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Seminar

By Faith City Church

March 6, 2023

RealTalk Sunday 2020

Seminar

By Nu-Life church

March 6, 2023

Paid In Full

Event

By Faith City Church

March 5, 2023

Heal My Soul

Pearls

By iLoveGospel

March 7, 2020

The Power of Vision

We are all creatures that function primarily by images. Our whole world is swayed by how we handle, process and manifest images. As such, What you see through the eyes of your imagination is key to the releasing of your creative power. We were purposely created that way so that we can wield the power of vision. The power of vision is in essence the power of faith. It works according to your response to your inner vision. When you ‘act’ according to your inner vision, you release the power of faith. Action confirms your belief in your vision. The famed woman with the issue of blood received her healing because she acted upon what she saw in her heart.

Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?” But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, Who touched Me?” And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.” (Mark 5:25-34)

This woman suffered from a condition that was so chronic that she constantly hemorrhaged for some twelve years. However,

- despite the stigma of an embarrassing disease,
- despite being deemed unclean and therefore
- barred from the synagogue and public places,
- despite the humiliation of having been
- exposed and subjected to the primitive
- practice of many male physicians,
- despite the disappointment of having
- undergone all sorts of medical treatments
- that only served to make her condition worse,
- despite being devastated physically,
- financially and emotionally,
- despite the pain of loneliness and rejection,
- despite the hostility of her society and environment,

She went into the crowd, pressing pass people she knew, people who despised her, people who felt she had no right to be there. With unfettered focus and relentlessness she grasped the hem of Jesus garment and her flow of blood ceased. The way this woman received her healing was totally unprecedented. Never before in the annals of the scriptures, had anyone received healing without a man of God’s knowledge or consent. Never before also, had anyone received their healing on-purpose and by their own actions. So how did she receive her healing without direct action from Jesus? First of all, she made the following declaration, “if only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” As mentioned earlier, words are in essence images. It is impossible to speak or think without materializing a corresponding image or vision. Therefore, in saying what she said, a mental picture of her touching Jesus’ clothes and being healed would have automatically appeared in her mind. She believed in what she saw, which was evidenced by the action of pushing through the crowd to touch Jesus. She was therefore healed because she:

SAW, BELIEVED, TOOK ACTION and RECEIVED.

She imagined herself being healed just by touching the clothes He was wearing. Indeed that is what happened when she acted accordingly. I can imagine that with each step she took, the vision got clearer and brighter, which in turn made her more determined and courageous. With each step her faith would have grown stronger and stronger, culminating in divine through the power of vision. Like this woman, your power emanates from acting on what you can see in the depths of your imagination. When you see it you can achieve it. This is the power of vision. When you harness the power of vision, nothing you imagine to do will be impossible for you. Your vision is the key to:

• Overcoming the insurmountable,
• Solving the insuperable,
• Defeating the invincible,
• and achieving the impossible.

All you have to do is see, believe, take action and receive.

Pearls

By iLoveGospel

March 7, 2020

Image Is Everything

Faith enables us to see what cannot be seen through the physical senses. It informs the mind of things yet to be manifested in the physical world. Faith is inextricably linked to the outcome you can see on the canvas of your imagination. The clearer you are about the outcome you can (mentally) see, the stronger your faith. Words are in essence carriers of images and their prime function is to give you a clearer vision. The clearer your vision, the stronger your faith. This is why the bible is full of metaphors and is rich in imagery, symbols, and allegories. It is also the reason why God’s promises always come with an image to fuel your imagination.

Your approach to words must be the same as when you receive a parcel in the post. You know that you have to remove the outer wrapping to receive what the sender wants you to have. Likewise, it is the image that you need to receive from words, more than the words themselves. A prime example of this is illustrated in the promise given to regarding the enormity of his descendants:

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” But Abram said, “Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” Then Abram said, “Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!” And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness. (Genesis 15:1-6)

From that day on, Abraham’s thoughts were fuelled by what he saw in the night sky. The stars he saw, made the innumerable number of descendants he would have, a mental reality; even though he and his wife were childless, and advanced in years.

Therefore, Image is truly everything! It is the blueprint for all that has been made! There is nothing that has been made that did not first begin as a mental image. Every tangible outcome has its genesis in a mental image.

Image is the substance of things hoped for. After all, what is hope without the image of what you hope for! Image is a spiritual substance. Although invisible to the naked eye, it can be seen, once captured on the screen of your imagination. This highlights the value, and significance of our imagination. Without it, we will never capture the image, and the vision, of what will be materialized in our lives.

If the concept of ‘spiritual substance’ sounds familiar to you, it maybe because you have read the only scripture that gives a direct definition of faith:

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
(Hebrews 11:1)

The substance of things hoped for is the image of a desired outcome. That being the case, ‘faith’ and ‘image’ are the same. Faith does not exist without a corresponding image. If this concept of faith appears too radical, it is because we often define faith by its works, or attributes, such as trust, confident expectation, or a strong belief. Although these attributes are integral in exercising faith, they are not what faith is. Trust, confident expectation, and a strong belief in something yet to be manifested, all spawn from the image you see on the inside.

The image within is what gives life to great acts of faith. It was the image inside Martin Luther King Jr, as expressed in his famed ‘I had a dream’ speech, that galvanized millions of Americans, and broke the back of racial inequality.

Faith therefore is the image, and substance, for creating a ‘reality’ hoped for. When God speaks of what He wants to achieve through you, it is the image, or vision, that He wants you to receive, not just words. For Abraham to truly receive the image God wanted him to manifest, God had to take Abraham out of his tent, and show him the stars. The stars acted as a metaphor, enabling Abraham to imagine himself as the Father of nations. It is only when Abraham saw what God wanted him to see, and then believed that what he saw on the screen of his imagination will become a physical reality, that God credited it to him as righteousness!

Faith v Fantasy

As explained earlier, words are carriers of images. Image is the essence of thoughts. If faith comes by hearing the thoughts of God, then faith is the image of God’s desire. When you hear (and understand) God’s thoughts, you also see the image of the outcome, He wants you to manifest in your life, and the physical world. Although we have the ability to manifest our desires, if they are not harmonious to the desires God has embedded in our hearts, they manifest as fantasies. God’s desires will always be for your benefit. Fantasies on the other hand, are by nature, vain, with no substantial, or lasting benefit. Fantasies are manifestations of ego, and selfishness. Some may seem good at first, but ultimately serve to be detrimental to one’s self, or others.

Faith, on the other hand, requires you to align your desires with God’s desires, and position yourself (spiritually) to see what God wants you to see. God is Love, and what He puts in your heart will not only serve to benefit you, but also many others. This will only be realized through the manifestation of faith.

Regardless of these differences, faith, and fantasy work by the same principle. Both can be activated by your own belief. The question is: do you want to be a manifester of faith, or fantasies?

Pearls

By iLoveGospel

March 7, 2020

A Winning Perspective

A dear friend of mine sought my advice regarding an issue her 17 year old son was facing. He attended a prominent youth academy which placed him at a company to gain work experience (on a non-salaried basis). He worked as a graphic designer, creating some of the publicity needed for the firm’s marketing campaigns and events. A year after his tenure at the academy he was approached by the director of that company and asked if he would design a logo and a brochure. Apart from a promissory gesture by the director to introduce him to his contacts, no payment was offered. The teenager gladly did the work; but things soon became sour when the director became evasive every time the subject of introducing him to his contacts was raised. At the same time he put the boy under scathing pressure to complete the work to a tight deadline.

His mother was understandably concerned that her son was being taken advantage of and prepared a ‘well crafted’ letter to send to the director. However, mindful not to jeopardise potential opportunities for her son, she decided to seek my advice before sending it, due to my years of experience in the creative industry. As she described the case to me I was able to confirm that her son was indeed being taken advantage of. This company usually pays for designers to do their work and the director was using her son to avoid the expense of design fees. She had every right to be upset at how her son was being treated and the company director was deserving of a good ‘ticking’ off. However, I was still apprehensive about her sending the letter (yet) as I too shared her initial concerns about jeopardizing his future. No matter how diplomatic or well crafted her letter was, the fact that it was coming from his mother (seen to be the lioness) could’ve resulted in the director distancing himself and his company from her son and any possible trouble associated with him. Instead I decided to look at the situation from a different perspective and sought to give another meaning to this situation.

Her son was just starting out in his career and oftentimes designers work on a freelance basis where the ability to sell oneself is key. I saw this situation as a golden opportunity for her son to gain some business acumen and negotiate with the director. From the caliber of work her son was commissioned to do, it became obvious that the director had confidence in his abilities and talent. This would serve as leverage for her son to demand design credits (if payment was not forthcoming) for the ongoing tasks and to negotiate suitable payment for future jobs. If the director disagreed, then a letter of complaint was due. She passed on my advice to her son who acted accordingly. Two weeks later I was delighted to hear that he was successful in obtaining what he asked for, birthing the beginning of business relationship with the company.

Opportunities do not always come in attractive packages. The picture that adversity paints is not necessarily as gloomy as it seems. You posses the ability to look at the imagery of dire circumstances and frame it with a meaning that empowers you. No circumstance is set in stone and it’s impact on you is subject only to the definition you give to it. There are situations beyond our control; but the meaning we give to them is key, as it is responsible for how we feel about it. How we feel determines our actions, and all actions have a consequence. Therefore, meaning controls outcome! The good thing is that you can choose or even create the meaning you want to give to any circumstance you face. Debt problems can serve as a lesson in financial management. Divorce can serve as a powerful medium for re-evaluation and self discovery. No matter how ugly the situation, its impact on you is subject only to the meaning you give to it.

Your mind will always seek to find a meaning to any given situation. Unfortunately, by default, the mind leans toward pessimism, hence the initial tendency of thinking the worst in any given situation. We must make a conscious effort to train our minds to think on things that will empower rather than discourage us. A well trained mind that seeks to find the good in any given situation is a mind that can steer you to a life of success.

The most powerful way of training your mind to explore and find meanings that will empower you is to see things from a ‘winning’ perspective. A winning perspective is where you see yourself in a position where you have the advantage. It is where you see yourself as the head and not the tail, above and not beneath. When you see yourself as always having the advantage, your only dilemma is deciding how you want to win.

In conclusion, never let an offense cloud your judgment. Always keep your eye on the big picture and the end goal. When faced with situations that seek to dis-empower you, look for or create an alternative meaning that puts power back in your hands. When you do this, a raft of opportunities will be revealed to you that you would not have otherwise seen.

US Gospel Artists

By iLoveGospel

March 7, 2020

Mary Mary

Mary Mary is a two-time Grammy award winning Platinum American gospel music duo, consisting of sisters Erica Campbell (born April 29, 1972)) and Trecina Campbell (born May 1, 1974)). The duo are often credited along with Kirk Franklin for broadening the fan base of urban contemporary gospel in the 2000s by introducing elements of soul music, hip hop, funk and jazz. Mary Mary broke onto the music scene with their popular song Shackles (Praise You) which is considered one of the pioneering songs of urban contemporary gospel music . Their debut album Thankful (2000) was certified Platinum. The duo has released three Gold albums: Incredible (2002), and Mary Mary (2005), which all charted #1 on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums. Their current release, The Sound,again was #1 on the Top Gospel Albums; as well as #7 on the Billboard 200. It has spawned two highly successful singles: Get Up and God In Me. In Spring 2009 God In Me began achieving crossover success (as Shackles had nine years earlier), reaching #5 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and #1 on the Hot Dance Club Play. They have currently been nominated as best R&B Group for the American Music Awards of 2009 . Biography The sisters were born Erica Atkins and Trecina Atkins.

The Campbell (formerly Atkins) sisters grew up as part of a large family of nine children in Inglewood, California. Their parents are Thomasina (an evangelist and choir director at the Evangelistic Church of God in Christ) and Eddie (a youth minister). The sisters quickly entered the world of church choirs, traveling gospel shows, and some television productions. All eight Atkins children were on the Bobby Jones Gospel show on BET. The sisters had their sights set on making music a career and enrolled at El Camino College to study voice. There they ran up against the divide between academic music studies and the popular musical world. "We had to study classical and sing arias, which was fine," Erica told the Times, "but the teachers would tell us if we sang anything else it would damage our instrument". The sisters toured with the 1995 Michael Matthews traveling gospel show Mama I'm Sorry and Sneaky. Each sister subsequently toured as a backup singer for a variety of R&B acts including Brandy.

Their first single, "Shackles (Praise You)" became a crossover hit, being popular with gospel, R&B, and pop audiences. It was a Top 10 R&B and Top 40 pop hit, and peaked at #28 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It became the first gospel song in five years to crack the R&B top ten and gained wide exposure on the MTV video cable channel. The album was a huge success because it offered a younger, hipper version of gospel that audiences could relate to. Their debut album,Thankful was released in May 2000. It peaked at #1 on the Gospel album chart and at #59 of the overall Top 200 chart, and was certified Platinum for shipments of 1 million copies in the USA. It went on to win the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album. The second single "I Sings" features rapper BB Jay. Both singles were also hits in the UK and Europe, and to this day remain popular with Christian youths in the US, Latin America, and Europe. Their only UK chart hit to date is "Shackles (Praise You)", which reached No.5 in June 2000. The follow-up "I Sings" peaked at a dismal No.32. The band have never made the Top 40 since 2000, and are genrally thought of as one-hit wonders in the U.K. Incredible (2002) Main article: Incredible With their second album Incredible, the duo was able to maintain their success.

US Gospel Artists

By iLoveGospel

March 7, 2020

Kirk Franklin

Franklin’s latest musical offering—and 13th studio album—is the aptly titled LONG LIVE LOVE from his RCA-distributed label, Fo Yo Soul Recordings. But even before the album’s May 31st release date, its first single is already laying down some serious groundwork.

“Love Theory” bowed at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart and has kept the position on lock for nine weeks. The vibrant track marked the singer’s record-extending seventh No. 1 and his second start atop the chart. With 1 million U.S. streams in its first week per Nielsen Music, “Love Theory” also opened at No. 1 on Gospel Streaming Songs as well as Gospel Digital Song Sales. Its colorful and energetic video has accumulated over 2.5 million YouTube views and counting.

“When people can see themselves as being loved, no matter who or how they are, it gives them more of the ability to love,” says Franklin; which is the inspiration for “Love Theory” and the theme of the video. “It’s my constant story about this message of love, the love of God, and me trying to play my role in that conversation.”

Among the other striking conversation-starters on the 10-track LONG LIVE LOVE are the introspective “Just for Me,” the insightful “Father Knows Best” and the cautionary “Idols.” As the very first song that Franklin wrote for the album, “Idols” is the hinge the album hangs. It addresses the issue of people placing too much emphasis on things like their careers, body image, and money. Or on their service to God; that sometimes becomes more important than the man himself.

US Gospel Artists

By iLoveGospel

March 7, 2020

Koryn Hawthorne

Louisiana-born sensation, Koryn Hawthorne burst onto the scene at 17, when she stole the nation's heart as a contender on Season 8 of NBC's "The Voice". As a top 4 finalist, Koryn made quite an impact on judges and audiences throughout the show with her powerful voice and endearing personality. Week after week, she captivated crowds and showcased poise and presence not usually seen in a teenager.

Her acclaimed rendition of "How Great Thou Art" on the show was an immediate hit, debuting at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Gospel Songs chart when the show released the single during the competition in 2015. Now 19, if the opinions of her former coach Pharrell Williams and the other show's coaches are any indication (who've hailed her incredible work ethic, stellar vocal skills, and inspirational attitude) , these facets of Koryn, (all which she beautifully showcases on her debut EP) will take her far as an artist.

Hawthorne cites a variety of artists as her main influences and inspirations, including Etta James, Mary J. Blige, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, Lauryn Hill, Fred Hammond, Mary Mary, Kirk Franklin, among others.

US Gospel Artists

By iLoveGospel

March 7, 2020

James Fortune

James Fortune understands that if you're going to preach redemption in the 21st century, you're going to have to make a production of it, and his albums are a bit like urban gospel hip-hop soul revues all done up in show biz style on Broadway, complete with Fortune's spoken, sung, and shouted encouragement.

Fortune, who was born November 29, 1978, in Richmond, Texas, was raised in the church where his dad was a pastor, and was playing drums by the age of five. He graduated from Kempner High School in Sugar Land, Texas and then attended Cal State Northridge, and consequently became the choir director at Dimension Church in Houston. As much or more a preacher, choir leader, master of ceremonies, and a worship service manager as he is a straight-up singer, Fortune's strength is in understanding how to put gospel and praise songs over to a young 21st century audience, and with his featured choir, FIYA (which stands for Free in Yahweh's Abundance), he freely incorporates hip-hop arrangements and urban beats into his recordings, which include You Survived (2004), The Transformation (2007), Encore (2010), and Identity and Grace Gift (both released in 2012).

US Gospel Artists

By iLoveGospel

March 7, 2020

Tasha Cobbs-Leonard

For Tasha Cobbs-Leonard, it all began in her hometown, Jesup, Georgia. There she functioned as Worship Leader of Jesup New Life Ministries, founded by her late father, Bishop Fritz Cobbs. Tasha faithfully lent her talents at her local assembly before an unforeseen relocation to Atlanta, Georgia, where she joined the thriving dReam Center Church of Atlanta. Most of her tenure at dReam Center entailed leading worship weekly and managing the various entities of the Worship & Arts Department. She now serves as one of the team pastors at dReam Center.

In 2012, Cobbs would go on to record her freshman project titled GRACE, produced by multi-award-winner and Motown Gospel label mate, VaShawn Mitchell. This project laced with organic and moving tracks featured the lead single, Break Every Chain, which landed as Billboard’s #1 song for a total of 12 weeks. This anthem unleashed liberation to countless audiences nationwide each time it was heard or ministered. The album Grace landed on Billboard’s Top 10 Gospel Albums chart for a year. It was definite that the world had received not just another singer, but a rare gift.

More than an artist, Tasha Cobbs-Leonard is an innovative tool of influence with a passion for mentorship. Resulting from this passion came the launch of the iLead Escape (www.theiLeadEscape.com), a global ministry mentorship program that aids 2,000 mentees in sharpening the knowledge and execution of their gifts. In addition to this program, Tasha extended the reach of her mentorship with her debut book, WORSHIP 101, a manual that revisits the basics of worship.

In such a short time, Tasha has seen extraordinary success with accomplishments that include: a Grammy Award, 3 Stellar Awards, and 3 Dove Awards. She notes God’s grace as the reason for it all.

On Monday, October 13th, 2014, thousands from near and far gathered for the live recording of her sophomore project with Motown Gospel/Universal CMG as she documented a body of work, that although done in the same vein of GRACE, will certainly stand alone because of its progressive and crossover approach. Many have already offered their reviews claiming that this project will introduce listeners to a fresh and unprecedented sound..

Pastor Tasha Cobbs-Leonard continues to brand herself as a multifaceted game-changer as she blazes her own trail with her music career and ministry efforts. In light of all the recognition she has been afforded, her goal remains to use her platform as an opportunity to fulfill the purpose of her assignment.

US Gospel Artists

By iLoveGospel

March 6, 2020

Fred Hammond

Believer. Father. Gospel Artist. Producer

For more than 35 years, music lovers around the world have known Grammy Award Winning artist Fred Hammond as a gifted vocalist, songwriter, musician, producer and arranger. But as his peers and supporters alike have so reverently declared, he is without debate the architect behind the creation of a phenomenon in Gospel music, Urban Praise & Worship—a genre of gospel music that did not exist prior.

As a result, Fred Hammond has become one of the most respected names in the music industry! In fact, Essence Magazine (2017 Collector’s Edition) names Fred Hammond in the esteemed list of the 50 Greatest Male Singers of All Time! Fred Hammond has been hailed as an Inspirational Music Icon whose music STILL reaches people from all walks of life.

Chance the Rapper recently performed his remake of Hammond’s hit song “Let the Praise Begin” (entitled “Blessing/Are You Ready?”) on The Tonight Show w/Jimmy Fallon. Jamie Foxx performed Hammond’s signature anthem “No Weapon” during his acceptance speech at the NAACP Awards and elaborated during an interview (on Jimmy Kimmel Live) about how the song had such an incredible impact on Quentin Tarantino, Kerry Washington and the cast of D’Jango as they were shooting some of their most intense, heart-wrenching scenes.

And in a recent Instagram post, Pop/Hip-Hop Music Icon Justin Bieber declared Hammond’s “No Weapon” his favorite song.

In 2019, Hammond collaborated on 2 major music projects with Hip Hop music Icons—Snoop Dogg and Kanye West who currently holds the #1 Gospel Album spot on the billboard charts!

Throughout his professional career, Hammond has maintained a reputation for excellence and few gospel artists can boast of the consistency of sales, radio airplay and concert appearances that Hammond has achieved over the course of his career independent of the cross-over boost. As a solo artist, founder of the pioneering urban group, Commissioned, and his work with Radical for Christ combined, Fred has sold over 8 million albums and these endeavors have made him a mainstay on Billboard’s Gospel Chart top 10. His previous release {Pages of Life} Chapters I & II exceeded Double Platinum status and held the #1 position on the Billboard Gospel Charts for over 15 weeks. His 2006 project entitled Free To Worship bombarded Billboard’s #1 position on the Gospel Charts and was hailed as one of the year’s best-selling gospel albums.

Beyond Hammond’s individual success, his achievements as CEO of Face To Face Productions and the FHammond Music Label have placed him in a class by himself. Since their inception, Hammond has served as producer on more than 100 album projects, racking up numerous awards and nominations including the Grammy, BET, N.A.A.C.P. Image, Stellar, Dove, and GMWA Excellence Awards. His debut independent release entitled “In Case You Missed it and Then Some” sold well over 200,000 copies. Over the years, he went on to produce several other incredible specialty projects including his Jazz album Grandad Turner, the project dedicated to love, relationships, and marriage–God, Love, and Romance, and the formation of the United Tenors—an incredible, relevant yet nostalgic presentation of the ultimate, modern-day quartet with hit after hit, earning several stellar awards and nominations in 2013.

The pages continue to turn for the platinum recording artist! Hammond has taken his creative savvy to a higher level moving into from the stage to the big screen with the movie, The Gospel. This feature film was both Executive Produced and Inspired by Hammond, and boasted a stellar cast including Boris Kojo, Nona Gaye, Donnie McClurkin, Yolanda Adams, Hezekiah Walker and Martha Munizzi. His first independent film venture, “Christmas…Who Needs It” written by Hammond and PamKenyon M. Donald, took first place at the 2009 Hollywood Black Film Festival, is hailed as “…an intriguingly-hilarious dramedy which cleverly captures the true essence of Christmas,” and has found a home on multiple television networks around the world annually as a favored Christmas film during the holiday season!

In addition to Hammond’s studio career, he has continued to take his special brand of gospel to audiences around the world, performing an average of 30 weeks per year. Hammond has headlined thousands of concert dates with an average audience attendance of over 5,000, in addition to television appearances on the nationally syndicated Stellar Awards, Lou Rawls Parade of Stars, BET’s Celebration of Gospel, BET’s Walk ofFame, N.A.A.C.P.’s A Tribute to Stevie Wonder, 106 & Park and TBN’s highly-rated shows The Pat Boone Show, Praise The Lord, and The 700 Club.

Hammond continues to find touring success year after year and shows no signs of slowing down, recently wrapping the highly successful, annual 50+ city FESTIVAL OF PRAISE TOUR, which he headlined along with Donnie McClurkin, Hezekiah Walker, Israel Houghton, and Kim Burrell. In 1997, he shared the stage with Kirk Franklin & Yolanda Adams performing before more than 500,000 people on The Tour of Life, the most successful tour in gospel music history! He also served as the Creative Director and was Featured Artist on Walt “Baby” _Love’s Power 98, ALW’s The Living Proof and ALW’s The Shout 2000 Tours just to name a few.

Hammond continues to take the entertainment industry by storm! He co-wrote and directing the smash hit musical drama “Been There, Done That” with America’s favorite TV Judge, Greg Mathis. As for Hammond’s acting career, this production merely rekindled the fire! In addition to his work on the hit plays “Only the Strong” and the 2013 Broadway smash “Cain and Abel” with JD Lawrence, Hammond has debuted in several Daimler- Chrysler commercials as well.

Among his multiple entrepreneurial successes, Hammond also launched the Urban Entertainment Company fHammond Family Entertainment, Inc. providing a complete portfolio of integrated entertainment services collectively addressing the exclusive needs of the urban family market with core offerings including: A film division releasing direct to- DVD titles; a music and book publishing division; an online multi-media website including radio programming and streaming video content; theatrical presentations; as well as continued perpetual music production from new and established artists.

In January 2014, the 53-year-old Detroit native’s faith was tested in a profoundly personal way: He underwent an excruciating double knee replacement surgery – the same procedure that claimed the life of his biological dad in the early ‘90s – and as a result was unable to walk. Forced for months to rely on family members, friends and sometimes total strangers to get around, the experience was almost too much for the staunchly self-reliant singer, who found it to be both excruciatingly painful and humiliating at times.

To cope during this dark, soul-searching period, the father of two leaned heavily on the Word and of course his beloved music, the result of which is I Will Trust, arguably the most intimate album of Hammond’s more than three decade-long career. A stunningly honest collection of songs balanced equally between stomp-worthy praise reports and deep, in-the-valley ballads, Hammond gathers his best and brightest — including go-to producers Phillip Feaster, Music Director and Calvin Rodgers – to deliver this powerfully transformative musical sermon.

Hammond’s single, Tell Me Where It Hurts, is the first of many forthcoming collaborations with the incomprehensible genius of Jovan Dawkins (Founder of Heritage Entertainment) Hammond & Dawkins present a new genre — Life Music — unveiling this passionate, heart-felt single sure to make any listener surrender to the unconditional love of a very real Savior.

Tell Me Where It Hurts — the voice of a loving Father who with open arms compels his children to bring their real-life issues, brokenness, disappointments, fears, and pain for healing that only truly come from Him. Not only is this awe-inspiring single currently slated to appear in the film, Turnt—a story based on the overwhelming epidemic of human trafficking—it has also been selected to appear on the Turnt sound track alongside several incredible artists including CardiB, Chris Brown, 2Chains, and several others!

Lastly, Fred’s newest single entitled, “Alright” is burning up the charts with an encouraging message that never gets old as he takes us back to the days just good ol’fashioned church!

As we anxiously await his next venture, we can rest assured it will be nothing short of sheer excellence. Hammond never ceases to amaze as he consistently exceeds the bounds of mediocrity!

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iLoveGospel

Saturday 1st April 2023

Easter 2023

Paid In Full

Heal My Soul

Friday 31st March 2023

Mothers Day Celebration 2020

Sunday 22nd March 2020

The Power of Vision

SAW, BELIEVED, TOOK ACTION and RECEIVED.

Image Is Everything

Faith v Fantasy

A Winning Perspective

Believer. Father. Gospel Artist. Producer