Published On:Thursday, March 11, 2010

By REUBEN SHEARER

Tribune Features Reporter

rshearer@tribunemedia.net

POPULAR minister Bishop Neil Ellis of Mount Tabor Full Gospel Baptist Church has two reasons to celebrate- he was recently nominated for the prestigious Dove Awards and he is receiving rave reviews for his newly released book 'Pursuing The Glory.'

The double announcement comes after a dark period in his life when Bishop Ellis suffered vocal cord damage due to acid reflux and had to have a series of corrective surgeries to save his voice. That struggle served as inspiration for his book and for the song "Don't Do It Without Me," which was recorded live in 2007 and has received a Dove Award nomination in the category of Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year.

He explained that two weeks after the initial surgery, he became frustrated because he was unable to use his voice, the very medium needed as a preacher to communicate his sermons.

"Very soon, however, I resolved in my mind that while I didn't really understand what God was doing in my life, I had to submit to the process and in doing so, I said to God, 'Lord whatever you're doing in this season, please don't do it without me.'"

"While I was recuperating from surgery, God spoke to me and told me that He had pulled me aside to give me my latest assignment; that of leading the way in restoring His glory into the church," said Bishop Ellis.

As a result of that "encounter" with God, he was inspired to write 42 messages, 14 of which were written exclusively on the 'glory'.

Those messages became 'Pursuing The Glory' which has received tremendous local reviews and is set to have its international release on March 18 at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta.

"Tyler Perry has once again extended his generosity to this son of the soil," said Bishop Ellis.

Shortly thereafter, 'Pursuing The Glory' will be available in 4,000 bookstores throughout the United States, Canada, South Africa, Nigeria, Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, U.K., Mexico, Trinidad and many other countries.

"Because of the tremendous doors that have been open, we do not take this exposure lightly or boost in ourselves," said Bishop Ellis. "We simply see this as yet another opportunity to fulfill the assignment that God gave us three years ago."

"The opportunity to fulfill our mandate ultimately benefits this country that I love called the Commonwealth of the Bahamas."

This mandate will continue to be filled as Mount Tabor takes the spotlight during the Dove Awards on April 21 as the first group of Bahamian songwriters to be nominated in the GMA Dove Award for Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year.

Other nominees in this category are well-known and legendary artists; and to have Mount Tabor named among that list is a significant feat in itself, said a statement from the church.

"We are grateful to Almighty God that he would use this simple recording to focus the eyes of the American Gospel Music industry on the Bahamas," said Bishop Ellis.

"Don't Do It Without Me" features the vocals of Mount Tabor's presiding Bishop, Paul S. Morton and was recorded on the Marlin Award winning debut CD, 'Wave of Glory,' released by Kingdom Glory Records.

Other songs nominated in the GMA Dove Award for Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year category include: "Always Remember" by Men of Standard & Andrae Crouch; "How I Got Over"; by Vickie Winans; "Justified" by Smokie Norful, and "Oh Happy Day" by Queen Latifah & Edwin Hawkins.

The Dove Awards are the Grammys of the Christian music industry honoring the best in Christian and Gospel music since 1969.

A number of "key players" from the city of Atlanta's religious, entertainment and sporting arena are expected to be in attendance. Georgia State representative Stanley Washington, Xernona Clayton, President and founder of the Trumpet awards, Bishop Paul S. Morton, Pastor Paula White, former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Evander Holyfield, Cassi Davis also known as Ella Payne from Tyler Perry's 'House of Payne' on TBS, Terri Vaughn best known as Lavita on the Steve Harvey Show, Katherine Smith, Bahamas Consul General in Atlanta will be representing the Government and the President of the Bahamas Christian Council, Reverend Patrick Paul will be representing the Bahamian religious community.

The Islands of the Bahamas will be prominently featured during the occasion as the Ministry of Tourism has decided to provide special souvenir gifts and promotional items for the distinguished invitees.