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

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

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

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.

SGMA Hall of Fame & Museum Announces New Location

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:

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!