Category Archives: Church

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To Win a Prince – NEW BOOK ALERT!!!

Hello World,

I’m always excited about sharing a new book with y’all, my dear blog readers, and today is no exception…If you’re looking for a new book, please consider To Win a Prince by Toni Shiloh! Below is a brief bio about Toni, followed by praise for Toni’s novels and concluding with my interview with her.

Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and Christian fiction writer. Once she understood the powerful saving grace of the love of Christ, she was moved to honor her Savior. She writes soulfully romantic novels to bring Him glory and to learn more about His goodness.

Before pursuing her dream as a writer, Toni served in the United States Air Force. It was there she met her husband. After countless moves, they ended up in Virginia, where they are raising their two boys.

When she’s not typing in imagination land, Toni enjoys reading, playing video games, ​making jewelry, and spending time with ​her family.

“Captivating, romantic, and faith-filled, To Win a Prince captured my attention from the first page. . . . Shiloh’s latest royal romance is a pure page-turner.”

—Melissa Tagg, USA Today bestselling, Christy Award-winning author

“To Win a Prince transports readers to a lush tropical island for a tale of second chances and redeeming love. . . . Be prepared to be swept away by this story that is another jewel in author Toni Shiloh’s own crown as a master storyteller.”

—Sarah Monzon, award-winning author

Shiloh delivers a fun, contemporary romance delightfully full of favorite romantic tropes that also conveys serious messages of faith and destiny. It is refreshing to see dynamic Black characters in the genre, and readers will be eager for this modern-day fairy tale.”

—Library Journal, starred review of In Search of a Prince 

1. Please provide a brief summary of your new novel, To Win a Prince.

To Win a Prince is all about Iris Blakely and Ekon Diallo’s journeys to each other and through the ups and downs life throws at them. The story explores what happens to Ekon after the royal council delivers their judgment on his actions (read In Search of a Prince or the prologue in To Win a Prince for a recap). Thus, part of the story is told in his point of view. The story also takes us through the ins and outs of Iris’s new business and her life as she settles into a new country and, hopefully, a new love.

2. To Win a Prince is set in the fictional African country of Oloro Ilé and follows Iris Blakely, who first appeared in In Search of a Prince. Can you share what readers have to look forward to in this novel?

I’d be happy to. Expect Iris shenanigans, the world of fashion, swoony romance, and a redemption that brought me to tears.

3. Can you tell us a little more about the inspiration behind this book?

I knew when I wrote In Search of a Prince that I would be telling Iris’s story. Honestly, all I knew was that she started a fashion business and Ekon would be her love interest. I let the characters dictate the rest of the story from there.

 4. How do you think To Win a Prince serves both fiction readers at large and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) readers?

For romance fans, they’ll get that in spades with To Win a Prince. Iris can’t help but wear her heart on her sleeve, and the fodder that ensues speaks to that. The romance goes through ups and downs but ends with a happily ever after, just as romance readers have come to expect. As for BIPOC readers, they get the added benefit of being represented in fiction. I have had readers tell me how much they appreciate being able to identify with the diverse characters shown in my novels. To Win a Prince touches on the fairy-tale aspect of romance but grounds all readers in faith and realism.

5. You’ve said in the past that seeing diversity in Christian fiction is a goal of yours as an author. Do you think the genre is moving in that direction?

I do. Every time I celebrate a BIPOC Christian author’s new release, I feel the industry moving in the right direction. I’m also praying and cheering on unpublished authors who hope to join the Christian fiction market.

6. What challenges did you experience while writing this story?

I actually wrote this story during a really difficult time. My husband had been laid off and our lease was up, and we needed somewhere else to live. It was completely overwhelming, and even though I was able to get an extension on my deadline, I didn’t give myself a lot of wiggle room to complete the manuscript. But God is truly faithful, pouring the words out in six weeks’ time. Enough time to give it another read through before turning it in. I’ll never forget the journey God brought me through while writing Iris’s tale and learning what patience in the Lord means.

7. How can readers connect with you?

Readers can find me at tonishiloh.com. There you can subscribe to my newsletter, find my social media links, and even fill out the contact form if you want to send an email directly to me.

Any thoughts?

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Kansas City Pastor Carlton Funderburke Criticizes His Congregation For Not Buying Him a Watch, Calls Them ‘Poor, Broke, Busted and Disgusted…’

Hello World,

When I come across these types of stories, I have to remind myself there are scores of wonderful pastors throughout the country and the world who will never get recognized on a large platform but that does not mean they are not significant and not doing God’s work. Meanwhile, “pastors” such as Carlton Funderburke sully the cause of Christ by being wolves in sheep’s clothing and going viral for their shenanigans…

The latest wolf is Pastor Carlton Funderburke who is supposed to be the shepherd over Church at The Well in Kansas City, Missouri. However, earlier this month, he revealed his heart when he went slap off on his sheep about a doggone watch…See below…

In the clip, Pastor Funderburke says, “That’s how I know you’re still poor, broke, busted and disgusted because how you have been honoring me. I’m not worth your McDonald’s money. I’m not worth your Red Lobster money. I aine worth your St. John knit? Y’all can’t afford it no how. I aine worth your Louis Vuitton? I’m not worth your Prada? I’m not worth your Gucci?…You can buy a Movado watch in Sam’s! And y’all know I asked for one last year. Here it is the whole way in August, and I still aine got it! Y’all still aine saying nothin’! Let me kick down the doors and talk to my cheap sons and daughters! I don’t want to hear no more excuses about what you can’t afford. You can’t afford it because you don’t see the value here! Y’all hear from your pastor and father. I’m over y’all. I’m over your cheap expressions.”

Now based on how he framed his criticism as he mentioned what he didn’t get a year ago, I imagine it was the pastor’s anniversary and that he was expecting to be honored for his service by the congregation. As I’m a pastor’s daughter who has been to many pastor’s anniversary events over the years, I firmly believe the congregation should take the time to honor the pastor on at least a yearly basis. Being a pastor is not easy and everyone needs encouragement from time to time no matter the vocation. However, where Pastor Funderburke messed up was being flat out being materialistic…Although I’m not a labels person, I don’t see anything necessarily wrong with liking labels. Still, to expect his congregation to bless him with labels AND to state that out loud is just stupid. He needs to buy his own labels and accept that his congregation will honor him in the way that they have deemed fit…This is a rant that he should have saved for just his wife. We all get in our feelings sometimes, but what we do with those feelings demonstrates our heart AND character…And the fact is although some pastors are very wealthy, the vast majority are not…if Pastor Funderburke continues to feel this way, he should find another line of work where he is guaranteed enough money to afford McDonald’s, Red Lobster, St. John Knits, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci and Movado on his own…

Since this video has gone viral, an apology video has been released, see below…

I’m glad he apologized, but this is not the type of man who could be my shepherd, particularly at this time of history. The world has been fighting with COVID for two years and now monkeypox is on the horizon! A formula shortage threatened to leave many of the country’s babies starving. Gas prices are out of control. And here is the pastor wasting his saliva, spewing nonsense talking’ bout a Movado watch when he probably has a cell phone that can also function as watch! People come to church to be comforted not criticized over something so inconsequential…

Anywho, that’s all I have to say on this…

Any thoughts?

 

 

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Watch TV One’s ‘Never Would Have Made It: The Marvin Sapp Story’ TONIGHT at 9/8c on TV One!

PREMIERE PHOTOS!

Hello World,

I’m truly excited about TV One’s  “Never Would Have Made It: The Marvin Sapp Story” based on the life of gospel legend Marvin Sapp, which comes on tonight at 9 P.M. ET/8C! TV One recently hosted the official red-carpet premiere for the biopic at the Regal Atlantic Station in Atlanta. The event was packed with star power including the icon himself, Marvin Sapp alongside film stars Chaz Lamar Shepherd, Ambre Anderson, Stormy Merriweather, Zoe Greene and Jayden Griffin. Other notable attendees included director, Russ Parr, Executive Producers Phil Thornton and Keith Neal and President of TV One Michelle Rice. Check out some of the pics below!

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 17: Ambre Anderson, Marvin Sapp and Chaz Lamar Shepherd attend the TV One Atlanta screening of “Never Would Have Made It: The Marvin Sapp Story” at Regal Atlantic Station on August 17, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for TV One)

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 17: (L-R) Vonii Bristow, Kevin Saunders, Chaz Lamar Shepherd, Ambre Anderson, Marvin Sapp, Charmin Lee, Seth Schenall, and Josué Charles attend the TV One Atlanta screening of “Never Would Have Made It: The Marvin Sapp Story” at Regal Atlantic Station on August 17, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for TV One)

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 17: o, Marvin Sapp, Russ Parr, Ambre Anderson, Chaz Lamar Shepherd, Dawn Raven, and Phil Thornton attend the TV One Atlanta screening of “Never Would Have Made It: The Marvin Sapp Story” at Regal Atlantic Station on August 17, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for TV One)

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 17: Michelle Rice and Marvin Sapp attend the TV One Atlanta screening of “Never Would Have Made It: The Marvin Sapp Story” at Regal Atlantic Station on August 17, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for TV One)

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 17: Phil Thornton, Willie Moore Jr. and Marvin Sapp attend the TV One Atlanta screening of “Never Would Have Made It: The Marvin Sapp Story” at Regal Atlantic Station on August 17, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for TV One)

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 17: Singer Keyondra Lockett attends the TV One Atlanta screening of “Never Would Have Made It: The Marvin Sapp Story” at Regal Atlantic Station on August 17, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for TV One)

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 17: Sheree Whitfield and Lisa Wu attend the TV One Atlanta screening of “Never Would Have Made It: The Marvin Sapp Story” at Regal Atlantic Station on August 17, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for TV One)

In the days leading up to the premiere of the film, Sapp has much to celebrate. He was surprised by the Pandora team with the Billionaire Award celebrating more than one billion streams on the platform on Thursday at the National Museum of African American Music. There is also a re-release of his classic hit “Never Would Have Made It” out today. The impassioned unplugged version of the song continues to bring people to their feet 16 years after it was first released. The song is available for purchase and on all streaming platforms now.

Buzz has reached a fever pitch since the world premiere of the trailer exclusively within the Stellar Awards last month. Fans and industry insiders alike have been waiting to see the retelling of this legendary journey told through the lens of the man who lived it. From an intimate screening in his home state of Michigan to a prestigious showing during the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival and a special premiere at his home church The Chosen Vessel Cathedral in Fort Worth, Texas, “Never Would Have Made It” has resonated with audiences through its powerful storytelling and dynamic cast. In Nashville this week, the film will wrap up its movie premiere run with a special screening at the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville.

Marvin Sapp‘s biopic chronicles the prominent gospel music artist and preacher’s Michigan upbringing, battle against teenage alcohol abuse, love for his wife MaLinda Prince, rise in the music industry and growth in his faith. Sapp came into prominence more than 30 years ago as a member of the iconic gospel group Commissioned and is widely known for his award-winning, chart-topping crossover hit “Never Would Have Made It.” Currently, he is an author, radio show host and senior pastor of The Chosen Vessel Cathedral in Fort Worth, Texas and pastor emeritus of Lighthouse Full Life Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan – the church he founded with his late wife, MaLinda Prince Sapp.

The film is directed by Russ Parr and produced for TV One by Swirl Films, with Eric F. Tomosunas, James Seppelfrick and Keith Neal serving as Executive Producers. Additionally, Marvin Sapp and Phil Thornton are Executive Producers. For TV One, Jason Ryan is the Executive Producer in Charge of Production, Donyell Kennedy-McCullough is Senior Director of Talent & Casting and Susan Henry is Senior Director of Original Programming and Production.

For more information about TV One’s upcoming programming, including original movies, visit the network’s companion website at http://www.tvone.tv. TV One viewers can also join the conversation by connecting via social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Any thoughts?