Author: Texas Gospel

Wayne Little, tenor of The Blackwood Brothers Quartet, dies at 60

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

JEFF TURNER

Texas Gospel Canada is saddened to learn of the passing of Wayne Little, tenor singer of The Blackwood Brothers Quartet.  A post on the group’s Facebook page says he died due to complications with COVID-19.

Little performed with various groups before joining the Blackwood Brothers including the Crystal River Boys, and more recently New Millennium. He was well-known among Southern Gospel groups. Brian Free of Brian Free & Assurance said Wayne was an amazing Tenor.

“I will miss my friend Wayne.  We hung out a lot together on the road….I’m praying for his lovely family,” said Free.

Wayne leaves behind Gina, his wife of 43 years; sons Micah and Maison and their families.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

Arthur Rice (SGMA) signing the agreement to bring the SGMA Hall of Fame & Museum to the Biblical Times Theater

SGMA Hall of Fame & Museum Announces New Location

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

PRESS RELEASE

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (December 28, 2021) – After months of seeking God’s direction, the Southern Gospel Music Association is excited to announce an agreement with Biblical Times Theater to house the SGMA Hall of Fame & Museum on their premises located at 2391 Parkway in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

The announcement was made this evening during a concert with Jonathan Wilburn, a board of member of the SGMA, at the Biblical Times Theater.

Kaylee Davis, creative director of Biblical Times, says: “On behalf of the owners, management and staff at Biblical Times, we are proud to welcome the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame Museum into our family! We strive to glorify the Lord in our nightly shows as we bring the stories of scripture to life and with southern gospel being rooted here in the Great Smoky Mountains, it only seems fitting that we join together. We look forward to what God has in store in the coming months and years with the museum, and praying it would bring joy and encouragement to all those who visit! Once again it is our honor to partner with the music that shares the greatest message in the whole world and to be the new home of the SGMA Museum.”

Arthur Rice, SGMA President, says: “We are excited and grateful to the Lord for the blessing of a new home for the SGMA. We have a lot of work ahead of us and the folks at Biblical Times have been an absolute joy to work with. We believe this joint venture will not only carry the history and future of our music but the message of Christ to many. Please pray for us during the next several months as we relocate to our new home.”

Happenings in Southern Gospel this week 12/25/2021:

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

TEXAS GOSPEL CANADA STAFF

The Browders just wrapped up a fourteen-concert Merry Christmas tour and are spending Christmas at home.

The Down East Boys are set to release a new project on January 7, 2022. Listen for songs from Your Sins are Forgiven soon on Texas Gospel!

This year marks the 30th anniversary of one of the most-loved gospel Christmas songs Mary did you Know.

Sacred Harmony is putting the finishing touches on a new record titled, “It Ain’t Over” produced by Matthew Browder of the Browders and John Darin Rowsey of the Guardians. The title cut has already been released as a single.

The Whisnants are on Christmas break but will begin touring again in January.  The group has four dates in four cities in Florida set to kick things off as part of the Gospel Music Hymn Sing Winter Tour.

Let us know if you have information about of a Southern Gospel concert anywhere in Canada. We’ll post it here to let everyone know about it!

Reported crimes against the church in North America this week 12/24/2021

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

TEXAS GOSPEL CANADA STAFF

This is a list of this week’s reported crimes against Christian congregations and church property in North America. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list.  These are only those that have come to our attention through media reports.

MONDAY, DEC. 20, 2021

Vandals in Land Park, California have destroyed what has been a long-time annual Christmas display.  KRCA Television reports the Nativity set up by a family for the past 25 years was demolished by criminals over the weekend.

The sheriff’s office in York County, South Carolina is investigating racist and obscene graffiti at the NewSpring Church, according to a report from The Herald.

TUESDAY, DEC. 21, 2021

Provincial police are investigating after someone used an ATV to smash through doors of a church in Caledonia. CBC news reports it appears they drove the ATV inside the building causing further damage.

WEDNESDAY, DEC 22, 2021

Police in Oldsmar, Florida have not announced a motive for a man arrested after they say he broke into a church and caused more than $50,000 in damage.  Fox13 reports the unnamed suspect broke into the Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church and began marring the walls and furniture with graffiti, burning items and ransacking the building.

THURSDAY, DEC 23, 2021

Calgary police are looking for a person of interest in a summer church arson. CTV News has published photos of a man that may have information about an intentionally-set fire at the Calgary House of Prayer Church on July 4.

A creche depicting Jesus’ birth has been vandalized for the second time in Hillsborough, New Jersey.  Tapinto.net reports the vandalized figures at The Catholic Church of Hillsborough were a gift to the church and had been cast by an Italian sculptor. Police have not made any arrests in the criminal act.

FRIDAY, DEC 24, 2021

A Charleston, S.C. congregation is looking past the vandalism of the person or persons who targeted their sanctuary earlier this month, as they focus on serving God while they serve the community.  ABC4 reports Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church is continuing its work distributing clothing and food as they discourage drug use in the neighborhood.

Sheriff’s deputies in Shasta County, California arrested a woman for vandalism at the Community Baptist Church. The Riverside County News reports that deputies found the woman broke into the church, sprayed the fire extinguisher around the sanctuary but got no further in damaging the house of worship because law officers caught her in the act.

Police in Austin, Texas are investigating after someone smashed stained glass windows on all sides of Our Savior Lutheran Church. KXAN television reports the church boarded up the windows and proceeded with worship as scheduled.