GOSPEL TODAY INVITES YOU TO TAKE THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME

Location: The Holy Land & the Land of the Pharaohs | Israel & Egypt

Dates: November 7-17, 2011

Cost: $3495.00*
*Includes air (RT from ATLANTA, GA), hotel, tours, transfers, and 2 meals/daily
*based on double occupancy

Additional Information:
You’ll enjoy meeting new people who will have come to experience this wonderful excursion!
There will be singing and ministry along the way…

You’ll also have time to shop, take photos and bring home souvenirs that will become as treasured as the memories they represent!

Don’t miss this opportunity to explore and expand!

Email contact: gospeltodaymag@aol.com

“To walk where Jesus walked, to pray where Jesus prayed, to stand where he stood – the Bible comes alive in the land of miracles. There is no other place like it on earth. Experience a blessing that will last a life time by visiting Israel!”

The readers of the prestigious Travel + Leisure magazine voted Jerusalem the best city to visit in the Middle Eastern and African region. And those of you who have visited the Holy City will likely be quick to agree with this ranking, as Jerusalem includes some of the most visited sites in Israel, including the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Via Dolorosa, Yad Vashem, and the Mount of Olives.

Notably, Tel Aviv placed third – behind Cape Town, South Africa – on the list, with cities ranked by a survey of readers based on the enjoyment of sites, culture and arts, dining, attitude of local residents, shopping, and overall value.
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ITINERARY:

Nov 7 Depart USA for your flight to Cairo, Egypt.

Nov 8-9 Enjoy Cairo: tour the Egyptian museum and see the treasures of King Tut. See the Pyramids of Giza, the only site remaining from the World’s Seven Wonders; and The Sphinx

Nov 10 :Mt. Sinai

Nov 11-12 Visit the Resort City of Eilat and the Dead Sea.

Nov 12 Visit Jericho, the oldest city in the world. Go up to the Mount of Temptation by Cable Car. Continue along the Jordan Valley to Tiberius,

Nov 13 Visit the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. Visit Tabgha the site of the Miracle of the Multiplication. Take a Boat Ride on the Sea of Galilee.

Nov 14 Visit Cana, where the first miracle occurred. Visit Nazareth, where Jesus spent his childhood. Go to the Jordan River for Baptism.

Nov 15 Go to Mt. Carmel, where the Prophet Elijah had a contest with the Baal Prophets. Visit Caesarea where Cornelius, the Roman Centurion was the first gentile to be converted to Christianity. Continue to the Holy city of Jerusalem.

Nov 16. Visit the town of Bethlehem where Jesus was born. Visit the Wailing Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem. Ascend to Mt. Zion, see the Room of the Last Supper and King David’s Tomb

Nov 17 Go to the Mt. of Olives. Walk along the Palm Sunday Road to the Garden of Gethsemane. Visit the Pool of Bethesda, and the Garden Tomb.

About the Hosting Tour Agency:
VERED HASHARON TRAVEL
4 BEN GURION ST – NESS ZIONA 70400 – ISRAEL
TEL: 972 8 9384837 (Ext.353) FAX: 972 8 9380710
Vered Hasharon employs a permanent staff of 20 experienced professionals, consisting of travel agents, tour operators, tour guides and managerial personnel.
The Company is uniquely family orientated, offering personal service, while paying attention to the finest detail.

Please be advised of “TERMS & CONDITIONS” of the tour BEFORE you pay your deposit.

The only ADDITIONAL payments you will need to make will be $ $10 per person per night for tips, total of $90 and insurance $7 per day * 12 days (departure to arrival ) total of $84 (GRAND TOTAL: $174.00) This amount is payable with final installment.

PAYMENT INFORMATION:
Please submit $525. (15%) on or before November 7, 2011 to secure your accommodations.

SUGGESTED PAYMENT SCHEDULE:
November 5, 2010 $525.
December 10, 2010 $300
January 7, 2011 $300
February 4, 2011 $300
March 4, 2011 $300
April 4, 2011 $300
May 6, 2011 $300
June 3, 2011 $300
July 8, 2011 $300
August 12, 2011 $300
September 9, 2011 $300
October 7, 2011 $144

Remember! When you get 10 people who complete payments for their trip, the 11th is FREE! (Including hotel, air, ground!)

Exclusive from The Belle Report

Chicago, IL – It was on last Sunday, August 29th when Albertina Walker, hailed as the “Queen of Gospel” and founder of The Caravans, celebrated her 81st birthday. It was also on this day, The Queen started to experience difficulty breathing. She was later taken to a local Chicago hospital with weak lungs and was admitted. Doctors later put her on an oxygen support ventilator to help her breathe and where she has been, since her birthday under close doctors care.

The following night on Monday, August 30th, the Albertina Walker Scholarship Foundation Concert, went on as schedule, however The Queen was not in attendance.

Since being admitted to the hospital, her bedroom door has become a revolving one with many family members and close friends coming by to wish her well and show her support, including Evg. Shirley Caesar, Inez Andrews, Deloris Washington, Dorothy Norwood, Harvey Watkins, Pam Morris and Rev. Jessie Jackson who prayed for her on Friday.

As of Monday, September 6th, Walker is under medication and continues to rest comfortably as she is receiving treatments to help her breathe. Family members have been by her bedside every hour of the day since last week.

Additionally, and to clear up a few rumors, she is NOT in a coma, and she has NOT returned home since being admitted to the hospital on Sunday, August 29th.

Meanwhile, she remains on a ventilator, while listening to back to back hits of her own music, playing softly in the background.

And now more than 8 days later, we continue to ask for everyone to lift our sister up in prayer as she is in the fight of her life.

It’s hard to imagine standing in a church after the emotionally draining experience of burying your father; then, tearfully raising your voice to sing a simple, heartfelt worship song…that later becomes a blessing to millions, and a mega-hit. But that’s how Marvin Sapp’s song, “never would have made it” was conceived. The words: “never would have made it…never could have made it…without you…” came from deep down. Sometimes life’s most difficult seasons yield the greatest blessings.

DEEP CALLS UNTO DEEP AT THE NOISE OF YOUR WATERFALLS; ALL YOUR WAVES AND BILLOWS HAVE GONE OVER ME. THE LORD WILL COMMAND HIS LOVE IN THE DAYTIME, AND IN THE NIGHT HIS SONG SHALL BE WITH ME—A PRAYER TO THE GOD OF MY LIFE.
—Psalm 42:7-8

The miracle of a moment…
“My father, Henry Louis Sapp, Jr, had a major impact on my life. Even though he and my mother were divorced for the majority of my life, he had a big part in making me who I am. “My father never asked me for anything. He was a very simple man. He only asked that when he passed away, that I would do the funeral; because I wasn’t just his son, I was his pastor as well. That was the most difficult request he ever made of me.

“The Sunday after we buried him, I walked in church, and normally, I always close out with “I’ll Praise You,” a song that my musicians and I wrote. But that Sunday, I was so broken, I slowed everything down and I just started singing, “Never would have made it…Never could have made it without you….”

“Initially, I wasn’t going to record it; but my wife (Dr. MaLinda Sapp) actually pushed me. Boy! Did she bug me about it! Even up to the week of the recording, we weren’t going to do that song, but I said, ‘I’ll just put it in a medley of songs to appease her.’ From there, it was unbelievable! It was a dream come true.

“I actually didn’t know the song was a hit! It wasn’t until about a year after the record came out. I was on stage singing the song at the BET Awards (by then, the video was being played every hour on BET). And while I was up singing, I was looking out in the crowd and Puffy, Keyshia Cole, and others were singing the song with me. Then, backstage, Lil Wayne was telling me how much he enjoyed the song (of course, he used some four-letter words!), but that’s when it really hit home. I finally realized that the record was as large as it was.”

The miracle of God’s timing…
In the early 90s, Marvin Sapp first stepped into the Gospel industry mainstream as a member of the group, Commissioned (founded by Fred Hammond). It was a humble beginning, to be sure. Although Sapp was a great vocalist, he was a “member”—not the main lead. He actually was recruited to replace departing member, Keith Staten. Around that time, Commissioned had already begun to experience success on both the Gospel and Christian sales charts; and even began creating a mainstream buzz. But that all ended in 1995, when the decision was made, somewhat abruptly, to disband the group. All the members went separate ways—and it was then that Sapp “decided” to launch a solo career.

Although his sizzling vocals quickly made him a crowd pleaser, he was never “thirsty” for the limelight of the stage; rather, he preferred to satisfy the hunger of the people for the life- changing Word of God. He remained firm in his commitment to “Not [be] a singer that happens to preach; but a preacher called by God who is gifted to sing.” He continued to record, but preaching was his priority. In fact, in 2002, he launched Lighthouse Full Life Center Church, in his hometown of Grand Rapids, where his wife serves as Pastor of Administration.

“We started with 24 people and now we have about 900 active members,” he states proudly. “We own about 20 acres of property in the inner city; and we have over 250,000 square feet of space. We’re in the process of building a 20,000 square foot performing arts and educational center on our campus. I’m extremely excited about that!”

From 1996 to 2006, Sapp recorded five solo projects, which performed moderately. “I was happy and content selling 100,000 records,” he said. He wasn’t on the “A-list” of best-selling artists, but he was satisfied. His priorities remained clear—family first, followed by ministry and then career.

Ironically, Sapp’s core values haven’t changed. He hasn’t allowed the meteoric success of his musical career to overwhelm his life.
“At 43, being a pastor, my focus is more than just music. My wife MaLinda also keeps me grounded. I still have to take out the garbage and help with the kids! Plus, Grand Rapids is a great city. I appreciate how they treat me. I can go to the store or the mall and [people see me] and it’s like [they say], ‘That’s just Marvin.’ My members really aren’t impressed by all the stuff that comes along with this! They don’t want a “star.” They want somebody who will preach and teach and be at Bible class and visit them when they’re sick.
“I like the simple things. I understand that notoriety brings a lot of stuff with it, but on a daily basis, I just pray that God would keep me level-headed.

“This is the kind of thing where you can be hot today and gone tomorrow. I could name a bunch of artists that were at the top one day, but then somebody else came along; and that’s going to happen to me. So, I might as well enjoy my moment, treat people right and tell God, ‘Thank You.’ Because the same people that I treat right while I’m up, will love on me on my way down and say, ‘Marvin never changed.’”

As you listen to Dr. Marvin Sapp’s story can you probably can remember a story of your own of how God produced a miracle out a very difficult time or situation recently in your life. God did it not for you, but for His glory. This story reminds us of God’s power and points us to His glory. What’s your story? Drop us a comment and tell us your story of how God birth a miracle in the midst of your most difficult time. You may also share how Dr. Sapp’s ministry has affected your life!

Subscribe to Gospel Today Magazine today to get the full story about the life and ministry of Dr. Marvin Sapp.

Some say, ‘Anything is O.K., as long as it’s practiced with moderation.’ But, a lot of people have learned the hard way—one time is all you need to become infected.

An article entitled “Sexual Abstinence” confirmed, “Many young people are saying no to sex before marriage.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the number one way to avoid STDs is to remain abstinent.

You may be thinking, “How do people actually live like that in 2010?!” The answer is: Get back to the basics! The primary way to remain pure with your “whole person” is to “flee from” (avoid) all drinking, drugging, and sexual involvement!

I never thought I would get to the age of 27 and be able to stay “pure” in all these areas; but God has kept me, and I have kept me!
I have faced the same “peer pressure” as others, but have chosen to overcome through the Word of God (Psalms 119:9-11). No matter what you’ve done in your past, the blood of Jesus Christ redeems, and it’s never too late to make a decision for a new beginning. So, join me and the many others who are making this stand for “whole person” purity…Lot’s of people are doing it!

What about your friends? Do they talk about premarital sex at all? Do you fill that most of them are abstaining? Let’s us here your thoughts. Buy your one year subscription of Gospel Today today and get more great stories like these.

The Black Church: How Black Churches Keep African American Women Single and Lonely by Deborah Cooper purports that the black church is at fault for so many black women being single and lonely; it says that black women place too much faith in both black men and black churches; while the church makes women feel inferior to men.

Clearly, a person who admits they haven’t darkened the door of a church since the age of six (as Cooper does), should not attempt to be an authority on what the church does or doesn’t do. Even non- journalists know that you can’t write about a subject as multi-faceted and diverse as the “Black church” without first-hand research. However, there were some interesting points that the article helped expose.

First, the article exposed a lack of understanding as to why a person should go to church. Cooper says that going to church will not get you the husband you seek; and she’s right. But that was never God’s agenda for church attendance and neither should it be yours.
Church is supposed to strengthen your relationship with God and other believers and build your faith. Anything else is a fringe benefit.

Second, the article exposed Cooper’s twisted perspective of Christian men. She wrote that the only men that can be found in a black church were either: losers working a 12-step program, openly gay or on the downlow, players on the prowl or elderly reformed players. She suggested that women get off their knees, stop listening to their pastors and open their eyes to the world around them.

I actually laughed when I read this. My first thought was, “Well, what’s the rest of the worlds’ excuse for being single and lonely?” Yes, black women are reportedly the largest uncoupled group of women, but we are not the majority. Statistics confirm that over 70% of Americans believe in God. So, if 60% of Americans are single, large chunks of Christians—both black and white—are single. I go to a predominantly white church, filled with beautiful single men (yes, I did say men!) and, many of the men and women at our church still seem unable to find one another. There are too many factors at work – war, crime, education and finances. We have to lot more to look at than the Black church; it’s called your life. Ms. Cooper, you missed this one by a mile!

What are your thoughts? Could Ms. Cooper be correct? Is the black church keep African American women and lonely? Share your thoughts! Feel free to write your comments or send us a video link on the topic.

Constant walking, hiking and rowing; hunting for meals and resting on roadsides (not 4-star!) would hardly leaves one with excess baggage in the gut, hips or thighs department.

In contrast, today’s road warriors are plagued with high calorie, carbohydrate-laden, and nutrient deficient (fast, processed and over cooked) foods that are routinely served on planes and trains; as well as at hotel restaurants and conferences. These items pack on the extra pounds and stress.

It’s time to fight back and win the battle of the bulge by following these good, better and best fitness and nutrition tips:
Good: Wake up and move for thirty minutes (or 15 in AM and PM) in your hotel room while in your PJs. Do stretches, jump- ing jacks, pushups, sit-ups, karate kicks, march in place. Do something; anything to get your heart rate and metabolism fired up.
Better: Go to a stair well and walk, leap or jog, going up and down all flights for thirty minutes, to jump start your day or to sleep very sound.

Best: JUMP ROPE FOR 5–10 MINUTES DAILY. Jumping rope – freestyle jumping – is the single most effective (based on efficiency) overall exercise available. You can potentially to burn 1000 or more calories per hour.

Make your jumping fun. Just like dancing, jump at your own pace, it’s up to you, but either way calories will burn.
Take your rope everywhere you go. Pack the rope in your purse or a side suitcase pocket.

You don’t need much space. Less than four square feet of space is needed to jump. A hotel room is perfect—even with guests below. This really helps you perfect the correct jumping technique—not hearing your body weight when jumping (achieved by staying on the balls of your feet and keeping the core of the body as tight as possible). Maintain good posture. Place an imaginary book on your head and don’t let it fall off.

Keep your head level and neck aligned with your spinal cord; abs and gluts tight, shoulders pulled back, elbows sta- tionary at waist level, feet together, and knees slightly bent, the only real movement besides you gently jumping on the balls of the feet is in the turning wrist action. Don’t move the forearms or upper arms while jumping.

Jumping is quick and effective. Traveling or not, there’s not much “me time” anymore. Jumping rope can burn 1000 calories per hour in just 15 minutes (approx. 250 calories), tone all major muscle groups, improve agility, balance, and endurance.
Jumping is fun for the entire family! At home, you and your children can jump rope together.

Nutrition for Road Warriors Good: Don’t eat between formal meals (ie. snacking). No mints. no
handfuls of this and that, no free cookies, punch, etc.

Better: Go to the local grocer and purchase fresh fruit – a bag of apples, pears and grapes (with seeds). Eat fresh fruit in the first 4-6 hours of the day. Have a large green salad before lunch and dinner meals.

Best: PRAY AND FAST 50% OF THE TIME AND EAT SOFT FRUITS, DRINK WATER AND FRESH PURE ORANGE JUICE THE REMAINING TIME.

GET MORE GREAT HEALTH TIPS IN THIS MONTH’S ISSUE OF GOSPEL TODAY! CLICK BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE!

Statistics confirm that infidelity is the second leading cause of divorce (following money issues).

Infidelity is the betrayal of the vow to “forsake all others, [and] keep [yourself] only unto [your spouse] for as long as you both shall live.”
Many times, we whisper about the illicit affairs of others, especially if they are Christians; but in the case of Christian artist, Da’ T.R.U.T.H (Emanuel Lambert), who admitted that he broke covenant with his wife, Nicole; the couple fought to put their marriage back together and won! Recently, after much prayer and counseling, they reunited and renewed their marriage vows.

Da Truth

Is infidelity unforgivable? Should Christians handle infidelity differently than non-Christians?

Anger, depression, deceit, and mistrust can become overwhelming and keep you from considering alternatives—like whole, healthy, Godly restored relationships.

Here are steps that promote healing and can mend a marriage after an affair:

* Be accountable to God first, and then your spouse. Take responsibility for your actions; apologize and repent. End the affair, and stop all interaction or communication with that person.

* Be honest with God first, yourself and then your spouse. No one needs to hear all the intricate details, however you must be willing to talk about what led to the infidelity (e.g., feelings of low self-esteem, neglect, needing to feel affirmed and cared for by another, etc.). If the truth is not shared, the other person will be left to guess and wonder.

* Take your time; consider the whole picture. It may take time to sort out what’s happened, but consider the other parties that will be devastated if your marriage ends— your children, in-laws, friends and church members. Restoring your marriage will take time, energy and commitment.

For more helpful tips that will help you mend your marriage, subscribe now and get the full article.

Have you and your spouse been through the horror of infidelity? Is there trust after the truth comes out? Is it possible to forgive and love again after your partner has been a part of an illicit affair outside of your marriage covenant? Some say it’s possible to stay together, others say no! How do you feel?

Fred Hammond

GT: Fred, how do you see the new season of fHammond in the landscape of Gospel music and the music industry at large?

FH: When I started Commission, I never set out to change the world. I was not that arrogant. We just sang like this and played music like that and it ended up affecting a whole generation.

Boyz II Men got a hold of it and then Jodeci and they took our sound and changed the way people recorded music. When I started doing RFC [Radical for Christ], I didn’t say, ‘I’m going to change the church game.’ It was [just] something in my heart.
I came up with this choir sound and songs and it changed the landscape of how churches did things. I’m not trying to change the game or the world with this new venture. Again, I’m not that arro- gant; but I do see that the old record business as usual won’t work. So, I have to create something different.

It’s not about new voices. There are so many great new voices that have come out in the last ten years that you don’t even hear anymore.
There has to be a new concept and movement. I think it’s a combination of touring, online promotions, radio and other online opportunities.

Right now I have a brand—Fred Hammond, 30 years in the business; it’s lasted this long and it’s trusted. So I’m just going to try to do different genres and not put myself in a business hole— where I have an urban record from a guy, and I’ve spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on it that I’ll never recoup. I have to keep the investment low and let it grow. If it grows, we’ll invest more into it, if it doesn’t grow, we’ll let it taper. I’m just not putting a strain on myself in this landscape to try to make a hit.

Gospel radio is overwhelmed. They have more music than they can ever play. There’s no real genre specific stations. You hear different styles. You will hear a contemporary choir and next you’ll hear traditional and next you’ll hear Kirk Franklin or Donnie McClur- kin. Nobody can really lock in. You go to any city and you can find three [mainstream] stations dedicated to all hip-hop all the time. And then you go down the dial and get the best hits and oldies – Frankie Beverly, Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross. Then further down the dial you’ll get a smooth jazz station, then a rock station. But in Gospel, it’s all a hodgepodge. Business can’t be done because you can’t centralize listeners; so we lose FM stations. We’ve got to do something different.

Do you agree or disagree with what Fred is doing? Is the gospel music industry on track with God’s purpose and effective at sharing the gospel with the nations, or do we need a change? Share your comments below in 50 words or less. You may be featured in the next edition of Gospel Today Magazine!

COLUMBUS, OHIO (August 24, 2010) – Atlanta metropolitan’s own New Birth Missionary Baptist Church Choir on Woodrow Road in Lithonia is a finalist for the Glory Foods ® Best Church Choir category at the Eighth Annual Ford Hoodie Awards hosted by nationally syndicated radio personality Steve Harvey in Las Vegas on August 28, 2010. The New Birth Missionary Baptist Church Choir is going against three competitors to receive national recognition, a $1,500 cash prize and shouts of “GLORY!” for having the best voices of praise in the nation.

“To know that you’re one of four choirs in the entire country to contend for this honor is humbling,” said New Birth Missionary Baptist Church Choir Director Anthony Randolph. “We are excited to go to Las Vegas and have the opportunity to let everyone know about Atlanta’s and hopefully the nation’s best church choir.”

This is Columbus, Ohio-based Glory Foods’ second year as a sponsor of the popular awards show weekend in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino.

“Glory Foods applauds the efforts of local organizations and groups that are committed to uplifting their communities through service, inspiration and support,” said Jacqueline Neal, President of Glory Foods. “Glory Foods has always given back to African American communities and supporting Steve Harvey with his community awards initiatives was a natural fit. We are pleased to join Steve in giving honor where honor is due.”

Harvey started the Hoodie Awards in 2001 as a way to honor the nation’s best independent community-based small businesses, educators and community leaders in a variety of categories for their contributions to the areas they serve. Categories include best high school, car wash, soul food place, nail shop, barbershop, fried chicken, high school teacher, barbecue place, beauty salon, church, church choir and community leader.

Glory Foods will showcase their Sunday Dinner Mobile Tour, created to resemble and elicit fond memories of a grandmother’s dining room. Samples of Glory Foods’ delicious soulful, Southern-style recipes will also be served. LisaRaye McCoy of “The Real McCoy” on TVOne and Susan G. Komen for the Cure Circle of Promise will join Glory Foods during the Freedom Friday Party at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino on August 27, 2010.

About Glory Foods
Founded in 1989, Glory Foods is the category leader in Southern-style, heat-and-serve products including seasoned canned vegetables, cooking bases and fresh greens. Its soulful, Southern-style vegetables and side dishes are staples in American homes and offer convenient meal-planning solutions for busy families. Glory Foods is a private, minority-controlled business based in Columbus, Ohio. For more information, visit www.GloryFoods.com and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gloryfoods.

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