Category: News

‘What is real will prosper’ Vandals tag church building with secularist graffiti

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Jeff Turner – Music Reporter

A congregation in Louisiana is cleaning up after it was targeted by vandals who used spray paint to leave secularist messages inside and outside of the church building.

A spokesperson for the Lafourche Parish, Louisiana Sheriff’s Office said the vandalism was found on Dec. 7, 2020 at St. Louis Catholic Church. The criminal or criminals are believed to have done the damage sometime the evening of Dec. 5 and the morning of Dec. 6. The spokesperson said a reward of up to $1,000 is offered for information leading to an arrest.

No other information has been released.

Damage at church

US congregation targeted with repeat acts of criminal vandalism

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Police in Pennsylvania are reaching out to the public for help finding whomever is responsible for repeated burglaries and vandalism at a house of worship.

“We are once again reaching out to anyone that may have information on the person/persons responsible for the ongoing Break In’s, Criminal Mischief and Vandalism at St. Joe’s Church. This senseless desecration of Church Property so close to the Christmas Holiday is devastating to the Priest and Parishioners. Please help us and the Diocese by contacting the Derry Borough Police Dept with ANY information you can provide that will assist us in stopping this,” says a post on the Derry Borough Police Department Facebook page.

There have been two attacks against the church this week in which statues were overturned, chairs in the sanctuary were damaged and a fire extinguisher was sprayed throughout the second floor.  A church representative told Texas Gospel Canada there have been at least five break-ins since Halloween.

Funeral arrangements announced for Aaron Wilburn

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Friends and family of Aaron Wilburn are preparing to celebrate his life. Aaron passed away Friday following a battle with COVID-19.  He was 70.

A life celebration will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, December 1 at Restoring Hope Church in Hendersonville, TN. Family will receive friends on Monday, Nov. 30 from 4-8 p.m. at Crestview Funeral Home and again from 12-2 p.m. at the church prior to the service.

Serving as pallbearers will be Jerry Salley, Dave Lehman, Olan Witt, Danny Jones, Jeff Easter, Jared Witt, Gary Casto, and Bobby Tomberlin.

Here is a link to his complete obituary.

ON THE WEB

Singing News Magazine: Remembering Aaron Wilburn

Southern Gospel Scoops: Please pray for the Wilburn Family

Ernie Dawson of Heirline dies at 60

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JEFF TURNER, TEXAS GOSPEL CANADA VOLUNTEER

Texas Gospel Canada has learned that Ernie Dawson, manager and lead singer of Heirline, has passed away after a battle with several illnesses.

Ernie wrote many of the group’s songs including My mama’s prayer, He’s alive, and Lord send me a refuge. He and his son Eric co-wrote Jesus has conquered the grave which gave the group its first top ten song.

According to the group’s website, “Ernie was raised by his Aunt and Uncle, Grace and Robert Cleveland, in Orme, Tn.  There were 11 children raised in a three room house along with his birth Mom, Bertha Dawson.”

According to his obituary, his funeral is set for Friday, July 31, 2020 with a graveside service at 1 p.m. at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Bridgeport, Alabama.  The Rev. Michael Shrum and Rev. Darrell Nunley will officiate.

Southern Gospel Pioneer Ed Hill Passes

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Daywind Records

Southern Gospel legend, Ed Hill has passed away.  Hill was one of the founding members of The Prophets Quartet in 1959.  He served as baritone and manager for the group for most of the life of the group.

Hill retired The Prophets Quartet in 1973, joining JD Sumner And The Stamps, in the baritone position.  This is the configuration of the group that served as backup for Elvis Presley from 1971 until his death in 1977.  Hill was responsible each evening at the end of the Elvis concerts for uttering that famous phrase, “Elvis has left the building.”

Ed Hill would go on to be a part of The Singing Americans, Masters V and finally The Songefellows Quartet.  He was inducted into the SGMA Hall of Fame in 2009.