The upcoming movie, Exodus: Gods and Kings, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Christian Bale as Moses, looks promising according to The Dove Foundation’s CEO Dick Rolfe, The movie is scheduled to be released on December 14 this year. After he recently viewed a trailer for the picture that just hit the internet and movie screens, we spoke with Mr. Rolfe about the film.

When asked about his expectations and hopes regarding the movie, he replied, “I am looking forward to watching the re-telling of The Ten Commandments. From the just-released trailer, it appears to be a well-made epic-scale motion picture. The special effects are much more impressive than the 1956 version, benefitting from technological advances in filmmaking.

“I hope that 20^th Century Fox learned something from Paramount’s epic debacle, Noah, which has not yet recovered its production costs in gross domestic box office. That’s what you get by turning a Bible story over to a director who’s an avowed atheist. Fox has a chance to redeem the studio system by making certain that Exodus: Gods and Kings accurately tells the story of Moses and the Hebrews’ escape from Egyptian tyranny. My guess is they will succeed.”

Singer-songwriter Shawn McDonald has taken a bolder approach in his latest album.     

And one result: the title song, “We Are Brave,” became the veteran artist’s first No. 1 Christian radio hit.

Ever since his acoustic-driven break out hit “Gravity” nearly 10 years ago, the artist has occasionally surfaced with new material, mixed in with a couple of live projects.

“Brave” carries more “electronic” effects than his early work. Some of the songs were produced by David Garcia, providing a more pop-influenced sound for McDonald.

   West Michigan’s Christian concert schedule for the remainder of 2014 is dotted with music artists of all stripes.
     There’s diverse, uplifting entertainment, with many of the events carrying a worship theme.
   And you don’t have to wait for autumn: Hillsong Worship (formerly Hillsong Live) comes to Resurrection Life Church in Grandville on Sun. Aug. 31.
    Hillsong – the giant Hillsong Church in Australia – has developed a group of worship leaders responsible for such modern worship standards as “Shout To the Lord” and “Mighty to Save.” Their new album is “No Other Name.”
     Tickets are $26 general admission, discount rate for groups of 10 or more; available at the church’s Word Shop bookstore or at www.premierproductions.com.

August Releases

Fiction:

Amish Blacksmith - Mindy Starns Clark and Susan Meissner
Healing Quilt - Wanda Brunstetter
Legend of Sheba - Tosca Lee
Home to Chicory Lane - Deborah Raney
Thief of Glory - Sigmund Brouwer

NonFiction:

Imperfect Marriage - Darryl and Tracy Strawberry
Praying for Your Prodigal - Kyle Idleman
Permanent Vertigo - Joy Eggerichs
Unphiltered - Phil Robertson
Simplify - Bill Hybels

The old men are back with a new collection of songs - the Old Man Worship Band, that is.    

This trio of long-time West Michigan friends and music artists has released “Grace and Peace,” six new anthems living up to the “worship” name.

Jeff Roley, Ted Kallman and Martin Vipond offer psalm-like lyrics and pleasing melodies on the project, their first since 2009’s “Future Generations.”    

Setting the tone is the opening, title track: a soothing, acoustic-based work underscored with heavenly background vocals in its repeating wish for the listener to experience God’s grace and peace. (The album concludes with a “Grace and Peace” reprise).

Worship on the Waterfront (W.O.W.) returns to Grand Haven’s Waterfront Stadium this summer starting Sunday June 22.

The summer inspirational music series is produced by First Reformed Church in downtown Grand Haven.

The list of artists for 2014 finds many names familiar to inspirational music fans.
Singer-songwriters Josh Wilson and Shawn McDonald, worship leader/music artist Peter Eide and the Hark-Up Horns all are back after performing in last year’s series.

At times pounding with gripping intensity yet underscored by an unyielding hope, the film “Return to The Hiding Place,” premiered Friday (May 23) at Knickerbocker Theatre in Holland.

The story, based on events during the Dutch resistance against the Nazis in World War II, centers on Hans Poley (portrayed by David Thomas Jenkins) and Piet Hartog (Craig Robert Young), two young heroes of the underground movement in the Netherlands during Nazi occupation.

The faith-fueled rock band NeedToBreathe has added to its catalog a new set of songs which come from a time of transition for the band members.     

The group – anchored by brothers Bear and Bo Rinehart (sons of a pastor from Possum Kingdom, S.C.) – emerged from a chaotic period which saw the uneasy exit of their drummer and strained relationships all around.     

Now, three years since their last project, a new theme emerged.     

“We needed to write songs about the rivers that brought us out of the wasteland,” said Bear Rinehart in a recent interview. 

George Moss III has learned that ministry – even music ministry – is about serving people.

“Give your music to people who care,” said the Grand Rapids singer-songwriter during a recent interview. “Great music is music that’s gonna serve people.”

Moss, 31, has been performing since his freshman year at East Kentwood High School when his youth leader at Messiah Missionary Baptist Church invited him to be part of a Christian hip-hop group.

WMCN staff recently had the opportunity to see “Ragamuffin”, the newly released movie based on the life of Christian musician, Rich Mullins.

The film begins with a young Mullins living on a farm, rejected and unloved by a father he admired. It also shows how as a child he discovered his God given gift and love of music.

It follows his life and his struggles, struggles that often stemmed from memories of never being able to please his father.

     Singer Leigh Cappillino is proud to carry on the tradition of her group Point of Grace in hosting “Girls of Grace” conferences aimed at teenage girls and their mothers.
     “It’s one of those events where mothers and daughters have the opportunity to go deeper in their relationship,” said Cappillino, 45, by phone near Nashville, Tenn.