Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 9 August 2002 — Page 13

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2002 PAGE B1

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By Bishop T. Garrott Benjamin

The spirit of debt 7 /n the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying, 2 Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the Lord's house should be built. 3 Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 Is it time for you, Oh ye, to dwell in your deled houses, and this house lie waste? 5 Now therefore thus sail

GOING ‘ALL THE WAY’ Legendary gospel group to release new album on Indianapolis label

They’re back: Ranee Allen (foreground) and his brothers Thomas (center) and Steven will release their much-awaited album on Aug. 13

By BRANDON A. PERRY Staff Writer

Lord of hosts^ Cons, wd$s. 6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that eameth wages eameth wages to put it into a bag with holes. 7 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways. 8 Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord. 9 Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the Lord of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house. 10 Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit. 11 And 1 called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the com, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands. — Haggai 1:1-11 (KJ) * * * * * As there is a spirit of prosperity, there is also a spirit of poverty. As there is a spirit of deliverance, there is also a spirit of debt. Debt — what we owe others that we have borrowed from. “Others are individuals, and institutions, i.e., banks, mortgage companies, leasing companies, and credit cards. In many ways this spirit is true to its nature — often unseen but unbelievably powerful to block blessings, induce stress, and make us unhappy. Just as the spirit of God seeks to give us joy, the spirit of debt takes it away. Just as you begin to see your way clear financially and Sm SALT, Pag* B3

If you go after God, then ;an have what l^ias for ISWlMfftsTfie bitaistry**** statement of the Ranee Allen Group, a gospel vocal trio that is widely respected by many in the music industry as innovators in contemporary gospel music. The Grammy Award winning group has recently signed a contract with Indianapolis based Tyscot Records, and will be releasing their new album, “All the Way,” on that label. Bronson Woods, promo-

tions director for Tyscot Records, said the new CD would be available in all record stores on Tuesday, Aug. 13. He added that the record company is very thankful for the presence of such a legendary and established act “Their arrival is definitely a blessing to this label ” said

Woods.

Ranee Allen, a Toledo, Ohio, based minister, is the lead singer of the trio that also features his brothers Thomas and Steven. Together, they have been recording for almost 30 years. The brothers created their first project in 1972 for Stax Records, the now defunct Memphis-based label that produced monster soul artists such as Isaac Hayes, Otis

Redding, Booker T. and The MG’s, The Staples Singers and The Barkays. From the very beginning of their career, the Allen brothers were viewed as “catalysts for change” in gospel music, and became harbingers for the contemporary Christian movement popularized in the late 1970s by Andrae Crouch. The Ranee Allen Group is often categorized as the first traditional gospel group to incorporate soul, jazz and rock into their music. “When you hear contemporary gospel music today, you are traveling a road paved by the fathers of the genre. The Ranee Allen Group,” a recent Tyscot press release stated. The Chris Byrd-produced “All the Way” features original praise songs written by Deitrick Haddon, along with the incomparable Percy and Jeral Gray (of New Direction). Songs like “Taking It Easy”

escalating horns and the superior backing of Indianapolis’ own Temple of Praise Choir. Overall, “All the Way” should be pleasing to both Ranee Allen’s longtime supporters and the new generation of gospel listeners The Ranee Allen Group has appeared on several television programs over the years, including Bobby Jones Gospel Hour and the Arsenio Hall Show. They have also won numerous awards and nominations for their unique brand of praise and worship music. In 1980, they earned a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Gospel Group, and a 1991 Grammy for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album of the Year. The Ranee Allen Group has also won Stellar Awards for Best Performance by a Group or Duo (1991), Best Contemporary Gospel Album, and Album of the Year.

and the irresistible breakdown in u , ; Th*y.havfi beemrecognized by 1 HiA^iU ta ^ e the Soul Train Awards, Gospel

#<Btistemif ‘^ll, the^jj^back to Today Magazine and was given a ^ ^ believe that thims only one

the gritty, Memphis sound that originally developed Ranee Allen’s musical approach. * Another aspect of the package that thankfully remains un-

changed is his signature baritone,

which has the soul of Tempta-

tions lead singer Dennis Edwards

and the power of opera vocalist

Luciano Pavarotti.

“Hold On” is a smooth and sophisticated gospel “tour de force.” It comes complete with tight bass, mellow strings.

McDonald’s Lifetime Golden Circle Lifetime Achievement Award in 1992. In 1998, the ensemble was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of fame. Tyscot Records has been a hit* making gospel music factory since its inception in 1976, introducing the world to uplifting artists such as John P. Kee, Rodnie Bryant, Lamar Campbell and The Spirit of Praise, and Deitrick Haddon.

n T

Al-lslam allows Christians and Muslims to wed I read your column each week in The Recorder and have been impressed by some of the things within the column. I was brought up in Islam as a child in Chicago. Needless to say I am not in Islam any more. However I do still read the Holy Qur’an and compare some of its surahs (chapters) and ayats (verses) to

the Bible.

But this is the question I have. I am in a relationship with a man who confesses to be Islamic. He is serving time. He has just told me (last month) that he accepted

this about 10 years ago.

There were plans for marriage and all, yet he tells me now I have to leave my religion and covert to his because I am wrong and going to hell because of my

belief i^Chn^gs.

G-d (God). So how is it that I am aware of many Christian/Islamic relationships going on today and see that they are doing well, but I

am wrong?

Can you help me with that? I guess one would say I am con-

fused.

Ms. Anonymous ***** Ms. Anonymous, the universal greetings of peace (As-Sa-laam Alaikum) be on you. Thank See AL-ISLAM, Pag* B3

In the Spirit

St. Paul A.M.E.Church's Youth Explosion

On Sunday, the 21st of July, The Martha White Schoalrship Committee of First Baptist Church North of Indianapolis honored their graduates. Each high school graduate was awarded $1,750 dollars. Returning college students were given $1,200. Pictured above are members of the scholarship committee along with high school and middle school graduates. Graduates honored include: Middle School students: DeRon Brown, Jordan Reece Cheatham, Michael Conley, Dallas Green, Demi Motley, Elllsa Oyewo, Everett Scisney, Candace Shockley, Garrison Snowden and Damon Wiseman. High School students: Brebeuf graduate Ashley Green; Northwest graduate Calvin Hart; Pike graduate Matthew Johnson, Chatard graduate Eden Oyewo, and North Central graduate Adrian Slash. College students: Jocelyn Tandy-Adande of IUPUI, Tia Mooney of Indiana Business College and Jamal Perryman of Purdue University. ;

Staff Report St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church, the oldest Black church in the BrightwoodMartindale Community, strives to make a difference in the community by producing a spirited youth event. The youth of St. Paul will sponsor its Youth Explosion through Aug. 10 at the church, located at 1825 E. 25th St. The event will consist of an opening carnival on Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. On Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. a

mix of workshops will deal with various issues that plague the lives of young people, including: teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, teen domestic violence, date rape and classes that encourage creative talents like music and dance. Each night the youth explosion will close with a family worship service targeting the whole family and ministering to the needs of the whole family. Special guests include Rev. Dr. Debyii Thomas and Rev. Dr. Thomas, who are from the Washington, D.CVBaltimore area.

Let’s do it again Rev. James Payton, associate pastor of Greater St. Mark Baptist Church, and wlf* Carolyn recently celebrated 25 years of wedded biles by renewing their vows. The happy couple has three

Donor rescues historic Black church EAST FLAT ROCK, N.C. (AP) Mud Creek Missionary had — An anonymous donor has paid already received much help off the $15,000 debt of a histori- from sister church Mud Creek cally Black church whose five mem- Baptist and donors in Asheville bers worried they would not be able who helped improve the to pay the loan. grounds and the inside of the “She doesn’t want people to church, know,” said Rena Clay, 78, trea- Clay announced at an open surer of Mud Creek Missionary house Sunday that an anonymous Baptist Church, wbo only said the donor had given $14,460, enough donor is from North Carolina. to pay off what remained of the Founded by freed house slaves $15,000 debt, of Charleston, S.C., landowners Prior to the large donation, the who summered in Flat Rock, Mud church had received about $2,000 Creek Missionary has existed in that will go toward utility bills, the some form since !8fff. pastor’s fund and repairs. Clay But the membership that peaked said, at 150 in the late M 930s dwindled The church beikling is taken recently to five. Those who were care of, but Clay said she cootinleft, most of them elderly, worried ues to worry about the shrinking they could not pay the loan they congregatioa. The II a.m. Suntook out to build a fellowship hall day services are open to the pubin 1996. -tic.