Pastor John Gray
In an Instagram that was posted on Jul 10th, Aventer Gray, wife of Pastor John Gray of the Relentless Church in Greenville, SC and Metro Atlanta he reportedly said that he “was feeling a little different over the past couple weeks.” On July 7th, Gray went to the emergency room and was immediately checked in to the critical care unit for a pulmonary embolism, which is a blockage in one of more arteries in the lungs. According to the post, the 49-year-old pastor “will need two types of surgery due to the pressure now on the heart within the next 24 hours.” The Saddle PE, his wife and co-pastor said, “is in a position that could potentially end his life if it shifts at all.” As of right now the megachurch pastor is not allowed to move, walk, or even go to the bathroom. Gray’s wife wrote on Sunday, “My family and I stand in need of a miracle. Please keep my husband @realjohngray in your prayers.”
Joel & Victoria Osteen Head to NY’s Yankee Stadium
For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic Pastor Joel and Victoria Osteen of the Lakewood Church in Houston, TX are holding a night of hope and inspiration at Yankee Stadium in an event the duo hopes will bring “healing and wholeness” to the country. Osteen has hosted the “Nights of Hope” events annually since 2004 until the pandemic hit in 2020. “We never dreamed we’d have a break like we did,” said Pastor Osteen. “Once we stopped, I didn’t know when we would come back. So, when Yankee Stadium called us and said, ‘We have a date for you,’ it just felt right. It felt like God opened the door.” I think it’s God’s way of saying, ‘Come back to hope, come back to faith, come back to church, come back to living again,’” he said, adding: “A lot of dreams have been put on hold, but hopefully we can inspire some people to believe again. “This year’s event will be held on Aug. 6th at 7:00 p.m. and will feature musical guests CeCe Winans, Tauren Wells, and the Lakewood music team. The Osteens plan to share an inspirational message and personal testimonies about what has done in their lives, including how his mother recovered from cancer.
Right-Wing Evangelist Learns the Hard Way that Thou Shalt Not Boast
Right-wing activist Peggy Nienaber was caught on a live hot mic outside of the Supreme Court at an evangelical victory party celebrating the downfall of Roe v. Wade bragging that she holds prayer services for Supreme Court justices. Nienaber, who works for the Liberty Counsel had created a major presumed conflict of interest because Nienaber’s ministry’s umbrella organization, Liberty Counsel, frequently brings lawsuits before the Supreme Court. The prominent Capitol Hill religious leader was caught making the bombshell claim that she “prays with sitting justices inside the high court. “We’re the only people who do that,” she said. Nienabar, who was seemingly unaware that the livestream was being recorded was directly asked whether she prays with any members of the court. “I do,” she responded, “They will pray with us, those that like us to pray with them. She later added that her comments were “totally off the record.”
Stellar Awards Announces Performance Roster
The 37th Stellar Gospel Music Awards will be live taped in Atlanta on Saturday, July 16th as part of huge array of events that will take place throughout the weekend honoring excellence in Gospel music. The Stellar Awards will be held at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center and will air in August in syndication on BET, BET HER and BET International in various local markets across the country August 13th to September 11th. This year’s performance lineup includes Tye Tribbett, Marvin Sapp, Maranda Curtis, Ricky Dillard, Kelontae Gavin, Rudy Currence, Chrisette Michele, DOE, James Fortune, Jason Nelson, Travis Greene, Darrel Walls, and Jor’Dan Armstrong.
National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses Returns
The National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses is gearing up for its 89th annual convention is a week-long in-person convention held in Orlando, FL August 6th – 12th at the Doubletree Hilton Hotel. The Convention, first founded by the “Father of Gospel Music” Dr. Thomas A. Dorsey, have been held sessions in different cities every year since 1933. The week’s events consist of daily classes and workshops, plenary session featuring world renowned musical artists and guest speakers, nighty concerts and host of other activities for anyone who desires to better themselves as a Christian singer, instrumentalist, educator, or leader in Gospel music.
