Roma Downey star of hit TV series Touched By An Angel has New Assignment "Little Angels"

"For many years I had the privilege of playing an angel on television, bringing a message of God's love to millions of Americans. As a mother, I have longed to be part of a project that would help to bring that same message to children through the foundations of education. "Little Angels" does just that. It is critical learning skills through the lens of timeless and age-appropriate Bible stories. I only wish this series had been available when my kids were younger!"

LITTLE ANGELS is an animated DVD series created exclusively for preschool-aged children to teach not only practical learning skills, like ABCs and numbers, but also to introduce them to the spiritual, moral and ethical principles of the Bible.

overview): Pre-school twins Alex and Zoe are blessed to have eight Little Angels watching over them – literally! These Little Angels “live” on the ceiling of their bedroom, painted there so they are the first things the kids see when they wake up in the morning and the last thing they see before they fall asleep at night. The angels come to life when the children need them most, helping guide them through the challenges of their young lives.

Discover the joy of learning and friendship with this season’s most heavenly new
collection! From executive producer Roma Downey (“Touched by an Angel”) comes a fresh, faith-based educational series that children and their parents (and grandparents!) can enjoy together in LITTLE ANGELS, on DVD from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.



ABOUT ROMA…
Roma Downey is an actress, author, and producer. Born and raised in Ireland, Roma is best known for her Emmy and Golden Globe nominated role as Monica, the gentle hearted angel and star of the hit television series "Touched by An Angel" which aired on CBS for 9 seasons. This summer, she was on the Hallmark Channel starring in the TV movie "Keeping up with the Randalls.” Last year she was also on Hallmark intheir summer hit "Come Dance At My Wedding."

Her growing popularity led to her notable role as American icon Jackie Kennedy Onassis ("Jackie O") in the Emmy Award Winning miniseries, "A Woman Named Jackie."

Additionally, Downey has both executive produced and starred in multiple hit movies for CBS television, most notably "Borrowed Hearts,” "Monday After The Miracle," "A Secret Life," "The Sons of Mistletoe" and "The Survivors Club."

Downey's gifts extend far beyond the scope of Hollywood. She is a national spokesperson for Operation Smile, a charitableorganization which provides help and corrective surgeries to the over 200,000 children born with severe cleft lip conditions throughout the world. Through Operation Smile, she has travelled to CentralAmerica, to Asia and to the Middle East oninternational medical missions and was accompanied by her husband Mark and their three children, Reilly, James and Cameron to Jordan where they donated the equipment, supplies and training funds necessary to construct and operate the Roma Downey Life Support Training Center in Amman.

Downey is also an accomplished author, having written two children'sbooks, "Love is a Family" and "Leave a Message with the Moon” She has recorded an inspirational album of spoken word and poetry called "Healing Angel."

Roma lives in Malibu, CA with her husband, producer Mark Burnett, their three teenage children and their two very large Irish wolfhounds, Finn McCool and Maximus!

Visit: LittleAngels.com

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Eddie Long Taking Time Off From US Megachurch

Megachurch leader Bishop Eddie Long announced Sunday he’s taking time off to focus on his family after his wife filed for divorce. Long’s spokesman, Art Franklin, said the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church leader told his congregation during church services that he will continue to serve as senior pastor at the church in Lithonia just outside Atlanta. But Long said he needs a sabbatical.

Franklin declined to say how long the pastor’s sabbatical from the church would be. He said Long and his family "are asking for privacy and sensitivity to their family."

The divorce filing comes more than a year after allegations last year that Long used his lavish lifestyle and position of spiritual authority to lure four young men into sexual relationships. Long settled the cases but has never admitted to any wrongdoing. Details of the settlement were not disclosed.

The scandal has tainted Long’s reputation as an influential spiritual leader who transformed his suburban Atlanta congregation of 150 into a following of 25,000 members and an international televangelist empire that included athletes, entertainers and politicians.

Long’s wife, Vanessa Long, filed a petition for divorce Thursday in DeKalb County Superior Court to end her 21-year marriage to the embattled minister. The church sent out a press release Friday morning saying Vanessa Long planned to withdraw her petition, but her attorney said later in the day that she had changed her mind.

In her petition, Vanessa Long indicated that the marriage is "irretrievably broken" and that there was "no hope of reconciliation of the parties." She asked the court for temporary and permanent alimony, as well as attorneys’ fees and an equitable division of marital and non-marital property.

"Vanessa and I are working together in seeking God’s will in our current circumstances," Eddie Long said in a written statement.

According to the divorce petition, the couple is "currently living in a bona fide state of separation."

The Longs were married March 10, 1990. The couple has three children together and has another child from Long’s previous marriage.

Eddie Long, who has been a vocal opponent of gay marriage, built his empire with charisma and a prosperity Gospel message that told followers God would reward the faithful with wealth. It was an idea he embodied, sporting jewels on stage, living in a mansion and driving a luxury car.

The bishop was well-regarded in Lithonia, just outside Atlanta in DeKalb County, home to one of the most affluent African-American communities in the U.S.

(Source: The Belle Report)

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Grammy Nominated Gospel Star Vickie Winans To Film First Ever Stand Up Comedy DVD

Anyone who knows gospel megastar, Vickie Winans, knows that she is a natural born comedienne. For years, she’s been booked for as many hilarious Mistress of Ceremonies gigs as concert dates and now she’s recording her long awaited and first ever standup comedy DVD. Back in the 1990s, CGI Records released a CD of some of Winans’ hilarious stories entitled, “Share the Laughter.” However, this will be her first comedy DVD and the recording will feature more stories and situations that nobody can share like Winans. “We are about to have a ball, laughs Winans, as she is known to have her audiences rolling in the aisles with laughter.

The DVD recordings will take place on Wednesday, December 7, 2011 @ 6:30 pm, 8:00 pm and 9:30 pm. Winans have allowed the tickets for the recordings to be free of charge, but you must pick up your tickets (for crowd control purposes) at The Upper Room which is located at 23821 Grand River (one block east of Telegraph), Detroit, MI 48219. Tickets can be picked up every day (except Sundays) from 4-10 pm at The Upper Room (maximum 4 tickets per person). Seating is limited and available on a first come, first serve basis. Food is available for purchase. Phone: (313) 531-5100 for further information. Winans’ new half hour musical program “The Vickie Winans Show” debuts on The Word Network the same day, December 7th at 4:30 p.m. EST.

Winans burst on the gospel music scene in 1985 with her signature smash “We Shall Behold Him.” She’s remained one of gospel music’s Top 10 artists with appearances on NBC Today and Oprah. She has appeared on the cover of Jet magazine, served as celebrity spokesperson for Daimler-Chrysler and Quaker Oats. Other hits include #1 songs “As Long As I Got King Jesus,” “Shake Yourself Loose” and “The Rainbow.” Visit www.vickiewinans.com for more information on Vickie Winans.

We encourage your comments on this story!

(Source: The Belle Report)

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Dr. Conrad Murray Sentence to Four Years Behind Bars

LOS ANGELES – The doctor convicted of killing Michael Jackson was sentenced to four years in jail on Tuesday.

In scathing words, Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor described Dr. Conrad Murray as "reckless" and a liar, someone who is a "danger to the community" with "no sense of remorse and no sense of fault" for Jackson's death.

Calling him "a disgrace to the medical profession … an honorable profession which bears the scourge of what happened here," Pastor also ruled that Murray would be required to make restitution to the estate of Jackson, his children and other family members. The amount will be determined at a later date.

The judge repeatedly chastised Murray for what he called a "horrific violation of trust" while caring for Jackson.

"Experimental medicine is not going to be tolerated, and Mr. Jackson was an experiment," Pastor said. "The fact that (Jackson) participated in it does not excuse or lessen the pain for Dr. Murray, who simply could have walked away or said no as countless others did."

Murray, 58, did not speak on his behalf and sat stone-faced with his hands crossed through the sentencing hearing, which began with a collective statement from the Jackson family read by attorney and family friend Brian Panish.

There is "no way to adequately describe the loss of" Jackson, the statement said, questioning whether it is "really possible that he is gone?"

"It is simply against the natural order of things," the statement said.

"There is nothing you can do today that will bring Michael back," the statement said. But the family asked for "justice," and in a pre-sentencing interview, mother Katherine Jackson asked for the maximum four years allowed by law.

Several members of Jackson's family, including Katherine and siblings LaToya, Jermaine, Randy and Rebbie, attended the proceedings.

After sentencing, Murray mouthed the words "I love you" to his mother and girlfriend in the courtroom.

Murray's mother, Mita Rush, sat alone on a bench in the courthouse hallway after the sentencing.

"My son is not what they charged him to be," she said quietly. "He was a gentle child from the time he was small. "

Of her son's future, she said, "God is in charge."

Pastor said one of the most disturbing aspects of the case — "one aspect stands out the most" — was "the surreptitious recording of Michael Jackson by his trusted doctor." The slurred recording of Jackson was recovered from the doctor's cell phone.

"I have repeatedly asked myself why this happened and for what reason?" Pastor said, adding that he could only speculate that the recording was "Dr. Murray's insurance policy."

"It was designed to record his patient surreptitiously at that patient's most vulnerable point," Pastor said. "I can't even imagine that happening to any of us because of the horrific violation of trust, and I can't help but wonder that if there had been conflict" between Dr. Murray and Jackson "what value would have been placed on that tape recording."

Defense attorney J. Michael Flanagan said after the sentencing that he was surprised the judge focused on the recording. The lawyer also contended that nothing said during the hearing would have changed the judge's mind about the sentence.

During the hearing lead defense attorney Ed Chernoff highlighted the accomplishments of Murray.

"I do wonder, though, to what extent the court considers the entirety of a man's book of life, as opposed to one chapter," he told the judge.

Jail time for Murray wouldn't change things, Chernoff said.

"Whether he's a barista for the rest of his life, whether he's a greeter at Walmart, he's still going to be the man that killed Michael Jackson," Chernoff said.

Jackson died in a bedroom at his mansion on June 25, 2009, of an overdose of the surgical anesthetic propofol. Murray was convicted Nov. 7 of involuntary manslaughter after a six-week trial. Jurors found that Murray caused Jackson's death through criminal negligence. Prosecutor David Walgren argued that Murray violated medical standards in using propofol as a sleep aid at Jackson's home without proper monitoring and resuscitation equipment. Walgren said Murray delayed for 20 minutes before phoning 911 and lied to rescue personnel about what drugs he gave.

After the verdict was delivered, Pastor said the doctor posed a danger to society and ordered him handcuffed and removed to jail pending sentencing. Murray spent three weeks in the Twin Towers county jail facility in downtown Los Angeles.

Involuntary manslaughter, the least serious form of homicide in California, carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison. But because of a change in state law he will serve his term in the county jail and could be released much sooner because of overcrowding.

Sheriff's officials said Tuesday Murray will serve a little less than two years behind bars while housed in a one-man cell and kept away from other prisoners.

"This is going to be a real test of our criminal justice system to see if it's meaningful at all," District Attorney Steve Cooley said.

Cooley said he was considering asking the judge to modify the sentence to classify the crime as a serious felony warranting incarceration in state prison.

In papers filed with the court Nov. 23, prosecutors asked Pastor to give Murray the maximum prison term and order him to pay restitution of $101.8 million to Jackson's estate. That amount would represent the $100 million the pop star would have earned from the 50-concert This Is It comeback series in London for which he was rehearsing, and $1.8 million in funeral and memorial service costs.

Also, the prosecutors said, Murray should get a stiff sentence because he showed no remorse in TV interviews, including a Today Show appearance where he said, "I don't feel guilty because I did not do anything wrong."

In a filing by the defense, lawyer Nareg Gourjian asked Pastor to sentence Murray leniently, to probation. Jackson's death was "an atypical and isolated aberration to an otherwise exceptional medical career," Murray's lawyers said. The likely loss of Murray's medical licenses in four states, and public contempt that included death threats, was punishment enough, the attorneys said.

"Dr. Murray's life will never be the same," the plea for probation said. "He will forever be stigmatized as the doctor responsible for the death of Michael Jackson."

Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley said after the verdict that Murray as a non-violent offender probably would spend any imprisonment in a county jail rather than a state penitentiary under a recent change in state law. County prisoners often are released short of their sentence terms to relieve overcrowding.

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Norman Hutchins, How God Restored His Vision

Dr. Norman Hutchins is an artist, pastor, extraordinary man of faith and more. But wait until you read his incredible story of how God delivered him from being totally blind. Read now on page 12 of our magazine, Airplay 360. (Story)

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Mathew Knowles & Music World Entertainment Creates Partnership with MTV for Reality Show

Music World Entertainment and Music World Music recently announced a partnership with MTV for a new reality series Breaking From Above, which features an all-girl group From Above-five thrill-seekers from the UK on the ride of their lives. Ashley, Daisy, Seyi, Chelsey and Monique are all in their early 20s and have had various roles in the entertainment business, from singer/songwriter to featured dancer on the Kanye West tour, to lead vocalist in a UK girl band to dancer on a UK dance reality show. Now signed to the Music World Music label, it’s time for them to take it to the next level.

The five girls will be hopping the Pond to Houston, Texas for a much anticipated date with Music World Entertainment founder, president and CEO Mathew Knowles–a man who knows a thing or two about turning girl groups into gold. He’ll put the group through his trademark Star Power™ Boot Camp of hardcore physical, vocal, media and choreography training to emphasize the philosophy that made global superstars of his protégés Destiny’s Child: work, work and more hard work. But there’s a twist – when the girls get to Houston, they quickly learn that there are two new girls, Jasmine and Brandy, living in the house with them and they are now ALL in competition for a spot in From Above.

The pressure mounts over the course of their artist development camp, as the girls are put through their paces by famed choreographers Danielle Polanco (who has danced with and choreographed Janet Jackson, Omarion, Lady Gaga and of course Beyoncé) and Frank Gaston (who worked with Michael Jackson, Destiny’s Child, Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Usher and Beyoncé), as well as musical director Tom McKinney (Solange Knowles, Mario, Ray J, and Kevin McHale) and fitness instructor Rozelle Jones of Camp Gladiator. And as Knowles remains very hands-on, especially when it comes to team-building and trust exercises, the studio beckons as the group start to develop their “sound.”

Music World Music will release From Above’s debut CD, Breaking From Above, digitally on December 12. The show’s theme song “Work,” along with their first single “Not The Same Girl,” will be released digitally on November 29.

Knowles is executive producer and show creator of Breaking From Above. The show is also executive produced by Ken Druckerman and Banks Tarver of Left/Right Productions, and Bruce Gillmer and Laura Hill of Viacom International Media Networks.


About Mathew Knowles:
A visionary, a leader, an educator, and a philanthropist, Knowles is an icon in the worlds of business and entertainment. Knowles’ knowledge and passion for music is not limited to the business side of the industry. He has executive produced over 100 award-winning, platinum and gold albums in multiple genres, including pop, R&B, gospel, dance, and country. Knowles is also an award-winning songwriter. He co-wrote the #1 international mega hit “Survivor” with his daughter Beyoncé. The single had unprecedented success on multiple Billboard charts and peaked at #1 on the Hot 100 Singles Airplay chart for five consecutive weeks (17 weeks on chart). “Survivor” also peaked at #2 on the Hot 100 chart (20 weeks on chart); peaked at #2 on the CHJ Top 40 chart (18 weeks on chart); peaked at #3 on Club Play Songs chart (11 weeks on chart); peaked at #6 on the R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart (20 weeks on chart); and peaked at #27 on the Latin Pop Songs chart (8 weeks on chart).

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Gospel Artist James Fortune shares homeless story with Ace Alexander

With so many hits under his belt, it’s hard to believe that James Fortune of James Fortune & FIYA was once homeless and has only been recording professionally since 2004. In this short time, he’s created an impressive body of work and has collected a Stellar Award, ASCAP Awards, and has been nominated for several other honors. Ace Alexander recently interview James on the Praise Party (nationally via Sheridan Gospel Network ) on Thanksgiving Day. James shared with listeners his incredible story from being homeless to becoming one of the top charting gospel artists in the business. His story is one of hope and faith. He never stopped trusting in God.

Please check back that interview will be posted soon. James Fortune & FIYA’s new CD project Identity will hit stores January 17th.

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