Coming out on top. Kirk Franklin won two trophies Feb. 8 during the 51st Annual GRAMMY Awards in Los Angeles. Franklin was honored in the Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album category for The Fight of My Life (Gospocentric/Fo Yo Soul Entertainment/Provident-Integrity Distribution) and “Help Me Believe” in the Best Gospel Song category. TobyMac garnered a trophy for the Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album for Alive and Transported (Forefront Records/EMI CMG Distribution). The sister duo Mary Mary won the Best Gospel Performance for “Get Up,” while CeCe Winans was honored in the Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album category for Thy Kingdom Come (PureSprings Gospel/EMI Gospel).

GRAMMY-winning band Casting Crowns performed Feb. 5 during the National Prayer Breakfast—which featured President Barack Obama and dignitaries from more than 180 nations, including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Casting Crowns sang “Voice of Truth” and “Who Am I” during the 57th annual event, held at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C.

Jill Austin, a veteran prophetic minister and founder of Master Potter Ministries, died Jan. 9 after complications involving two emergency surgeries. A leader in the prophetic movement for nearly three decades, Austin authored books such as Dancing With Destiny (Chosen/Baker Publishing Group) and Master Potter & the Mountain of Fire (Destiny Image Publishers). She was also an award-winning potter. A funeral service was held Jan. 12 in Lee’s Summit, Mo.

Harvest House Publishers author and conference speaker Jennifer Rothschild was chosen to receive the annual Hope and Spirit Award by the Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB). Rothschild, whose books include Fresh Grounded Faith and Self Talk, Soul Talk: What to Say When You Talk to Yourself, was presented with the award during an FFB celebration and fundraiser in Washington, D.C., Feb. 11.

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