Dream In Soul – Creativity for the Kingdom:

The music is blaring, the lights are low and hundreds of young people are on the move, filling their nights – and cups – with crazy, “harmless” fun. It’s a typical night in the life of a college student… right?

Not for everyone. Stephanie Rodnez saw scenes like these when she entered college six years ago and felt a stirring in her heart when witnessing many of her friends falling away from their relationships with God. So many students who had been committed to Him gradually took their hearts back to engage in “college life”- consisting of everything from getting drunk and partying hard to being promiscuous – and anything else movies and TV deem is normal.

Nearing graduation Stephanie felt God telling her to change her career plans and use her talents to glorify Him. Despite initial hesitation she heeded the call, and her independent film company Christ Effect Entertainment was born. The company presents Christian media for young adults that encourages them to stay firm in their faith no matter what the culture and media throws at them. There are two films already in distribution and plans to expand into television, books, and even a nightclub.

Now finishing up her graduate degree in business at Nova South Eastern University in Miami, FL, Stephanie is rallying up other young people with a passion for God to battle the messages and lifestyles bombarding young adults today. With her warm, joyful personality and creative, youthful productions Stephanie draws others in to see the truth of God’s love, and she’s striving to make a mark for “Godlywood” one young audience at a time.

In Take 1 of the interview Stephanie chatted with Dream in Soul about how and why she got started with Christ Effect Entertainment, the growth of the Christian film industry, and about the work she hopes has a powerful effect for Christ in this generation:

Dream in Soul: Hi Stephanie, thanks for speaking with me today. I wanted to first ask you when did you feel the calling to make films?

SR: Ah, well it’s actually really cool. I was 14 or 15 and was in love with journalism, in love, in love, in love… I didn’t want to do anything else. I did this internship at the Sun Sentinel (a local Florida newspaper) for six weeks, and I fell even more in love with it. So I’m like alright Lord, this is what I’m going to do for the rest of my life, I’m going to write stories for newspapers.

One day I’m sitting in front of my TV screen at home in the summer, and I was just flipping through the channels and I was like wow, there’s not a lot of stuff here for young adult Christians. I heard the Holy Sprit telling me – that’s what I want you to do.

I was like, I am not doing movies. I already have a job lined up at the Sun Sentinel and I don’t even like making movies that much. I was like no way, Lord if you want me to do this, you have to make me love it. So when I got back to school in the fall I started working on my own film and I fell in love with the whole process. And the rest is history (laughs)! He put me on the path, He taught me what I needed to know, and now, praise God it’s everything I’m passionate about, and I love doing it.

Watch Stephanie in action as she’s planning her upcoming movie “Youth of Christ,” in this webisode from her day-in-the-life of an indie filmmaker series:

DS: So how did it go from making the film to starting your own business? Tell me about Christ Effect Entertainment.

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KJ-52 and Group 1 Crew present The Modern Day Heroes Tour, with special guests Bread of Stone & Grace Cambell. The tour has thirty dates spanning over six weeks and covering more than fifteen states starting at the end of February. It will combine both music and Bible studies, and at each stop a local hero nominated by fans will be honored. Check out the details and promo video below and visit www.moderndayheroestour.com for tour dates and to make nominations.

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Michael W. Smith recently rallied together a number of artists to sing a tribute song, “Come Together Now” to continue to raise awareness and relief aid for Haiti. 100% of the proceeds will go to Samaritan’s Purse and the Red Cross.

Some of the contributing artists included Amy Grant, Steven Curtis Chapman, TobyMac, B. Reith, Michael Tait, Brandon Heath, Nicole C. Mullen, Mandisa, Britt Nicole and several others.

Below watch the official video, and visit www.cometogethernowhaiti.com to purchase and to learn more.

“As soon as I stop worrying / Worrying how the story ends
When I let go and I let God / Let God have His way
That’s when things start happening / When I stop looking at back then
When I let go and I let God / Let God have His way…”
Lyrics by PJ Morton

Another version of “Let Go, Let God” is featured on PJ Morton’s most recent album, Walk Alone, a refreshing blend of “soulful pop.”

Walk Alone Description From His Website
“…Walk Alone symbolizes the breadth of PJ’s self-expression as well as his creative choices with music beyond the confines of labels. “In the state of the world I feel alone because of the way I choose to do music with true instrumentation. Creating stories and lyrics with meaning feels like a minority not a majority.”

BET’S hit gospel singing competition Sunday Best is on the search again for the best in musical talent. Season 3 of Sunday Best is having auditions in Detroit, New Orleans and Philadelphia. The first audition is this Saturday, February 20th. Doors open at 8:00 a.m. and will close at 12:00 Noon.

2010 SUNDAY BEST AUDITION CITIES, DATES AND LOCATIONS:

DETROIT
When: February 20, 8 a.m. – noon
Where: COBO Center
1 Washington Blvd.,
Detroit, MI 48226

NEW ORLEANS
When: February 27, 8 a.m. – noon
Where: Ernest M. Morial Convention Center
900 Convention Center Boulevard
New Orleans, LA 70130-1799

PHILADELPHIA
When: March 6, 8 a.m. – noon
Where: Pennsylvania Convention Center
One Convention Center Place
1101 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107

Find out more about the auditions below and on the BET website:

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