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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (April 14, 1999)
... . -TZ , v • • « » » ». * ..<•?•«• « ' ' .« ' • f ' ■ ^ ' • .'■ ■ - .«U»»- » ■ ' .'■ "'r~‘ ■ *ri •* ■ , • - - at <. **» April 14, 1999 PageB3 (Tljtf ÿtorUanô (Obeeruer Church Boy The Life Story of Gospel Music Sensation Kirk Franklin Him as a young e has three platinum albums adult. As a re to his credit and his face sult, there are recognized by millions, but no holds barred he wasn’t bom to a privileged family w hen K irk o f entertainers. Surprisingly, this c h a lle n g e s music sensation, who is now worth today’s young millions to his record label, was raised people to reject m near-poverty and never even gradu a life o f sex and ated from high school. And now, for rebellion to fol the first time, millions o f fans can low after God read Kirk’s entire rags-to-riches story w ith p u re in the pages o f Church Boy, his auto h e a rts . H is biography from Word Publishing. m e ssa g e w ill Complete with photos and never- inspire young before stories, Church Boy is the people ev ery only a u th o riz e d sto ry o f K irk w here to con Franklin’s life and music. Within its sider how they pages, Church Boy reveals how mu s h o u ld liv e sic shaped the life o f this award their lives. winning songwriter, performer and Readers will producer. And it reveals how God d isc o v e r how was always nearby-from the poorest gosp el m usic streets o f Ft. Worth, Texas, to the g reat M ilton cavernous performance halls o f this Bigham helped country. Gospel and R&B music introduce Kirk fans, young people and aspiring mu to the G ospel sicians will be inspired by Kirk M usic W o rk Franklin’s remarkable story. sh o p s of K irk’s trademark energy and hu America where mor come through in every chapter he become a fa o f his story, but also do the sad de vorite o f mass tails o f his early years o f poverty and choirs around heartache. A musical prodigy, his die country. And elderly adopted mother collected and they’ll see how sold aluminum cans to pay for Kirk ’ s K irk ’s form a piano lessons. He was teased be tion o f a group cause o f his talent, nicknam ed c a lle d “ The “Church Boy” because he was the F a m i ly ” choir director o f his church at age ch an g ed the eleven, and was regularly beat up on the church grounds. So Kirk had to course o f his life-their first recording find other means o f being accepted went platinum. Church Boy recounts by his peers; means that always in the media blitz and financial success clude girls, trouble, and the “coolest" that followed all three o f their record ings. And it also details his recording group o f friends he could find. With brutal honesty, Church Boy project with God’s property which, describes how Kirk rebelled against has gone double platinum and estab- H lished him as a master o f R&B and hip-hop as well as gospel. Church Boy also shares p er sonal details such as the story o f m eeting his w ife Tam m y and the truth about his infam ous fall from a darkened M em phis stage, w hich could have ended his career. Kirk talks openly and warmly about his love for his ch il dren, his debut to h is d eceased m other, and his a p p re c ia tio n o f friends who keep him accountable. K i r k F ranklin’s other m ajor release is an album entitled “The Nu N ation P r o j e c t ” (G o sp o C en tric), w h ich fe a tu re s U 2 ’s B o n o , R. K elly , M ary J. Blige, The Fam ily a n d m o re . “The N u N ation Project” won the C o n te m p o r a r y Soul G ospel A l bum o f the Y ear at the 1999 41« annual G ram m y Awards. Kirk Franklin has been honored w ith d o z e n s o f awards including G ram m y’s, Soul Train awards, Stel lar awards. Image aw ards, D ove awards, and Excel- lence awards. His three platinum albums have sold more than 5.6 mil lion copies in six years, and such celebrated artists as Whitney Hous ton have recorded his songs. Kirk and his wife Tammy reside near Dal- las-Ft. Worth with their children. God in his youth and returned to High School Bible Club Commemorates Christian Heritage Month And Celebrates Sixth Year of Existence Im age C h an g ers, an official chartered club at Thom as Jefferson high School, Portland, O regon is celebrating its sixth year. W hat began in 1993 as an inform al gath ering o f 15 students in the school library quickly grew to over 30 students and now has Bible groups in m iddle schools? To celeb rate its sixth year, Im age C hanges is spo n so rin g a third play for the C om m unity en titled, “ K eep It R eal” . T his dram atic m usical is w ritten and directed by 1996 R o se F e s tiv a l P rin c e s s Renee W atson, also a Jefferson graduate. The p ro d u ctio n w ill ta k e p la c e at the end o f the school’s events held in com m em o r a tio n o f C h r is tia n H e rita g e M onth, A pril 1999. The schedule o f events held on campus is as follows: Monday, April 19 Gospel Music Showcase (rap, hymns & contempo rary songs) Tuesday, April 20 Christian Lit erature (poetry, monologues) Wednesday, April 21 Dramatic Expressions (dance, mime) Thursday, April 22 Official Kick O ff KEEP IT REAL, PLAY @ JHS, 7:00 PM Friday, April 23 Image Changers Reception The purpose o f Image C hang ers is to positively change the im age o f inner-city youth as w ell as across the nation through prom o tion o f biblical values. The club is d e d ic a te d to eq u ip p in g young people to be respectful and re sponsible in academ ics and social relationships. D uring its six y ears Im age C h a n g e r s h a s e x p a n d e d to afterschool program s at the high school and m iddle school levels. Tw o branchesclub are at the g e n der-specific groups. M en o fV a lo r a n d W o m e n o f E x c e lle n c e . Jesus Comes to Oregon Seminar Emphasizes Community Outreach Using Jesus Video A rea pastors, church leaders and local citizens interested in spreading the hope o f the Gospel through an easy, im pactful pro gram, are invited to attend an all- day sem inar on Friday, A pril 23, at the Double Tree H otel Portland in Portland, Oregon. This one-day Leadership B rief ing, sponsored by Jesus Video Project, offers attendees the op portunity to coordinate a highly effective outreach distributing the Jesus video, a full-feature movie depicting the life, teachings and m essage o f Jesus C hrist. R egistra tion begins at 7 a m. The inform a tion-packed conference presents speakers, workshops and handouts for promoting community outreach using the video. C ost is $20 and includes continental breakfast and lunch The D ouble T ree H otel Portland is located at Lloyd C en ter, 1000 NE M ultnom ah Street. M ultnom ah Street. For directions, call the hotel at (503) 281-611 1. “W e’re bringing the Leadership Briefing to Oregon to o ile r local church organizations the training and support to make a successful m inistry outreach, said Pam ela Dumas, conference coordinator. “ W e ’ll sh a re e x c itin g w a y s churches have team ed up to use the video, and offer the resources and encouragem ent to make the JESUS video available to the local com m unity." By w orking w ith church o rg a n iz a tio n s and v o lu n te e rs, the Jesus V ideo P roject aim s to give the g ift o f a Jesus video to each hom e in A m erica. Since 1992, m ore than 5 m illion hom es in A m erica have receiv ed a video through this program . “ I t’s a com pletely no p re s s u re ' approach to sh arin g the G ospel and is an ideal tool for both sm all and large ch u rch es,” notes L loyd O lson, directo r o f the Jesus V ideo Project. “ W e’ve found that people are very recep tive to receiving the video and view ing it in the convenience and privacy o f th eir ow n hom es.” To reg ister for the L eadership B riefing in P ortland, or for more inform ation about the Jesus Video Project, call (toll free), 888-Jesus- 36. A dditional L eadership B rief ings scheduled throughout 1999 will be offered in C alifornia and New York. Based in A rrow head Springs, CA, the Jesus V ideo Project is a m inistry o f Cam pus C rusade for Christ. Since the p ro je c t’s incep tion in 1992, m ore than 8,500 churches have offered the Jesus video as part o f their com m unity outreach efforts. C lasses for 8,h graders are con ducted to assist w ith the tran si tion from m iddle school to high school. The clubalso sponsored tw o p lay s and h o lds seasonal clothing drives. Tell them you read it in Brother Waverly Davis Funeral services were held at Maranatha Church o f God in Port land for Waverly Lyn Davis, on April 8th, 1999, who was called home April 3rd at the age o f 59. Mr. Davis was bom December 26, 1939 in Halifax North Carolina. During the late 1950’s Mr. Davis came to Seattle, Washington from New York, where he played basket ball at Power Memonal High S chool, under a scholarship to play basket ball at Seattle University he gradu ated from college in 1967. Mr. Davis moved to Portland in 1973. He was first employed at O.L.C.C. in 1974. In 1976 Mr. Davis was employed, with Lederle Laboratories a pharma ceutical firm, for years. Mr. Davis coached basketball at M arkham Middle School where his oldest son played, also during that time in 1983 Mr. Davis was appointed to the Port land Rose Festival Association as a member ofthe BoardofDirectors. In 1990 Mr. Davis formed the very first African American Festival in Port land, Oregon. Mr. Davis became a. member o f the Fellowship Baptist Church. Mr Davis was first married to Alice Samples and later remarried Sheila E. Davis. Survivors include his wife; son’s, Kalauu Davis ofTigard, Malik Davis o f Seattle, W ashington and Karim Davis ofTigard. Burial was at Skyline Cemetary. The family suggests remembrances to the Portland Rose Festival Asso ciation. Funeral Arrangements by Van and Van Funeral home. In Loving Memory o f Carrie Can- non. Sunrise January 9,1914 Sunset March 29, 1999. C arrie C annon was born in Lagrange, Texas, on January 9 1914 to Henry McGuffery and Louise Palmer who have preceded her in death. Her daughter, Delois Aycox, and sister, Margie Boyd, have also preceded her in death. C am e accepted Christ at an early age. She moved to Los Angeles, Cali fornia in 1935. She later moved to Portland, Oregon in 1939. She met and married Robert Cannon in 1951. Carrie united with Vancouver A venueFirstBaptistChurchin 1949. She was a very devoted, active, and loyal supporter in several church functions and auxiliaries. Carrie served in the following capacities: Mission Board member. Sunday School teacher, Superintendent of the Jr. Sunday School Department. U sher B oard m em ber, C hurch Greeter/Announcer, Local/State/Na- tional Usher to the National Baptist Convention o f America, President of the Elizabeth Circle Mission, Secre tary/Treasurer o f Portland Sunday School-BTU Congress. C arrie was a m em ber/board member o f several other organiza tions: the Eastern Star Lodge - O r egon Jurisdiction, M artin Luther King, Jr. Facility board member, past President o f the Oregon A sso ciation o f Colored W om en's Club, “ Keep Christ in Christm as” mem ber, Church W omen United mem ber and Local/State/ National Se nior W om en’s Secretary. Her memory will forever be cher ished by her loving and devoted hus band, Robert Cannon, 3 children: Iris C. Aycox, from Los Angeles, Donald Aycox, o f Seattle, Washing ton, and Melvin Cannon o f Vallejo, California, 12 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, 6 great great grand children, a host o f nieces, nephews, cousins, many other family connec tions, and close friends. In Loving M em ory o f Floyd Purcell Patterson bom 10-20-21 died 04-07-99. Floyd Patterson was born in D isputanta, VA. He retired from the U.S. Army in 1973 w ith an honorable discharge after 22 years o f service. He enjoyed family and gave lots o f love. Sur vivors o f Floyd Patterson Helen E. P atterso n w ife, P o rtla n d , O R; Juanita Patterson daughter, Peters burg, VA; Tyrone Patterson son, P o rtla n d O re g o n ; P a tr ic ia Patterson daughter; Portland, O r egon; Floyd Patterson son, Yuba C ity, California; Larry Patterson son, Portland. Oregon; Jacqueline M cD onald P atterso n dau g h ter, P o rtla n d , O re g o n , Ja c q u e lin e Patterson daughter, Portland, O r egon; E lizabeth T u ck er siste r, Buffalo, New York; 28 grandchil dren and 4 great grandchildren. A GOSPEL REVIVAL MEETING MAY l “- i ,k a t 7:00 PM Let Jesus Christ be your target fo r the new Millennium.' A gospel meeting will be held at the Mallory Avenue Church of Christ where you can he-e-ear! About A Vision For The Church As It Grows Into The Next Millennium. Where? M allory Avenue Church o f Christ: 3908 NE Mallory- Av.: Portland, OP Our phone Slumber is (503) 288-1092. Call, and ask your question Tuesday Thru Friday from 9AM to 12 Noon. Bro James Morrison. Minister W A N T E D KEYBO ARD PLAYER Spirit filled & proficient in Gospel Music. Able to teach as well as play Full-Time Position with New Church in the area. Call Sharlen at (503) 5 1 9 -1 3 7 9 or (503) 80 7-4 196 We encourage participation in the National Black Evangelical Association 36th Annual Convention Portland, Oregon, April 22 - 25. 1999 ‘Redeeming and Restonng the City” Embassy Suites, Portland Airport For more information 288-8550 North Portland Bible College 4905 N Vancouver Ave . Portland, OR 97212, (503) 288-2919 in harmony with the NBEA theme, we are making Hibhcal training affordable in the inner i ity encouraging ( 'hrist-centered outreach committed to an evangelical Statement o f l aiih offering an urban ministry education associate degree modeling interracial, interdenominational unity Dr Otis F Brown, President Edward Kent, Chairman o f the Board