Latest news with #God'sNotDead
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Not the news these boys wanted: Christian rock band responds to former lead singer's sexual assault, drug abuse allegations
TENNESSEE (WHNT) — The Newsboys, a Christian rock band, released a statement Thursday following allegations made against its former lead singer, Michael Tait. Tait joined the Newsboys in 2009 after the former lead singer, Peter Furler, decided to take a step back into a supporting role with the group. 'Peter will continue with the band and his trademark songwriting and production will remain as he focuses his professional career toward future Newsboys recordings,' the band said in a statement on March 9, 2009. After a successful 15 years with the band, Tait made an announcement on social media on Jan. 16, 2025, stating that he was leaving the band. You can read the full statement below: 'Fifteen years ago, my life was forever changed when I received the invite to step into the role of lead singer for Newsboys. The years since have been some of the most fulfilling, faith-filled, and rewarding years of my life. I have been on an amazing journey all over the globe, performing and ministering to people of all ages, races, and backgrounds. Together we wrote and produced music that I am deeply proud of – from 'Born Again' and 'We Believe' to 'Worldwide Revival' and of course, 'God's Not Dead.' While this may come as a surprise given I've been touring ever since college, I've made for me what is a monumental and heartfelt decision that it is time to step down from Newsboys. This decision does not come lightly and has been a shock to even myself, but amidst prayer and fasting, I have clarity that this is the right decision. As we are reminded in Matthew 6:33, 'But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.' I truly believe these words and although nervous about the future, I am excited about what it holds for both myself, and for Newsboys, as we all seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.' Michael Tait The band then announced that its 'Worldwide Revival Nights' tour would still be happening as planned, stating that 'the next chapter is just beginning!' However, this time post-Tait was not easy. The band announced on May 24 that the Canada tour would be cancelled due to a promoter breach. 'It is with deep disappointment that we announce the cancellation of all upcoming Newsboys Canada 2025 tour dates, scheduled for May 31-June 16, 2025.' The breaches, according to the band, include 'failure to provide required artist deposits and confirm payment to supporting acts, failure to coordinate technical production and logistics with venues, failure to maintain communication with venue staff, artist management and tour partners and admission of inability to refund ticket holders due to prior financial commitments.' Following this, the band said, 'We urge all affected fans to contact the original ticketing outlet or host venue regarding refund inquiries. If you experience difficulty securing a refund, we recommend contacting the appropriate provincial consumer protection office or the Competition Bureau of Canada.' This was just the start of statements the band would have to make, as on June 5, the band released a statement saying how their hearts were 'shattered' when they heard about allegations made against former frontman Tait. You can read the full statement below: 'Last night our hearts were shattered when we read the news alleging drug abuse and inappropriate sexual actions by our former lead singer, Michael Tait. While Michael has not addressed these allegations, we are devastated even by the implications. First and foremost, our hearts are with the victims who have bravely shared their stories. If you are a victim, we urge you to come forward. We absolutely do not condone any form of sexual assault. The four of us are husbands and fathers. Between the four of us, we have fourteen children. Our wives and children have made many sacrifices while we have dedicated our lives to playing music together that glorifies God. We are horrified, heartbroken, and angry at this report and in many ways, we feel as if we and our families have been deceived for the last fifteen years. When he left the band in January, Michael confessed to us and our management that he 'had been living a double-life' but we never imagined that it could be this bad.' Jeff, Jody, Duncan and Adam The Newsboys are a Christian rock band formed in Australia in 1985. The band consisted of Peter Furler, George Perdikis, John James, Sean Taylor and Corey Pryor at the start. The band moved to the United States in late 1987 after getting signed with Refuge Communications. They released the album Read All About It in 1988. Tait's allegations come from The Roys Report, a 'Christian media outlet, reporting the unvarnished truth about what's happening in the Christian community so the church can be reformed and restored,' its website says. It was founded by 'investigative journalist Julie Roys, The Roys Report began as a personal blog where Julie published her commentaries and occasional investigative pieces while working as a national radio host on Moody Radio. However, in 2018, Julie published a series of articles on her website, exposing corruption and mission drift at the Moody Bible Institute. This led to the exit of three top officers at Moody. It also ended Julie's relationship with Moody and changed the focus of Julie's website—from a blog offering cultural commentary to an independent Christian media outlet exposing corruption, abuse, and what's been termed the 'evangelical industrial complex.' The exclusive article on TRR says Tait is accused of sexual assault, grooming and substance abuse dating back to 2004. TRR says after a two and a half year investigation and speaking with alleged victims, 'Three men spoke to TRR, alleging that Tait befriended them individually on Christian music tours in 2004, 2010, and 2014. They were all 22 years old at the time.' You can read the full article that lists the allegations made against Tait on TRR website here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tarrant's National Day of Prayer emphasizes God-led governmental leadership
Tarrant County's National Day of Prayer Luncheon was filled with shouts of 'Amen' and 'Praise God' as the keynote speaker said too many elected officials have forgotten who they ultimately serve: God. Kevin Sorbo, an actor known for 'Hercules: The Legendary Journeys' and 'God's Not Dead,' told the crowd of 700 gathered at the Worthington Renaissance Hotel in downtown Fort Worth about his faith journey as a Christian conservative in Hollywood and condemned the secular path America is going down. An official Day of Prayer was first established in 1952 under President Harry Truman. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan designated the first Thursday in May as the annual National Day of Prayer when Americans gather to pray for the nation. 'Can you imagine if God was woke?' Sorbo asked. 'Suppose today's God was an unforgivable, judgmental, quick to cancel your livelihood, your family, your life, everything, no compassion. Well, thank God, God is not woke. Instead of being ready to cancel and condemn, God is eager to forgive, reconcile and to restore God's attitude to a very imperfect humanity, which includes all of us.' The crowd cheered and applauded the keynote speaker as he said the American flag is his pride flag and said it's ridiculous the 'alphabet crowd' gets a month while mothers, fathers and veterans only get a day each. For the second year in a row, Tarrant County Judge Tim O'Hare hosted the luncheon under the Romans 15:13-influenced theme 'Pour out to the God of Hope and be filled.' Among the hundreds in attendance were elected officials from across the state, pastors and church-goers. The event benefitted nonprofits 6 Stones, aimed at helping the North Texas community through food and resources, and The Justice Reform, a Mercy Culture organization that helps sex trafficking victims. Before the three dedicated prayers, Scott Coburn came to the podium as the Patriot Mobile representative to express how important it is for elected officials to be praying over the country at events like this. Grapevine-based Patriot Mobile touts being 'America's only Christian conservative wireless provider.' It donates a large part of its earnings to its super PAC, Patriot Mobile Action. Coburn said his company helped sponsor the event because it's aimed at spreading the Word of God. 'What we're doing here today is very important,' Coburn said. 'Quite honestly, this is what we're called to do. We're called to be disciples, to spread the good news, and that's why we choose to support this organization, and we will always support organizations that are for prayer.' Another Patriot Mobile representative, Leigh Wambsganss, led the group in a prayer over family and churches. She prayed for churches to be a beacon of light for the world, which is searching to fill 'a God-sized hole that is within every human being.' Wambsganss also prayed for protection from the devil's attacks on the pastors, families and marriages. She also prayed that the Lord shield children from 'the enemy's lies of sexual confusion.' The second dedicated prayer was over government and military, given by another sponsor, Grapevine's First Baptist Church Pastor Doug Page. Page prayed for protection and the faithful leadership of President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and the presidential Cabinet. 'Father, we pray for every leader in every state, but we take a moment to come right here, right now and say how grateful we are for Judge Tim O'Hare,' Page prayed. 'Thank you for a man who I know loves you, and I know seeks to lead in a way that will please you. And so I pray for your protection on him.' Pastor Parkey Cobern of Capstone Church in Benbrook, another sponsor of the event, prayed for the Christian business leaders 'on the cutting edge of evangelism in this city.' He prayed for a great awakening for the business leaders who don't follow Jesus and that Fort Worth be known as a city that conducts business with integrity. Throughout the 10 minutes of prayer, mumblings of 'yes, Lord' and shouts of 'amen' came from the audience. Then, members of the crowd stood with hands up as Mercy Culture Church musicians led the group in singing 'How Great Thou Art.' Kyle Hubbart, the prayer coordinator for Mercy Culture, said he came to the event to take part in the power of prayer and he appreciated that the speakers weren't afraid of the truth of the Bible. 'I love the honesty,' Hubbart said. 'And also just the fact that our county judge, the person who sits in the highest place of authority, judicially, loves God and honors God. So we know the person who has the gavel in our county is putting that gavel down for justice and righteousness and biblical value.' Sheri Williams, a former member of the National Day of Prayer Tarrant County Board of Directors, said she enjoys coming to the luncheon so she knows what to keep in her own prayers. She said people have called her the 'Mother of Fort Worth' because of her diligence in praying for the community. Williams said she is grateful that O'Hare has taken up hosting the event annually because past commissioners haven't been as involved in the Christian organization. O'Hare said next year, he hopes to grow the event so that more people can join in the fellowship. 'This event is about honoring God and showing folks that it's okay that government stands up and honors God,' O'Hare said, 'and we're going to continue to do that as long as I have the fortune to be here.'
Associated Press
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Fawesome Expands Faith-Based Catalog Through Multi-Title Deal with Pinnacle Peak
MENLO PARK, Calif., April 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fawesome, the flagship free streaming movie platform from Future Today, has partnered with Pinnacle Peak Pictures —an acclaimed American production and distribution company known for its Family and faith-based films—to add over 130 inspiring titles to Fawesome's growing catalog. This multi-title acquisition brings to Fawesome a diverse range of films spanning genres such as drama, documentary, and historical biopics, all unified by powerful themes of faith, hope, resilience, and redemption. The partnership significantly expands Fawesome's extensive library of 150,000+ films and TV shows, further cementing its commitment to providing high-quality, diverse entertainment at no cost to viewers, especially to audiences who engage with faith-based content. The catalog features a blend of well acclaimed classics and fresh releases, highlighted by award-winning performances and timeless storytelling - such as box office hits like God's Not Dead (2014),Do You Believe? (2015), The Case for Christ (2017), and Samson(2018), to name a few. This acquisition enhances Fawesome's growing collection of faith-based films, further enriching the selection available to stream on the platform, including titles such as Jesus of Nazareth, Saving Paradise, My All American, and The Ultimate Gift. With a combination of classic favorites, as well as these additional faith-based films through Pinnacle Peak, Fawesome is rapidly establishing itself as a sanctuary for viewers seeking stories rooted in faith, family, and perseverance. Fawesome is also the go-to destination for a wide range of genres, offering something for every kind of viewer. 'Fawesome's vision is to bring high-quality, varied content to viewers globally, at no cost,' said Vikrant Mathur, Co-Founder of Future Today. 'This partnership with Pinnacle Peak adds a rich new dimension to our catalog—stories that inspire, motivate, and connect with audiences on a more emotional level.' 'We're excited to collaborate with Future Today to make our films more accessible than ever,' said Michael Scott, CEO and Co-Founder of Pinnacle Peak. 'Fawesome's expansive reach across streaming platforms allows these powerful stories to find new audiences and spark conversations that matter.' 'This collaboration with Future Today across multiple platforms is a key part of our strategy to expand our reach worldwide,' said Ron Gell, Vice President of International Sale and Distribution. This collaboration aligns with Future Today's broader mission: to deliver premium, ad-supported entertainment without the barrier of subscription fees. All titles from this partnership will be available to stream for free on Fawesome, accessible via major platforms including Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Comcast, LG, and more. About Future Today Future Today is a leader in the ad-supported streaming media universe with its flagship channels – Fawesome, HappyKids and – ranking in the top free channels across nearly every OTT consumer platform. The company's proprietary, cloud-based technology platform manages OTT services for hundreds of content owners, producers, distributors and major media companies helping them launch and monetize complex Connected TV channels across devices in a matter of days. Future Today's comprehensive portfolio of technology and services includes video management, content management and publishing, app development and maintenance, cross-channel promotion, advertising, monetization and more. About Fawesome Fawesome presents a vast collection of 150,000 popular movies, FAST channels, documentaries and television shows, spanning all genres: family, westerns, true crime, drama, reality, comedies and classics, all accessible for free without the need for subscriptions, credit cards or accounts. Our content is available on all major OTT platforms and streaming devices, including Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Xfinity, Vizio and most major connected TV and mobile devices. Watch on Fawesome at About Pinnacle Peak Pictures: Founded in 2005, and led by partners Michael Scott, David A.R. White, Elizabeth Travis, and Alysoun Wolfe, Pinnacle Peak Pictures, formerly Pure Flix Entertainment, is the leading independent faith and family studio in the world. Its most popular film releases include: the GOD'S NOT DEAD franchise, THE CASE FOR CHRIST, DO YOU BELIEVE? With offices in Los Angeles and Scottsdale, Pinnacle Peak Pictures has produced, acquired, marketed and distributed over 100 faith and family-friendly films. Pinnacle Peak Pictures is the industry leader in creating high-quality inspirational feature film content. For additional information go to Media Contacts: Rishika Mathur [email protected] Gagan Jassal [email protected]
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Daughter of actor Scott Baio defends Kai Trump on Instagram, asks people to stop online hate
Looks like Kai Trump has an ally on and off the golf course: Bailey Baio, daughter of actor Scott Baio. Bailey "BB" Baio, the 17-year-old daughter of Scott Baio ("Happy Days," "God's Not Dead") posted a 3-minute video Sunday, March 23, 2025, on Instagram, tagging her famous father, and asking people not to spread hate online about Kai Trump's performance at the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley Golf Club in South Carolina: "This weekend, people were being very mean to Kai Trump. For us junior golfers, it's already hard enough as it is to travel, practice and train every day. We're traveling to tournaments every single weekend. Unfortunately, she came in last all four days. I've been there before." Bailey Baio plays golf at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, where she is a student. She and her family moved to the Sunshine State in 2023 from California, and the experience − mainly her father's exit tweet − went viral. In the Instagram Reel, Bailey Baio talked about her own experience playing − and losing − the game, "In ninth grade, I did come dead last in a few tournaments. I felt devastated. Honestly, I wouldn't want people to put in hate comments to make me feel even worse." Scott Baio shared the video to his followers on Instagram and X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, praising Bailey, whom he shares with Renee Baio: "My wife @MrsScottBaio and I have the sweetest daughter. Please help Bailey get this message to Kai Trump. Thank you. @DonaldJTrumpJr @LaraLeaTrump @LynnePatton @dbongino @kaitrump" A day later, the video tweet has had almost 460,000 views and about 16,000 views on Instagram, as of 4 p.m. Monday, March 24, 2025. Said Bailey Baio to Kai Trump: "You didn't quit. You just kept going. Just ignore all the hateful people online," adding she visits Palm Beach, Florida, consistently and would love to play a round of golf with the granddaughter of President Donald Trump, whom she actively supports. The "Charles in Charge" actor spoke at the 2016 Republican National Convention and is an avid Trump supporter. Scott Baio tweeted about his experience at the 2016 RNC, confirming his daughter's statement about death threats. He told his followers Bailey Baio got death threats after the RNC, when she was 9 years old. In other videos on her Instagram feed, Bailey Baio gives fans a glimpse of her life playing golf, being a teenager in Florida, and recovering from Hurricane Helene damage at their Bradenton home. She's been playing the sport for 14 years − and has dreams of going pro. "I have your back," Bailey Baio says in her March 23, 2025, Instagram Reel. "It's tough, especially being a female golfer. I have a famous family member, and I do get hate on that. I've had death threats. I've had all of that." She urged people to tag Kai Trump in the comments, female golfer to female golfer: "Never give up on this great game of golf." Scott Baio is best known for playing Chachi Arcola in "Happy Days" alongside Ron Howard as Richie Cunningham and Henry Winkler as The Fonz from 1977-84. He had a catchphrase, too: "Wah wah wah." His character's storyline with love interest Joanie, played by actress Erin Moran, inspired the spin-off "Joanie Loves Chachi," which briefly aired from 1982-83. After "Happy Days," Baio starred in "Charles in Charge." His character was a college student-slash-nanny to three children. That show, which co-starred Willie Aames ("Eight is Enough") and Ellen Travolta (John's sister), was on the air from 1984-90. Other TV credits include "Diagnosis: Murder" with Dick Van Dyke from 1993-95 and the Nickelodeon series "See Dad Run" from 2012-15. He and his wife, Renee Baio, live in Bradenton, Florida, with their daughter Bailey "BB" Baio and their dog, Bugsy Malone. On July 18, 2016, Baio said he was asked by Donald Trump to speak at the Republican National Convention ahead of the 2016 presidential election. In his 2016 speech, Baio said: "Folks, our country right now is in a very bad spot. You can feel it. You can see it everywhere. There's no stability. Nothing seems right. And all the things that we hold dear are being attacked every single day. We cannot go down this road anymore. We need to stop. We need Donald Trump to fix this. Is Donald Trump a messiah? No. He's just a man. A man who wants to give back to his country, America." On April 20, 2023, the 62-year-old retired actor tweeted a photo of himself and wife, Renee Baio, at the beach with the caption "Living our best life in Florida." On May 3, 2023, he tweeted about why he left California for Florida, and went viral. "A longtime California resident, the 'Happy Days' and 'Charles in Charge' star announced on Twitter last week that he was moving out of California, due to what he described as the state's homelessness issue," USA TODAY reported May 10, 2023. 'After 45 years, I'm making my way to finally 'exit stage right' from California,' Baio wrote May 3, 2023, on Twitter, citing statistics from a 2022 report by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. 'The most recent survey … found approximately 69,000 people experiencing homelessness in L.A. County and 41,000 in the city in 2022.' On Dec. 31, 2024, New Year's Eve, Scott Baio posted a photo on Instagram of IMG Academy, his daughter's school in Bradenton, Florida, reflecting on his relocation from the Golden State of California to the Sunshine State: "2 years ago today we moved to Florida. Best decision I've made in a long time." Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Kai Trump: Bailey and Scott Baio praised golfer on Instagram, Twitter
