ISRAEL & NEW BREED RELEASES  

FIRST LIVE RECORDING IN 5 YEARS

JESUS AT THE CENTER IN STORES AUGUST 14

All New 2-Disc Album & DVD From Multiple GRAMMY, Stellar, Dove Award Winners

Recorded Live At Lakewood Church Features Special Guest Vocalists: James Fortune, Jason Nelson, Michael Gungor, T-Bone, Bishop Michael Pitts, And More

Following two back-to-back Billboard Top 200-selling, GRAMMY Award-winning solo studio albums, Israel Houghton returns with New Breed for their first live recording in five years, JESUS AT THE CENTER, releasing Aug. 14 on Integrity Music. Recorded live with thousands of worshipers at Houston's Lakewood Church, this double-CD, 17 song album with three additional studio singles features Israel & New Breed returning to their roots, delivering new anthems for the modern day church. The recording follows the group's critically acclaimed, GRAMMY Award-winning, A Deeper Level (2007).

Joining Israel & New Breed to produce the studio version of the soon to be released Christian AC single from Jesus At The Center, "Your Presence Is Heaven," is hit maker Ed Cash (Chris Tomlin, Britt Nicole), while acclaimed vocalists Jason Nelson and James Fortune are featured on the studio version of "It's Not Over (When God Is In It)." Other guest vocalists featured on the live recordings are Aaron W. Lindsey,Michael Gungor,T-Bone, Bishop Michael Pitts, Jeremiah Woods, Daniel Johnson, Charlin Moore, Adam Ranney, Tina Baker, Onaje Jefferson, Krystle Harper and Israel's daughter, Mariah Houghton.

"The overarching story of the album is that sometimes we can be so 'churched' that we can lose sight of the 'who, what, why' of worship," says Houghton. "This project simply places Jesus where he is supposed to be. We intentionally removed the metaphors and simply focused on his name."

Co-writing all the songs, except the Bob Dylan cover, "To Make You Feel My Love," and"You Have Me," by Michael and Lisa Gungor, Israel said that it was time to do another live album with New Breed. "We've always been known for what we do live and we felt like we had songs that could serve as a resource to the church worldwide."

"The concept started with the title track, 'Jesus At The Center.' We felt strongly that it was necessary to make sure that these were all Christ-centered songs that would, for the most part, find a place of effectiveness in the worship experience of any church. 'Rez Power,' 'Your Presence Is Heaven,' 'Speechless,' 'Jesus The Same' - these songs accomplish that and resource worship teams and listeners alike," notes Israel.

   

In addition to the JESUS AT THE CENTER two-disc album, a companion DVD was recorded live in high-definition and features all 17 songs along with behind the scenes footage, story behind the song vignettes and other bonus material. Israel & New Breedwill also simultaneously release an exclusive iTunes® LP. The LP follows Houghton'sLove God. Love People LP that became the first-ever Christian artist iTunes LP and first LP, mainstream or Christian, which included various interactive capabilities. The JESUS AT THE CENTER LP will include the new music, but also video Work Tapes, a Photo Montage and the "Jesus At The Center" video tutorial.

In 1995, Israel and Meleasa Houghton founded New Breed Ministries, an organization they continue to run and that is comprised of noted musicians and singers who serve within their respective churches and together serve the Church at large. Since then, Israel & New Breed has amassed a legion of followers that crosses generational lines with popularity across African American, Latin and Caucasian listener lines. While blasting down barriers, Israel has been fittingly graced with 2 Gold-selling albums, 3 GRAMMY Awards, 12 Dove Awards, 2 Stellar Awards and a Soul Train Award.

Active as worship leader in his local church, Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church, Houston, Israel has served as worship leader at Hillsong conferences and Franklin Graham crusades. He has written or co-written 11 CCLI Top 500 favorites, been featured on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, performed on BET's Celebration of Gospel and Bobby Jones Gospel; accompanied Alicia Keys at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards for a performance of George Michael's "Freedom '90," and performed at the 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards. He uses his own multi-cultural upbringing as a reference point with a desire to draw people of all races, ages and cultures together. More information on Israel & New Breed is available at www.newbreedmusic.com.

About Integrity Music:

Kingsway and Integrity Music compose the music division of David C Cook, a nonprofit global resource provider serving the Church with life-transforming materials. Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Kingsway and Integrity Music's resources are distributed in more than 160 countries and sold worldwide. Additional information can be found at http://kingswayworship.com and www.integritymusic.com.

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Restructuring of Categories Across All Genres Brings Total Number of Categories to be Recognized at the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards in 2012 to 78; All Fields Remain Intact

Minimum Number of Entries Per Category Will Now Be 40, Up from 25

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (April 06, 2011) — In an effort to continuously evolve its GRAMMY^® Awards process, The Recording Academy^® (www.grammy.com) announced today that it has restructured the GRAMMY Categories across all genres and Fields, bringing the total number of Categories to be recognized at the 54th GRAMMY Awards in 2012, to 78 (from 109). All Fields remain the same. The announcement was made this morning at The Academy's headquarters by President/CEO Neil Portnow, Academy Board Chair Emeritus and five-time GRAMMY winner Jimmy Jam, and Vice President of Awards Bill Freimuth. Additionally, a minimum of 40 distinct artist entries will be required in each Category (up from 25). Detailed information on these and other recent changes may be found at www.grammy.com/announcement. For updates and breaking news, please visit The Academy's social networks on Twitter and Facebook: www.twitter.com/thegrammys, www.facebook.com/thegrammys.

"Every year, we diligently examine our Awards structure to develop an overall guiding vision and ensure that it remains a balanced and viable process," said Portnow. "After careful and extensive review and analysis of all Categories and Fields, it was objectively determined that our GRAMMY Categories be restructured to the continued competition and prestige of the highest and only peer-recognized award in music. Our Board of Trustees continues to demonstrate its dedication to keeping The Recording Academy a pertinent and responsive organization in our dynamic music community."

For 53 years, The Recording Academy has recognized musical excellence with the GRAMMY Awards — the most prestigious and only peer-recognized award in music — and the awards have grown from 28 Categories in 1959, to awards in 109 Categories for the most recent 53rd GRAMMYs. This growth springs from a tradition of honoring specific genres and/or subgenres within a Field, and it has basically been approached one Category at a time without a current overall guiding vision and without consistency across the various genre Fields. In 2009, The Academy initiated a first-ever comprehensive evaluation of its Awards process, which led to a desire for change. A transformation of the entire Awards structure would ensure that all Fields would be treated with parity. Diligent research, careful analysis, and thoughtful discussion of all Fields resulted in an overarching framework and a restructuring of Categories to 78, and ensures that every submission continues to have a home.

In addition to the restructuring of Categories, two rule changes have been established and four Fields have been renamed. It is now expected that each Category shall have at least 40 distinct artist entries, up from 25. If a Category receives between 25 – 39 entries, only three recordings would receive nominations that year. Should there be fewer than 25 entries in a Category, that Category would immediately go on hiatus for the current year — no award given — and entries would be screened into the next most logical Category. If a Category receives fewer than 25 entries for three consecutive years, the Category would be discontinued, and submissions would be entered in the next most appropriate Category.

The second rule change is regarding voting. Previously, voting members were allowed to vote in up to nine genre Fields plus the General Field on the first ballot and eight genre Fields plus the General Field on the second ballot, including every category within each chosen Field. Now, on each ballot, voters may vote in up to 20 Categories in the genre Fields plus the four Categories of the General Field — which includes Record Of The Year, Album Of The Year, Song Of The Year, and Best New Artist.

Additionally, there are name changes to four Fields: Musical Show is now Musical Theater; the Film/ Television/Other Visual Media Field is now called Music For Visual Media; the Gospel Field has been renamed the Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Field; and the Dance Field has been renamed the Dance/Electronica Field.

The Awards restructuring proposal was presented by The Recording Academy's Awards & Nominations (A&N) Committee — comprised of elected Academy leaders from across the country representing various genres of the music community — and was voted on and passed by The Academy's Board of Trustees — made up of musicians, producers, engineers, songwriters, and other music professionals. The A&N Committee spent more than a year reviewing, analyzing, and evaluating the GRAMMY Awards process and Categories with great objectivity and fair-mindedness, before presenting its recommendations to the Board of Trustees for ratification. While at times incredibly challenging for each member of the committee to restructure Categories in their own respective genres, the greater purpose of promoting unity within the music community and ensuring that all Fields be treated with parity outweighed natural inclinations to resist change.
Please visit www.grammy.com/announcement for the following resources and detailed information:

• A Category Comparison Chart (comparing Categories from the 53rd GRAMMYs to the upcoming 54th GRAMMYs)
• An Explanation of Category Restructuring across all genres
• A Category Mapper (an interactive feature that will show where to enter submissions under the new structure)
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Upcoming dates and deadlines for the 54th GRAMMY Awards online entry period

Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, join the organization's social networks as a Twitter follower at www.twitter.com/thegrammys, a Facebook fan at www.facebook.com/thegrammys, and a YouTube channel subscriber at www.youtube.com/thegrammys.

Can God Use the Innocent?

The pattern has become all too familiar, almost cliché. Man (as in mankind, either male or female) sins. Sin gets exposed. Man gets a revelation from God. Ministry sprouts out of the moral failure. I find it interesting that many feel led to preach/minister or are more empowered after their names are smeared down the hall of shame.

(Thomas Weeks and Juanita Bynum, Ted Haggard, etc. come to mind.)

The justification is almost always the same: “David was (insert sinful act or painful experience here) and look at how God used Him.” Or, here’s the excuse that baffles me the most, “God took me through “XYZ” to anoint me for his purpose.” Blah. Blah. Blah. We’ve heard it all before, as if God only operates effectively using damaged goods.

As a member of The Body, I’m offended by how often I hear this pattern of thinking and am moreso bothered that it goes unchecked. This spiritual logic is so prevalent it begs the question: Can God use the innocent, the untarnished? (Of course he can and does, which I will demonstrate later.)

I am not attempting to minimize the power of personal testimonies of triumph, healing, deliverance. BUT, while I am aware that God specializes in redemption (and I am thankful to be a sinner saved by his amazing grace), I am leery that half the people who have triumphed over a negative circumstance are “called” to minister or preach or that some great awakening occurs in the majority of ministers of the Gospel AFTER they falter or experience a significant breakthrough. If the fact that God has given you new life has caused you to want to work for Him in a formal capacity, then serve. Simply serve, WITHOUT A TITLE. But, by all means, do not assume that he has given you the ministry mantel ONLY as a result of your downfall.

Let's consider the scenario of when people are called or "enlightened" due to sin. Suppose the sin was never uncovered. Suppose there were no embarrassing rumors or any of the drama that would lead to public scrutiny. Then what? How many people would simply repent, learn from their mistake, leave the matter between them and God and carry the secret to the grave?

(TO BE CONTINUED--YOUR THOUGHTS ARE WELCOME.)