The multi-city tour will stop in Oklahomoa City on Feb. 18 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena and in Tulsa on Feb. 25 at the BOK Center.

Winter Jam will feature the concert’s hosts, NewSong, as well as several contemporary Christian recording artists and groups like Sanctus Real (pictured); former Newsboys frontman Peter Furler, Kari Jobe, Building 429 and Group 1 Crew. A Pre-Jam Party will include performances from Dara Maclean, For King & Country and We As Human. Veggie Tales’ Bob and Larry also will make a guest appearance.

Aside from the musical performances, here’s the other thing that makes Winter Jam such a hit with fans: Cost for the event is $10 at the door.

You have time to put it on your calendar.

For more information about the tour, go to www.jamtour.com.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

#NewsOK

Sisters Erica and Tina Campbell, who make up Mary Mary were set to perform Sunday night at Douglass High School in Oklahoma City. The Christmas concert was sponsored by BLAC Inc.

A spokeswoman for the group said concert tour has been cancelled due to doctors’ concerns about Erica Campbell’s pregnancy. Erica Campbell and her husband are expecting their third child in February.

“The singer has been advised by doctors that she cannot continue working at her current pace without risk ofpotential premature delivery,”  Gabriella Cudjoe Wilkes said in a news release. “After careful consideration, the ladies have determined it is best to cancel the entire tour at this time, including their New Year’s Eve show. Up to now, the ladies have been on an exhaustive cross-country schedule of promotional activities, and, given the medical opinion, recognized what the priorities must be.”

Hopefully the metro will get another chance to host the pair, who made their debut on the gospel music scene with their 2000 crossover hit “Shackles (Praise You).    

“Our commitment to our passion of music and our fans is without question, but allowing wisdom, common sense and our commitment to family to take the lead at this point is necessary,” Tina Campbell said in the group’s prepared statement.

“We fully intend to return to our passion and our commitment to music in late spring and look forward to rescheduling the ‘Have a Mary Mary Christmas Tour’ in 2012.”

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

LIfeChurch.tv’s Stillwater campus at 1917 N Country Club Road will be the site of the Passion University Tour stop at 8 p.m. Oct. 4.

The event will feature worship leaders Charlie Hall (pictured) and Kristian Stanfill, plus a video message by “Passion” founder Louie Giglio (pictured below).    

The university tour is part of a 12-campus tour prepping for “Passion 2012″ set for the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Ga., on Jan. 2-5.  The 2012 event in Atlanta is expected to draw more than 35,000 university-aged adults.

The event is Stillwater aims to bring together students at Oklahoma State University, including those involved with several campus ministries. 

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor 

John P. Kee and New Life will present “a night of praise and worship” at 7 p.m. at the church. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the concert is free.

I liked Kee (pictured) back in the days when he was with Commissioned and his music continues to draw people.

More Christian concerts are on the horizon.

Check this out:

Sept. 16 — Ernie Haase and Signature Sound, 7:30 p.m. at Southern Hills Baptist Church, 8601 S Pennsylvania. Tickets are $20, available at the church on day of the concert, by phone at (800) 965-9324 or online at www.iTickets.com.  

Sept. 18 — Andrew Peterson, 6:30 p.m. at Covenant Community Church, 2250 N Mustang Road (now Yukon Parkway) in Yukon. 354-9338.

Sept. 19 — Sanctus Real, 7:30 p.m. at the Chesapeake Energy Center at the State Fair. Admission is free with paid admission to the fair. Information: www.okstatefair.com.

Sept. 24 — FFH, 6 p.m. at Southern Hills Baptist Church, 8601 S Pennsylvania. Information: 682-1636.

Sept. 24 — Ivan Parker, 6:30 p.m. at Del City High School auditorium, 1900 S Sunnylane Road. Tickets are $20 for reserved seating, $15 for general admission and $10 for balcony. Tickets available at the door. 677-2330. 

Oct. 8 — Third Day, Peter Furler of the Newsboys and Trevor Morgan,  7 p.m. at the Mabee Center on the Oral Roberts University campus, 7777 S Lewis in Tulsa. www.iTickets.com; www.mabeecenter.com.

Oct. 27 — Brandon Heath and Dave Barnes,  Tulsa Convention Center. www.iTickets.com.

Nov. 5 — Gaither Homecoming Tour featuring the Gaither Vocal Band,  the Isaacs, Gene McDonald, Charlotte Ritchie, Gordon Mote and others, 6 p.m. at the Mabee Center in Tulsa. www.mabeecenter.com.

Nov. 12 — Two Friends Tour featuring Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant, 7 p.m. at the Mabee Center in Tulsa. www.mabeecenter.com.

Nov. 17 — Rock and Worship Roadshow featuring MercyMe, Jars of Clay, Hawk Nelson, Group 1 Crew, Matt Maher and Disciple, 7 p.m. at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. www.iTickets.com. 

There are more, I’m sure, but these are the concerts I know of right now. If you know of one that’s not on my list, give me a shout-out. Eventually as they come up, we’ll print these in the paper and I don’t want to miss anyone.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

I thought it was interesting that Justin Bieber, when he accepted his VMA,  thanked God and Jesus, with an emphasis on Jesus. He made a pretty bold statement; even my daughter remarked about it.

Of course, like every year, there were stories resulting from the VMAs. Well, Justin’s acceptance speech was among them.

Here’s what folks are saying:

Fox News: God and Jesus become hot trending topic thanks to the VMAs.   

ChristianPost: Justin Bieber delights Twitter fans by making God and Jesus trending

VillageVoice.com: God and Jesus did really well as the VMAs.

By the way, quite a few recording artists thanked the Lord during their acceptance speeches at the VMAs.

I’ve always found that so ironic, given the nature of some of their music lyrics and videos, at least for some of them. But, I don’t  judge them. They are free to thank whomever they want. 

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

For the price of $10, fans will be treated to a concert featuring recording artists like the Newsboys, Red (pictured), Chris  August, Newsong, the David Crowder Band and several others. Hey, it’s called “Christian Music’s Largest Annual Tour.”

Tickets are available at the door.

Doors open at 5 p.m. and things will get started fairly early with the Pre-Jam Party featuring artists like the Sidewalk Prophets.

It promises to be a  fun show with something for everyone.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

The event also includes the Talley Trio, Aaron Wilburn and the Collins Worth Family.

Tickets are $18.50 for general admission; $22.50 for reserved floor and $24.50 for VIP. Children 12 and younger pay $6.

Tickets are available at Mardel, 4848 Northwest Expressway and Mardel at 1421 W Interstate 240 Service Road. 

For ticket information, call 888-205-6723 or go online to www.frankarnoldpresents.com.

We’re preparing for snow and/or ice, breaking out the hot chocolate and the extra warm coats … and Winter Jam  2011 is just around the corner.

It’s one of the largest Christian music tours but with a relatively tiny price tag.

This year’s jam is set for 6 p.m. Feb. 26 at the Oklahoma City Arena. Admission is $10 per person (remember I said the price is tiny). 

The concert host is contemporary Christian band Newsong (pictured).

And this year’s slogan is pretty catchy and also pretty hard to resist for the frugal: “10 bands for $10.”

So, let’s count them. We’ve already listed Newsong.

Here are the others:

2. David Crowder Band.

3. Red (pictured below).

4. KJ-52.

5. Newsboys.

6. Kutless.

7. Francesca Battistelli.

8. Sidewalk Prophets.

9.  Chris August.

10. Chris Sligh

Sligh, August and the Sidewalk Prophets will perform at the pre-jam party sponsored by the American Bible Society, so concertgoers are encouraged to go early to catch these artists.

Doors open at 5 p.m.

For more information, visit www.jamtour.com.

The Oklahoman will provide more information, including interviews with some of the artists in future editions of  Weekend Look and the Saturday Life section.  

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

A Jewish music group called the Maccabeats (pictured) has created a fun song that I've listened to about five times today.
They put Hanukkah-inspired lyrics, written by David Block and Immanuel Shalev, to Taio Cruz's infectious tune "Dynamite."

If you know anything about Hanukkah, and hey, even if you don’t, you’ll likely love what they did with their “Candlelight” song. :

“I flip my latkes in the air sometimes sayin’ ayy ohh spin the dreidel,

Just wanna celebrate for all eight nights singin’ ayy oh, light the candles.” 

They are talented group of singers from Yeshiva University in New York who found a great way to celebrate the Jewish Festival of Lights.  And they’ve found a great way to tell the story of Hanukkah in a way that resonates with today’s generation (and not so young folks like me).

Watch for yourself:

And get the lyrics so you can sing along here: www.maccabeats.com/lyrics

Carla Hinton
Religion Editor