Driving Notes

Yes, we’re talking about Blessing Offor – the Dove-nominated artist is coming to Mount Vernon Nazarene University on Saturday 9/16 for Sonfest 2023. Blessing is also re-releasing his album, “My Tribe,” as a deluxe edition on 9/1. Read more about it from JesusFreakHideout.com here!

Maverick City Music embarks on a tour of Big Ten country in November, plus gets ready for a new EP release. Find out more here.

You took a shepherd boy and made him a King
So I’m gonna trust you and give you everything
I’ll be a conqueror ’cause you fight for me
I’ll be a champion claiming your victory

The answer? Sanctus Real – Confidence

Congratulations to Kristi from Mount Vernon, who wins the $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Zoe

The Gospel Music Association is pleased to announce nominees for the 54th Annual GMA Dove Awards. Top male nominees include Brandon Lake with eleven (11) nominations, songwriter Jeff Pardo with eight (8) nominations, and Jason Ingram and Kirk Franklin receiving six (6) nominations each.

Top female nominees include Katy Nichole, who picked up four (4) nominations with Lauren Daigle, Naomi Raine, and Tasha Cobbs Leonard each receiving three (3) nominations.

Voted on by the GMA Professional Membership, this year’s nominees were chosen from over 2,046 submitted entries. The GMA Dove Awards Nashville event will be held October 17th, 2023, and will air exclusively on TBN and the TBN app, Friday, October 20th, 2023 8:00p.m. ET and 10:00p.m. ET.

Read the full release buy clicking this link!

So when it feels like all of this pain is never gonna end
Brought to my knees by all of these things I don’t understand, don’t understand
I will let the weight of my fear fall like sand

Jeremy Camp, Out of My Hands

Congratulations to 8-year-old Sarah from Mount Vernon, who wins the $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Zoe

Today’s Artist News includes:

CHRIS TOMLIN

We are so excited to let you know that Chris and Lauren Tomlin’s non-profit foundation, “FOR OTHERS,” in partnership with the Troubadour Golf and Field Club in College Grove, Tennessee and Discovery Land Company Foundation, raised over $12 million at the 2nd Annual Troubadour For Others Vision Gathering in May.

Over 30 celebrities from across sports and music participated in the benefit golf tournament and auction, including Drew Brees, TobyMac, Kirk Herbstreit, Vince Gill, Ben Roethlisberger and Carrie Underwood.

For Others President David Nasser called the event, “400 people united to do together what we could never do alone. The funds raised will allow us to push the gas pedal even harder as we serve America’s vulnerable and help them find safe and loving homes.”

Chris said, “This year’s Troubadour For Others Vision Gathering exceeded our expectations in countless ways. What a day! Best golf experience, incredible ladies’ gathering, and most of all, we witnessed an evening of laughter and heart that reached beyond our highest hopes. Because of the generosity of our guests, we’ll be able to fund even more adoptions than planned this year so that families can focus on welcoming their new child wholeheartedly without financial stress. I’m so sincerely grateful to everyone who attended and to those who chose to donate. You’re our heroes.”

Proceeds will go to help improve the lives of vulnerable kids and families across the USA.

CAIN

After selling out 22 shows during their first-ever headlining tour this Spring, award winning sibling trio, CAIN, has added 33 new tour dates to their Fall 2023 calendar, extending the CAIN Live & In Color Tour presented by World Vision, promoted by Premier Productions. Joined by Katy Nichole and David Leonard, CAIN Live & In Color will kick off Wednesday, September 20, in Baton Rouge, LA.

“This fall, we are coming to 33 cities across the US on our LIVE AND IN COLOR Tour,” said Taylor Cain. “We were inspired to name the tour LIVE AND IN COLOR because wearing matching colors has become part of our tradition. We want the audience to join us in wearing the chosen color for each night and together we create a family experience for everyone.”

“We’re trying to do something new with our tour! We want people to get to know who we are and the other artists joining us.” added Logan Cain. “We promise you are going to experience something very unique which includes fun and entertainment as well as ministry, worship and a chance to encounter the presence of God.”

(Joe’s CAIN color pop from Momentum 2023 in Orlando, FL)

I breathe the air of freedom in knowing my life
Is better off in Your hands
The past is gone, what’s done is done
Now I’m alive and I’m never gonna look back

…and we have a stumper! We’ll bring it back next week.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Zoe

Last week, lead singer Darren Mulligan of We Are Messengers celebrated “Maybe It’s Okay” being RIAA Certified GOLD along with members of Curb | Word Entertainment and Proper Management.

“Maybe It’s Okay” is a single by Irish worship band We Are Messengers on their second extended-play Honest. Mulligan wrote the song with Jonathan Smith and Bryan Fowler, and it was released as a single on November 9, 2018.^[5] 

Darren said this about the song:

“I believe that God works all things together for the good of those that love Him. But I can’t escape the fact that we’re hurting, anxious, disappointed, and afraid. This song is my surrender. By admitting that I need God to put everything right. I find that Jesus is with me in the heartache holding onto me and leading through the tough times. Everything sad is being undone. But it’s going to take a little time. Getting well is a messy business. So, take it easy on yourself. God has taken every mistake, every hurt, and make it something really beautiful. I’m in the reality of where I am right here, right now, and I’m trusting in Jesus. I’ve realized, maybe it’s okay, even when I’m not okay.”

A Gold record is a song or album that sells 500,000 units (tangible or digital form).

—

What would happen if we began to believe that God could do the miraculous through us? Can you imagine what might happen? These are the questions collective Elevation Worship asks on their anticipated 15th career project, CAN YOU IMAGINE? With these eight new live songs, they are poised to reignite hearts.

“Trust In God” (featuring Chris Brown) is the first radio single from the album, which weaves in lyrics from the hymn “Blessed Assurance” with modern language resulting in a declaration of choosing to trust God.

“We want someone to listen to this album and know that God is still writing their story,” Elevation Worship singer and songwriter Chris Brown explains. “Our hope is that these songs will not only point people to the wonder and greatness of God but stir an awareness of his goodness and how lovingly he’s involved in the details of our lives.”

Someone’s saying a prayer tonight
For hungry mouths to be filled
Someone kneels in the dark somewhere
And darkness is already crumbling

The song? Tree63 ‘Sunday’

Congratulations to Rodney from Gambier, who guessed correctly and wins the Austin French CD, ‘Wide Open.’

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Zoe

The Ohio State Fair has announced that Casting Crowns will be part of their 2023 Summer Concert Lineup!

Casting Crowns will be at the Celeste Center at the Ohio State Fair on Monday, July 31^st at 7pm.

*Each concert ticket includes admission to the Ohio State Fair on Monday, 7/31.*

Ticket information is available on our website, wnzr.fm. 
Click on the Events Button and then click on the Concerts Tab.

Location: Ohio State Fair Celeste Center, 717 East 17th Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43211

Date: Monday, July 31^st

Concert Begins: 7:00pm Doors Open: 6:00pm

***Listen to The Morning Thing THIS WEEK for your chance to win tickets! Marcy and Allison give you a chance to Beat the Box Office to win tickets to the show! Listen at 7:30am and 8:30am on Wednesday and Thursday for Name That Tune with Casting Crowns. They will play a short section of a Casting Crowns song. If you are the first correct caller to name the song title, you win 2 tickets to the concert on July 31^st at the Ohio State Fair!***

The Ohio State Fair will run July 26 – August 6. For more information, visit ohiostatefair.com, call 1-888-OHO-EXPO or 614-644-FAIR.

—

from JesusFreakHideout.com

Steven Curtis Chapman is already the most-awarded Christian music artist in history and as of this week, he continues his reign. His current radio single, “Don’t Lose Heart,” has hit No. 1, making it Chapman’s 50th career chart-topping song and the first artist to achieve this feat in the industry.

It was his single “His Eyes” from 1988’s Real Life Conversations album that put Chapman on the course to a plethora of No. 1 songs, a list that also includes “I Will Be Here,” “The Great Adventure,” “Dive,” “Live Out Loud,” and “For The Sake Of The Call.” Chapman shares this historic milestone with just a few select artists who boast 50 or more top radio hits, including Madonna, George Strait, and Conway Twitty. 

“I’m completely blown away by the support for this song and for my music, even after so many years,” Steven Curtis Chapman exclaims. “To ever have a number one song at radio as an artist/songwriter is a dream come true, and to have fifty is simply unbelievable! This only happens because of an amazing team and a community of friends around me who have believed in the unbelievable. I’m grateful and humbled beyond words.”

“Moses had stage fright…
When David brought a rock to a sword fight…
You picked twelve outsiders nobody would have chosen
And You changed the world…”

ANSWER: Casting Crowns w/Matthew West, “Nobody”

Congratulations to Paul, who is gifting the We The Kingdom CD to his sister, June, who lives in Poland, Ohio.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Dylan