Music

The choir of Atlanta West Pentecostal Church snagged the title of “The Best Church Choir in America” late Saturday, beating out ten other church choirs from around the nation that had made it to the finale event.

Along with the title, the winning choir also snagged $30,000 in cash and prizes, adding to the three other awards it had picked up as it made its way through the “How Sweet the Sound” competition, sponsored by Verizon Wireless.

All 11 choirs, each hailing from different cities, had been selected the overall winners of their respective cities over the last two months as part of the third annual competition, which is touted as the only nationwide, community-focused celebration of its kind. more >>

Churches across the nation this Sunday will raise awareness of the world’s 143 million orphans as part of a concerted effort to promote adoption among believers in the pews.

"Orphan Sunday is an opportunity for believers all across America to speak for those unspoken for; those the world has forgotten,” says Vicki Mullins, director of Orphan Ministry for East-West Ministries International, in her endorsement of the annual event. “There are millions of orphans in the world. It is clear in Scripture that Jesus loved and cared for these children – how can we do any less?

Through a network of more than fifty state volunteer coordinators, the coalition behind the Orphan Sunday campaign has been helping churches, organizations and lay-leaders across the nation organize their own distinctive local events – ranging from sermons, Sunday School classes and prayer gatherings to concerts and service projects – to highlight the call to “defend the cause of the fatherless” and what ordinary Christians can do in response. more >>

Nominees for this year’s Gospel Music Channel music video awards have been announced and fans are being encouraged to vote for their favorites before the deadline – Nov. 13.

This year’s nominees, selected by a GMC Blue Ribbon Committee, include Jars of Clay, Francesca Battistelli, Canton Jones, Sara Evans, Brandon Heath, Point of Grace, Mary Mary, tobyMac, Skillet and Israel Houghton, among others.

Categories this year include the six usual – Rock, Pop, Country, Soul, Hip Hop, Contemporary – as well as a new category, Praise & Worship. more >>

Hip-hop, musical comedy and contemporary Christian music artists have joined forces on a nationwide music tour aimed at inspiring young Lutherans to fight global poverty and hunger.

Entitled “Jesus Justice Jazz: The Tour,” the show is hitting a total of 16 stops where at each location young attendees are hearing testimonies about hunger and being encouraged to donate towards the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s World Hunger fund. The venues are ELCA-affiliated Christian colleges and Lutheran churches.

The colleges are underwriting many of the tour expenses so that money raised can go towards the hunger fund. more >>

Contemporary Christian singer and songwriter Brandon Heath picked up his first American Music Awards nomination Wednesday after two years of burgeoning success.

Heath – who received Dove Awards this year for “Male Vocalist of the Year,” "Song of the Year" and "Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year" – will vie for the title of “Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist” at the 37th AMA Awards to be held Nov. 22 in Los Angeles.

“I’ve been watching the AMA’s for years – never thought I’d have the honor of being a nominee,” Heath said after learning of his nomination. more >>