This is the March 7th, 2005 edition of Glory2Glory Christian Music E-zine!, a contemporary Christian music & modern Worship newsletter distributed to Christian and Worship music enthusiasts via the World Wide Web.  If you would like a FREE subscription with the latest issue sent to your inbox each week, e-mail glory2gloryezine@....

In the news this week, WES KING diagnosed with cancer; former Korn guitarist gives his testimony; SONICFLOOD sues booking agent for theft; upcoming concerts in the Southwest; new album releases; Top 10 Least Popular Breeds of Dogs; and much more!

IN THE NEWS:  Christian music singer/songwriter WES KING has been diagnosed with Lymphoma after being transferred to a hospital in Nashville with severe abdominal pain.  King’s home church, Christ Community Church in Franklin, Tennessee, has reported that doctors say the singer’s prognosis is good and are immediately starting him on chemotherapy.  Prayers for the musician whose hit songs include “What Matters Most”, “I Believe” and “Life Is Precious” are very much needed and appreciated. <><

As we reported last week in Glory2Glory, Korn guitarist Brian "Head" Welch has quit the multi-platinum heavy metal band after his conversion to Christianity.  Now Welch has given his testimony to his church congregation and MTV News Online reports the story this way:

Kids in Korn T-shirts crowded around a stage for what looked like a hometown concert but was actually quite the opposite: This was not the return of the Family Values Tour, but rather a gathering of families hearing a lesson on values.  Two months after his first visit to the Valley Bible Fellowship, Brian "Head" Welch, who announced his departure from Korn last week, held a sort of Christian coming-out party here Sunday in front of an estimated 10,000 churchgoers in three separate services.

"Brian has found out that God's real, and he's stoked," Pastor Ron Vietti told the third service.  Welch — wearing jeans and a T-shirt, with his signature long, curly hair in his face — sat down with Vietti for discussions that found the guitarist displaying a mix of emotions, from stoked to somber.  "I thought I had it all, everything I thought was important when I was a kid — money, fame, pretty women — but I came to a point where I didn't want to live," he told the congregation.

Welch confessed to coming to the church as a last-ditch effort to kick a drug addiction.  "When I came here I was hooked on meth," he said, stopping to wipe the tears gathered in his eyes.  "We love you, buddy," Vietti responded, followed by a loud cheer from the audience, a group of all ages that seemed enthralled in everything Welch had to say.  The guitarist, who showed off new tattoos on his neck ("Matthew 11:28") and fist ("JESUS"), took the stage after a 20-minute set of Christian worship songs from a rock band, as well as a 20-minute sermon from Vietti, who talked about his coming to God and surviving leukemia after being told he would die from the disease.

Welch said he now works for the Lord and announced that he would be joining Vietti on a trip to Israel this week, where the pastor plans to "dunk me in the Jordan River" — meaning to baptize the new Christian.  "This is the book of life right here," he said, pulling a Bible from his back pocket.  "It's not about religion, it's not about this church, it's not about me.  It's about the book of life and everybody needs to be taught this.  It's crazy, it's gonna do stuff like this, like change a guy in a rock band."

At the end of their discussion, Vietti asked non-Christians interested in "being saved" to come forward, and at least 40 mostly young people followed suit.  In the end, the pastor said more than 200 people came to Christianity throughout the services, including members of the media there to cover Welch's talk.  "More people came up and gave their lives to God than I anticipated, but that's good," Welch said after the services — and after signing hundreds of autographs.  "I'm tripping out a little bit, but it's cool. This is the best thing that's ever happened to me."  "Do you guys think I'm crazy?" he added, gesturing to reporters. "Everything on MTV is 50 Cent, Eminem, dis this, dis that. This is something positive."

When he returns from Israel, Welch plans to launch a solo career, with music about his experiences as a new Christian, and then give the money to charities and to Valley Bible Fellowship's plan to build "rock and roll churches" across America.  "Every dime I make is going back to the people in a positive way," he said.  "I'm gonna change the world or die trying."

Welch said he tried to convince the other members of Korn to come to the church but had no luck.  However, he stills considers them his best friends. "I love them so much," he said.  "I'm happy.  I just want to do good.  I'm not doing nothing wrong.  I don't want to hurt the band Korn.  I don't want to hurt anyone.  My music is about love; it's love without saying it.  With Korn, I got the money, all kinds of drugs of choice, everything, but this is my life now," he added.  "I'm never gonna change.  That drug [meth] is known for making people crazy, but I'm in my right mind.  This was all His plan.  You were supposed to be here talking to me." <><

SONICFLOOd’s former booking agent was arrested last week in Nashville for reportedly stealing from $10,000-$40,000 from the popular Modern Worship band.  According to front man Rick Heil, 52-year-old Darrel Statema was responsible for setting up the band’s concert dates, collecting up-front money and paying the band, but Heil says that SONICFLOOd never received the funds.  A Williamson County, Tennessee grand jury has indicted Statema on felony theft. 

"He said he didn't know where the money was...it's very sad we trusted this person, but I think you reap what you sow," Heil said.  "We forgive him for taking the money... we're sorry it's ended up this way," he added.  Statema stated in an interview with a local television station that “he had nothing to do with this situation."  Bond for the former booking agent, who has no previous record, was set at $25,000. <><

SOUNDBYTES:  GRAND PRIZE’ current single “It’s Not Over” has been selected to be included on Wal-Mart’s annual college compilation sampler along with mainstream bands The Donna’s, Muse and Hellogoodbye.  The CD will be distributed on campuses nationwide starting this month. <>< HILLSONGS has released its first-ever children’s Worship project.  Jesus Is My Superhero features 15 songs of energetic praise for kids and comes with 14 performance tracks on CD-ROM. <>< RELIENT K is planning a one-month tour with mainstream acts Good Charlotte and Simple Plan.  The quartet from Ohio will be the opening act on the tour that kicks off in Kansas City on May 3rd. <>< The first Christian label online ringtone store has been launched offering over 80 ringtones from artists including NICOLE C. MULLEN, SIXPENCE NONE THE RICHER, GEORGE HUFF, MARK SCHULTZ, and SALVADOR.  Word Records Ringtown supports AT&T Wireless, Cingular, Sprint PCS and T-Mobile (for more info visit wordrecords.com). <>< BARLOWGIRL was selected as “Best New Artist” in the Campus Life 2005 Reader Choice Awards.  All awards were voted on by readers and website visitors and will be announced in the magazine’s March/April issue. <>< JARS OF CLAY’s new EP (extended play) will be available online only at iTunes, RealPlayer, Napster, Sony Connect, MSN and Wal-Mart.com.  Roots & Wings includes two songs from their upcoming Redemption Songs album (“God Will Lift Up Your Head" and "What Wondrous Love”) and "Tonight" and "Shipwrecked" (both from the Who We Are Instead Limited Edition CD). <><

BIRTHDAYS:

Tues., March 8th - Bob Herdman (Audio Adrenaline), Garett Buell (Caedmon's Call)

Wed., March 9th - Tiffany Arbuckle Lee (Plumb), Steven Ashley (x Nouveau)

Fri., March 11th - Patrick Andrew (PFR), Grover Levy

Sat., March 12th - Lesley Glassford (Tuesday’s Child), Ed Nicholson (Three Crosses), Randy Stonehill

Mon., March 14th - Kim Boyce

UPCOMING CONCERTS & EVENTS IN THE SOUTHWEST:

March 11th - Ten Shekel Shirt--Parkview Baptist, Baton Rouge, LA

March 11th – “Wonderful Weekend for Women” w/Natalie Grant & Lori Salierno--First Baptist, Bossier City, LA

March 12th – CANCELLED:  “Awaken Tour” w/Natalie Grant & Trevor Morgan--First Baptist, West Monroe, LA

March 13th – Point of Grace--First Baptist, Bossier City, LA

March 18th - Watermark--First Baptist, Shreveport, LA

March 18th - Gaither Homecoming Tour--Riverside Centroplex, Baton Rouge, LA

March 25th – Skillet--Six Flags, New Orleans, LA

April 1st - “Women Of Faith” Conference w/Chonda Pierce, Sandi Patty, & Sheila Walsh--CenturyTel Center, Bossier City, LA

April 9th – “Healing Rain Tour” w/Michael W. Smith, Selah & Watermark--Mississippi Coliseum, Jackson, MS

April 16th – “Acquire the Fire” w/Skillet--River City Centroplex, Baton Rouge, April 22nd - “All Things New ’05 Tour” w/Steven Curtis Chapman, Casting Crowns, & Chris Tomlin--Cajundome, Lafayette, LA

April 27th – “The Un-Done Tour” w/MercyMe, Jeremy Camp, The Afters, & Monk & Neagle--Monroe Civic Center Arena, Monroe, LA (for more info, call 318-680-2609)

April 28th - Wayne Watson--First Baptist, Minden, LA

May 6th - Nicole C. Mullen & George Huff--First Baptist, West Monroe, LA

May 13th - Gaither Homecoming Tour--Mississippi Coliseum, Jackson, MS

May 20th - Todd Agnew--Meadow Grove Baptist, Brandon, MS

June 6th - Denver and the Mile High Orchestra--Broadmore Baptist, Shreveport, LA

(For the latest concert information, visit www.glory2gloryproductions.com)

UPCOMING CCM, GOSPEL, & VIDEO RELEASES:

March 8th…

Forever Changed--The Need to Feel Alive (Floodgate Records)

Lexi--A Praise In The Valley (Holy Music/Taseis)

Various--Piper Hymns (with Phil Keaggy) [2 CDs] (Martingale Music)

Yellow--Second Altitude (Floodgate Records) 

Chicago Mass Choir--Project Praise - Live In Atlanta (New Haven Records)

John P. Kee Presents: Lil' Rufus--Lil' Rufus & The Melody Train (Verity Records)

SONICFLOOd--This Generation (INO Records)

Various--The Original Praise and Worship Vol. 1 (Martingale Music)

Youth For Christ--Love Comes In All Colors [DVD] (Emtro Gospel/LKS Entertainment, Inc./Taseis Media Group)

CHUCK’S CHUCKLES:

Top 10 Least Popular Breeds of Dogs--

10. Irish Water Spaniel + English Springer Spaniel=”Irish Springer” (a dog fresh and clean as a whistle)

9. Labrador Retriever + Curly Coated Retriever=”Lab Coat Retriever” (the choice of research scientists)

8. Newfoundland + Basset Hound=”Newfound Asset Hound” (a dog for financial advisors)

7. Bloodhound + Labrador=”Blabador” (a dog that barks incessantly)

6. Great Pyrenees + Dachshund=”Pyradachs” (a puzzling breed)

5. Malamute + Pointer=”Moot Point” (owned by...oh well, it doesn't matter anyway!)

4. Collie + Malamute=”Commute” (a dog that travels to work with you)

3. Bloodhound + Borzoi=”Bloody Bore” (a dog that's not much fun)

2. Pointer + Setter=”Poinsetter” (a traditional pet only at Christmastime)

1. Collie + Lhasa Apso=”Collapso” (a dog that folds up for easy transport)

© March 7th, 2005.  Published by Chuck Halley, glory2glory productions, LLC, Monroe, Louisiana.  All rights reserved.  No part of this e-zine may be reproduced without prior written consent.  Our subscriber list is NOT made available to any other companies or individuals because we value each subscriber and respect their privacy.  Start spreading some “good news” by forwarding this issue to five friends who have an interest in Contemporary Christian and Modern Worship music!