Tag Archives: Christian Celebrity

Cancer Surgery For Christian Music Star Successful

Mark Hall, the lead singer for the internationally known Christian band Casting Crowns reportedly has had successful cancer surgery.

“Mark is out of surgery. Everything went really well. Dr. says textbook operation. Just like we prayed for. I told the doctor that he might possibly be the most prayed for Dr. on the planet today. He will be in recovery for a while. Thank you so much for your prayers,” noted an update on the band’s Facebook page posted shortly before 2 p.m. Wednesday.

The singer’s wife Melanie took to social media to thank Christians around the world for their outpouring of support and prayer.

“I’m completely humbled by the number of people that have expressed their love for us and are interceding in prayer. There are no words to express the gratitude in this wife’s heart. Thank you for praying for us. We have had friends and strangers from all over the world tell us they are praying — an orphan school in Kenya, neighbors we just met, long lost high school friends, Christian music artists from their concerts, schools, offices, pastors in South Africa, chaplains in the Army, churches, radio DJs, fans, missionaries in Brazil, and countless others I couldn’t begin to name. Thank you. Your prayers are felt,” said Melanie in the post.

She said that she and Mark are asking people to pray how God can use this trial to allow them to witness to their friends as much as they pray for his recovery.

MLB Player Gives Up Hard Living For Eternal Life

He was known for being the first guy to the party and the last one to leave.  He was known as having a “me-first” view of life and used performance-enhancing drugs.

Now, Steven Souza, Jr. is a completely new man and he credits it all to God.

Souza was drafted by the Washington Nationals and given a $350,000 signing bonus.  He used the money for partying, drinking and taking home any woman he could land “without caring about baseball.”

“I was living the life you see on TV,” Souza told The Tampa Bay Times. “Everyone’s got big cars, money, alcohol, women all around them… Everyone is looking at this guy because he’s got all this and that’s what I wanted to be.”

Souza then was busted for drugs because of the ADHD drug Concerta.  Even after the 50 game suspension that came down from Major League Baseball, he still didn’t change.

“I still didn’t do the right things,” Souza said. “I was in a bad place trying to fill the void because I didn’t have baseball— a lot of going out, a lot of drinking, a lot of working out.”

After Souza discovered his girlfriend had an affair with another player, he spiraled into depression.  He considered walking away from his dream of being a major league baseball player because he just couldn’t see any point to life.

That’s when a friend at a wedding suggested he could find what he was looking for in Jesus.  He accepted an invite from a former MLB player to a church.

“It was one of those moments where you don’t know what to expect,” Souza described. “There was definitely a little anxiety. But as soon as I walked into church, it was comfort. Everyone there was welcoming me. And as soon as the message started being preached, it was just a release. I could feel the Lord moving… It was like, ‘Lord, I’m coming after you.’ And, what a blessing that it was that He answered.”

Within a month, Souza accepted Christ and was baptized.

Those who knew him saw an immediate change.  His friends and fellow players saw a change although it took time to win them over.

“The Bible says consider it a joy, brothers, when you go through suffering because suffering produces perseverance, perseverance character and character joy,” Souza said. “These trials I have gone through, I wouldn’t be the man I am today without going through them. Obviously the damage I did to people around me and to my family, I wish I could take that back. But what I went through, I can appreciate. God took me through that and made me the man I am today.”

Casting Crowns Leader Faces Emergency Surgery

The leader of the internationally known Christian band Casting Crowns is asking for prayer after doctors scheduled emergency surgery to remove a kidney.

Mark Hall posted a note on the band’s website where he said doctors found a mass in his kidney that they are “90 percent sure” is cancerous.

“Doctors found a solid mass in my right kidney about a week ago. They are 90% sure it’s cancer and they are going to remove the entire kidney next Wednesday, March 11th. They believe the cancer is contained in the kidney, which is also a great hope. They will know more once it is out and Pathology can see it,” he continued.

“I’ll be in recovery for a month or a little longer because of the surgery. Please pray for healing and for God’s peace for my family. Praising Him in This Storm,” Hall ended the appeal in a nod to one of his band’s more popular songs “Praise You In This Storm”.

The band, consisting of seven youth pastors, has been touring and releasing songs since 1999.  They have won a Grammy award and 15 Dove awards.

Christians Attack Duggar Child For Post On Hell

A bold post on Facebook about Christ, Heaven and Hell is putting one of the Duggar daughters in the cross hairs of some Christian critics.

Jessa Duggar, known for the TV show “19 Kids & Counting”, posted on her Facebook site that someone couldn’t truly believe in God if they do not believe in hell.

“I will speak to you a hard truth,” she posted on her Facebook account. “I do not write this because I think that it will bring me popularity. It won’t. But it is Truth from the Word of God: the Bible. To not tell people this is to hide the truth from them. To keep silent is to not care for their eternal destiny! I care about you, and this is why I am speaking out!”

Duggar was immediately assaulted in the comments by those who say an all-loving God would never send someone to hell and that hell is not real.

“The person speaking this is right—their god is not angry with them. He can’t be, because he doesn’t exist. They are not talking about the God of the Bible. They have created a god in their own mind to suit themselves,” Duggar explained. “They have removed any notion of the Justice of God, and have created a god of their imagination that they can be comfortable with. The Bible teaches that God is a Just Judge, and He must punish sin. Every one of us have broken God’s law, and hell is our deserved punishment. (Unless you’re reading some very distorted ‘translation’ of the Bible, you cannot get around the fact that there is a hell).”

She concluded her posting with a call to salvation and an urging for people to accept Jesus as Lord.

Andrae Crouch’s Family Asks For Prayer

The family of seven-time Grammy Award winning gospel singer Andrae Crouch is calling on his friends and Christians around the world to pray after a downturn in his health.

Sandra Crouch released a statement Monday confirming that Andrae has been hospitalized because of issues connected to ongoing health problems.

“On Saturday, Jan. 3, my brother, Andrae Crouch, was taken to the hospital so that medical staff could more directly address some serious health complications that had arisen,” Crouch’s sister said, according to USA Today. “At this time, Andrae is being attended by a medical team, and we are so grateful for their wonderful care.”

The latest hospitalization comes after a previous incident at the beginning of December that lead to the postponement of a tribute tour.

“We are also so grateful for the many thousands of people around the world who are praying for Andrae right now,” she said. “We ask for your continued prayer – that Andrae will respond positively to the medical attention being given to him at this time, and that he will fully recover from this current health complication.”

NFL Players Give Away Bibles To Fans

Seven NFL players teamed up with Athletes for Charity to spread the truth of the Gospel during the Christmas season.

The Christian Post reports that Don Carey and Andre Fluellen of the Detroit Lions, Ryan Lindley of the Arizona Cardinals, Kawann Short of the Carolina Panthers, Kevin Pamphile and Alterraun Verner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Reggie Walker of the San Diego Chargers bought Bibles and gifted them to others for Christmas.

This is the third years of the Bible giving event.

The players focused on the purpose of the event when asked about their participation rather than themselves.

“I believe that nobody has a greater or lesser platform in the eyes of God. That man who works at a factory that witnesses to his coworker, or that woman who works at a salon who prays for her customers, is just as important as I am,” Fluellen told CP. “God has blessed me with a gift, just as God has blessed everyone with a gift. We are all responsible for using that gift to show God’s love to others.”

“God placed us here for a reason. Use the time you have on this platform to spread His Word,” Verner told CP. “Being saved isn’t supposed to be exclusive to just us. It’s our job to be disciples and spread the Word to others.”

The Cardinals’ Lindley summed up the definition of success of the event.

“As long as one soul is touched and changed by what we do this holiday season, I will view this as a success,” Lindley told the Christian Post.

Former Football Star Announces Opening of Children’s Hospital

Former football star Tim Tebow, roundly attacked by anti-Christianists for the open displays of his faith in his life, has announced that a children’s hospital is opening in the Philippines.

The Tim Tebow Foundation said that the former quarterback has been working since 2011 to build and obtain the operating license from the Philippine Health Department.  The hospital is already working to help impoverished children but will officially have a “grand opening” in spring 2015.

The five-story hospital was built in conjunction with CURE International, a non-profit that works to provide medical care for impoverished children.  The hospital will have 30 beds, three operating rooms and a staff of over 50.

“I have always had a great love and passion for the Filipino people,” Tebow, the founder of the foundation, said in a statement. “It is so exciting to be able to provide healing and care for these incredibly deserving children halfway around the world.”

With the opening of the Tebow CARE Hospital, the group will now have 12 hospitals around the world to help children in need.

New Orleans Saints Player Takes Bold Stand On Ferguson

A member of the NFL’s New Orleans Saints is causing a bit of a stir in the wake of the Ferguson riots by saying the situation is not a problem of race.

Benjamin Watson, a tight end for the Saints, says the problem is sin.

Watson said he was sympathetic to the family and friends of Michael Brown and since he wasn’t there he can’t say exactly what happened but that ultimately the problem is our fallen world.

“I’M ENCOURAGED, because ultimately the problem is not a SKIN problem, it is a SIN problem. SIN is the reason we rebel against authority. SIN is the reason we abuse our authority. SIN is the reason we are racist, prejudiced and lie to cover for our own. SIN is the reason we riot, loot and burn,” wrote Watson.

“BUT I’M ENCOURAGED because God has provided a solution for sin through his son Jesus and with it, a transformed heart and mind. One that’s capable of looking past the outward and seeing what’s truly important in every human being. The cure for the Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice and Eric Garner tragedies is not education or exposure. It’s the Gospel. So, finally, I’M ENCOURAGED because the Gospel gives mankind hope.”

Watson has repeated his stance on various networks including CNN, which cut him off when he began talking about Jesus.  The moment Watson said Jesus died for our sins, the CNN feed from Watson cut off and the network claimed they lost the feed.

Prince’s Drummer Hannah Welton “Never Scared To Talk About My Jesus”

Hannah Welton is the drummer for the band 3RDEYEGIRL and is touring the world with Prince, one of the biggest musicians in history.

She’s also a very devout, open Christian in an industry where Christians are not usually made welcome.

“I’m never scared to talk about my Jesus, I will say though that there is a time and a place,” Welton told The Christian Post. “And you kind of have to be sensitive about faith and religion and how often you bring it up because you never want to come across like you’re trying to shove it down people’s throats.”

“Everything I do, whether it’s music or dance or writing poetry, I do for God and for His purpose and for His will in my life,” she said. “Same as [my husband] Joshua. Literally every decision is made with prayerful consideration. God impacts everything in my life.”

Welton received negative reaction from the social media world last week when she said that scantily clad pop stars are sending the wrong message to the young women who follow them.

“I do really want to clarify that I am never bashing or slamming other artists. My problem with what is being seen and what is happening in the industry goes far beyond the individual people,” she explained. “I’m thinking about the message being received from the little kids that are idolizing these people. I’m thinking more about the spiritual aspect of it rather than the people. My intention is never to degrade people. Everybody has a hustle. Everybody works hard and I would never bash another artist for doing what they love.”

She says the time on the road has given her multiple opportunities to share the gospel with her bandmates and with Prince himself.

Smokey Robinson: God Set Me Free From Cocaine

Music legend Smokey Robinson is speaking out about his cocaine addition and how it ended instantly at a church in Los Angeles 30 years ago.

Robinson gave an interview with a London newspaper where he said the prayer of a pastor snapped the control the vile drug had over his life.

“She told me that God had told her I was coming [to the service]. And she told me all the things that were happening to me, physically and emotionally and mentally – which I shared with no on one earth,” Robinson said in an interview with The Telegraph. “No one knew. She told me every one of them that night. She said God had showed her what was going on. And I walked in that church an addict, and I came out free. May of 1986. Never looked back.”

Robinson said his addictions began smoking marijuana but he never thought he could end up a drug addict.

“I thought that it couldn’t happen to me. That’s the cunning of drugs … Because when I was younger I used to smoke a whole lot of weed. But weed was always manageable for me. I could have some killer weed and put it away for a year and not touch it! It never had the handle on me. I had the handle on it,” said Robinson.

Robinson travels around the world sharing his faith in places like prisons where he feels his testimony of overcoming drugs can be an inspiration to those jailed on drug related crimes.