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Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones, DonJackson, Chairman and CEO of Central CityProductions, and Tamela and David Mann,from the television show “Meet the Browns,”were on hand on October 30th to announcethe 2010 Stellar Award nominees. The FiskJubilee Singers performed.

At the top of the nominee list with ninenominations each, are Donald Lawrence andVickie Winans. They are both nominated inthe “Artist of the Year,” “Song of the Year”and “CD of the Year” categories, to name afew.

Hezekiah Walker and the LoveFellowship garnered six noms and willcompete with Vickie Winans and DonaldLawrence for Artist, Song and CD of the Year.Tied with Hezekiah Walker and LoveFellowship are Phillip Carter & SOV withtheir 3rd CD, Songs from the Storm.

Kierra Sheard landed five nominations,including one for, Silky Soul Music—ATribute to Maze, her collaboration with TheClark Sisters and J. Moss.

the official nominees for the...25th Annual Stellar AwardsThe 25th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards will return toNashville on Saturday, January 16, 2010, for its 5thconsecutive year and will be co-hosted by Vickie Winans,Donnie McClurkin and Kirk Franklin.

Tamela and David Mann

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“Sunday Best” winner Crystal Aikin and Mary,Mary, each picked up four nominations. Newcomer’sNiyoki and Shari Addison earned three, along withcompetitors Smokie Norful, Lisa Knowles & TheBrown Singers, and Israel Houghton.

Gospel hip hop is always been controversialand this year’s line up is no exception. The “Rap HipHop Gospel CD of the Year” nominees for this yearare: Da Truth, Dooney Da Priest, Lecrae, and PapaSan..

Special Awards to be handed out at the 25thAnniversary Awards celebration will include thepresentation of “The James Cleveland LifetimeAchievement Award” to Lee Williams and theSpiritual QC’s. “The Thomas A. Dorsey Most NotableAchievement Award” will go to the Mississippi MassChoir for a decade of excellence, and Edwin Hawkinswill be presented with this year’s “Ambassador Dr.Bobby Jones Legend Award,” celebrating his 40-plusyear contribution to contemporary gospel.

The show will be held at the Grand Ole OpryHouse in Nashville on Saturday, January 16, 2010.

The following is a partial list of nominees andcategories:

ARTIST OF THE YEARlDonald Lawrence, The Law of Confession Part 1, QuietWater/VeritylHezekiah Walker and Love Fellowship, Souled Out,Verity Records lKierra Sheard, Bold Right Life, EMI GospellVickie Winans, How I Got Over, Destiny Joy Records

SONG OF THE YEARl Donald Lawrence, “Back II Eden” – The Law ofConfession Part 1, Quiet Water/Verity l Hezekiah Walker and Love Fellowship, “I Am SouledOut”- Souled Out, Verity Records

Donald Lawrence

Vickie Winans

Hezekiah Walker

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Last week, Bishop Thomas Weekstied the knot with Prophetess ChristinaGlenn in a private ceremony that onlyincluded his church family and friends.According to the Atlanta JournalConstitution newspaper stated, “Weintentionally did not invite the media tothe ceremony because we wantedsomething intimate.” The couple hasbeen in receipt of a number ofcongratulatory messages and prayersfrom members of the faith community.

The couple appears together on avideotaped seminar showingChristians how to start lovingrelationships called “You Can BeginAgain.”

Weeks and Glenn made a decisionnot to grant interviews during thecourse of their courtship and onlydecided to go on camera days beforethe wedding ceremony to confirm their

marital plans. gt

Bishop Thomas Weeks

Ties the Knot By Bishop Andy C. Lewter, D. Min.

l Mary, Mary, “God in Me” - The Sound,Columbial Vickie Winans, “How I Got Over” – How IGot Over, Destiny Joy Records

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEARl Israel Houghton, The Power of One,Integrity Music l Philip Carter, Songs from the Storm,Sounds of Victory Ministries LLC l Smokie Norful, Smokie Norful Live, EMIGospel l Stephen Hurd, Times of Refreshing,Integrity Gospel

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEARl Crystal Aikin, Crystal Aikin, Verity Records l Kierra Sheard, Bold Right Life, EMI Gospell Niyoki, Rest, D2G Recordsl Vickie Winans, How I Got Over, DestinyJoy Records

GROUP/DUO OF THE YEARl Donald Lawrence, The Law of ConfessionPart 1, Quiet Water/Verity l Kurt Carr & The Kurt Carr Singers, Just TheBeginning, Verity Recordsl Lisa Knowles & The Brown Singers,Experience The Evolution, Independentl Mary, Mary, The Sound, Columbia

CD OF THE YEARl Donald Lawrence, The Law of ConfessionPart 1, Quiet Water/Verityl Hezekiah Walker and Love Fellowship,Souled Out, Verity Records l Smokie Norful, Smokie Norful Live, EMIGospel l Vickie Winans, How I Got Over, Destiny JoyRecords gt

Stellars...cont

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Proverbs 22:6 instructs, “Train up

a child in the way he should go: and

when he is old, he will not depart

from it.” This familiar passage of scripture

has been applied by most Christiansduring their days of development.However, just as the Prodigal Son,many Christians have left the churchand the ways of God only to returnonce they became older and wiser.

That trend may be changing. A newgeneration of young people between 18and 35 have a completely differentoutlook on church traditions andcustoms. More and more young peopleare crying out for change in theirreligious experience and not just moreof the same.

USA Today reports, “Seven in 10Protestants ages 18 to 30 — bothevangelical and mainline — who wentto church regularly in high school saidthey quit attending byage 23, (according toa survey by LifeWayResearch), and 34%of those said they hadnot returned, evensporadically, by age30. That means aboutone in four Protestantyoung people haveleft the church.”

In his new book,scheduled to bereleased this month,Milan Ford lists 83 items he believesthat young people would like churchesto stop doing.

In this fast paced culture thatpromotes instant everything, perhaps itis time for us to listen to the nextgeneration, if we don’t, we very wellcould find ourselves in church alone. gt

By Bishop Andy C. Lewter, D. Min

Is the Church Losing Its Appeal to the Next

Generation?

Is the Church Losing Its Appeal to the Next

Generation?

On Friday, October 30th, a“lucky” 13 participants spent anentire day and evening inintense business sessions withDr. Teresa Hairston, publisher ofthe #1 Magazine in the urbanChristian community (GospelToday Magazine).

Hairston’s first “BOOT CAMP”as she dubbed it was an 8a.m.to 10p.m. affair with a brief 2-hour dinner break. Sessionsfeatured speakers whopresented information regardingfinances, marketing, brandingand imaging. Participants got anopportunity to present theirbusiness plans and receivecritical feedback to help them

sharpen their skills.Although held in Atlanta,

where Gospel Today isheadquartered, most attendeescame from other statesincluding: Ohio, Virginia,Maryland and . “I really didn’t doa lot of marketing for this firstBOOT CAMP,” Hairston stated.“I wanted to keep it small andintimate and really give theattendees one-on-oneattention.”

Next year, Hairston plansto extend the BOOT CAMPSnationally. “I want to do one inthe Midwest and anothersomewhere on the West coast,as well as one here in Atlanta.”

Dr. Teresa Hairston’s BOOT CAMP Helps Entrepreneurs Grow Their Businesses!

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As for the attendees, theirbusiness interests ranged fromcosmetologists to ministry leaders topublishers and authors—all seekingto take the next step on their paths topurpose. And there were glowingreports: “The sessions and speakerswere excellent!” “The information andinspiration I got has given me theimpetus to move to the next level!” “Itwas a wonderful experience.”

“Business is not just an ‘extension’of ministry,” Hairston explains. “A lotof Christians in business have greathearts and are extremely creativeand talented. Many of them havebeen ‘brainwashed’ to believe thatthey can’t excel if they don’t havemoney. I started Gospel Today withjust $300., so I know that although

money is necessary, it’s not the mostimportant thing. Even with money, ifyou don’t understand some businessbasics, you’ll spend unwisely, andhave a poor administrative structureand growth plan. I want to helppeople succeed. That’s my calling—to mentor those who are teachableand desire to learn and grow. Iappreciate my colleagues—LeeJenkins (finance expert), LaVonLewis (marketing/branding expert)and Teena Gamble (stylist/fashionexpert for helping this BOOT CAMP

be an incredible experience!” gt

For more information or to sponsor orattend BOOT CAMP in your area:email: drhairstongt@aol.com

Roland HairstonPastors