Dream In Soul – Creativity for the Kingdom:

The Merge Summit LA is a conference designed to inspire and empower men and women of faith desiring to do business in the areas of arts and media. The summit will take place Thursday, August 20, 2009 to Saturday, August 22 in Los Angeles, CA. Conference attendees will learn from and network with leaders in the entertainment world.

Updates: Here are a few updates on the Merge Summit: The organizers have added Hezekiah Walker, Donnie McClurkin, as well as Pastors Debra Morton and Jamal Bryant to the list of speakers.

Watch the video below for more information about the summit:

Some of the other confirmed presenters from the website, www.themergesummit.com, include:

Suzanne DePasse, Felicia Henderson, DeVon Franklin, James DuBose, Regina King, Reina King, Tasha Smith, Vivica A. Fox, Mary Mary, Brad Siegel, Larry Blackwell, Vicki Mack-Lattillade, Rodney Jerkins, Warryn Campbell, Tara Griggs-Magee, Monica Bacon

As well as top executives from Columbia Pictures, Paramount Pictures, ABC Networks, Lionsgate, TV-One, BET Networks, EMI Gospel, Gospel Music Channel among many others.

The conference, hosted by Founder Dr. Holly Carter of Relevé Entertainment, and Co-Chairperson Robi Reed, is “designed to bring together talented Christians who desire to enter or those already actively involved in aspects of entertainment i.e. actors, directors, music producers, musicians, singers, television producers, filmmakers, writers, and executives in the entertainment industry. Conference attendees will interact in a thought provoking and career inspiring setting to glean from the well known entertainment executive roaster. Attendees will walk away with information that will empower them in their individual fields of pursuit.”

You can also click below for larger versions of the event promotional materials.

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Register now for the Bold.Right.Life. Experience, hosted by Kierra Sheard, and the Bold.Right.Life Community Choir. This is the second year the conference will take place, on August 12-15 at the Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ in Detroit.

BRL Mission from Website:

"Bold! Right! Life! is a youth organization that tackles the spirit of ignorance forced upon today’s youth, by nurturing them spiritually and naturally; " We are dead to the things of this world…" Boldly living Right, getting ready for Life…" Col. 3:1-6

Below is the video promo for the conference:

The conference speakers and musical guests will include Bishop Hezekiah Walker, Prophetess Janet Floyd, Minister Tye Tribbett, Pastor Jonathan Miller, Mr. Del, and more. Early registration is $25 and onsite registration is $35. Fore more information visit www.boldrightlife.com.

Ministry Watch highlights and takes a look at ministries, especially youth and young adult ministries, that are bringing people to the Lord.

Last night on TBN, CeCe Winans and Marvin Winans, Jr. had a heartfelt segment dedicated to the legacy of David ”Pop Winans, and the importance of male role models. (You can watch the episode here in the TBN archives.) Marvin talked about his album, and the the significance of the title “Image of a Man” – how men should rise to their roles as leaders. In the segment Cece also mentioned that Marvin would be attending her youth conference, Always Sisters, Forever Brothers that will take place July 24-25, 2009, in Nashville, TN, at Belmont University’s Curb Event Center.

This year is the 4th Annual edition of the conference targeted toward young people ages 13-26, and the first time they have included young men in the line-up. The goal of the event is to “educate, motivate and re-direct the life choices of our teens and young women and men.” The 2009 conference will address a number of important topics – “From date violence to teen pregnancy, eating disorders to absent fathers, and how certain choices affect the lives of all".

This year’s guest speakers include: NFL Coach Tony Dungy, Pastor Jentezen Franklin, Pastor Kimberly Daniels, Nancy Alcorn, Pastor R.A. Vernon, Bis. Horace Hockett, Mom Winans & of course, CeCe Winans. The musical guests include: Mary Mary, 21:03, Anthony Evans, The Katinas, Nia Allen, Da’T.R.U.T.H. & the Chenaniah Dancers. The conference will also include a fashion show and special breakout sessions, and over 5000 young people are expected to be in attendance.

It’s definitely wonderful that CeCe continues this conference every year, and reaches out to the youth. It seems like an awesome experience that will touch the lives of many. You still have time to register, so spread the word.

To register or for more information and for a complete listing of the conference schedule, go to www.alwayssistersforeverbrothers.com or call 877.840.0457.

In this recent video below, CeCe Winans and Demetrus Stewart invite young people to attend:

You can see highlights of the 2007 conference in the video below – it all looks really exciting!:

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Here’s a conference that might interest those who want to utilize their creative abilities for the Kingdom.

The Merge Summit LA is a conference designed to inspire and empower men and women of faith desiring to do business in the areas of arts and media. The summit will take place from Thursday, August 20, 2009 to Saturday, August 22 in Los Angeles, CA. Conference attendees will learn from and network with leaders in the entertainment world. Some of the confirmed presenters from the website, www.themergesummit.com, include:

Suzanne DePasse, Felicia Henderson, DeVon Franklin, James DuBose, Regina King, Reina King, Tasha Smith, Vivica A. Fox, Mary Mary, Brad Siegel, Larry Blackwell, Vicki Mack-Lattillade, Rodney Jerkins, Warryn Campbell, Tara Griggs-Magee, Monica Bacon

As well as top executives from Columbia Pictures, Paramount Pictures, ABC Networks, Lionsgate, TV-One, BET Networks, EMI Gospel, Gospel Music Channel among many others.

The conference, hosted by Founder Dr. Holly Carter of Relevé Entertainment, and Co-Chairperson Robi Reed, is “designed to bring together talented Christians who desire to enter or those already actively involved in aspects of entertainment i.e. actors, directors, music producers, musicians, singers, television producers, filmmakers, writers, and executives in the entertainment industry. Conference attendees will interact in a thought provoking and career inspiring setting to glean from the well known entertainment executive roaster. Attendees will walk away with information that will empower them in their individual fields of pursuit.”

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Israel Houghton is releasing his newest album “The Power of One” on March 24th. This will be his first solo album since 1997, and will feature other artists like Mary Mary and tobyMac. EJ of the Gospel Pundit did a review of the album, which you can check out. I’m excited to experience it for myself!

In this clip Israel Houghton talks about how he and Richardo Sanchez wrote the song “Moving Forward.” (This is one of my favorite songs and I can’t wait to play it over and over on “The Power of One.”):

Visit Israel’s website, www.newbreedmusic.com, to find out more about his new project. You can also follow Israel Houghton on Twitter at http://twitter.com/israelnewbreed for more updates.

In a recent interview with BreatheCast.com, Israel was asked what worship is to him. Here’s what he had to say:

“Well, I’ve heard it defined so many different ways. I tend to always answer it by saying what worship is not and worship is not music and it’s not singing and it’s not lights and words on a screen. Those are all things that sort of help us get into the corporate environment of worship but worship is the position of the heart. It’s a lifestyle. There’s a mother who every morning gets up and worships God by looking after her kids. And she’s not singing and she’s not jumping up and down and clapping but maybe she’s packing a lunch. She’s looking after the miracle that God gave her and that is a life of worship. That is a heart after God.

“And what I say in the corporate expression is… and this is just my definition. But worship is a conversation between friends and if God has called me His friend there’s something about honoring Him. And conversation is an important phrase because a lot of times we commingle “God, you’re great, we love you, we worship you, we lift our hands”, and we leave and we never listen for the response [from God] because God does want to encourage our hearts. God does want to speak to us and sometimes you just need enough of that exhale in the moment to let God do only what He can do. So worship to me is a conversation between friends.”

Quote Source: BreatheCast: “The Power of One: Interview with Israel Houghton.”