In the clips above Kim Walker-Smith shares her heart about worship leading experiences, self-promotion, honor, and stewardship at the Bethel School of Supernatural Worship.

You can view and purchase the full video on ibethel.tv.

In the video below Worship in Black and White from the Young Believer’s Broadcast Kim Walker talks about “how the connection of Worship is ultimate in life”:

Dream in Soul:…One of the chapters that spoke to me was Chapter 4 “What is Purpose.” One of the important points you made in the book is that what people do does not define who they are. Was there a point in your life where you realized that?

Kirk Franklin: Yeah, yeah definitely there was a point in my life when that revelation really became true to me. It kind of resonates within me that you know music is what I do, the music is not who I am, so if I sell a lot of records that doesn’t make me who I am. If I don’t sell any records that doesn’t take away from who I am, and if I define myself by what I do then I’m going to always have to be doing, and so I’ll be a human doing instead of a human being. So, that was a very important thing for me to learn…

DS: Going along with that once I saw a tweet you tweeted a while back that said, “never let your gift become your god.” Can you talk about that and how you’ve learned that in your ministry; how does someone know when their gift or career has become an idol?

Below: A Tweet from @KirkFranklin

KF: Well, it’s just very important to see your gift through God’s lens. Once you realize that the gift really wasn’t for your benefit but the gift was really for His and He allows you to partake in it, it changes your perspective. It’s like, ok this is given to me to bring Him glory, not necessarily to bring myself glory. And so when you see that it’s something that’s on loan that you’re not an owner of it, you’re just a manager of it, then you respond differently.

Click here to read the full Dream in Soul interview with Kirk Franklin…

DS: You’ve said before ‘I am not a singer that happens to preach, but a preacher that has to sing,’ because singing is a gift and preaching is a calling. Can you talk a little about the difference between a gift and a calling? What message do you have for young adults in finding their calling vs. relying on the gifts?

MS: Well you know with me, this is my own personal definition, some people may disagree, but you know the Bible says gifts come without repentance. I try to make sure that they are separate. If you ask me what I mean by that – I’m gifted to sing but I’ve learned that I can be gifted and anointed and still live like the devil.

In order for you to be effective in the call you have to be tapped into the source. The only way you can remain connected to the source is you have to live a life that’s holy and acceptable by God. So that’s why I never put my gift before my call, I always make sure I put my call before my gift because that means that my focus remains in God first in everything that I do.

DS: You’ve said your music and pastoring go hand and hand as a ministry?

MS: Without question. As a matter of fact the fact that I’m able to sing enhances our worship service on a Sunday morning, it really helps to set the atmosphere so that when I stand up and preach the word of God it doesn’t fall upon the stony grounds of peoples hearts but it falls upon the fresh ground where it can be cultivated and grow. It gives me the opportunity to break up that fallow ground so that when I sow the seed it makes all the difference in the world in the hearts and minds of people.

DS: How do you balance the artistry, ministry and industry and stay focused on God when in a position like that of influence?

MS: Honestly, again this is my personal opinion, I think they go hand in hand. The Bible tells us a whole lot of things as pertains for looking out for the man or the woman of God and I think that one of the major challenges that we have is people being able to differentiate if you will what’s ministry and what’s business. The truth of the matter is we serve a God who is superlative in His nature and He requires excellence from us.

When we do function we are to function in a level of quality in business that gives Him glory. I think that when we do that, function in the level that he requires and desires us to function in He does ultimately get glory. So when people talking about separating them, I don’t know if you can, I think they all go hand in hand and I think that sometimes we can take it overboard. We can take ministry overboard, we can take business overboard, there has to be a balance and they have to work hand in hand. Sometimes you can be so business that the ministry is lost, and sometimes you can be so ministry that the business is lost, but we serve a God of balance. If we keep things balanced it makes things simpler.

DS: Is there a scripture that you would say embodies the message of this album or your work so far?

“Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” Galatians 6:1

MS: Galatians 6:1 I believe says something to the effect of if you find someone overtaken with a fault you who are spiritual should restore someone gently. One of the major problems with the 21st century church is that we kill our wounded. What God is looking for is people who are spiritual enough not to kill our wounded but to love on them and to encourage them, especially if we’re spiritual we can restore them. The purpose of restoring them is that we can ourselves; what we sow out is what we reap back. I believe strongly that’s what “Here I Am” is really all about. It speaks about that whole concept of understanding that we all have issues that we’ve had to overcome. All of us ourselves have been places and done things we are not proud of, but even in that God doesn’t disqualify us if we get back up and make the decision not to go back there.

I love where it says “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of gentleness; look into thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” We’re supposed to “bear ye one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:1 and 2.

Click here to read the full interview about Marvin Sapp’s latest album “Here I Am.”

The Gospel Heritage 2010 Praise & Worship Conference is the annual event presented by Dr. Teresa Hairston, founder of Gospel Today. This year it will take place February 18-19 in Jacksonville, FL, and there are several seminars and workshops during the event targeted toward helping young adults learn more about careers in the Gospel music industry, including the Transforming a Generation workshops that will feature presenters like PJ Morton, Monica Coates, Kirk Franklin, and more:

Gospel Heritage Praise and Worship Conference

February 18-19 in Jacksonville, FL, Bethel Baptist Church
Registration information: Gospel Heritage 2010 Website – gospelheritage.org
Below are a few workshops available, visit the website for more listings.

Thursday February 18th
11:30 AM-1:30 PM

“Where Are We Now?: Understanding The Changing Music Industry Economy”
This class features a candid discussion of the recent economic changes in the Gospel music marketplace, focusing on what has changed and why. Students will hear perspectives from some of the top Gospel industry professionals and discover what this transition means.

1:45 PM-3:00 PM
“21st Century Careerscapes: Maximizing Your Opportunities In The New Music Industry”
This course features a peer-to-peer conversation with key individuals on the cutting edge of the current music industry career marketplace. Students will discover new career opportunities that exist in the Gospel music industry. They will hear from several professionals who have taken innovative approaches to their careers and ministries.

3:00 PM-4:45 PM
“PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT: THE VITAL ELEMENT”
This is a master session focusing on the internal spiritual and social development required for success in the current Gospel music marketplace. Students will learn the difference between their talent and their calling. They will also discover the importance of developing and maintaining core relationships in the pursuit of their careers and ministries.

“In Defense of Love” the cover story of the November/December Issue of EEW Magazine features singer/songwriter/producer (and most recently author) PJ Morton who speaks candidly about how he feels about those who don’t support his music, and his perspective that Christians can write songs about love.

Click here to read the entire article on www.eewmagazine.com.

Press Release from the Magazine:

PJ Morton Says “Don’t Attack Me.
Just Hear Me Out”
Grammy, Dove and Stellar Award-winning Writer-Producer, PJ Morton Responds to Critics of His Music in the November/December 2009 Issue of EEW Magazine

“Don’t attack me. Just hear me out,” is the plea of Grammy, Dove and Stellar Award-winning writer-producer, PJ Morton, the author of the hotly debated new book, Why Can’t I Sing About Love? The Truth about the “Church” Against “Secular” Music. PJ, who is scheduled to release a new album February 9, 2010, has recently come under fire from those who believe that being a Christian and singing secular songs, is tantamount to attempting to mix oil and water.

“EEW Magazine was flooded with emails about the debate,” says Dianna Hobbs, Founder and Editor-In-Chief of EEW Online Magazine (www.eewmagazine.com), referencing the CNN story highlighting the opposing views held by PJ Morton and Grammy Award-nominated artist, Tye Tribbett, about whether or not a Christian can love God and sing R&B music. “It seems that the sides are split right down the middle,” says Hobbs. “One side agrees with Tye Tribbett who says absolutely no secular music and the other side agrees with PJ Morton,” who says loving God and singing love songs isn’t contradictory and shouldn’t be viewed as mutually exclusive.

“I don’t want a gospel beef!” says Tribbett, who tells EEW Magazine that he never intended to be divisive in his commentary. Notwithstanding, a rift clearly exists. While some like gospel blogger EJ Gaines (gospelpundit.com), believe PJ Morton to be a “gap-bridger,” others maintain that the leader of The PJ Morton Band is more of a polarizing figure, stirring up controversy and leading others down a wrong path of compromise. “I don’t think you should sing secular music if you love God,” says Charlene from Atlanta, GA, a reader who wrote into EEW after viewing the debate. “I just don’t agree with that and I don’t think God is pleased.”

In response to the critics of PJ’s choice to talk about real life issues in his songs, among them love, he illustrates a point during his EEW interview, while walking and talking with Dianna Hobbs on the second floor of the Tralf Music Hall in Buffalo, NY. “I could write a song about riding up this escalator right here, you know what I’m saying? And it would be a secular song,” says PJ. “But is there anything wrong or out of the will of God with riding this escalator up to the second floor?”

Though this preacher’s kid does, in fact, sing what some would classify as R&B music, he says, the difference is, he allows his Christian faith to guide his musical choices. “I think songs should reflect the way you live,” says PJ, who doesn’t sing or write profanity-laced, sexually explicit lyrics. “I want to be like Jesus and I want my heart to be right.”

The question then becomes, why is PJ, who openly professes Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior—also the same songwriter who took home Song Of The Year honors at the 2008 Stellar Awards for penning the hugely popular gospel gem, “Let Go,” recorded by new artist, DeWayne Woods—receiving such negative backlash and harsh criticism from the church?

At the request of EEW, long-time friend, Bryan Pierce, of the group Men of Standard and also pastor of Bethel Baptist Church located in Kannapolis, North Carolina, weighs in on the issue. “Now, I know PJ. I know Paul Jr. and I know where he comes from,” says Pierce. “He comes from a good place. He comes from a good space. The guy has a good heart and loves God and has always loved God and desired to please God.”

Click here to read the entire article on www.eewmagazine.com.

Here’s a valuable resource for anyone interested in working in the Gospel Music Industry, from aspiring industry executives to artists:

After spending 17+ years serving many of the top-selling artists in Gospel Music (including Fred Hammond, Donnie McClurkin, Hezekiah Walker and many others), industry veteran Monica Coates has written her first book, The Beginner’s Guide To The Gospel Music Industry, which has just been released.

Truly the first of its kind for the Gospel Music marketplace, Monica’s book not only breaks down the attributes and idiosyncrasies that are unique to Gospel Music, but also takes great care in exhorting the reading to learn the difference between calling and talent, and how those concepts apply to pursuing a career in Gospel Music ministry. Written in a warm, conversational tone, the book also presents many foundational principles essential for a successful career for both the aspiring artist and industry executive alike. With wisdom drawn from her Christian faith, Monica also offers valuable insight for anyone eager to understand their God-given purpose or seeking to apply their beliefs to their professional life.

GRAMMY® Award-winning artist/songwriter/producer Fred Hammond hails the book, commenting it “is a must read for those who plan to take their music career seriously.”

For more information, to order and to download a sample chapter from the book visit: http://www.monicacoates.com