Is your witness limited to Facebook?

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Floyd Rogers

God’s Word tells us to go into all nations and preach the Gospel. I’ve worked in Christian Broadcasting for decades, and I’ve met a lot of people who say radio and television fulfills that charge because it broadcasts God’s Word throughout the world. But does it really?

Consider, sometimes a whisper is more effective than a shout to get someone’s attention; that is, for them to both hear and understand.  I’m sure at some point you’ve had someone grab your attention with a shout even though you had no idea what they said. The shout had their attention, not the message. In the same fashion, I often wonder if people who listen to Christian radio have their attention on the friendly voice coming through their speakers and the upbeat song with little regard for what the singer is saying. The same can be said of Social media. Do people really read debates between Christians and Atheists to seek truth, or is their attention focused on which side will crush the other?

I think it’s possible we’re told to go into the nations and preach the Gospel because one-on-one sharing of God’s word eliminates the distraction other modes present. There’s no worrying about what some third party may think of our presentation, no entertainment drawing our thoughts away from what is being said, and just like a whisper, no loud attention getter distracting from the message.

Do you witness only online behind a keyboard, or do you go out and preach the Gospel?

What are your thoughts?

Lauren Talley’s “Lord’s Prayer”gives power to familiar words

SPECIAL CROSSROADS RECORDS

Arden, North Carolina β€” In April, Horizon Records’ Lauren Talley released “Shut Him Up,” her first song in almost two years. The high-energy song put a fresh twist on a familiar story, and marked the beginning of a new era for the Gospel singer as she works on her first record as a full-time solo artist.

Now, Talley follows that with the release of another song, “Lord’s Prayer,” which shows another side of her multifaceted talents.

With an arrangement as simple, and yet as rich as the text it accompanies, “Lord’s Prayer” revisits the beloved invocation, setting each of its parts and themes to music that traces the prayer’s arc of faith and daily spiritual renewal. Talley’s moving vocal brings more power to the familiar words, highlighting the importance of prayer in a close relationship with God.

“In a world full of noise, it’s important to carve out a moment to stop and whisper, ‘Father in heaven, we love You,'” says Talley. “‘Lord’s Prayer,’ invites quiet worship and reflection, just my vocal supported only by producer Gordon Mote’s piano accompaniment. Natalie Cromwell’s haunting melody brings new beauty to the words of Jesus, as He gives us all the example to follow amidst all the distractions and busyness of life.”

Changes in store for The Dixie Echoes

DAVID INGRAM

The Dixie Echoes bass singer Jordan Wilson announced this week that he’s leaving the group. Jordan has served with The Dixie Echoes for 4 years.Β  A familiar face to Dixie Echoes fans will take his place.Β  Mark Cates, who has previously been a part of the lineup will rejoin The Dixie Echoes.

The group said in a statement this week that Jordan, “…has been a vital part of our family and we will certainly miss him. People have fallen in love with him all over the country, and he is a great Christian young man. We wish Jordan the very best in his future endeavors.”

The Dixie Echoes are planning a new recording very soon with the current lineup, including Trenton Williamson on tenor, Scoot Shelnut on baritone, and SGMA Hall Of Fame member Randy Shelnut, Sr. on lead. The album will include some old Dixie Echoes favorites, and some new songs in the classic Dixie Echoes style.

The numbers are in… The Lore Family’s I Bring You Jesus is our #1 this month

David Ingram

A song co-written by Marcia Henry, Rachel McCutcheon and Darren W. Lore is this month’s #1 on the Texas Gospel Canada Top 30 songs. I Bring You Jesus by The Lore Family is our July Chart Topper!

The Texas Gospel Canada Top 30 comes from a direct monthly audit of every song played on our Southern Gospel stream during the preceding month and our list is submitted to The Singing News and Southern Gospel Scoops.

I Bring You Jesus was popular even before it was chosen for the Lore Family’s project The World Needs a Song.

β€œFolks immediately respond. I did a generic poll on social media. I asked what song really connected with those who had heard our project. β€˜I Bring You Jesus’ was the top song!” said Darren Lore.

You’ll hear the song in our fast rotation throughout July.

TEXAS GOSPEL CANADA TOP 30 JULY 1, 2022

1 I Bring You Jesus – Lore Family – Horizon/Crossroads
2 The Well – Fields Of Grace – Independent
3 Children Sing – Nelons – Daywind/New Day
4 Shut Him Up – Lauren Talley – Horizon/Crossroads
5 Still Standing After The Storm – Mark Trammell Quartet – Crimson Road
6 The Church Of The Great I Am – Kingsmen – Horizon/Crossroads
7 Out Of Harm’s Way – Williamsons – Family Music Group
8 Looks Like Jesus – Brian Free & Assurance – Daywind/New Day
9 The God Of Gideon – Foresters – Independent
10 Let Us Pray – Paid In Full – StowTown/Provident-Sony
11 Enough For Me – Legacy Five – StowTown/Provident-Sony
12 I can’t wait – Sacred Harmony – Dream Big Promotions
13 Water under the bridge – Cami Schrock – Heritage
14 All I Got, All I Need – Wisecarvers – Skyland/Crossroads
15 Homeland – Justified Quartet – Big Picture Records/New Day
16 Grace And Goodness – Sunday Drive – StowTown/Provident-Sony
17 Answer Is Jesus – Karen Peck & New River – Daywind/New Day
18 Long Live Old Time Religion – Old Time Preachers Quartet – Family Music Group
19 What You Could Never Get Over – Kingdom Heirs – Sonlite/Crossroads
20 An Old Abandoned Church – Kristy Cox – Billy Blue Records
21 Give Him What You Got – Isaacs – House of Isaacs/New Day
22 I Have God To Thank For Everything – Inspirations – Horizon/Crossroads
23 Faith Wins – Phillips Family – Independent
24 Opening Soon – Big Mo – Independent
25 Come Home Kind Of God – Endless Highway – Skyland/Crossroads
26 Leavin’ On My Mind – Kim Hopper – Daywind/New Day
27 Your Sins Are Forgiven – Down East Boys – Sonlite/Crossroads
28 I’ve Come Too Far – Browders – Dream Big Music
29 Breathe In, Breathe Out – Guardians – StowTown/Provident-Sony
30 Good God Almighty – The Old Paths – Sonlite/Crossroads

Texas Gospel Canada July 1, 2022 Southern Gospel Top 30

David Ingram, Texas Gospel Canada Music Director

These are the top Southern Gospel songs based on number of plays on Texas Gospel Canada. This is the chart we report to The Singing News Magazine & SGNScoops:

1 I Bring You Jesus – Lore Family – Horizon/Crossroads
2 The Well – Fields Of Grace – Independent
3 Children Sing – Nelons – Daywind/New Day
4 Shut Him Up – Lauren Talley – Horizon/Crossroads
5 Still Standing After The Storm – Mark Trammell Quartet – Crimson Road
6 The Church Of The Great I Am – Kingsmen – Horizon/Crossroads
7 Out Of Harm’s Way – Williamsons – Family Music Group
8 Looks Like Jesus – Brian Free & Assurance – Daywind/New Day
9 The God Of Gideon – Foresters – Independent
10 Let Us Pray – Paid In Full – StowTown/Provident-Sony
11 Enough For Me – Legacy Five – StowTown/Provident-Sony
12 I can’t wait – Sacred Harmony – Dream Big Promotions
13 Water under the bridge – Cami Schrock – Heritage
14 All I Got, All I Need – Wisecarvers – Skyland/Crossroads
15 Homeland – Justified Quartet – Big Picture Records/New Day
16 Grace And Goodness – Sunday Drive – StowTown/Provident-Sony
17 Answer Is Jesus – Karen Peck & New River – Daywind/New Day
18 Long Live Old Time Religion – Old Time Preachers Quartet – Family Music Group
19 What You Could Never Get Over – Kingdom Heirs – Sonlite/Crossroads
20 An Old Abandoned Church – Kristy Cox – Billy Blue Records
21 Give Him What You Got – Isaacs – House of Isaacs/New Day
22 I Have God To Thank For Everything – Inspirations – Horizon/Crossroads
23 Faith Wins – Phillips Family – Independent
24 Opening Soon – Big Mo – Independent
25 Come Home Kind Of God – Endless Highway – Skyland/Crossroads
26 Leavin’ On My Mind – Kim Hopper – Daywind/New Day
27 Your Sins Are Forgiven – Down East Boys – Sonlite/Crossroads
28 I’ve Come Too Far – Browders – Dream Big Music
29 Breathe In, Breathe Out – Guardians – StowTown/Provident-Sony
30 Good God Almighty – The Old Paths – Sonlite/Crossroads