this song safely, live and in person to the Church! We are so expectant for these nights of worship and can’t wait to see what God continues to do in your cities. My prayer is that these nights will be filled with God’s presence and that you would walk away reminded that He is always for you and He is always with you.”

Written and released the week before the COVID pandemic hit the globe, Jobe co-wrote the “The Blessing” with her husband and songwriter Cody Carnes and Elevation Worship’s Steven Furtick and Chris Brown.

To say the message behind the song was timely and resonated with thousands is no understatement, as it was the most consumed new CCM song of the year in 2020 and also won for Worship Song of the Year at last year’s GMA Dove Awards. Likewise, the track received a GRAMMY Award nomination for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for “The Blessing (Live),” the video for which now has more than 41 million views and was included on Spotify’s US Viral 50, Global Viral 50 playlists and Top 50 Most thumbed-up songs on Pandora.

“THE BLESSING USA TOUR” (all dates subject to change):
4/15/21 – Pittsburgh, PA
4/16/21 – Cleveland, OH
4/17/21 – Lexington, KY
4/22/21 – Jacksonville, FL
4/23/21 – Orlando, FL
4/24/21 – Ft. Myers, FL
4/25/21 – Tampa, FL
4/29/21 – Dallas, TX
4/30/21 – Joplin, MO
5/1/21 – St. Louis, MO
5/2/21 – Jackson, MS
5/6/21 – Tulsa, OK
5/7/21 – Oklahoma City, OK
5/8/21 – College Station, TX
5/9/21 – Houston, TX
5/14/21 – Atlanta, GA
5/15/21 – Cullman, AL
5/16/21 – Knoxville, TN
5/20/21 – Minneapolis, MN
5/21/21 – Cedar Rapids, IA
5/22/21 – Omaha, NE
5/23/21 – Wichita, KS

Dynamic entertainer and multiple award-winning artist Ginny Owens became a household name when she was named the Gospel Music Association’s “New Artist of the Year” in 2000.

In a meaningful career that now encompasses nearly two decades of music, the critically-acclaimed singer-songwriter is now celebrating the recent release of Expression II: Wonder, which dropped this week (Feb 12). Expressions II: Wonder is available now to download or stream. 

Born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, a degenerative eye condition left Ginny completely blind by the tender age of three. As her vision diminished, her love of music and the piano expanded, and Ginny discovered songwriting as a window into her unseen world. The unique perspectives inspired by her vision impairment have resulted in inspirational lyrics paired with her diverse musicianship to afford her a space on an even more diverse set of stages, including the Sundance Film Festival, Lilith Fair and the White House, and recordings that transcend genre expectations.

Provident Label Group/Essential Worship’s SEU Worship releases the second installment of their mixtape projects, Clouds Are Clearing: Mixtape 1B today. Also last week the group debuted the music video for the song “Pieces ft. KB” from Mixtape 1A, that released in November 2020. The mixtape collection follows the group’s label debut, A Thousand Generations.

Typically releasing live albums, SEU Worship still delivers their signature pop music infused worship sound with the mixtape projects. “Taking the live element out of the equation never felt unnatural,” shares SEU Worship’s Dan Rivera. “It was almost like these songs knew they belonged on a project like this, and we just needed to wise up to it. It helped that we started this process of planning and making right before COVID-19 became a global pandemic. We were well-suited to deal with the fact that we would not be able to record a live record in 2020.”

Both mixtape albums feature special guests artists such as Hollyn and Alexander Pappas of Hillsong Young & Free on today’s release and KB, Elle Limebear and Marty from Social Club Misfits on Mixtape 1A. Collaboration with others is a staple of SEU Worship as their team is a combination of students, staff and faculty from Southeastern University in Lakeland, FL coming together to worship and seek the Spirit of God in a creative environment.

“Right now worship music ought to feel like the most innovative and inclusive space for creativity,” explains Rivera about SEU Worship’s creative process. “We should borrow influences, sounds, and ideas from every genre and culture we can as we collaborate. If God’s image and nature is hidden in the created order, let’s utilize all the parts in it as we create music.”

Chart-topping sensation Kelontae Gavin continues to rise as a solo artist, songwriter, and musician, as he readies the release of his second full-length album. Titled The N.O.W. Experience, three tracks – “Hold Me Close,” “Hold Me Close (Reprise),” and “Victory” – are available instantly with album pre-order now. The album contains thirteen tracks and will be released on Friday, March 5th.

The three instant grat tracks are co-written by Kelontae Gavin. The powerful lead single “Hold Me Close” has become his latest big hit among fans, marking its highest ranking thus far at radio, at #2 on the latest Billboard Gospel Airplay Chart.

Kelontae Gavin has garnered acclaim as an unforgettable new voice since breaking out as a viral sensation on YouTube in 2014 as a teenager, in an impromptu performance singing the Rev. Paul Jones Gospel classic “I Won’t Complain” in his high school cafeteria. Hailed as a gifted young worship leader, he garnered four Stellar Award nominations with his 2018 debut full-length album The Higher Experience, featuring the hit single “No Ordinary Worship,” which became a breakthrough song on Gospel and Adult R&B radio, and generated over 15 million streams.

Following the successful partnership of Lifetime channel with Bishop T.D. Jakes with Faith Under Fire and I Am Somebody’s Child, Lifetime re-teams with the Bishop for two movies-Lust: A Deadly Sins Saga and Envy: A Deadly Sins Saga-based on two books from the Seven Deadly Sins anthology by Victoria Christopher Murray. Lust: A Deadly Sins Saga premieres on Saturday, April 17th at 8pm ET/PT and stars Keri Hilson (Love By The 10th Date), Tobias Truvillion (One Life to Live), and Durrell ‘Tank’ Babbs (The New Edition Story). Envy: A Deadly Sins Saga premieres on Saturday, April 24th at 8pm ET/PT and stars Serayah (Empire), Rose Rollins (The L Word), and Kandi Burruss (Real Housewives of Atlanta).

Bishop T.D. Jakes and Derrick Williams serve as executive producers on both films, alongside TV host, Shaun Robinson, who under the Broader Focus initiative, will executive produce movies for the first time. Lust: A Deadly Sins Saga and Envy: A Deadly Sins Saga join previously announced book to screen movies by author V.C. Andrews, Ruby, Pearl in the Mist, All That Glitters and Hidden Jewel this spring, and continues to establish Lifetime as the home for movies inspired by books from best-selling authors. Below are the full descriptions and premiere dates for Lust: A Deadly Sins Saga and Envy: A Deadly Sins Saga.

Lust: A Deadly Sins Saga:The first of the Seven Deadly Sins book series, this movie is a grounded morality tale that explores the power of lust, but at what cost? Tiffanie Cooper (Keri Hilson) is about to have the wedding of her dreams to her soul mate, the dashing Damon King (Tobias Truvillion), founder of King Enterprises. But when Damon’s old friend Trey Taylor (Durrell ‘Tank’ Babbs) arrives, fresh from prison to step in as Damon’s best man, Tiffanie’s whole world gets rocked. Sexy and mysterious, Trey triggers a passion in Tiffanie that she never expected, and suddenly the life she’s always planned with Damon is uncertain. But Trey still carries wounds from his history with Damon, and his intentions toward both Tiffanie and Damon are not to be trusted. Lust: A Deadly Sins Saga also stars Ms. Juicy, LeToya Luckett, and Clifton Powell and is produced by TD Jakes Enterprises and Big Dreams Entertainment. T.D. Jakes, Derrick Williams, Leslie Greif and Shaun Robinson serve as executive producers and Star Victoria directs from a script written by Sonay Hoffman.

Envy: A Deadly Sins Saga:
Gabrielle Flores (Rose Rollins) has it all-a devoted husband, a beautiful daughter, and one of the best PR firms in the country. When Gabrielle’s father suddenly reveals she has a half-sister, Keisha (Serayah), as a result of a brief affair, only-child Gabrielle is delighted to welcome her into her life. But Keisha, who grew up with nothing, wants more than a sisterly bond from Gabrielle-she wants her life, and is willing to do whatever it takes to get it. Envy: A Deadly Sins Saga also stars Kandi Burruss, Donovan Christie Jr., Gregory Alan Williams, Da Brat, DC Young Fly, Clifton Powell and Hosea Chanchez and is produced by TD Jakes Enterprises and Big Dreams Entertainment. T.D. Jakes, Derrick Williams, Leslie Greif and Shaun Robinson serve as executive producers, and Damon Lee directs from a script written by Nneka Gerstle.

Contemporary worship music collective, Maverick City Music (founded by Tony Brown and Jonathan Jay), debuts at #1 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Chart with the brand-new album, Move Your Heart. Additionally, the album’s lead single, “I Thank God” currently sits #1 on Billboard’s Gospel Digital Sales chart. Currently, Maverick City Music dominates the charts across categories:

#1 – “I Thank God” – Billboard Gospel Digital Sales

Maverick City Music & UPPERROOM Featuring Dante Bowe, Aaron Moses. Maryanne J. George 

#11 – “I Thank God” – Billboard Gospel Streaming Songs

Maverick City Music & UPPERROOM Featuring Dante Bowe, Aaron Moses. Maryanne J. George

#7 – “I Thank God” – Billboard Hot Gospel Songs

Maverick City Music & UPPERROOM Featuring Dante Bowe, Aaron Moses. Maryanne J. George

#15 – “Move Your Heart” – Billboard Hot Gospel Songs

Maverick City Music & UPPERROOM Featuring Dante Bowe & Elyssa Smith

#19 – “Rest on Us” – Billboard Hot Gospel Songs

Maverick City Music & UPPERROOM Featuring Brandon Lake & Eniola Abioye

#25 – “Come And Behold” – Billboard Hot Gospel Songs

Maverick City Music & UPPERROOM Featuring Chandler Moore & Elyssa Smith

The album, Move Your Heart, recorded in the signature best-known style of Maverick City Music, captures the heart for God of all those worshipping. Move Your Heart features descriptive, detailed and affirming lyrics, in which believers hear beautiful spontaneous and prophetic singing and prayer – a vertical worship offering to God.

Chandler Moore, Maverick City Music artist, shares, “In our style, the night of our live recording wasn’t about capturing songs, but worshipping the one we love. These songs are an offering to him.”

Maverick City Music was launched in 2018, after hosting seventeen songwriting camps which brought together over one hundred Christian artists and songwriters and the result being the creation of over one hundred songs. Maverick City Music released their first extended play, Maverick City, Vol. 1, on July 29, 2019. The EP debuted on Billboard‘s Top Gospel Albums Chart at number ten. In 2020, Maverick City Music released their debut album, Maverick City Vol. 3 Part 1 – the album debuted at number six on Top Christian Albums and number two on Top Gospel Albums Chart.

For more information on Maverick City Music visit MaverickCityMusic.com, on Instagram at @MavericyCityMusic and Facebook at Facebook.com/MaverickCityMusic.