Sounds of Inspiration

By Effie Rolfe

Happy New Year and happy New You! We made it—a lot of friends and loved ones didn’t make, however, we survived another year filled with unlimited opportunities to make a difference. Don’t let another minute go by without singing or writing your song, dancing your dance, preaching your sermon or teaching principles of life to others by example more so than words. Determine to do all you can with all that you have, where you are right now. If you use your gifts and talents to make the world a better place and that will be your gift to God. Some of the Chicagoland gospel folk making a difference…

Sony gospel recording artist, Thomas T. Tribett, better known as Tye Tribett of Greater Anointing will be at Life Christian Center International, 4305 St Charles Road in Broadview. The popular gospel artist known for his high-energy performance will be ministering the spoken word during Life Christian Center International month long consecration this Friday through Sunday. Tribett will also conduct a special workshop on Saturday from 11am to 2pm. For more information call Bishop Glenn Miller at 708-547-5201.

Pam Morris, just in from the Holy Land for the “Rev Dr. Martin Luther King— Redeeming the Dream” Travelingwith Morris were State Sen. Donnie Trotter, State Sen. Ken Duncan, State Sen. Kwame Raoul as well as Ambassador Oscar Webb. The trip presented by theIllinois Dept of Tourism was in honor of the Rev Dr. Martin Luther King as well as preparing for Gospel in the Holy Land in 2007. The popular host of Gospel with Pam Morris on WVON/AM1450 between 6 to 9am on Saturday morning will feature The New Jerusalem Fire Choir from Dimona, Israel.

Morris, Project Coordinator/Manager for the world’s largest gospel fest is also coordinator of the Martin Luther King Interfaith Breakfast (invitation only.)

This year’s guest speaker for the auspicious event will be Martin Luther King III.

Get ready for a Mahalia JacksonTribute during Winter Delights at the Millennium Park at the Pritzker Pavilion at 3:30pm next weekend featuring Queenie Lenox, Delores Washington Green and the former organist for the lateMahalia Jackson, Eddie Robinson. Although the event is free and open to the public—seating is limited.

 Walt Whitman and the SoulChildren returned home last weekend from their “Reaching the Nations–Called to Destiny Tour.” The tour sponsored in part by the Ronald McDonalds Children Corporation and local area churches was a benefit for the survivors in Biloxi and Jackson, MS. The renowned choir purchased a ‘Feed the Children’ truck and delivered over 800 boxes of food, personal items and gifts cards and distributed the items to families over the holidays. Joyce Hurley, Kim Stratton, Lorie Smith, Faith Howard and the Kindle Fame and Brandon Holts also accompanied Whitman. Also, the Soul Children of Chicago Scholarship Foundation will join in with the MLK Peace Jam at the Harold Washington Cultural Center Sunday, Jan 15th at 7pm. This event will benefit youth that are members of the choir that have excelled in their academic studies. The choir has been performing for 25 years and to date has given over $30,000 in scholarships. If you have a child or know of someone that might be interested open auditions are being held to become a member. For more information about their latest release Reaching the Nations or auditions call 773-881-8120 or visit www.soulchildrenchicago.com.

“Remember you are blessed by the best!”

ffie Rolfe is the religion entertainment columnist for the Chicago Defender. She is also midday host (Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) on WGRB-AM/1390 and host of "Music of Love and Inspiration" Sunday Mornings on WGCI-FM/107.5 from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. Email Effie Rolfe at: effrolfe@aol.com