Pastor’s Educational Outreach, Dove Award Nominations & Gather to Evangelize

Church planter and pastor Emory Berry Jr.’s passion for serving the educational community has its roots in his second-grade public school teacher of decades ago, Lillie Courtney, who also taught him Sunday School.

Berry, who holds a doctorate in theology, had begun the second grade at Palmetto Elementary School in Pinecrest, Fla., as the lowest ranking member of his class in reading comprehension.

That investment has created a special place in his heart for teachers and schools.

Berry and a group of church volunteers from the Favor Church hosted a cookout this week for the 100 school teachers and staff members at Mary McLeod Bethune Middle School in Decatur, Ga. They cooked and served food, encouraged educators and shared information about their new church plant.
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Nominations for the 53rd annual GMA Dove Awards were highlighted by multiple nods for Phil Wickham, for KING + COUNTRY, Maverick City Music and newcomer Anne Wilson.

Wilson was nominated 6 awards including “New Artist of the Year,” and “Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year,” for her single “My Jesus.”

Maverick City Music received seven nominations, including “Artist of the Year.” Maverick City’s joined fellow artist Matthew West, who also received seven nominations.

Wickham received 5 nods, including “Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year” for “House of the Lord,” and “Worship Recorded Song of the Year” for “Hymn of Heaven.”

Pop duo for KING + COUNTRY, last year’s award winner for Artist of the Year, were once again nominated for the award, along with 5 other awards for a total of 6 nods.

The full list of nominees nominated for “Artist of the Year,” also includes Maverick City Music, CeCe Winans, We The Kingdom and Zach Williams.
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In a First Person on Baptist Press, Texas Baptist leader Tony Wolfe writes, “Churches should use all the tools of their time to reach the world with the gospel. But at every new opportunity, they should pause to reflect on how new innovations do or do not fit into the biblical model. With the rapid proliferation of digital tools and the widespread conventionality of their recent usage, the post-COVID church is asking many timely questions: Is online worship a permanent option for our church members? How can we be creative in utilizing digital tools for evangelism and discipleship? How do we best connect with our community through digital means? Is the metaverse an appropriate model for church services or church activities? Is there a biblical model, or are there biblical principles, to help us process all of this?”

He goes on to say, “Online spaces are not evil in themselves, but they are not sufficient gathering points for the church.”