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August 16, 2023
In This Issue
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Christian Music & Entertainment
from The Atlanta Christian Web
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JON REDDICK
Faith Behind The Song:
"I Believe It (The Life of Jesus)"
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“Change of place + change of pace =
a change of perspective”
The first time I heard Mark Batterson share that equation, I was intrigued. In the past 15 years since I read those words, I have experienced that equation again and again.
A few years ago, I was completely overwhelmed by a problem in my work and walked away in despair and defeat. After a trip to a different location with more outdoor activity, less time on digital devices, and a lot more sleep, I returned with a very different perspective and the insight I needed. The problem hadn’t gotten smaller, but my perspective was different and perspective is everything!
Sometimes, we just need to slow down, step away, and sit quietly in order to step back into our real life with the resources needed to keep moving forward through our real challenges. The perspective We often require changing things up in order to find the perspective we need.
CCM artist Jon Reddick experienced the truth behind Batterson’s quote when he traveled to Israel for the first time. Reddick shared in an interview that as he sat on his hotel balcony overlooking the Sea of Galilee, he sensed a renewal in his faith and was inspired to write a song about what he believed. Working with some collaborators, the song “I Believe It” emerged.
Now, it sits at #3 on Billboard's Contemporary Christian Music charts.
If the song was a way for a new generation to engage the words of Christians from nearly 2,000 years ago, then that would be a win! But Reddick goes beyond just restating our core beliefs. He digs into his own story. In an interview with Air1 earlier this year, Reddick shared about how he’s seen God move in his life.
“As I watch the thread that God has been weaving over my life, I can’t explain it away as coincidence or life itself or even science. I have to give the glory to God. When I look at that, I believe that Jesus walked this earth, I believe that He died for our sins and I believe that He rose with all power in His hands.”
He confidently sings from that perspective in “I Believe It.”
In his book, "The Divine Conspiracy," Dallas Willard wrote, “We don't believe something by merely saying we believe it, or even when we believe that we believe it. We believe something when we act as if it were true.”
I think that action part is what stirred in Reddick’s heart as he stared at the same body of water that Jesus walked on and calmed with just a word. As he reflected on who Jesus was and what Jesus did, he was stirred to sing.
“It's not just a story
It's a living, breathing, walking testimony
Of a God so good He'd leave His home in glory
For the world He loved,
for the world that He so loved”
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Christian Fiction Writer Q&A COLLEEN COBLE
(Break of Day)
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Best-selling Christian Romantic Suspense author Colleen Coble's latest book, "Break Of Day" entered the EPCA Christian Top Christian Fiction list this month at #1.
Colleen's novels have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, the ACFW Carol Award, the Romance Writers of America RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers’ Choice, and the Booksellers Best. She has over 5 million books in print and writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Colleen is CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers.
Q: What inspired the story in "Break Of Day"?
Readers have loved my Rock Harbor Series so much, and I wanted to catch up with the gang there. I decided a spin-off series made more sense, and I love second chance romance stories. There are always unresolved conflicts in those kinds of novels that make for a fun story to write. There’s a surprise twist early on in the series that took three books to work out, and I hope readers enjoy it!
Q: What are the biggest challenges for you as an author writing in your specific genre?
Since I write suspense, it’s important to me to make sure readers still end up with hope at the end. I try hard not to dwell on the power of evil because God always wins. Yes, bad things can happen to us, but it’s not the end. There’s a popular song right now I love titled “Fear is Not My Future.” Nothing that happens in this life is our future—God is. Heaven is our future. Nothing can overcome us in this life because it’s not the end.
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From the church pews to the Billboard gospel charts, a Minneapolis pastor has officially earned his sixth Billboard honor. Jovonta Patton hit number one on the Gospel airplay chart last week with his latest single “Always.” It remains there for a second straight week. The song is Patton's 6th #1 on Billboard as an indie artist.
Patton is an ordained minister and started the Pop Up Church trend called “The Wave,” a non-traditional church service that “pops up” around the country in colleges and vacant spaces as the Lord leads, to edify millennials and to offer salvation. A husband and a father of three small daughters, he now resides in Atlanta, and serves as a worship leader at one of the largest black mega churches in the nation, The House of Hope Atlanta, the well-known setting of “Calvary Fellowship” from the Oprah Winfrey-produced hit show GREENLEAF.
He wrote the song in the middle of the pandemic, as there was so much uncertainty in the world.
"Get Up! With Erica Campbell," is heard in Atlanta on Praise 102.5. In a recent conversation on the show, Jovonta said that, while he settled on the album name “Established” "saying The Bible says if you decree a thing, yes on the earth that it shall be established. And Peter also tells us,(1 Peter 5:10) after you suffer a little while, God will strengthen you, he will settle you and he will establish you."
"Established," is Patton's fourth album, which is catching the attention of giants in the gospel music industry. Now, the album's most-heard single was selected to be heard by all on gospel music's biggest stage, the Stellar Awards.
"He says, 'Hey, you know you got chosen to sing at the Stellar Pre-Show.' I said, 'What? I didn't know that.' And he said, 'Well yeah, I'll be sending over the email and everything in a couple of hours, and so congratulations!' And it was just like, wait, huh?" Patton said.
He says this opportunity was one he prayed for while attending the Stellar Awards in 2015. "I sat on the side, I said, 'I'm going to be on that stage,' and I just spoke it. I just believed God for it," he said. "And so to be in the manifestation, to be going, it is wild."
With Jovonta Patton
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Billboard Magazine's Current Top Gospel Music Chart
"Always"
(from Established)
(2nd Week At #1)
"Great God"
(from Old Fellowship Hour)
"Feel Alright (Blessed)"
(Single)
"All Things"
(Single)
"The Moment"
(from All Yours)
(Last Week #1)
This Week's Fastest Rising
Gospel Music Songs
“It's Working”
(Single)
(Up 3 Spots From #17 To #14)
Watch The Live Performance Video -
“Reminder"
(from Believe Again, Vol. II)
(Up 3 spots from #26 To #23)
Watch The Official Music Video -
Gospel Music Songs
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Metro Atlanta Christian Concerts & Family Events
Tuesday, August 22
Blessing Offor
At City Winery
650 North Avenue NE,
Atlanta, GA 30308
8:00 pm. (404) 946-3791
Friday, August 25
Jeff & Sheri Easter,
Anthem Edition
Great Georgia Gospel Sing 2023
At Social Circle Theater
650 Ashley Drive, Social Circle, GA 30025
7:00 p.m. 770-267-0923
Saturday, August 26
Casting Crowns
Georgia Mountain Fair
1311 Music Hall Rd,
Hiawassee, GA 30546
7:00 p.m. (706) 896-4191
Saturday, August 26
John P. Kee, Donnie McClurkin Dorinda Clark-Cole
and Kevin Lemon's Choir
Legends of Gospel:
At Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre
5239 Floyd Rd. Mableton, GA 30126
6:00 p.m. 770-819-6735
Sunday, September 10
CS Lewis'
The Screwtape Letters
At Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway,
Atlanta, GA 30339
(770) 916-2800, 3:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 15
Phil Keaggy Concert
Benefitting Inspire
Special Needs Ministries & Community Outreach
At Church on Main
2400 Main Street E, Snellville, GA 30078
5:00 p.m. (770) 978-7000
Click Here For All Upcoming Concerts and Links For More Information
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(with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
(with Tara Leigh-Cobble)
(with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
(In-depth conversations about
the Bible and theology)
(with Hank Smith & John Bytheway)
(with Sadie Robertson)
(with Steven Furtick)
(Unashamed with
Phil & Jase Robertson)
(with Tim Keller)
(with Angela Halili and Arielle Reitsma)
Christian Podcasts
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Women Who Inspire:
A Conversation With Author
NATALIE RUNION
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Best Selling author Natalie Runion's new book, "Raised to Stay: Persevering in Ministry When You Have a Million Reasons to Walk Away," entered the ECPA Top 50 Christian Book list at #3.
Q: I am not sure a lot of our readers know what #raisedtostay is so if you care to expand on that and what prompted that first little black box with the white text that is so prominent in social media.
Natalie: It is still unbeknownst to me why the Lord chose to amplify that the way he did. Though I have prayed that the Lord would give me authority in the areas that he wants me to have authority. But in 2019, I was with New Life Worship, and one day, I walk in and it was told to me “You’re no longer going to be New Life Worship...we feel like you need to move departments and we want for you to be a Women’s Pastor.”
I was isolated from my friends. I don’t even know if the church knew that they were causing me to mourn so much. It was a season of isolation and I remember writing in my journal every day, “God I don’t wanna do this,” “don’t make me do this,” “please, I just wanna go back and be a gym teacher.” Forty years feels like a really good time to tap out, it’s a good holy number.
I was walking the dog on a hot summer day, and I was having this conversation again with God. And I said, “I’m done.” “If this is your people, and this is what we do to each other, and we control people’s lives, then I’m done.” I was having this temper tantrum on the sidewalk.
I promise you there are probably five times I’ve heard the Lord give me an audible word, and I heard the phrase Raised to Stay drop into my spirit. He said “you know you keep fighting for yourself, you keep going to the same Egypt and you keep leaving a lot of things on the table. If you would just let me fight for you, I’ll show you what’s next. But, you had to come to the end of yourself so that I could really begin in your life. And, this had nothing to do with worship, me making you, me creating you. Worship was a catalyst, but it wasn’t why I made you.”
I couldn’t stop hearing that phrase #raisedtostay. And He said, “you know I had to get you to a point where you wanted to quit so that you would be able to preach for the rest of your life while others can’t.” And I start bawling.
So, I ran home and googled the phrase Raised to Stay, and there’s nothing. There’s not a blog, there’s not a book, there’s not a social media account, so I just bought all the domains. I wrote my first black box. I don’t even know why I chose black and white because I’m not black and white. I’m a neon 1980s kid. I threw it on my social media account and walked away from iit.
I had like 500 followers. I said OK I’m gonna post one black box a day and if it keeps me in the game, maybe it’ll keep somebody else in the game. That was really the heart behind it.
With Natalie Runion On Her New Book
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Christian Booksellers'
Top Christian Books
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"The Five Love Languages"
The Secret to Love that Lasts, New Edition
“Jesus Calling”
Enjoying Peace
In His Presence
"Raised To Stay"
Persevering in Ministry When You Have a Million Reasons to Walk Away
"Good Boundaries and Goodbyes"
Loving Others Without Losing
the Best of Who You Are
“The Awe of God”
The Astounding Way a Healthy Fear of God Transforms Your Life
August's Best Selling Christian Books
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Nominees Announced for the 54th Annual Dove Awards |
The Gospel Music Association is pleased to announce the nominees for the 54th Annual GMA Dove Awards. Top male nominees include Brandon Lake with eleven nominations, songwriter Jeff Pardo with eight nominations, and Jason Ingram and Kirk Franklin receiving six nominations each. Top female nominees include Katy Nichole, who picked up four nominations, with Lauren Daigle, Naomi Raine, and Tasha Cobbs Leonard, each receiving three nominations. Country stars Dylan Scott, Tyler Childers, and Walker Hayes each earned a first-time nomination.
Voted on by the GMA Professional Membership, this year's nominees were chosen from over 2,046 submitted entries. The GMA Dove Awards Nashville event will be held on October 17 and will air exclusively on TBN and the TBN app on Friday, October 20, at 8 pm (ET) and 10 pm (ET).
Nominees were announced in an artist-hosted livestream event featuring Jason Crabb, Jordan Feliz, Danny Gokey, Natalie Grant, and JJ Hairston. The announcement premiered live on the GMA Dove Awards YouTube.
"I want to congratulate this year's wonderful list of Dove Awards nominees," says GMA President, Jackie Patillo. "Each year, we choose a theme to represent our community and why we celebrate. Today we announced this year's theme, Joyful Echo. Like it says in Isaiah 42:12 from The Message, 'Make God's glory resound, echo His praises from coast to coast.' We expect and believe this year's show will be a joyful echo of the love of Jesus."
Final round voting will run from August 17 through August 24. The GMA Dove Awards are happening live and in person in Nashville, Tennessee October 17. A limited number of tickets are still available. Music City Fan Experience tickets are also available--an unforgettable, multi-day Nashville getaway that includes tickets to the Dove Awards.
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Billboard Magazine's Current Top Contemporary Christian Music Chart
“Thank God I Do”
(from Lauren Daigle)
(14th Week At #1)
“Gratitude”
(from House of Miracles)
“I Believe It (The Life of Jesus)”
(Single)
“Praise You Anywhere”
(Single)
"Holy Forever”
(from Always)
This Week's Fastest Rising CCM Songs
“Be Okay”
(Single)
(Entered The Chart at #22)
Watch The Official Lyric Video
“What Are We Waiting For?”
(from What Are We Waiting For?)
(Up 3 Spots From #20 To #17)
Watch The New Official Music Video
Contemporary Christian Music Songs
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Atlanta Christian
Radio Station Guide
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Top Contemporary Christian Stations
104.7FM, The Fish
93.3FM - The JoyFM
106.7FM, K-LOVE
91.5FM - Victory 91.5
Top Gospel Stations
102.5FM - Praise 102.5
Top Southern Gospel Stations
90.7FM & 91.7FM - NewLife Radio
Top Religious Talk Stations
970AM - Faith Talk 970
Metro Atlanta Christian Radio Stations With Links To Their Official Websites
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SGN Scoops Magazine Top 100 Southern Gospel Music Charts |
“One Name”
(from Treasure)
“Dance”
(from 2:22)
“Ready For The Change”
(from More To The Story)
“Been Blessed"
(from Been Blessed)
“Calvary's Touch”
(from John 3:16)
Top Southern Gospel Songs
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Call 770-596-6451
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Overcoming Impossible Odds
By Jim Daly, President of Focus on the Family
The Rubik’s Cube is the best-selling children’s toy in history. It was invented in 1974 by Erno Rubik, an architectural design professor who used the cube to teach his students how to analyze design problems in three dimensions.
But before his students could use the cube, Rubik had to figure out how to solve it himself. That posed an immense challenge. The Rubik’s cube has over 43 quintillion combinations. To put that number into perspective, if everyone on earth did one combination a second, all 43 quintillion combinations would take almost 200 years.
In addition to that head-scratching number, Rubik also faced another challenge: he had no Internet or books he could turn to for answers. He had to rely on his own problem-solving skills and determination. The solution took him a month.
Rubik tells people, “When we encounter problems, there is an opportunity to discover something new and different. If everything isn’t good today, they can always be better tomorrow.”
Whatever you hope to achieve in life, one principle will be key to your success: Don’t quit. Even when the odds seem against you.
Focus On The Family is heard on dozens of radio stations throughout Georgia.
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Atlanta Christian Artists
Top Christian Artists From Metro Atlanta
National Christian Artists
Top Christian Artists From In And Outside Of Atlanta
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See Lauren Daigle's live performance on The TODAY Show of her
#1 CCM song for 14 weeks, "Thank God I Do" - Click Here
See the Official Music Video For the #1 Gospel Music song
Watch a live acoustic performance by Chris Tomlin of the #5 CCM song, "Holy Forever" - Click Here
Watch a live performance of the #2 CCM song
that was #1 for 13 weeks, "Gratitude” by Brandon Lake - Click Here
See The Official Music Video of the #3 Gospel Music song,
"Feeling Good (Blessed)" by Erica Campbell - Click Here
Watch the Live Song Session for the #3 CCM Song by Jon Reddick,
See Jeff & Sheri Easter's live performance of the #1 Southern Gospel song, "One Name" - Click Here
Watch the Official Music Video for the #4 CCM Song
by Brandon Lake, "Praise You Anywhere" - Click Here
See the music video of this week's #4 Gospel music song by Kirk Franklin, "All Things" - Click Here
See A Live Performance of the #5 Gospel Music song, "Miracles"
by Kierra Sherard Feat. Pastor Mike, Jr. - Click Here
Click Here To Watch The Latest Top CCM & Gospel Music Videos
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Include your Christian business or upcoming event
in our E-Blast Newsletters. -
Call 770-596-6451
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Radio host, best selling author
Dave Ramsey
How to Save Money Fast: 10 Quick Ways
Maybe you’re trying to save for a car, rebuild your emergency savings fund, or pay off debt. Or maybe you’re just trying to figure out how you’re going to cover your bills this month. Whatever the reason, you need more money . . . like, now.
Well, you’re in luck! I’ve got 10 ways to save money fast. These tips will help you get some quick cash in your pocket and get more money flowing into your bank account for the future. Let’s do it!
1. Cut extra spending. - The fastest way to save money is to cut those expenses you simply don’t need. What I mean is, instead of doing the most, it’s time to start spending the least (who would’ve thought?).
Start by logging in to your bank account and taking a good, hard look at your purchases from the last month. Take note of the wants vs. the needs. If I were you, I would put the kibosh on those wants for a while to get that money back in my pocket!
Yeah, I said it. I want you to hold off on splurge purchases—like getting your nails done, going to a sports game, and even things like TV subscriptions and morning coffee runs—at least for now. Those are all good and fun, but they’re not necessary (I know some of y’all are going to come at me for that, but it’s true).
Click Here For The Full Story and More on Our Dave Ramsey Financial Peace Page Including A Complete List Of Area Radio Stations and TImes Where You Can Find The Dave Ramsey Show
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Phil Wickham Teams Up With Brandon Lake For New Song “People Of Heaven”
Pastor Mike Jr. Wins 8 Stellar Gospel Music Awards - Click Here
Podcast: Candace Cameron Bure and Katy Nichole discuss who in their family lineage shaped who they are today
Michael W. Smith Share Life Update
Gospel Singer VaShawn Mitchell to Release Anticipated New Album “Chapter X: See the Goodness”
Natalie Grant Releases Duet
Artist Interview: Dennis Quaid and the Gospel for Sinners - Click Here
Jeff Allen: How Reading the Bible Changed Me - Click Here
Kelsey Grammer Says
"Jesus Revolution" Role Was
Clayton County church burns down after possible lightning strike - Click Here
Jeff & Sheri Easter Open Up About
Christian singer reacts to media attacking worship tour:
Christian/Gospel Music -
This Month's New Releases -
The Afters Release New Single
Death toll in Maui wildfires rises to 93; local churches provide aid amid their own suffering - Click Here
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Colton Dixon Free August 29th
Country music star Walker Hayes shares journey from alcoholic atheist to faith: 'The answer is Christ' - Click Here
Former Braves player Sid Bream on his NLCS moment, living for Christ
Fact Check: Joyce Meyer Never Endorsed Keto Gummies Weight Loss Reviews Promoted in 'Tragedy' Clickbait Ad Scam - Click Here
Tasha Cobbs Leonard Inspires fans with Photos of Weight Loss Journey
NEEDTOBREATHE Releases New Single
Jamie Foxx accused of being ‘antisemitic’ after sharing controversial post about Jesus - Click Here
Christians Arrested for Preaching Gospel in Wisconsin, Video Shows - Click Here
The actor who plays Jesus in ‘The Chosen’ on filming, faith and the future
Remembering The 700 Club’s Scott Ross’ - Click Here
CBN's New Christian Book Reviews
Decatur church gives out free gas
Trump's Response to Woman Asking About His 'Faith' Raises Questions
Belief in God, the devil falls to new low: Gallup - Click Here
Major League Pitcher's No-Hitter
Shines Spotlight on His Unwavering Christian Faith - Click Here
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