Our own Mike Powers caught up with Mike Weaver about their tour and their new song, “Love Come to Life!”

For more than a decade, Big Daddy Weave has been one of Christian music’s most successful and musically compelling groups. Their songs, including hits like “In Christ,” “Audience of One,” “What Life Would Be Like,” “Every Time I Breathe,” “You Found Me” and “You’re Worthy Of My Praise,” have been among the genre’s most treasured.

Formed at the University of Mobile, the quintet—Mike Weaver, Jay Weaver, Joe Shirk, Jeremy Redmon and Jeff Jones—has earned a reputation both for the musical conviction that has carried their songs to the top of the charts and for the joy and passion that have made their live performances such moving and memorable experiences.

Big Daddy Weave has also compiled a stellar list of milestones: “One And Only” debuted in SoundScan’s Christian Top 5 and stayed in the Top 20 for six weeks; “In Christ” peaked at #2, stayed for 24 weeks on R&R’s AC chart, and became one of ASCAP’s 25 most performed songs of 2002; the group was nominated for a Dove Award as New Artist of the Year in 2002, honored at ASCAP’s Christian Music Awards in 2003 and 2004, chosen for the WOW Hits compilations in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011, and won a Dove Award for Christmas Album of the Year in 2010.

“The Ultimate Collection” summarizes the group’s career to this point and, with their new single “Love Come To Life,” points the way to one of music’s most promising futures.

We welcome Jay Seegert to the Transformed podcast today. Jay is the President and Principal Lecturer of the Creation Education Center, based in Wisconsin. The Creation Education Center is a newly formed non-profit organization established to address the challenge from the secular world regarding the validity and accuracy of the Bible, especially the creation account as described in the book of Genesis.

Mike caught up with Jay recently and talked about Creation and God’s Word.

You can learn more about the Creation Education Center and how to book Jay for your organization here.

Transformed’s Mike Powers caught up with Sheila Walsh this week and spoke about her walk with God, her new book The Shelter of God’s Promises and her ministry.

Walsh began her career as a contemporary Christian singer after finishing college with studies in theology from London Bible College (now London School of Theology) in 1979 and music from the London Academy of Operatic Art. Sheila worked as an evangelist with the British chapter of Youth For Christ and sang with a group known as “The Oasis” until going solo in 1981. She also worked closely at this time with keyboard player Chris Rolinson, who contributed extensively to the unique sound on her first “new wave” style album, Future Eyes. He also toured with her on her first United States tour, where she opened for Phil Keaggy. As Sheila enjoyed some success both in the United Kingdom and America as a CCM musician, she was asked by the conservative minister Pat Robertson to serve as a co-host of his television talk-show, The 700 Club in 1987. Sheila served in this capacity into 1992 and also hosted her own talk-show, Heart to Heart with Sheila Walsh.

Ideological differences with Pat Robertson and general feelings of depression brought Sheila to re-examine her life’s direction. After leaving Pat Robertson’s enterprises in 1992 she sought therapy for her depression, eventually returning to college at Fuller Theological Seminary in California to take on doctoral studies in theology. Pat Robertson explained her departure from CBN as the result of a “nervous breakdown” brought on by the tremendous demands of her work with CBN. He asked his viewers to keep her in their prayers and ask God to give her the strength to continue doing His work.

She went on to write a book exploring her struggle with depression and her experiences with her faith as a Christian, entitled Honestly. While Walsh had written several books on theology before, this autobiography would become the wellspring of her later work on personal aspects of faith and would set the tone for her introspective, personal, but evangelical approach to affairs of modern theology.

Over the course of the latter 1990s, Sheila’s work has concerned women’s issues within the church and the unique relationship of the contemporary woman with God. Sheila has written over seventeen books including Honestly, Living Fearlessly, and Life is Tough, but God is Faithful. She has also written several books for children recently. She also has continued her musical career as a songwriter and singer and has recorded several albums of new Christian music and traditional hymns arranged to a Celtic sound.

In 2005, Sheila partnered with Tommy Nelson publishers to create a line of children’s books and DVDs called Gigi, God’s Little Princess^TM. The brand has become the #1 Christian Girl’s brand and continues to be popular and release new products today.

Sheila, with her family, is now an active attendee of Prestonwood Baptist Church, in Plano, Texas.

We are thrilled to bring you this special interview with our own Mike Powers and LeRoy Butler, as we think of the Super Bowl this Sunday!

LeRoy Butler, III (born July 19, 1968) is a former American football strong safety who played his entire career with the Green Bay Packers (1990–2001). He spent his childhood in Jacksonville, Florida, challenged by physical problems that forced him to wear leg braces and use a wheelchair at times while undergoing therapy. In 2007, he was named to the Florida High School Association All-Century Team, which selected the “Top 33″ players in the 100-year history of Florida high school football.

Sit back and relax, and enjoy Mike’s interview with LeRoy Butler!

You can learn more about LeRoy at his website here.

After a three-year departure, Audio Adrenaline lead singer Mark Stuart and bassist Will McGinniss return with some of their favorite emerging voices of worship as the Know Hope Collective, a ground-breaking initiative that combines worship music with stories of hope and inspiration.

According to Stuart and McGinniss, the Know Hope Collective will be an ever-changing group of musicians from a variety of backgrounds who come together to create worship music and share their unique experiences and testimonies.

“The Know Hope Collective is driven from an emerging style of worship and a place of vulnerability,” explains Stuart. “We go on a journey together through the good, bad and ugly to the redemptive side.”

Stuart says the Know Hope Collective grew out their own cathartic experience of sharing life stories with friends and church members. “We’d meet at Will’s horse farm around a campfire and talk vulnerably with each other about our successes as well as hardships. It was a time of healing and redemption as we discovered the evidence of God’s hand in our lives like never before and the importance of telling one’s story.”

So the duo’s pastor urged them to take their story-telling on the road, creating an intimate and hope-filled night of music, testimony and worship with friends. And the Know Hope Collective was born.

The Know Hope Collective Tour launches today, June 3, as the group appears with the Newsboys in Kingston, Ontario. It continues through the year with dates across the country including stops in California, Washington, Texas, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, etc. (Additional information and an updated tour schedule is available at http://knowhopecollective.com/.)

The Collective’s first album, Know Hope, is slated to release this fall. It is an intimate pairing of songs and spoken word that plumbs the depths of McGinniss and Stuart’s chart-topping heyday and post-band revelations.

“This first project was birthed out of the failure I went through being a singer who lost his voice,” Stuart says. “But the next one might be on missional living, orphan care or clean water, whatever God is leading us to.”

For Know Hope, Stuart speaks far more than he sings now, and shares the microphone with Julia Ross (of popular Disney group Everlife), David Leonard (former Jackson Waters vocalist and current touring member of NEEDTOBREATHE), and 2010 BMI Christian Music Award-winning Songwriter of the Year Jason Walker. The group introduces new cuts, including “Attention” and “Jealous God,” and reworks some Audio A hits like “Ocean Floor,” “The Good Life,” and “Hands and Feet” into fresh meditative expressions of worship.

“All of the spoken portions also have background music, and one story itself is over 14 minutes long,” says McGinniss. “So, it’s a very unique, content-rich experience.”

“Music and testimony have always been an integral part of how the Church worships,” adds John Coleman, Integrity Music’s vice president/general manager. “So, we are excited to partner with Will and Mark to develop Know Hope, which we believe will change lives and help people connect to God in a new and fresh way.”

Our own Mike Powers caught up with Amy Grant as she shared that she will once again bring fans some musical holiday cheer this Christmas season. The festive couple (Vince Gill and Amy) are planning a 12 Days of Christmas tour, hitting 11 cities this December.

Vince and Amy launched their first holiday tour together back in 2001, when they were newlyweds. It’s become a tradition Vince looks forward to each year.

“The job of spreading Christmas cheer has simply gotten too big for Santa and Rudolph to do alone. So Amy and I are pitching in,” he joked before their 2008 holiday shows. “Besides, these holiday tours have become our favorites.”

The tour’s set-list is certain to be robust, as Vince and Amy have recorded ten holiday albums between the two of them.

As they prep for their Christmas trek, both husband and wife have a lot on their plates during this second half of the year. Vince is sitting in the producer’s chair for LeAnn Rimes’ new CD of love songs popularized by male singers, while Amy spends some time on the road this fall as part of her Pieces Of Our Lives acoustic tour.

World evangelist and author Luis Palau (loo-EES puh-LAOW) and his ministry have shared the Gospel with more than 1 billion people through evangelistic events and media. He has spoken in person to more than 25 million people in 72 countries with more than 1 million registered decisions for Jesus Christ.

His radio broadcasts in both English and Spanish are heard by millions more on 3,000 radio outlets in 48 countries. His outstanding and significant contribution to the field of Christian communications was recognized in 2008 with the National Religious Broadcasters William Ward Ayer Distinguished Service Award.

Mr. Palau has authored close to 50 books and countless articles on issues of faith, and has counseled with business and political leaders and heads of state around the world. Luis Palau festivals have produced some of the largest audiences ever recorded in cities from south Florida to South America.

His ministry also includes the Next Generation Alliance®, created to grow and nurture partner evangelists, and the Livin It® Alliance, which uses action sport ministries, film and video to reach young people for Christ. His latest book, A Friendly Dialogue Between an Atheist and a Christian, quickly became a bestseller in China and released in the United States in February, 2008.

Luis and his wife, Pat, live in Portland, Oregon, where they have eleven grandchildren and four sons, three of whom are actively involved with the ministry.

For more information about Luis Palau, check his website

Listen to Mike Powers Interview with Ernie Harwell by clicking the play button below …

(This testimony was written by Jacqueline J. Repp of MLB.com)

For, lo, the winter is past,
 The rain is over and gone; 
The flowers appear on the earth;
 The time of the singing of birds is come,
 And the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.

After 55 years of broadcasting Major League games, including 42 years with the Tigers, Hall of Fame broadcaster Ernie Harwell has entred his eternal reward with Jesus Christ.

Often referred to as the Voice of Tigers Baseball, Harwell, 92, would open each season by reciting the “Song of the Turtle,” a stanza that celebrates the freshness of spring, renewed life and opportunities, and ushers in the baseball season for Tigers fans the world over.

Respected by the players, beloved by the fans, Harwell has had a lasting impact on the world of baseball.

“Ernie Harwell stands, as much as anybody as I can think of, as a positive representative of what the game of baseball should and does stand for,” said Bill Freehan, a Tigers catcher from 1963-76, upon the announcement of Harwell’s upcoming retirement. “His memory will be long lasting and the quality of man he is will never diminish.”

“Ernie is probably the most beloved person who has ever been in Detroit with the Detroit Tigers,” Al Kaline said. “He is loved by everybody and rightfully so. He’s a great broadcaster but even a better person. That comes across on his broadcasts.”

To the broadcasting community, Harwell is an honored example of greatness. He received the Ford C. Frick award for broadcasting excellence from the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1981. He was the first active broadcaster to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown and has been inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame (1998), the National Sportscasters Hall of Fame (1989) and the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame (1989). He has been named the Michigan Sportscaster of the Year 17 times. To the fans, Ernie Harwell is a baseball icon at the level of greats like Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth. His unmistakable voice and fast-paced play-by-plays have made him a cornerstone in Tigers baseball.

Dedicated fans are known to bring radios to the ballpark or mute the sound on the television to instead listen to Harwell’s broadcast of the game. His friendly, open demeanor and genuine interest in the fans have made him a true fan favorite. At Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, the Tigers’ Spring Training facility, Harwell is often stopped for a friendly handshake or a request for an autograph or is presented with fans standing on the back of seats to peer into the press box for a glimpse and friendly word with the beloved broadcaster.

Harwell’s contributions to Tigers baseball and the fans will be celebrated with special events at Comerica Park throughout the season. In addition, this tribute to Ernie Harwell: The Voice of the Tigers will allow fans to send Harwell messages of farewell, best wishes and gratitude to honor his long service to Detroit and his place in baseball history.

“All in all, it has been a great run for me,” Harwell said. “But most of all, I think I owe thanks to the people who have listened to me over the years, who tuned in on the radio. They have given me a warmth and loyalty that I’ve never been able to repay. The way they have reached out to me has certainly been the highlight of my life.

“If somebody wants to pay attention to me, I’m human enough to like the attention, for heaven’s sake. It’s nice to read good stories about yourself. I really look at myself as somebody trying to do their job, that’s all. I’m lucky maybe to be in the spotlight a little bit.”

Jacqueline J. Repp is a Marketing Producer with MLB.com.

Mike Powers interviews Julie Ziglar Norman and Tom Zigler about Zig Zigler and Julie Ziglar Norma’s new book Embrace the Struggle: Living Life on Life’s Terms.

From a highly successful career in motivational speaking to a daily struggle overcoming the effects of a head injury, Zig Ziglar’s life changed drastically in just minutes when he suffered a traumatic fall down the stairs one fateful night. After years of speaking and writing about the value of having a positive attitude and being thankful, Zig was challenged to put his own words into practice.

In true Ziglar style, filled with optimism and honesty, Zig shares his experience, along with heartening stories from friends, as he seeks to encourage and remind you that life is worth living, even if it’s not on our own terms.

Mike’s own story was included in the book (pg 109).

Purchase Embrace the Struggle on Amazon.com

Mike Powers (photo courtesy of JOHN MANIACI - Wisconsin State Journal)

Mike Powers, Executive Vice President of Media here at Eagles in Leadership, was featured in the Wisconsin State Journal for the 50th anniversary of WNWC. Mike has been a faithful member of WNWC radio staff since 1987, reaching and touching people with the positive message of hope in turbulent times.

To read the article in the Wisconsin State Journal please click here.

Art Linkletter was the host of two of the longest-running shows in United States broadcast history: House Party, which ran on CBS radio and television for 25 years, and People Are Funny, on NBC radio-TV for 19 years. Linkletter was famous for interviewing children on House Party and Kids Say the Darndest Things, which led to a successful series of books quoting children.

In his autobiography, Confessions of a Happy Man (1960), Linkletter revealed that he had had no contact with his natural parents or his sister or two brothers since he was abandoned when only a few weeks old. He was adopted by Mary and John Linkletter, an evangelical preacher. Later moving to the United States, he graduated from San Diego State University (SDSU) where he was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. He had previously planned to attend Springfield College, but did not for financial reasons. He later served for many years as a trustee at Springfield College, and donated money to build the swim center named in his honor.

He has had one of the longest marriages of any celebrity in America. He married Lois Foerster on November 25, 1935 and they had five children: Arthur Jack (known as Jack Linkletter, a TV host), Dawn, Robert, Sharon, and Diane. He was a good friend of Walt Disney. It might be coincidence, but Walt Disney’s children, who arrived first, were also named Sharon and Diane.

(Source: Wikipedia)

For more information on Fireproof the Movie Click here.

Mike Powers interviews Alex Kendrick of the FIREPROOF movie. FIREPROOF is the third feature film from Sherwood Pictures the creators of FACING THE GIANTS and FLYWHEEL. With hope-filled, heartfelt storytelling, the movie making ministry of Sherwood Baptist Church continues to touch the world from Albany, Georgia.

Ministry will continue long after FIREPROOF opens this fall. Cast and crew understand they are ambassadors for the film’s message of hope. And, as with FACING THE GIANTS and FLYWHEEL, proceeds from the movie will help build Sherwood’s 82-acre public sports park in Albany-with walking trails, a fishing pond, horse stables and riding trails, tennis courts, baseball fields, and soccer fields. Albany residents already enjoy many of the amenities, with more on the way.

In 1985 Ken Medema launched Brier Patch Music, a small independent recording, publishing, and performance-booking company named after Brer Rabbit’s home in the legendary Uncle Remus stories.

“Brer Rabbit lived in a place not comfortable for anyone else,” Medema says, “and we have decided to follow him there.”

Though blind from birth, Ken has demonstrated his extraordinary musical vision to a growing number of loyal fans across the nation and around the world. Invariably, his audiences reward Ken’s final encore with enthusiastic applause and standing ovations.

You can discover more about Ken at www.kenmedema.com.

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Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

Even before he was born, it was evident that God had a vision for Michael Youssef. His mother was in poor health at the time she became pregnant with Michael, and because her life would be jeopardized by the birth, the doctor recommended terminating the pregnancy. But God intervened, and sent the family pastor to reassure them the night before the procedure was to take place that God was involved in this pregnancy, not to be afraid, and that this child would be “born to serve the Lord.” His mother gave birth, and lived to see him surrender his life to the Lord in 1964 at age sixteen.

He founded The Church of The Apostles in 1987 with fewer than 40 adults with the mission to “Equip the Saints and Seek the Lost.” The church has since grown to a congregation of over 3,000. This church on a hill was the launching pad for Leading The Way‘s international ministry. While heard by millions at home and abroad, behind every message preached over the airwaves is a pastor’s heart, longing to feed and care for people.

Michael Youssef has authored more than 20 books, the most recent being 15 Secrets to a Wonderful Life. He has also produced numerous teaching series and booklets on a variety of important subjects to further assist believers in their spiritual growth and maturity on their journey of faith.

You can learn more about his ministry at http://www.leadingtheway.org.

Sponsor: Try GotoMyPC free for 30 days! For this special offer, visit www.GotoMyPC.com/podcast

A talented author and speaker, Zig Ziglar has an appeal that transcends barriers of age, culture and occupation. Since 1970, he has traveled over five million miles across the world delivering powerful life improvement messages, cultivating the energy of change.

He has shared the platform with such distinguished Americans as Presidents Ford, Reagan and Bush, General Norman Schwarzkopf, Secretary of State Colin Powell, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, Paul Harvey, Dr. Robert Schuller, plus numerous U.S. congressmen and governors. A well-known authority on complete and balanced success, Zig Ziglar has been recognized three times in the Congressional Record of the United States – for his work with youth in the drug war, and for his dedication to America and the free enterprise system.

Zig Ziglar’s corporation is built upon the same philosophy he expounds to his audiences – hard work, common sense, fairness, commitment and integrity. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Ziglar offers public seminars, customized educational programs, workshops and keynote speakers – all focused on personal and professional development. Profoundly affecting the lives of people, Zig Ziglar has a client list that includes thousands of small and mid-sized businesses, Fortune 500 Companies, U.S. Government agencies, churches, schools and non-profit associations.

In addition, Mr. Ziglar has written twenty-five celebrated books on personal growth, leadership, sales, faith, family and success, including See You at the Top, Raising Positive Kids in a Negative World, Top Performance, Courtship After Marriage, Over The Top and Secrets of Closing the Sale. Nine titles have been on the best seller lists; his books and tapes have been translated into over thirty-eight languages and dialects.

In 1998 Success For Dummies and Confessions of a Grieving Christian were released. Not long after that the 25th Anniversary Revised Edition of See You at the Top and Staying Up, Up, Up in a Down, Down World were released. His autobiography, ZIG, was published in July 2002, Conversations With My Dog in 2003, and his NEWEST book, God’s Way is Still the Best Way, has just been released!

Visit Zig Zigler’s Website.

Sun Prairie Today

June 23, 2008

Local musicians raising voices in fight against cancer

From Sun Prairie Today.

Cancer has a voice in Sun Prairie.

Thousands of voices, actually. One for each person who’s been affected by the deadly disease — either directly or through friends or family who’ve waged battle with the illness.

At 5 p.m. Sunday, a group of musicians from Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 300 Broadway, will use their voices to raise money for a cure.

Faithful, the congregation’s contemporary band, will put on a free-will offering concert, performing music by a variety of contemporary Christian artists includng Chris Tomlin, Casting Crowns and Third Day.

The event is open to the public. All donations will support Sun Prairie Relay for Life.

Between songs, band members will share testimonies about their own experiences with cancer and the important role faith has played.

Former Sun Prairie resident Mike Powers — a Christian radio host (WNWC) and the voice of Cardinal football (KSUN) — will serve as MC. He recently overcame his own battle with prostrate cancer.

Powers will be the honorary co-chair of this year’s Sun Prairie Relay for Life event.

In addition to the music, there will be plenty of good food available for munching between sets and after the show.

Max Lucado has touched millions with his signature storytelling writing style. Awards and accolades follow Max with each book he writes. Max is the first author to win the Gold Medallion Christian Book of the Year three times—1999 for Just Like Jesus, 1997 for In the Grip of Grace and 1995 for When God Whispers Your Name. In 2005, Reader’s Digest dubbed him “America’s Best Preacher.” In addition, he has been an ECPA Gold Medallion finalist with more titles than any other author in the industry.

Learn more about Max Lucado and his ministry at his website: http://www.maxlucado.com

Matthew West
Singer, Songwriter and Recording artist

Since the 2003 release of his Universal South debut, Happy, Matthew West has been on a fast track to making music history. The project’s first single, “More,” held the #1 spot on R&R’s Christian Adult Contemporary singles chart for a record-breaking nine weeks and went on to be named Christian Song of the Year by ASCAP. Capping off an eventful year, Matthew was nominated in five categories—including New Artist of the Year— at the 2005 GMA Music Awards. Meanwhile, the young singer/songwriter has had his songs recorded by many of the top names in Christian music, and last year, country’s Rascal Flatts was added to the list.

For more information visit Matthew West’s Website.

Don Beebe
Chief Executive Officer-House of Speed

Listen as Mike interviews former Packer, Don Beebe. Don was House of Speed’s first client. His story of reaching and excelling in the NFL is inspiring. He moved from siding houses to playing a year of football for NAIA Chadron State College in western Nebraska, to setting speed and agility records in the NFL that still stand. A nine-year veteran
wide receiver, Don was the first person to play for six Super Bowl teams. He was instrumental in helping the Green Bay Packers achieve the 1996-97 NFL World Championship. He is legendary for snatching a tinge of victory from Buffalo’s defeat in Super Bowl XXVII, when he caught Leon Lett at the goal line and forced a fumble after a length-of-the-field race.