It’s been a minute (too much of one), but we’re going to hold up Eric & Anson Dawkins, better known as Dawkins & Dawkins, in prayer this week!

After taking a ten-year hiatus, the brother duo that helped shaped the sound of contemporary/urban gospel music, has returned to the gospel scene in full force this year.  After announcing that they had signed with Light Records at the end of 2010, the duo performed at the BMI Trailblazers Awards in January.  They released their first single, “Get Down,” this Spring and their new album, titled From Now On, hits stores on July 26.  It’s a busy schedule, so let’s lift them up, cool?

Father, thank You for the music ministry of Eric and Anson Dawkins.  Thank You for gifting them to write and record music that has blessed many, over several decades.  Thank You for the platform that You’ve given them, and for the weight that it carries.

Lord, I pray for Eric and Anson– that they would be equipped and strengthened in their careers, especially for the remainder of this year.  With their album coming out, I pray that You would protect them from anything that would serve to distract them from their purpose.  I pray against negative influences, discouragement, pride, anxiety, doubt, fear… I pray that You would make them confident in this area.

And I ask You, God, to bless their individual endeavors, too.  As they devote their time and energy to the duo artistry, please preserve their individual goals and lives. Bless their families and relationships, keeping them safe and secure.

And beyond their artistry, I pray that You would continue to strengthen the bonds of their brotherhood.  I pray that they will continue to grow together, grow closer, holding each other accountable and pouring into one another in a way that glorifies You.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Amen!  Okay, join me in praying for our brothers– Eric and Anson Dawkins– by posting your prayer in the comment section below!

We’re continuing The Prayer List this week with the addition of Earnest Pugh.

Earnest has been in the game for a minute, but it’s clearly the season of great opportunities for him– great TV spots and lots of face time have resulted from chart-topping sales and radio airplay.  I’ve got a feeling he’s just beginning, though, and this year appears to be just as busy and full of opportunity for Earnest as the year before.

Let’s cover him in prayer!

Father, thank You for the calling You’ve placed on the life of Earnest Pugh. Thank You for gifting him in a way that causes people to take note and that, when they do, they see and hear him singing about You.  Thank You for the success You’ve brought to him, for the continued opportunities and favor among men.

God, I pray that You would speak clearly and directly to Earnest in this season. I pray that he would learn of Your power, Your grace, Your love, and Your truth in a new way– a refreshing way.  I pray that all that he learns from You in this time would be deposited and stored safely in his heart, for the strength of his ministry.

I pray, Lord, that You would remove any distractions from his life– anything that displeases You, or that causes You to move from Earnest’s focus, I pray that You would pluck it away. For the sake of his ministry, for the body that You have sent him to bless, and ultimately for Your glory, I pray that You would continue to reign in his heart– be Earnest’s deepest desire and goal.

And God, I pray that You would honor Earnest in proportion to his submission to You. Just as he travels to minister, forsaking himself and yielding to You, I pray that You would increase his responsibility in the Kingdom, and increase the reach of his ministry. Just as he humbles himself, shower blessings on him. Just as he continues to glorify You with his heart, mind and soul, anoint him for greater work.  In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Okay, fam– join me in praying for Earnest Pugh by posting your prayer for him in the comment section below!

GospelPundit.com continues its prayer series this week, adding a new name to The Prayer List– Jojo Pada.

Jojo Pada, CEO of Ignition PR, is one of the most highly-regarded and sought-after publicists in gospel music.  Having worked in-house at Motown Cafe, as the head of publicity at Verity Records and Light Records, and as an indie consultant for Light Records and EMI Gospel, her clients include practically every artist in gospel music– including Donnie McClurkin, Marvin Sapp, Fred Hammond, Hezekiah Walker, Shirley Caesar, Commissioned, Richard Smallwood, the Clark Sisters, VaShawn Mitchell, and many others.  Let’s lift her up…

Father, thank You for the life of Jojo Pada. Thank You for being a Sustainer– a God who clearly had a plan for Jojo since before she was born, and a God who was committed to keeping Jojo, and using her despite anything that threatened to stop her.

Lord, I pray for continued success for Jojo– not only in the practical sense, but spiritually as well.  I pray that her spiritual “success” would look like a heart that is perpetually molded to resemble Yours. I pray that it would look like a heart that continues to hunger and thirst for righteousness, that stands for justice, that lives a life of boldness, for Your glory.

I pray that the decisions Jojo faces would be guided by Your Truth, Lord.

I ask that You allow the many gifts and skills that You’ve invested into her to be used to the utmost, for Your purposes. I pray that she would continue to be a trailblazer in this music industry, an example of excellence among her close peers and those who watch from afar.

God, I pray that You would assure Jojo that all of her prayers have been heard, that her heart’s desires have been considered, and that You have orchestrated Your very best life for her to live– and I pray that she would find unbelievable rest, comfort and joy in that, and in You.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Okay, fam– please join me in lifting up our sister, Jojo Pada, in prayer.  Post your prayers in the comment section below.

GospelPundit.com continues its ongoing prayer series, in which the gospel community prays for the people that make the industry go ’round… this week, let’s pray for Isaac Carree.

Many people came to know of Isaac Carree as a member of the popular group Men of Standard. But before that, he was a featured soloist with John P Kee’s New Life Community Choir.  He recently released his single, “Simply Redeemed,” to great reviews and airplay, and continues to work as one of Kirk Franklin’s vocalists. His full album is expected sometime this year.

Let’s pray for him–

Father, I lift up Isaac Carree to You in prayer.  I pray that Your Will would be done in his life, that You would be glorified by a life of worship. I pray that all that You’ve called him to do and be for You would be made clear to him, and that he would pursue it… pursue You relentlessly.

Lord, as he does so, please give him clarity to see Your hand on his life. Let him see Your guidance and direction, Your discipline and rebuke, Your compassion, mercy and love. Let him respond with an obedient heart, then let him pour out all that You give him to the people that he encounters.  Let us be changed by the changes you make in him.

I pray also, Lord, for Isaac’s household– his wife, son and daughter.  I pray that You would cover them, particularly as he travels in ministry. Don’t let a rift enter their space, bless their communication, and give them peace and strength to labor in all that You have called them to.

God, please let 2011 be a year of expanded opportunities for Isaac.  But more, let it be a time that You prune him, comforting him as You do so. Let his heart be perpetually chiseled to look more like what You created it to be, until he resembles Christ more and more.  And, Lord, bless him.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Okay, folks.  Please join GospelPundit.com and post your prayers in the comment section below.  We have no idea how it blesses folks to see the prayers and, I believe by faith, we have no idea how God reacts when He sees it.

Pray with me.

We’re continuing our series, The Prayer List, by adding another name this week– James Fortune.

Along with his group, FIYA, James Fortune has reached chart-topping success in sales and radio, spurred by some pretty successful singles– “You Survived,” “I Trust You,” “Encore,” and most recently, “I Believe.”  As he continues to grow in the industry, I think we should support him in prayer.  Cool?

God, You have known the path that You would lead James Fortune on since before he was born. And because of that, You are in total control. Thank You for being so attentive to Your children, for Your grace, for Your guidance…

I pray that You would be a strong guiding force for James, now, as he continues to venture into new areas of success, as he grows in business and in ministry. I pray that anything that hangs on that doesn’t please You would be knocked away from him, and that those people who You have called to support him would be capable, willing and ready.

Lord,  I ask that You speak clearly and directly to James’ heart on the issues that he brings to you. And even on those issues that he doesn’t know to bring to You, I pray that Your Holy Spirit would nudge and guide him.

Father, bless James Fortune and his family, especially his wife, Cheryl. I pray that You would continue strengthen their union and continue to make their one-ness complete.

I pray that You would continue to equip James with all the things he’ll need to bring You glory– not just practically, but spiritually and emotionally. Touch him, cover him and keep him, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Okay, saints and friends… post your prayers for James Fortune in the comment section, ok?  Let’s make it a real community experience of supporting our gospel industry.  Thanks.

Hey folks, just a quick reminder to that we’re praying for James Robinson, head of Light Records, all week on The Prayer List at GospelPundit.com.

Peep the initial prayer post by clicking right here.

Also, say a quick prayer for safe travels for a few gospel artists who are in Lagos, Nigeria RIGHT now for the area’s annual gospel concert event called “The Experience”– Israel Houghton, Fred Hammond and Mary Mary are ministering to 500,000 (yes, half a million people at once) right now.  Make sure to cover them, too.

Cool?

As I noted earlier, The Prayer List is back and in full effect.

Today, I’m adding James Robinson, the head of Light Records, to our Prayer List.

James is an industry vet, having LOADS of experience in just about every facet of the business. Now, heading the operations at Light Records (which is making lots of moves and gaining lots of ground), I wanna cover him in prayer. Join me?

Lord, thanks for the gifts You’ve placed in James Robinson. Thank You for his skills and his abilities, but more– thank You for his heart, his dedication, his integrity.

Father, I pray that You will cover James. Remove people and situations, even mindsets, from his life that would distract him from all that You’ve called him to do. Create supernatural barriers of protection around him.  Give his co-workers an unshakeable determination to lift James up to You… to keep him before You, even after this week-long Prayer List post has faded away.  Knit them together, for the sake of this industry, but more– for the sake of Your glory.

God, as You increase his reach, and the reach of his company, I pray that You always keep him focused on your glory. I pray against the very real and human tendency to lose focus on You, and the propensity to focus on ourselves.

I pray that You take him to continuously greater successes, Lord. And that as You do so, He’ll continue to pour into others. Thank You for his gentle spirit, his compassionate nature, and his overall sense of duty to (and love for) the gospel music industry. Bless him and his family.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Okay, folks– you know the drill. Post your prayers for James Robinson in the comment section, aight?

Let’s go!

I know it’s a been a minute since I’ve posted someone’s name to The Prayer List– I’m truly sorry.  The reason is pretty simple– I got overwhelmed.

I guess I feel kinda like those disciples who Jesus blasted for falling asleep– “y’all couldn’t even stay up one hour?!”  I’ve got tackyness in places I don’t even want to talk about.  And I’m not trying to be super deep, but here’s the thing–

I really do try to hear from God about who to pray for, and when.  In this busy world of blogging, I noticed a hint of legalism creeping up– “the prayer list post must be posted on Monday afternoons by 3pm CST,” or “the prayer list post must include a decent-sized picture and a brief bio of the person for whom we’re praying.”  BLAH!

Don’t get me wrong– there is merit to routine (you know you can expect the post on a certain day each week) and excellence (who doesn’t like a little bio and photo to go with their blog reads?), but I could tell that MY heart’s focus shifted.  I began heaping on a bunch of “extras” to the simplicity of prayer.  And that wasn’t cool.

Anyway, I’ve been mustering the energy to get back to it for the past several weeks. And this morning, God was basically like “dude, quit playin’ and get to praying,” in more or less words (and definitely not with the corny rhyme).

So, I want to publicly confess and repent for slipping away from it.  I may or may not owe you guys that, but I’m gladly doing it because I want to be accountable to you for The Prayer List, and because I want us all to be free from the bondage that we so often put ourselves in as it relates to the beauty and simplicity of talking to God.

I’m back on it.

I apologize for losing steam and focus, and I REEEAAAALLY pray that you guys haven’t lost confidence in the need or the effectiveness of The Prayer List.  The folks really do read our prayers, and they really are blessed by them.  Please continue to join me in praying for our industry and the people who make it go ’round.

Next name is coming later today.  Love you guys for listenin’.  Thanks.

Bishop Kenneth Moales Sr., founding pastor of Cathedral of the Holy Spirit (Bridgeport, CT), has reportedly passed at the age of 65, after suffering a heart attack last night.

As presiding prelate in the Pentecostal Church of Jesus Christ, Bishop Moales served in ten U.S. states along the east coast, and down into Florida and Georgia.  Most recently, the nation was blessed as he eulogized the great Walter Hawkins in July of this year.

His passing is unexpected and will definitely be felt by his family (Lady Peggy Moales, his wife of 43 years, 3 children and 12 grandchildren) and many many loved ones.  Let’s pray for them, okay?

Father, thank You for the life and legacy of Bishop Moales.  Thank You for using a man so mightily that his teaching and speaking would be so well-regarded, and that his presence here would be sorely missed.

God, I pray for the family of Bishop Moales– his wife, his children and grandchildren in particular.  Father, remind them that You are Love, and that your mercies don’t ever fail.  Remind them that You’ve got grace that is sufficient for this time, and that You remain the faithful God that Bishop Moales taught about, and lead them to live for.

Lord, I also pray for the spiritual family of Bishop Moales– those Bishops who labored with him, those pastors over whom he presided, the church bodies that regarded him as their own.  And for those pastors, recording artists and other folks who lovingly adopted him as “their Bishop,” simply because of the example he provided and his excellence in serving You.  I thank You because I know that Your divine plans have already been at work, preparing the person that would lead in his place, and I know that Your Church will not falter in this.  Still, God, please ease the pain and frustration that is sure to be felt by someone, ease the sorrow and grief of those who are mourning.

Show Your healing power in this time, Lord.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Okay, fam– let’s post some prayers in the comment section.

Folks, this is urgent.

Please keep MaLinda Sapp, wife of gospel artist and pastor Marvin Sapp, in your prayers.  As you may have heard by now,she is battling an aggressive form of cancer.

The Sapp family, and the Lighthouse Full Life Center church family are believing God for complete healing– and I stand with them.

Please keep MaLinda in your prayers, that God would (once again) demonstrate His unshakeable healing power in her life.  In Jesus’ Name.