The Gospel Music Channel, the Recording Academy, and a handful of senators and other members of congress joined forces to designate September as Gospel Music Heritage Month, according to a joint news release from the various parties. Legislators from Texas, California, Arkansas, and Vermont co-sponsored the initiative, which was made public last week during a Grammy on the Hill event presented by the Recording Academy. "Gospel music is an important American legacy and continues to play a significant role of the lives of millions," Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said. "It is appropriate to honor the countless contributions gospel music has made to our society." Click here for more information.

Support continues to pour in for the Maria Miracle Fund, a special account created by Shaohannah's Hope in response to the death of Maria Chapman, Steven Curtis Chapman's youngest daughter. As of June 19, the charity had received more than $500,000 towards that fund, which will be used to help families defray the cost of adoption. "We are extremely aware of the responsibility we have to carry out our mission and be good stewards of every dollar that comes into our ministry," said Scott Hasenbalg, executive director of the nonprofit.

MercyMe, Kutless, Jaci Velasquez, Trin-i-tee 5:7, and many others will take to Estes Park, Colorado for the GMA Music in the Rockies Soundstage Concerts 2008, a six-night live extravaganza that caps each day of the popular GMA Music in the Rockies talent competition. More than 30 artists will perform beginning at 7:15 p.m. each night at the YMCA Longhouse from August 3 to 8. For tickets, click here.

Israel & New Breed and a slew of guests will host A Deeper Level '08, this year's edition of the conference that last year yielded A Deeper Level, the band's Grammy-winning sixth album. The worship symposium—held September 4-6 at Grace Church in Humble, Texas—will feature various speakers and recording artists, including Bishop Joseph Garlington, Kevin Singleton, David & Nicole Binion, Steve Crawford & Da'Dra Crawford-Greathouse (Anointed), and Brett Manning, among others. Click here for more information.

Chris Tomlin is all set to release Hello Love, his fifth studio album and likely the most anticipated worship release of 2008. The best-selling worship leader is already making waves at radio with "Jesus Messiah," as the song was the most added track at Christian adult contemporary, pop, and inspirational formats. "With each new record, I continue to strive to create songs that will help people voice their worship to God," said Tomlin of the Ed Cash-produced disc. "Worship is a massive word with a very broad scope, but in the end, it is very simple … It's our response in love to our great God who loved us first." The project is expected in stores this September.

Three years to the date of his solo debut, Bart Millard of MercyMe will unveil Hymned Again, his second collection of classic hymn covers. The August 19 album sees Millard once again teaming up with producer Brown Bannister, and includes a duet with country heavyweight Vince Gill on "Jesus Cares for Me," an original co-penned by Millard. The singer says he made Hymned Again prompted by his kids: "These are songs that were a huge part of my upbringing, and now they are a part of my kids' as well, so I had to do another one."

This Is Our God, the 17th annual live recording from Hillsong Australia, will see a stateside release via Integrity Music August 5. Both a CD and a DVD version of the project will see the light of day simultaneously, including church resources that include a digital songbook. Hillsong principal Joel Houston said the new effort is "about a generation expressing their worship, expressing their heart for worship in the action of love toward God, toward the world we live in, and the people who inhabit it."

On August 19, piano pop songster Jon McLaughlin will issue his second Island Records album, OK Now, the follow-up to his acclaimed debut Indiana. The disc's first single, "Beating My Heart," is currently at Hot AC stations across the country, and is available as a digital download at all major online services. That song and three other new tracks—"Run Smack Into You," "You Can Never Go Back," and "Things that You Say"—are currently streaming on McLaughlin's MySpace page, where you'll also find his current list of summer concert dates.

© Andree Farias, subject to licensing agreement with Christianity Today International. All rights reserved. Click for reprint information.

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