Tag: Southern Gospel Radio

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.

Reported crimes against the church this week 12/18/2021

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Janet Johnson-Tremblay

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. 13, 2021

A church in Fargo, ND has restored a statue of St. Anthony of Paduca after vandals cut the head off and caused other damage. WZFG reports the damage happened in October . No motive for the criminal act is known.

A man charged with stalking and killing a pastor in an East Texas church has been found incompetent to stand trial. Police say Mytrez Woolen hid inside the Starrville Methodist Church last year and shot the pastor when he was found. KTEK.com reports his case is on hold while he receives “restorative” care. 

TUESDAY, DEC. 14, 2021

Police in Charleston, South Carolina say a vandal or vandals smashed out stained glass windows of the Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church.  News 2 reports large bricks and rocks were used to carry out the criminal act. The church posted a video on Facebook showing some of the damage.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 15, 2021

A Pensacola, Florida man investigators believe is responsible for a string of church vandalism was involved in a shootout with sheriff’s deputies on Dec. 7. The Pensacola News Journal reports Sean Thomas Michaels was confronted by deputies after a tip came in that he had caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage to a total of six churches when he raised a rifle and pointed it at the deputies. He was shot in the leg and deputies took him into custody.

THURSDAY, DEC 15, 2021

Police in Charleston, West Virginia are working to identify the person who threw bricks through two stained-glass windows at Mount Carmel United Methodist Church.  The Post and Courier reports the vandal was caught on video and the crime is being investigated as a hate crime.

FRIDAY, DEC 16, 2021

On Dec 15 a man and woman broke into St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Beaumont, Texas.  Police say burglary appears to be the motive for the crime.  Cash and credit cards were taken and used at local stores.

Police in Seattle are investigating arson and vandalism at the St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church.  West Seattle News reports the fire did not have time to spread before it spread.  No arrests have been made.

Happenings in Southern Gospel this week 12/18/2021

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JEFF TURNER

Jonathan Wilburn, half of Wilburn and Wilburn and former lead singer for Gold City (around 1996,) recently announced he will pursue a solo career.

11th Hour is holding its Christmas Concert Sunday, Dec. 19 at OKC Bethesda Church in Oklahoma.

The Hoppers are preparing for “Gospel Music Nights” Saturday, Jan. 22 in Taylors, SC.

Karen Peck and New River is officially on “Christmas Break.”  The group last week finished a new album.  Listen for cuts from the new project in 2022 on Texas Gospel!

Gold City has added a new concert to the 2022 schedule: February 11 at Harvest Church in South Carolina.

The Mark Trammell Quartet is set to appear at the Manley Baptist Church in Morristown, Tennessee on Dec. 31 for “The Big New Year’s Eve Gospel Music Hymn Sing.”

The Rochesters are celebrating 66 years of Gospel music this week

11th Hour’s Chandler Padgett got Married Saturday!  We wish well for Chandler and his new bride Riley.

Landry Thomas Erwin, son of Keith and Lindsey Erwin, celebrated his first birthday this week.

Greater Vision has some good news for folks who love music in Vinyl… well, sort of.  This week they announced they had 500 vinyl editions of the group’s “The Journey” project pressed.  They made the announcement Tuesday morning.  By 6:30 that evening they had sold out.  No word if they plan another vinyl release.

Texas Gospel Canada is saddened to learn of the passing of James Easter.

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DAVID INGRAM

James Easter, a long-established name in Bluegrass Gospel Music, has passed away.

James was a Gospel musician, writer and minister.  He was a founding member of The Easter Brothers along with his brothers Russell and Edd. For more than six decades they sang Gospel music and recorded at least 22 albums. (Note: We’re confident The Easter Brothers recorded more, this accounting includes the ones in our Gospel music library.)

James was the father of Jeff Easter of Jeff and Sheri Easter.  Jeff announced his father’s passing on Facebook with a brief post saying, “A tired and weary soldier has fought the battle true, he now lays down his weapon, his fighting is all through.” Daddy is now resting in the arms of Jesus. Thank you for all of your prayers for our family.”

James’ death comes just under three years since the passing of Edd Easter, and a little more than a year since the passing of the elder Easter Brother Russell.

Funeral arrangements are pending.