From the family and friends of Walter Hawkins, to Shawn McLemore and Darwin Hobbs, there have been PLENTY of folks to pray for lately.

Today, we’re back with another addition to The Prayer List at GospelPundit.com– this week, I’m adding Jacky Clark Chisholm.

Nothing’s wrong, that I know of– this is just what we do!

As one of the eldest members of the famed Clark Sisters, Jacky is known for her smooth and subtle tone, and as the spokesperson for the female gospel group.  She does a lot beyond the group, as well, and I think we need to edify her through prayer.  Join me, fam?

Father, thank You for the life of Jacky Clark Chisholm.  Thank You for her heart of servanthood, for her humility and for her grace.  Thank You for equipping her with every good gift that she would need to fulfill Your purposes, and to glorify You through her life.

Lord, I pray for peace in her life.  I pray that Your peace, that surpasses all understanding, would guard Jacky’s heart and mind through Christ Jesus.  I pray that she wouldn’t be anxious for anything, but that she would rest in You for all things.  I pray that You would guide her with wisdom and clarity as it relates to any decisions she needs to make.  I pray that she continues to trust in You as her anchor.

God, continue to anoint Jacky for ministry, whether it’s on stage, in her church, or in her day-to-day life.  Please continue to reveal aspects of her being, as You created it, that will be used for bigger and greater things for Your Kingdom.  Shower blessings of love down on her in a way that’s almost tangible.

Father, bless Jacky’s family– from her husband and children to her siblings and extended family.  Draw them even closer to one another, that You would be glorified by their testimonies and be exalted.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Okay, folks… post your prayers here, in the comment section!

Folks, PRAY for Darwin Hobbs– he was rushed to the hospital last night and was diagnosed with blood clots in both of his lungs, an incredibly serious condition.

Darwin was en route to Indiana last night for a performance, but was experiencing severe shortness of breath, so made a detour to the hospital.  He will remain in the hospital for at least 4 days, waiting for the clots to dissolve.

Despite this, Darwin is boldly declaring his healing.  Through texts back and forth this morning, he asked me to “thank everyone for prayers and calls and emails.”  He asks that you pray that the clots dissolve and rebuke the spirit of death and fear.

Please pray, also, for his wife, Traci.

Let’s do it, fam!

Lemme tell you somethin’… this here Mia Paylor… she can write a meeeaaaan review (and by that, I mean “great”).  She’s cranks ‘em out before I can even get ‘em published good (pardon my grammar), but I don’t mind it.

And I know you don’t either!

No delays… Mia’s back to tell you about her experience with Champion, the new album from Darwin Hobbs…

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Sometimes, extreme situations are both good and bad. For instance, if I win an extremely high amount of money, it’ll be ALL GOOD to me! However, I may have difficulty planning the best way to spend it. It’s not a bad problem to have… but, it’s a nerve-wrecking issue nevertheless.

Well, I declare and decree that the new Darwin Hobbs CD, Champion, is one of those extreme situations, creating both good and bad circumstances. Good circumstances for Darwin and bad circumstances for me. Let me explain…

First of all, Champion was released on June 22nd, the Tuesday before Payday Friday. Needless to say, my plan was to wait ’til payday to download it. But, my budget was almost destroyed by the buzz of those who were able to purchase the CD before my payday– “Get it NOW!”… “The very Spirit of ‘Godt’ will creep out of your speakers and send you to the floor in worship!”

Good for Darwin because I wanted the CD… Bad for me because I had to wait.

So, I downloaded it after the stroke of midnight on payday (praise God for direct deposit) and listened to it at work. As I listened, it began to usher me right into the very presence of God. But, I couldn’t enter into worship like I wanted to in my cubicle! WARNING: DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS AT WORK OR WHILE OPERATING HEAVY MACHINERY.

Good for Darwin because the CD blessed me… Bad for me and others who ran lights (or worse) while listening, worshipping, and driving.

Champion, with production headed by Daniel Weatherspoon, is EXTREMELY GOOD! It’s jam-packed with church-friendly praise & worship tunes. There is a wonderful balance of songs that influence vertical worship and songs that serve as pep talks for believers. The lyrics are simple enough for congregations to pick up quickly, as well as thoughtful enough for mature worshippers to connect with them.

This CD is not stylistically confused. The instrumentation and arrangements flow seamlessly from song to song. Darwin sounds confident and comfortable during this live praise & worship experience… like he’s found his stride. Plus, those background singers are singing the glory cloud DOWN!

More than anything, every song is relevant to some segment of a worship service, which is the cause of my final problem– which song do I teach first?!

Should I teach the party starter, “Power in Praise”? Maybe I should teach “He is God,” since folks are always complaining about modern churches not singing hymns anymore. Should I teach “God Restores” (featuring Sheri  Jones-Moffett)? It’s perfect to be sung during the Call to Discipleship. Or, do I teach “Champion” first? We all need to be reminded that God, our Champion, lives within believers… and “To the Lamb” is already on the list for Resurrection Sunday 2011.

Good for Darwin because many of these songs will be favorites in church…Bad for me because I can’t decide which song to teach first.

Then again, I’ve got lots of new material to teach now. Maybe this isn’t so bad for me after all.

*     *     *

Love this review and love the new Darwin album!

Who else has it and what do you think of it?  And what do you think of Mia’s review?  I’m thinking she’s pretty dead-on?

Talk to us!

The new album from gospel hip-hop artist Trip Lee, Between Two Worlds, made a HUGE statement at retail this week, earning the #1 position at Billboard on both the Gospel AND Christian albums charts. In doing so, he unseated chart leaders Marvin Sapp and MercyMe, respectively.

Trip Lee’s new project also landed at #10 on the Rap albums chart.  All in all, a pretty strong showing for this project.  Congrats!

Also, My Life’s Lyric, the new album from DeWayne Woods & When Singers Meet, has debuted at #3, while Darwin Hobbs’ latest effort, Champion, debuts at #6.

So, LOTS of movement in the top 10. It now looks a little something like this…

#1 | Trip Lee - Between Two Worlds
#2 | Marvin Sapp – Here I Am
#3 | DeWayne Woods – My Life’s Lyric
#4 | WOW Gospel 2010
#5 | Forever Jones – Get Ready
#6 | Darwin Hobbs- Champion
#7 | Hezekiah Walker & LFC – Souled Out
#8 | BeBe & CeCe Winans – Still
#9| Fred Hammond – Love Unstoppable
#10 | Juanita Bynum – More Passion

If Trip Lee can maintain his sales momentum, he should be at #1 for at least another week or two.  DeWayne Woods and Darwin Hobbs should also have pretty solid footing in the top 10 for a while.

What do you think of the charts this week?  Who has Trip Lee’s new project?  Who’s gonna check it out now???

Talk to me, folks!

Interesting.

James Fortune & FIYA’s album, The Transformation, jumped 34 chart positions on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart this week, leaping from #41 to #7.  That, alone, is pretty noteworthy.  Even more incredible is that this is not the group’s most recent album; the newest project, Encore, rests at #16 on the chart.

Why in tarnation did so many buyers pass up the new album and go for the older one?!  Random.

*shrugs*

Anyway, the rest of the Top 10 looks a little somethin’ like this (you’ll notice that Fortune is tied with Brian Courtney Wilson at #7– they sold the same number of units):

#1 | Marvin Sapp - Here I Am
#2 | WOW Gospel 2010
#3 | Forever Jones – Get Ready
#4 | Hezekiah Walker & LFC – Souled Out
#5 | BeBe & CeCe Winans – Still
#6 | Fred Hammond – Love Unstoppable
#7 | Brian Courtney Wilson – Just Love
#7 | James Fortune & FIYA- The Transformation
#9 | CeCe Winans – Songs of Emotional Healing
#10 | Juanita Bynum – More Passion

Shout-out to CeCe for having two albums in the Top 10, and to Forever Jones for maintaining that #3 position!

I’m predicting that the Top 5 will see quite a shake-up next week.  I’m guessing the sales figures of the current top albums won’t be strong enough to beat out the first week sales of Darwin Hobbs, DeWayne Woods , Trip Lee and Juanita Bynum.

What say you???

Heads-up, good people. In stores today are the newest projects from Darwin Hobbs, entitled Champion, DeWayne Woods, entitled My Life’s Lyric, and Juanita Bynum’s Soul Cry (Oh, Oh, Oh) EP.

Also, in gospel hip-hop, Trip Lee releases his new album, Between Two Worlds, as does Grits, with Quarantine.

Which of these are YOU grabbin’ this week???

Vocalist extraordinaire Darwin Hobbs and perpetual funnyman John Gray will be among the guests on TBN’s Praise the Lord tonight at 10pm ET.

Darwin’s got a new album hitting stores next Tuesday, the 22nd, and I hear that John Gray has a new DVD coming soon.

Should be a great show– who’s tuning in???

We’ve been praying for one person in this industry for weeks now and I’m thrilled with the participation and feedback we’re gettin’… click here to see what it’s all about, then let’s get it goin’.

This week, I’m adding Darwin Hobbs to The Prayer List.

Darwin is an incredible vocalist with a ministry that is second to none.  His music experience in this industry ranges from session work in CCM and gospel, to a thriving solo career, and everything that goes along with it.  He’s got a new album coming on June 22nd, but that’s not the gist of this post.  Let’s lift him up…

***

Father, thank You for the life and ministry of Darwin Hobbs.  Thank You for his servant heart, for his faithfulness to his calling and for his relationship with You.  Thank You for giving Darwin such an incredible gift to equip him to fulfill all that You created Him to be.  I pray that nothing and no one would be able to interfere with Your creation, Your calling and Your plan.

Lord, it is my prayer that You would allow Darwin’s music ministry to bless many.  I pray that people would hear his music–new and old– and be encouraged in their walk with You, be inclined to worship You more through their lives.  I pray for his spoken ministry as well.  I pray that You would increase his opportunities to share his testimony of brokenness that You have healed.  I pray that his story would lead others to You, to give You glory alone.

Bless Darwin’s union with his wife, Traci.  Let them continue to be an example of true love, a love that was predestined before time began, a love that is symbolic and representative of the love that You have for Your church.  Whatever their dreams and hopes for their life together, God, I pray that it be done according to Your will.  Prove Yourself, as always, to be a redeeming and restoring God who resurrects broken promises and dashed dreams, giving them new life.  And allow Darwin and Traci’s joy to flourish and never be shaken.

I pray for Darwin’s continued health.  I pray that he continue to recover from his recent surgery and that all it was intended to accomplish in his body would take effect.  I pray for his healthy decisions and a life of discipline, followed by results, in those areas that He is seeking to change in his physical body.  Please give him strength for that journey, Lord.

God, please touch Darwin’s life with your grace.  Mark his life with mercy, that he would be a man who is rich in compassion and full of love.  The gentle spirit that he exudes, let it be multiplied many times over in the lives of those he encounters as he goes.  Bless him as he goes, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

***

Okay, family.  Will you please stand with me in prayer for Darwin Hobbs?  Post your prayers in the comment section… let’s make it huge for God’s glory!

Folks– take a listen to “Champion,” the first single from Darwin Hobbs’ upcoming project of the same name.  As a reminder, the full album– the first live recording of his career– is due on June 8th.

“Champion” is a song empowering and encouraging people– we’re overcomers… we’re champions.  The track is already ripping through radio and I think you’re gonna like it.

It’s got a praise & worship, battle cry type of vibe to me… definitely a song intended to be DECLARED!  I can see praise teams giving it a go on Sunday mornings…

AND, word has it that Darwin Hobbs has just signed a recording deal as the FIRST artist on Imago Dei/Universal, a new label venture by none other than MAX SIEGEL (former President of Verity Records).  WOW… Congrats Darwin!

Click here to listen to “Champion,” then leave a comment to let me know what you think!

Who caught Bobby Jones Gospel on BET yesterday?  It featured some INCREDIBLE performances from Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Darwin Hobbs and LeJeune Thompson.

Vanessa performed her hit single, “Good News,” and the classic and TIMELESS “Peace Be Still.”  In my humble musical opinion, the choir behind her didn’t quite know some of the nuances of their part, but the performance was still awesome.

Darwin Hobbs is just a worshipper, plain and simple.  He is a great performer because he offers the audience a personal encounter with God, in that moment, every time.  He performed “We Worship You Today” and did a great job with it.  For his second go’ round, Darwin sang the hit “He’s Able,” which has been, like… the rock worship ballad for the past year.  Deitrick Haddon wrote QUITE an anthem with that song– it’s awesome.

Aaand, LeJeune.  My, oh my.  LeJeune Thompson is one of the most underrated female vocalists in gospel and I don’t quite know why.  In any event, she sang “Lost Without You,” from her 2008 sophomore release, Metamorphosis.  It’s a mellow cut laced with incredible vocals… great job.

Who else saw it yesterday?  What was your favorite performance of the episode?