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singing Now I Can Journey On in a church trio with her parents. Growing up in a Baptist church in Dayton, Ohio,
her musical influences are almost innumerable. “Music has always been a part of me and a huge part of my
family life. At our house, the radio came on before the television did, so I listened to everyone you can think of.”
Music has been the backdrop of her life. Tonya released her first solo project, Life in Him in 2003. Her sophomore
project, Since He Came, dropped in 2005. This psalmist has won numerous awards for her unique vocal styling
and she has graced the stage with notable artists including Shirley Caesar, Karen Clark-Sheard, Kierra Sheard,
Hezekiah Walker and Bryon Cage. One of her songs, To Know You Lord, was selected to appear on the Gospel
Heritage Foundation / Verity Records release and on Gospel phenomenon Tonex's latest release Out the Box!
Tonya Baker
Wendy Beckman is an award-winning freelance writer and editor. She has published more than 250 freelance
articles regionally and nationally. Wendy’s books include Artists And Writers Of The Harlem Renaissance (Enslow
2002). National Parks In Crisis: Debating The Issues (Enslow 2004), Communication Tools Made Easy
(Kendall/Hunt 2004) and Dating, Relationships, and Sexuality: What Teens Should Know (Enslow). Wendy has a
master’s degree in English—with a concentration in editing and publishing—and a graduate certificate in
professional writing from the University of Cincinnati. AuthorsDen.com/WendyHartBeckman
Avalon Betts-Gaston, Esq. began her professional career in Human Resources. After completing law school and
with more than seven years of Human Resources experience, her legal career was launched in 2000 with a large
firm. She quickly recognized a growing market related to the arts and entertainment fields, which spawned her
own practice. Her practice areas consist primarily of arts and entertainment law matters, business formation,
general business contract drafting and negotiations, employment law matters, real estate matters, and various
not-for-profit matters. She received her bachelor's degree from DePaul University in 1994. She graduated in the
top 25% of her class from John Marshall Law School, balancing both full-time employment and studies. She is a
member of the Illinois Bar and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. She is also a member of
several bar associations.
Gospel music has been described and influenced by many cultures and styles from church to hip hop and even
funk. The new era of spiritual soul, a musical genre in itself, is being introduced by the eccentric sounds of the
male trio, Christopher. Consisting of Christopher McNeal, Christopher Reid and Christopher Surratt, the trio has
managed to reflect their raw and uncut perspectives of the Christian journey through their music. Their heart-felt
lyrics touch upon real issues that people who love Jesus deal with on a day-to-day basis. Their newest release,
The Journey, has a little something for everyone to appreciate — young and old; saved and unsaved.
Christopher
Dr. Vivi Monroe Congress is a "witty, engaging, humorous" and uncompromising wordsmith, whose vision is to
see people delivered from personal bondage, renewed and strengthened to lead fulfilled and enjoyable lives.
Because of her passion for her calling along with God's favor, her writing is often dubbed anointed and
inspirational. Dr. Congress, a self-proclaimed "literary servant," is the award-winning author of The Bankrupt
Spirit: Principles for Turning Setbacks into Comebacks, The McMillon Family Cookbook: Something to Shout
About! and the 2007 bestseller, Manna for Mamma: Wisdom for Women in the Wilderness. She holds a doctorate
of ministry degree in Christian counseling and is working to complete course requirements to become a certified
Christian life coach. Dr Vivi Monroe Congress
Penda L. James is a poet, essayist and writing coach. She completed her undergraduate art degree at
Wilberforce University and obtained a master’s in education at Bowling Green State University. As editor-in-chief of
the Wilberforce Mirror newspaper and co-facilitator of the Female Rites of Passage Program, Penda developed
her ability to nurture and support writers as they navigate through the writing process. Penda believes that anyone
with the proper guidance, encouragement and inspiration can be a good writer.
Penda co-edited and published Free to Fly: Reflections on Womanhood, a collection of poetry, prose and other
writing styles that highlight community members. Through her company, InSCRIBEd Inspiration, Penda facilitates
retreats that create a safe place for writers to write, critique and polish their craft.
Aaron C. Johnson, Sr. discovered his passion for film several years after his stint as a combat medic for the Navy.
Unable to go to film school, Aaron studied the industry and in 2003 was a semi-finalist in the Urban Insider 555-
Short Screenplay competition.
Aaron has written, produced, directed and edited music videos, commercials, documentaries, short films and the
television show 7 Minutes. The show, produced with his business partner, Ozzie Leon, airs nationally on the PAX
network. Aaron is in pre-production on several films with Triple Crown Publications. His most recent short film,
Thin Line, can be seen on Steven Spielberg’s new reality show website, On The Lot.
Myspace.com/OhioProducer
Bishop Dr. Marva L. Mitchell is the overseer of the God’s WILL Fellowship of churches, a body of thirty two
ministries. She is also the co-founder of Revival Center Ministries International along with her late husband
Bishop Willie E. Mitchell. Dr. Mitchell has written and co-authored several books; Seize the Moment, Marriage
Glue and various manuals to help with grant writing. He best seller, It takes a Church to Raise a Village,
challenges the church to take responsibility for the nation. She has traveled the world teaching church leadership.
She has been featured on TBN and has appeared on Christian TV in Canada. She obtained a B.A. from Family
Bible Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. After suffering a massive stroke in 1993, she dropped out of the masters
program and was later awarded an honorary doctorate for her accomplishments in ministry.
Dr Marva Mitchell
Nakea Murray
bio forthcoming
Nakea Murray
With a God-given talent for the pen, Kendra Norman-Bellamy creates realistic, faith-based fictional novels that tell
stories of drama, intrigue and passion in the Christian community. In addition to writing national best-selling
novels, Kendra is founder and president of KNB Publications, LLC, a contributing staff writer for a number of
national print magazines. She is also a motivational speaker and facilitator, traveling the globe to teach her much-
applauded signature four-part aspiring writers series, The Writer's Cocoon, as well as workshops on how to
succeed as a Christian author. Aside from her literary endeavors, Kendra is an AFAA trained aerobics instructor,
skilled in teaching step aerobics, kick boxing and total body conditioning. Kendra Norman- Bellamy
Detroit Free Press recently called her "a marketing whiz on an almost immortal mission." Known as the
"connector and PR coach," Pam Perry knows how to pull the right people together and garner the right publicity.
Her public relations and advertising career spans over two decades. Perry is the founder of BART (Blacks in
Advertising, Radio & Television), a nonprofit networking organization for African Americans in the media. A
consummate communicator, Perry has taught journalism and penned columns for the Michigan Chronicle/
Michigan Front Page and currently is a columnist for Keeping Family First online magazine and on the board of
Inspired Living magazine. Her passion is Christian books and helping writers become authors through the
American Christian Writers Association where she is president/founder of the Detroit Chapter. As a book publicity
coach, she hosts weekly teleconferences on various PR/marketing topics with self-published authors, provides
PR counsel to ministries nationwide and trains church marketing staffs. She is the author of Quick & Easy
Ministry Marketing Solutions - 115 PR Tips to brand your ministry. Pam Perry
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