Author: Texas Gospel

U.S.: Man who vandalized two churches given jail time, told to stay way

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JEFF TURNER SR.

A California man who pleaded to felony charges related to vandalism of two churches will spend 208 days in jail.

Omar Rico Olivardes, 34, entered the guilty pleas on September 29, 2022. According to court documents the charges of vandalism of religious property are related to smashing windows at the Gospel Churh of God and the Templo Sinai Church in Santa Anna, California. He was also ordered to stay away from two other churches in the area.

Texas Gospel Canada file stories do not list a motive given at the time of the vandalism.

The Down East Boys’ “Ready To Leave”goes No. 1 on SGN Scoops chart

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SPECIAL: CROSSROADS RECORDS

Arden, North Carolina (September 20, 2022) — The Down East Boys have once again claimed the No. 1 spot on the monthly SGN Scoops Southern Gospel Chart with a song from their album, The Stories We Tell. “Ready To Leave,” a horn-driven cover of the popular Hemphills song, has quickly climbed the chart since its release, debuting at No. 13 before jumping to No. 1. The song follows the group’s last single,  “Your Sins Are Forgiven,” which was No. 1 on the SGN Scoops chart in May.

“Ready To Leave” talks about living a life that prepares you for heaven, as the chorus shares, “​​Ready to leave in a twinkling of an eye / making investments in the bank up in the sky! / I’ve made preparations — not a reason to grieve. / Are you in that number getting ready to leave?”

“We are overwhelmed by the response to this great classic song,” says Ricky Carden, the group’s lead singer. “Fifty years after it was first recorded, the message has become more real in the days we are living in. We are getting ‘Ready To Leave’!” 

The song is the latest single from the Down East Boys’ album, The Stories We Tell. The album is the first featuring the current lineup of singers (Carden, baritone Daryl Paschal, bass Alex Utech and tenor Doug Pittman), and offers a sampling of all the elements that have contributed to the success of the group’s musical ministry — uplifting songs; thoughtful, creative arrangements relevant to today’s faithful while keeping strong links to tradition; and, above all, singing that gives each voice an opportunity to testify within a tight-knit quartet setting.  

Listen to “Ready To Leave” and the rest of The Stories We Tell HERE.

About Down East Boys
For more than 30 years, the Down East Boys quartet has traveled from coast to coast, Canada and Mexico. Starting in eastern North Carolina the group chose the name from that region called Down East, but quickly expanded its ministry and has now recorded more than 20 projects and has had more than 40 songs reach the top of the Singing News charts. The Down East Boys features lead singer Ricky Carden, baritone singer Daryl Paschal, bass singer Alex Utech and tenor singer Doug Pittman, who each bring a richness to the group’s music and have been noted by industry leaders and singers as some of the best. The Down East Boys have been afforded many great accolades to their credit. Three songs — “Beat Up Bible,” “Testimony Time” and “I’d Like To Tell It Again” — from their album, One Day In The Past, reached the No 1. position on the Singing News Chart, and “Amazing Amounts of Amazing Grace” from their most recent album, Faithful Still, also made the top spot. From performing with many evangelists through the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, singing at Southern Baptist State Conventions and Evangelism conferences all over the country, to all the awards and nominations and the hit songs, nothing changes the goal of this group and that is to share the gospel of Jesus unto all the world.

Lauren Talley’s This Is For You launchesa new era for the Christian music artist

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SPECIAL: CROSSROADS RECORDS

Arden, North Carolina (September 20, 2022) — Rarely has an album been so well named as This Is For You,Lauren Talley’s first collection in three years, and the first since The Talleys, the family trio in which she’d sung for more than 20 years, elected to retire from touring in 2020. From the opening line of the title track (and next radio single) to the last notes of the restrained, yet deeply emotional “Lord’s Prayer,”This Is For You is a finely crafted yet revelatory exploration of the wellsprings of faith through music.

The album is now available for pre-order, add or save ahead of its November 11 release.

“I’ve been making records for a long, long time,” says the artist. “But I think This Is For You may be the pinnacle of my recording career thus far. It’s the first album I have recorded as a full-time solo artist since the retirement of The Talleys, and working alongside producer Gordon Mote injected the whole process with fresh creativity. I love the songs, I love the sounds, and well, I’ve lived the lyrics.” 

“Several of the songs are from my pen and my life,” Talley continues. “‘This Is For You,’ ‘Say Yes I Am,’ ‘In The Room,’ and ‘That’s What I Love About Him’ contain bits and pieces of my story, and I sing them because I want you to know it, to know me, but most importantly, to know Him.”

That intent animates each of the Gordon Mote and Lauren Talley-produced collection’s 10 songs, which reach beyond Talley’s heartfelt originals to include a carefully chosen set that includes nods to African-American Gospel in a joyous, spirited reading of “How I Got Over” and to worship music in a ringing take of Charity Gayle’s “Thank You Jesus For The Blood.” With every song, Talley and her gifted team have created fresh, contemporary, yet varied arrangements that center her compelling voice, delivering a message of redemption that shines through each moment, whether in hushed or powerful passages, as the title track’s very first words make clear:

“This is for you, the ones who are broken
Deep down inside and you’re trying to hide
This is for you
….
I see every tear, I feel every heartbreak
I know every fear, And I love you just the same
….
Just look at my wounds
Just look at my blood spilled
I gave it for you”

“This album was crafted for you,” Lauren Talley concludes, “But our stories are all made possible by the One who gave Himself….For You.”Pre-order, add or save This Is For YouHERE.

About Lauren Talley
Lauren Talley is one of Christian music’s most dynamic talents and has inspired a generation of young people to serve the Lord.

Born into a rich musical heritage, Lauren sang her first solo at age 2 when she toddled onto the stage, interrupted her family’s concert and announced she wanted to “thing.” Lauren went on to make her own mark on the gospel music world as a member of her family group, The Talleys, with whom she received numerous awards, including a 2015 Dove Award for their song, “Hidden Heroes.” Lauren’s lead vocals shine on eleven number one hits for the group.

She has recorded seven solo albums, including 2019’s unprecedented release of two albums simultaneously, Glorious God: Songs of Worship and Wonder, and Loudest Praise: Hymns Of Mercy, Love and Grace. Her 2017 album, The Gospel, reached the number one position on Billboard’s Top Christian Inspirational chart. She is also the author of Songs In The Night, a companion devotional book to her 2010 album of the same title. Lauren performs solo concerts and is a featured singer and speaker for many women’s conferences and special events across the country. She is frequently recognized for her appearances on numerous Gaither Homecoming videos and concerts, RFD-TV’s The Music City Show and In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley. In 2014, she was awarded an honorary doctorate degree in Worship Arts from John Wesley University.

When not traveling or recording her own music, Lauren often serves as a studio background singer and producer for other recordings and works with emerging artists as a voice and performance coach. Lauren is a busy lady but always finds time to cheer on her beloved Tennessee Volunteers, drink sweet tea and spend time laughing with family and friends.

“My job as a communicator is to give people the truth of the Gospel,” Lauren says. “I want people to know that Jesus is everything — He’s the Answer the world is searching for, He’s the solution to all problems and He’s the only One in whom we have real hope. He called me to give people His message when I was 12 years old, and fulfilling that call is all I’ve ever really wanted.”

U.S.: Damaged property, urine on carpet left by church vandals in Minnesota

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DAVID INGRAM

A Minnesota congregation is facing thousands of dollars in repairs after an act of vandalism over the weekend.

Police in Sauk Centre, Minnesota issued the following news release on Monday:

On 9/17/2022 at approximately 1308 hours officers were called to Our Lady of the Angels church in Sauk Centre for a report of some vandalism. When the officer arrived, he found extensive damage to the inside of the church entrance area and sanctuary, including tipping over a statue, urinating on the carpet, damaging candle holders and other items. The officer was able to review video surveillance from the church showing two males entering the church at 0627 hours and leaving at 0638 hours, carrying a candle holder.

Suspects were later identified as Corey Allen Drouillard, age 28 of Sauk Centre and Cheyenne Marcus Budreau, age 19, of Cass Lake. Both suspects were arrested and booked in Stearns County Jail on charges of burglary and criminal damage to property.

The congregation Friday will celebrate a Mass of Reparation for the desecration of a Holy Place.

Arrest made in U.S. church arson, church plans to rebuild

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JEFF TURNER

The pastor of Victory Baptist Church in Los Angeles, California says an arrest has been made in connection to a fire that destroyed the church’s main building. But Pastor Edward Jenkins also said the church is not going anywhere and they will rebuild.

Last week a fire at the church left the church’s nearly 80-year-old building in ruin. Since then, items that could be saved have been pulled from the ashes including a pulpit and piano.

Authorities in Los Angeles have not released the suspect’s name or announced a motive behind the fire.

MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE FIRE FROM THE U.S.: