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TODAY’S SERVING OF “SOUL FOOD”:
Inspirational Quote: "The main business is not to see what lies dimly at a distance but to do what lies clearly at hand." - Thomas Carlyle
Scripture: “What is desired in a man is kindness, and a poor man is better than a liar.” Proverbs 19:22 KJV
May 26, 2006
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In This Issue:
• ’SENSELESS’ CHURCH SHOOTING LEAVES 5 DEAD IN BATON ROUGE
• NOEL JONES PRESENTS THE SANCTUARY CHOIR IN LIVE RECORDING
• THE COLOR LAVENDAR: CODE FOR GAY PRIDE
• INTERVIEW: MIGHTY LONG WAY WITH JOE PACE Part II
• MEET THE AUTHOR OF THE GOSPEL MUSIC ENCYCLOPEDIA
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'SENSELESS' CHURCH SHOOTING LEAVES 5 DEAD IN BATON ROUGE: In-laws killed before stunned congregation; wife murdered later
A Baton Rouge congregation was traumatized on Sunday, May 21 as a gunman opened fire during services at The Ministry of Jesus Christ Church, killing five and leaving the pastor, the suspect’s mother-in-law in serious condition.
Twenty-five year old Anthony Bell killed four of his wife’s family members and then abducted her and three children believed to be the couple’s. Erica Bell was later found dead from a gunshot to the back of her head at a nearby apartment complex. The children were unharmed.
The motive for the killings is unknown, although relatives say the couple had “domestic troubles” in the past.
Kenneth Green, a family member witnessed the tragic losses from a building in the vicinity. He identified each victim as one of his relatives: his mother, Deloris McGrew, 68; his cousin Darlene Mills, 47; and his aunt and uncle, Erica Bell’s grandparents Gloria, 72 and Leonard Howard, 78.
Police Chief Jeff LeDuff is calling the cold blooded massacre “senseless” and “one of the worst days in their [sic] city’s history.”
Anthony Bell is facing murder, attempted murder, and kidnapping charges.
THE COLOR LAVENDAR: Gay pride promotes separate college graduations for some
Somewhere under the rainbow, “separate but equal” college commencement ceremonies are gaining popularity around the nation. Called “lavender graduations,” the usually small ceremonies held outside of the main award receptions/ceremonies recognize lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and trans-sexual (LGBT) students who are issued rainbow-colored tassels in honor of their ‘diversity.’ The color lavender, like the rainbow spectrum represents gay pride.
Duke University, UCLA, the University of Georgia, and the University of Washington have lavender graduations. Joining this year’s list of about 50 tradition-breaking schools for the first time are the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Hawaii in Manoa and Kutztown University in Pennsylvania.
Jason Mattera, spokesman for Young America's Foundation (YAF), said he noticed the trend while he compiled his group's annual list of commencement speakers. Mattera asserts that these types of graduations are promoting segregation and allowing special treatment for gays.
Three years ago University of California regent Ward Connerly, felt the activities were segregated and argued “to eliminate funding for separate ceremonies based on race, ethnicity or sexual orientation.” He was unsuccessful.
USA Today reports that when Ronni Sanlo organized a lavender graduation in 1995 at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, she says the goal was to honor students "basically for surviving what typically had been a hostile (campus) environment." There were only 3 students in attendance.
Ten years later homosexuals are gaining ground. "We're finally ... getting our names and faces out there," says Alex Ferrando, 22, an organizer of the lavender graduation last month at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
Not all gays are supportive of this break-off. Whitney Mackman graduated from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Wash., in the integrated event.
Markman, a 21 years old expressed her decision to support the main commencement in the school newspaper. She said, "Every part of me contributed to my successes, and I find it inappropriate to honor my accomplishments as merely a LGBT student." Sources: Agape Press, USA Today
INTERVIEW: Joe Pace, One Man, Two Ministers - Part II
Mix together leadership and discipline, fold in a generous portion of keyboard and writing talent, an immeasurable love for worshipping God and a dash of business expertise. Then, bake for ten years or until fiery darts come out snuffed when inserted in the middle. Once cooled to room temperature, layer with the Holy Spirit to your own taste. A recipe this personalized could only have been conceived and prepared by the hands of God to yield choir director, worship leader and producer, Minister Joseph Pace, II, which He has served to all who hunger and thirst after righteousness for the last decade.
Through schedule interruptions I was able to interview the Director of the Grammy and Stellar award-holding Colorado Mass Choir (C Mass) extensively in two parts and have combined the breadth of our conversations. It was a stop and go visit down memory lane as I delved into the essence of Alabama-born artist and he divulged the experiences that have brought him to this milestone period.
Mona Austin: Joe, congratulations on "Mighty Long Way".
Joe Pace: It was a long time coming.
MA. “Mighty Long Way” is the culmination of your 10 year ministerial journey. What has been the most fulfilling part of the journey?
JP: I think finally stepping into when you really get it, when you figure out what you’re supposed to do and you feel you’re operating in your call. Because a lot of the time it’s hit and miss. . .so, when you finally get to that point when this is where you’re supposed to be and you get the opportunity to flow in that, that’s such a blessing and so rewarding.
MA: Do you feel that you’re living in your purpose right now?
JP: Not in its entirety, but I feel I’m walking in my call with purpose and focus.
MA: What has been the most challenging aspect of your career?
JP: I think the industry can be challenging. With C Mass it happened so quickly, I don’t know that I was prepared. . .lot of things, no one was giving you money for. ..lot of tearful days, lonely days.
MA: Sounds like birthing.
JP: Indeed it is.
MA: “Mighty Long Way” is a monumental project--how would you rate it in comparison to all of your work?
JP: It’s a little different to rate and compare because I went through so much in making it happen. So I don’t think I’ve fully been able to step back and appreciate everything that’s been involved with it. Like any project there are things that I wished I had done that I didn’t do that could be better. I do think overall it’s a good representation of who I am and the DVD will flesh that out even more as you see it unfold visually. . .it’s a representation of the ministry and the call that is me which is what we wanted to do. . .combine C Mass and the praise and worship stuff that people aren’t as familiar with. The album gave us an opportunity to pull that all together under one covering. . .and I’m proud of that.
MA: Do you have favorites from your musical collections?
JP: C Mass is always near and dear and always will be. The closest to me would be “Speak Life” because it’s the most personal.
MA: You kind of get a sense, vis a vis the sound, of the atmosphere changing. When I hear “Speak Life,” I know that the atmosphere in that place changed when that song was ministered.
JP: It was moment that was frozen in time. . .We had K& K Mime ministering the song simultaneously. For me it’s almost the pinnacle moment.
MA: Tell me about the night. Everything you did leading up to that point came to fruition. What was that night like for you?
JP: Crazy.
MA: How so?
JP: Everything that could happen did. There were so many logistics and like a construction project, when you’re in it when the overruns begin to happen, when you’re in it, there’s nothing you can do. . .Usually I have a template that I follow and this was just throwing out every template and took on a life of its own. . .you just have to say God take it, it’s yours. It’s almost like and our-of body experience People had to tell me this happened and this happen. . .it was certainly an historic moment for me spiritually, professionally. I learned a lot about myself as a minister. . .
MA: Do you think it was a “God-thing” that some of these things happened, maybe to get your attention?
JP: Oh it certainly was. A lot of times (we use it in church often) -- how sometimes a lot of things happen because the enemy is coming against it and when the enemy comes, that means you gotta work harder and that’s when you KNOW you’re doing what you’re supposed to be doing. But, do you have the wisdom to know when perhaps the opposite is true. Maybe some of the things are happening like God is trying to show you—you idiot, go over here!
MA: What do you think God was trying to tell you?
JP: Oh, some of those lesson, Mona, I’m still learning. Some things about location, timing, maybe giving myself a little more time. . .all of those were powerful lessons.
MA: You turned out some good work.
MA: You turned out some good work. When you think back over the last ten years, I think you said the project, Just speak Life was the most significant one. Elaborate on that.
JP: Well . . .“Speak Life” was the most personal project that I’ve ever done and probably the most, what I would say, complete project from start to finish that I have done. The theme was complete, the message was complete, the steps we took; the progression throughout the entire project. Their wasn’t any fat. Oh, and often when projects are done your kind of like “that’s good, that’s great…and that one’s is good”. That particular project for me didn’t have that and everything in there was personal and poignant. It pertains to my life and what I also perceived God was speaking and saying perhaps through me to so many others who were dealing with those same scenarios. And, it was for me the ultimate album of encouragement and hope and faith. So, that for me still to this day has been a powerful moment for me in terms of my call in terms of the local church and what I am called to do there. The last project we did, “The Sunday Morning Service”, was certainly the pinnacle for that. It was certainly one of those moments where you clearly heard God and clearly heard what God said do. He gave the concept. He gave the material for the concept. “I want you to write songs that the church can do in every part of the Sunday morning service. Give them a new offering song and a communion song and an altar call song.” I knew without a shadow of a doubt that it was exactly what I was supposed to do. That certainly, up front, from a professional call standpoint, is why we’re going to make it a series and we are going to be doing more of those.
MA: You’ve had some major accomplishments (Grammy and Stellar award wins) in your career. What will be the pinnacle of success for you?
JP: My call is to the local church and when I can impact people where they live. . .when the songs are facilitating worship in the church. . .to me that’s success.
MA: How would you like people to remember you when this life is over?
JP: That he had a heart of worship, heart for God, for ministry. Left a legacy of worship for the local church opened up opportunities for others to reach their dreams and potential. . .He was real and true to the call.
Joe Pace is the father of one fifteen year old son, Joe Pace III. His latest release on Integrity Gospel, “Mighty Long Way” is in stores nationwide. He is in the process of developing new talent under his own entity, Pace Production. Stay locked to EUR Gospel for the scoop!
BISHOP NOEL JONES PRESENTS THE SANCTUARY CHOIR IN LIVE RECORDING, JUNE 25: If you love to praise, worship or party—be there.
It's nothing but a praise party every Sunday morning at the City of Refuge Church led by the "pastor's pastor, Bishop Noel Jones. The healing energy, extreme praise and submission-inducing worship from what LA Focus calls one of the best music ministries in the Los Angeles area becomes tangible on Sunday, June 25 in the highly anticipated, live first CD recording of The Sanctuary Choir. Special guest artists will include Grammy nominated and Stellar Award winner, Minister Deitrick Haddon along with many other surprise guests.
The Sanctuary Choir, consisting of over 100 members from the City of Refuge music ministry aggregate, will perform an amazing array of all original songs. Produced by Gerald Haddon, (member of the award-winning quartet group, Gospel Soul Seekers), this is the premier project on Alpha Dog Records, Bishop Jones' recording label. Musical Director Bennett Paysinger, who is just kicking up his heels from touring with Jamie Foxx will be in good company with all professional musicians who have worked with A-List entertainers like Dorinda Clark Cole, Olie Woodson, Beyonce, J Lo, Usher, New Edition, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Commissioned, The Winans, Heather Headley, and Yolanda Adams to name a few.
Haddon encourages, "If you love to have church, worship and praise or party--this is where you need to be on June 25."
Details are as follows:
WHAT: Bishop Noel Jones Presents The Sanctuary Choir Live CD Recording
WHEN: Saturday, June 25 - 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: City of Refuge Church
14527 S. San Pedro Street
Gardena, CA
COST: Free admission
You may pre-order the CD on the night of the recording. Arrive early and get ready to be entangled in the Holy Spirit as one of the best kept secrets on the West Coast gospel music terrain is revealed to the world!
For additional information please contact, City of Refuge at 310-516-1433. For VIP seating and media please contact Dorean Edwards of Consultant Entertainment at 562-2125281 or by email at doreanedwards@sbcglobal.net
MEET THE AUTHOR OF THE GOSPEL MUSIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Book-signing for Bil Carpenter in Philly tomorrow
Author/Performance Artist Bil Carpenter will be selling and autographing copies of his “Uncloudy Days: The Gospel Music Encyclopedia” book/cd project in the Soul-Patrol.com booth this Saturday, May 27, 2006 from 12:00-6:00 p.m. at Grant Park, 43rd & Baltimore Avenue in Philadelphia, PA. The book profiles over 650 gospel artists dating back to 1900. The entries highlight their ups and downs and cover every genre of black gospel from blues and rap to southern gospel. The artists range from Mahalia Jackson to Kirk Franklin and all in between. The book also contains trivia, winners of various gospel awards and a listing of million-selling gospel recordings.
The fourteen track CD features dynamic songs by Andrae Crouch, the Edwin Hawkins, Bryan Wilson and the Mavis Staples track “God is Not Sleeping” which is currently on the Billboard Hot Gospel Singles chart. Bil Carpenter’s tune, “God Won’t,” is currently nominated for an En Sound Indie Artist Award as Best Inspirational song of the year. He recently performed the song (which is in rotation on XM Radio and KJLH 102.3 FM in Los Angeles) on the Inspirational Network’s nationally syndicated “I-Gospel” TV show.
Bil Carpenter has written extensively about pop, soul, and gospel music for the Washington Post, People, Goldmine, Upscale, Living Blues, Black Radio Exclusive, CCM, and Charisma. He has also worked extensively on PR projects with gospel artists such as the Clark Sisters, Vickie Winans, CeCe Winans and Bishop T.D. Jakes. A longtime associate of southern soul icon, Candi Staton, Carpenter will also be selling Staton’s new southern soul CD “His Hands” at the Soul-Patrol.com booth. Others attending the booth will be singer Billy Paul of “Me and Mrs. Jones” fame, radio legend “Giant” Gene Arnold and singer/songwriter Leon Ware, among others.
Media contact: Bil Carpenter at (202) 526-6322 or carpbil@aol.com.
NO information from this report can be reprinted without specific written permission from Rabercom Enterprises (info@rabercom.com), the publisher of EUR Gospel.
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