Interviews: Megan Mottley

Photos: Megan Mottley, Gospel Music Association, Your Music Zone

The DOVE Awards is coveted as the biggest night in Christian/Gospel Music. The night started with live performances from Mary Mary and Kierra "KiKi" Sheard. The rest of the show was filled with even more inspiring performances, surprise guest presenters, and tributes to artists that have paved the way for others in the music industry. Enjoy the pictures and interviews from this year's DOVE Awards and if you're looking for some exciting new music to add to your Ipod, check out the entire list of winners.

DOVE Awards Biggest Winner

Artist of The Year, Songwriter of the Year

Steven Curtis Chapman with his wife and boys.
Chapman took home 3 DOVE Awards and
shared the victory with his family.

Chapman tragically lost his 5-year-old daughter, Maria, last year in an automobile accident and winning the DOVE Awards was evidently a bittersweet experience for Chapman and his entire family.

"I understand the songs even more now. This experience has made me take scriptures and songs and anchor my heart to them. I have learned that God's strength is perfect in our weakness."

Natalie Grant

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

"Other than performing I am very involved with the Home Foundation, a non-profit charitable foundation dedicated to the eradication of human trafficking both domestically and abroad."

Brandon Heath

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

SONG OF THE YEAR
“Give Me Your Eyes”; Brandon Heath

POP/CONTEMPORARY RECORDED SONG
"Give Me Your Eyes”; What If We; Brandon Heath

Blind Boys of Alabama

TRADITIONAL GOSPEL RECORDED SONG

TRADITIONAL GOSPEL ALBUM

"We always strive to bring hope and encouragement through our music...and this album was especially dedicated to the people in New Orleans, LA."

KJ-52

RAP/HIP HOP RECORDED SONG

“Do Yo Thang”

"Christian Rap & Hip Hop music are at the

best level of acceptance than ever before in the music industry."

Martha Munizzi

CONTEMPORARY GOSPEL ALBUM

Change the World

"When we worship God He changes us and

we can in turn change the world.

Praise and worship draws people to

God and color does not matter."

LaRue Howard

"I was so excited to work with Martha Munizzi

on 'How Great Is Our God'."

Jars of Clay

"I think people should serve in any way that you can.

The choices that we make here make a difference. We

should invest in other humans and in other people's

stories. We have to sometimes endure the pain in order

to embrace the gain."

Founders of the Blood:Water Mission, the non-profit organization launched in 2001, Jars of Clay has funded more than 650 water projects, along with hygiene and sanitation training, in 11 African countries. Source: CMSpin

MaryMary
Opened the DOVE Awards with their high-energy song "Get Up"

By the end of the night, MaryMary won a Dove Award

for Urban Recorded Song of the Year,

“Get Up,” from their #1 Gospel Album, The Sound.

"We have some exciting new things happening in the future...

a Bath & Body Line and a new Book!"

Mary Mary backstage flattered when I told them that I'm glad that they wrote a song like "Dirt" on of their new album. They even began to sing the tune and explained that "We all need a little bit, need a little bit, need a little bit of dirt to grow, we all need a little rain to wash our souls..."

Tenth Avenue North


NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Group 1 Crew



RAP/HIP HOP ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Ordinary Dreamers

Casting Crowns

GROUP OF THE YEAR

Sinbad & His Daughter Paige from Press Play

ENTIRE LIST OF 2009 DOVE AWARD WINNERS

Artist of the Year: Steven Curtis Chapman

New Artist of the Year: Tenth Avenue North

Song of the Year: "Give Me Your Eyes" Brandon Heath, Jason Ingram

Male Vocalist of the Year: Brandon Heath

Female Vocalist of the Year: Natalie Grant

Group of the Year: Casting Crowns

Producer of the Year: Bernie Herms

Rock Recorded Song of the Year: "Lost" by Red

Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year:

"Washed By The Water" by NeedToBreathe

Urban Recorded Song of the Year: "Get Up" by MaryMary

Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year: "Do Yo Thang" by KJ-52

Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year:

"Give Me Your Eyes" by Brandon Heath

Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year:

"A New Hallelujah" by Michael W. Smith

Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year:

"Reason Enough" by Ernie Haase & Signature Sound

Bluegrass Recorded Song of the Year:

"They're Holding Up The Ladder" by Jeff & Sheri Easter

Country Recorded Song of the Year: "I Wish" by Point of Grace

Rap / Hip Hop Album of the Year: Ordinary Dreamers, Group 1 Crew

Rock Album of the Year: Satisfied, DecembeRadio

Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year: Never Going Back to OK, The Afters

Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year: Revelation, Third Day

Inspirational Album of the Year: Great God Who Saves, Laura Story

Southern Gospel Album of the Year: Lovin’ Life; Ernie Gaither Vocal Band; Bill Gaither, Guy Penrod, Marshall Hall, Wes Hampton; Gaither Music Group

Bluegrass Album of the Year: We Are Family, Jeff & Sheri Easter

Country Album of the Year: Around the Bend, Randy Travis

Urban Album of the Year: The Fight of My Life, Kirk Franklin

Traditional Gospel Album of the Year:

Down in New Orleans, The Blind Boys of Alabama

Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year: Change the World, Martha Munizzi

Instrumental Album of the Year: Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, Various

Children's Music Album of the Year:

Absolute Modern Worship for Kids 4, Various

Spanish Language Album of the Year: Seventh Day Slumber, Rescatame

Special Event Album of the Year: Passion: God of This City, Various

Christmas Album of the Year: Peace on Earth, Casting Crowns

Praise & Worship Album of the Year: A New Hallelujah, Michael W. Smith

Musical of the Year: God Bless the USA by Sue C. Smith, Brentwood/Benson

Youth/Children's Musical of the Year: An Island Christmas by Wayne Haun, Shelby Haun, Joel Lindsey, Lillenas Publishing

Choral Collection of the Year: I'll Say Yes by Carol Cymbala,

Brooklyn Tabernacle Music

Recorded Music Packaging of the Year: Revelation (Third Day) by Tim Parker, Becka Blackburn, David McLister, R.W. Sims, Essential Records

Short Form Music Video of the Year: Slow Fade, Casting Crowns,

Erwin Brothers Motion Pictures

Long Form Music Video of the Year: "Alive and Transported," tobyMac,

Eric Welch, Tameron Hedge

Congratulations To All DOVE Award Winners!

Nancy Alcorn of Mercy Ministries -Exclusive Interview

In the recent issue of DIVINE Magazine, Nancy Alcorn founder of Mercy Ministries was featured to shed light on her 26-year old ministry to reach and rescue young ladies. To read the article in its entirety, complete the sign up form above to receive the digital version of DIVINE emailed right to your inbox.

Nancy Alcorn, Mercy Ministries Founder

During our interview, Nancy shared her personal thoughts on various topics that you can only read here in our blog:

DIVINE: Who/What is your inspiration in general?

NANCY: I am inspired and extremely motivated by the knowledge that the name of Jesus is above every name, that there is nothing too hard for God, and that He can restore any and every broken life. The knowledge that there is nothing too hard for God is what keeps me going.
DIVINE: How have you grown over the past few years since your ministry has started?

NANCY: There is a scripture in Proverbs that says we gain wisdom through God’s Word and through life experiences. I have definitely grown over the years as I have stayed in God’s Word and allowed my mind to be renewed to think like He thinks and my faith to be built so that I can see the unseen and behold what’s coming with the eye of faith. Through life’s experiences, I can honestly say that the older I get and the longer I live, the more I realize the faithfulness of God regardless of the situation.

DIVINE: How did you handle the times in your life when you wanted to give up?

NANCY: I can honestly say that I have never wanted to give up, but there have definitely been times where my feelings have tried to get me to give up. However, I always go back to the scripture that says His strength is made perfect in my weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). When I am weak, it is an opportunity for His strength in me to be perfected. This is a time when I remember scriptures like we are more than conquerors in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:37), and I go back to the writings of the Apostle Paul and what he went through, and I also look at what Jesus went through. I’m very competitive by nature, and we are told to run the race to win
(1 Corinthians 9:24). Even though at times I may feel like I want to give up, the honest truth is giving up has never been an option for me because I know that God says whom He’s called, He will equip, and where He guides, He will provide, and that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So, if He brought me through last year and even the last 25 years since Mercy first started, He’s still the same and that means He will bring me through whatever I’m facing today.

DIVINE: What scripture/passage is your favorite or is the most profound for young adults?

NANCY: My life verse is Proverbs 3:5-6 which says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; Acknowledge Him in all your ways and He shall direct your path.” I would encourage young adults to know that God is interested in your life, and that He wants to direct your path. If you will take the time to seek Him and to ask Him on a daily basis what He would have you do and then allow Him to order your steps and direct your path, your life will be much different and much better than you could ever imagine.

DIVINE: What advice do you have for people that are just beginning a ministry? What could you share with them about pressing through hard times?

NANCY: The advice that I would give is that whatever you are stepping out to do, make sure that you know that you know that you know that you’re called to whatever it is that you are starting. You have to settle in your heart that you know that God has called you because if that’s not settled in your heart, then you won’t have the faith you need to see and overcome in the difficult times.

The beginning of 2009 is the beginning of 26 years at Mercy Ministries for me, and I’m still standing because I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that I am called and that God is faithful. He spoke to me in the beginning that if I would do three things that every need would always be met. So because He spoke that to me 26 years ago, I always go back to it. Those three things are:
1) to take the girls in free of charge because we want them to know that we are not trying to make money off their problems,

2) to tithe 10% of everything that comes in to other ministries,

3) and to not accept any state or federal funding or any money with strings attached that would limit our freedom to share the Gospel. Because I know that God said if you’ll do these three things, I’ll meet every need, I always have faith because I know I’m doing what God has told me to do – even after all these years. There have been times during times of lack that the enemy will try to tempt us not to tithe or to decrease our giving to other ministries, but I refuse to do it because I know that our needs are met through our giving and not through our asking.

2009 Projects In Store For Mercy Ministries:

· Opening of first West Coast home in Sacramento, California
· Raising funds to build homes on land in Charlotte, North Carolina and Destin, Florida
· Traveling and speaking in churches and conferences around the world,
· Increasing Internet presence to Myspace and Facebook along with our current sites: http://www.mercyministries.com/

http://www.nancyalcorn.com/

http://www.nancyalcorn.blogspot.com/
· Making more tools available to young women who are unable to come to the Mercy
Ministries program (Internet resources, our Mercy For book series, and more).

DIVINE MAGAZINE

IS NOW AVAILABLE IN DIGITAL!!!

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"Celebrating Two Years:

Exercise Faith,

Expect Greatness,

Experience Breakthrough"

When Mercy Triumphs: An Inside Look At

Nancy Alcorn's Mercy Ministries

A Healthy Change You Can Believe In

Upcoming Conventions for 2009

Drinkable Delights

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