Category: News

Reported crimes against the church in North America this week 1/1/2022

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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. 27, 2021

Police in St. Albans, West Virginia have arrested two men for felony destruction of property and grand larceny after

TUESDAY, DEC 28, 2021

Police in Fort Smith, Ark. have arrested a man accused of causing between $20,000 and $50,000 in damage to the Evangel Temple in Forts Smith. KNWA/KFTA reports surveillance video led to the arrest of James Leon Garner, 39. A motive for the vandalism has not been announced.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 29, 2021

Officers arrested a Henderson, North Carolina man, 40, this week for vandalism at a church. Police say Kane Kelley. The motive behind the vandalism at the Ebenezer Church is not clear as the graffiti is Illegible. Fox Carolina posted photos of some of the graffiti. ABC13 reports the act was caught on surveillance video.

Police in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania are looking for the person or persons who caused an estimated $11,000 in damage as they ransacked a church. 6 Action News reports the damage was discovered at the Emmanuel United Methodist Church. Burglary is believed to be the motive

THURSDAY, DEC 30, 2021

Police In the state of New Jersey have responded three times in the past month to vandalism at the Mary, Mother of God Church in the city of Hillsborough.  Patch.com reports the vandal or vandals have defaced Christmas decorations, knocked over statues and stole a few items.

FRIDAY, Dec 31, 2021 (New Year’s Eve)

No Report – Holiday schedule

Happenings in Southern Gospel this week 1/1/2022

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STAFF

Texas Gospel is saddened this week to learn of the passing of Wayne Little, tenor with the Blackwood Brothers.

The Collingsworth Family is celebrating its recent 205,000 follower benchmark for the group’s Facebook page. Social media has become an important avenue for Southern Gospel Groups to share photos, videos and the latest happenings with their fans.

Happy Birthday this week to Arthur Rice, one of the most talented tenor vocalists around!

The Tribute Quartet made the top of the list on the Singing News list of top 40 songs of 2021.

Rodney Griffin reached a landmark this week.  December 28 marked the anniversary of his first appearance with the group in 1993.

Endless Highway and The Lefevre Quartet are set to do a benefit concert on January 9 for Ben Rogers.

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

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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

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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.”

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

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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.