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Molly Jenson will take her show on the road this summer across five states, playing her way through California, Nevada, Arizona, Washington, and Oregon on a mini-tour she’s dubbed the “No Place Like Home” tour. Starting in Reedley, Calif, Jenson will play at house concerts that have been booked by her fans. “I love house concerts,” Jenson says. “I know they are more popular in other parts of the country, but I think people are just starting to warm up to them out here on the West Coast. I love the intimacy that a house concert brings and I’m looking forward to this tour!” For a complete list of tour dates or to request a show for your town, check out www.mollyjenson.com.
Show Hope, the adoption ministry of Steven Curtis and Mary Beth Chapman, announced the official opening in July of Maria’s Big House of Hope in Luoyang, China. Maria’s Big House of Hope is a healing home dedicated to saving the lives of special-needs orphans in China. The facility provides for orphans throughout the country who are in desperate need of surgeries and special medical attention, offering them the highest level of care and enabling the children to thrive. In turn, there is hope that this necessary medical attention increases the orphans’ chances of being adopted. The facility is named in memory of the Chapmans’ 5-year old daughter, Maria Sue Chunxi Chapman, whom they adopted from China in 2004 when she was just 1 year old. Maria was killed in an accident last May.
After two decades of making country music, Diamond Rio will release their 11th album and first full-length Christian record The Reason on Sept. 22. Over the years, each member of Diamond Rio has heard God’s calling through a myriad of experiences and it’s those joys and challenges that are reflected in the songs on this new album. “We’re revealing who we are. We’re not preaching. We’re not preachers, but we’re saying, ‘This is who I am and I’m proud of it,’” says band member Jimmy Olander. “God is working and we’re here for a reason.” For more information, visit the band’s Web site www.diamondrio.com.
Rock band Mae has finished the first part of their 12 months of charity by raising enough money to fund a Habitat for Humanity project in Newport News, Va. The band met their goal of $65,000, and the ribbon cutting ceremony on the Floyd family home took place this summer. The band has now launched their second phase, partnering with DonorsChoose.org, an organization that provides teachers with supplies, curriculum and resources for educational projects in all 50 states. As with their first project, the band will offer up a new song every month and ask fans to donate at least $1 for the download, with all proceeds going to the designated charity. You can learn more at www.whatismae.com.
Mark Schultz releases his long-awaited, fifth studio album, Come Alive, Aug. 25. This is Schultz’s first new studio album in nearly three years and is also his most personal recording to date, inviting listeners to “come alive” through these songs birthed by stories of hope, loss, joy and redemption. Schultz heads out this fall on the Come Alive Tour with special guests, Point of Grace. For more information and tour dates, visit www.markschultz.com.
Music fans said goodbye to Michael Jackson, who died in July, and some Christians speculated that perhaps the King of Pop had become a Christian shortly before his death. The rumors surrounded a report that gospel music legend Andrae Crouch and his sister had prayed with Jackson at his home just weeks before Jackson died. Crouch and his sister dispelled those rumors in a statement that read, in part, “It has been brought to our attention that several media outlets have been erroneously reporting that we met our dear friend Michael Jackson several weeks prior to his death so he could accept Christ. This is incorrect and absolutely not true … We loved and respected Michael enormously and we’ve been friends with him for many, many years, and are deeply saddened by his sudden and tragic death. We recently met with Michael to discuss recording two songs with our choir for his newest recording project.” While the Crouches say they did pray and sing with Jackson during their meeting, they did not pray together for Jackson to receive Christ.
CCM Magazine, which ceased print publication last year, has announced that it’s relaunching the magazine in digital format. According to a news release, each issue of CCM will focus on new Christian music set to release during the quarter of publication. You can receive a free issue of the new release guide, complete with video and other bells and whistles, by visiting www.ccmmagazine.com.
When rock band Pillar releases their sixth studio album, Confessions, this September, it’ll be with two new members and a new approach to songwriting. Bassist Rich Gilliland and drummer Taylor Carroll have joined the band, replacing members who left last year to pursue other interests. Lead singer Rob Beckley and guitarist Noah Henson have been the band’s principal songwriters the past eight years, but on this album they collaborated with Chris Stevens (tobyMac, Sanctus Real), Skidd Mills (Saving Abel, Skillet), Keith Wallen (Fuel), Red guitarist Jasen Rauch and Building 429’s front man Jason Roy. The theme of the album is an extension of the band’s Confession Tour earlier this year, which engaged the audience in a new way. “We decided to give our fans a way to pour out their hearts anonymously, yet before God” says Beckley. They offered a confessional at each show with blank cards available for people to share their struggles; the band then read and prayed for each request on the card. Pillar will hit the road again on the Confessions Tour early this fall with KJ-52, Run Kid Run and 7eventh Time Down. For more information, visit www.PillarMusic.com.
For more Christian music news, visit Joanne’s Gospel Soundcheck blog at Beliefnet.com www.blog.beliefnet.com/gospelsoundcheck.
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