GRAMMY-winning gospel artist Kirk Franklin will host a new reality series for Black Entertainment Television (BET).

Gone Gospel is a one-hour music competition series "that chronicles the journey of popular musical artists of yesteryear in a gospel boot camp," BET said.

"Gone Gospel will showcase the artists working towards a second chance at stardom by transforming their lives and working on their own inspirational anthem," the network added. "Competing artists will be mentored by a who's who of gospel greats."

No premiere date for Gone Gospel has been announced. Franklin already serves as host of BET's Sunday Best, and he was featured in the recently completed second season of The American Bible Challenge.

Last month, Franklin took over his own channel on Sirius Radio. The station formerly known as Praise was turned into Kirk Franklin's Praise, available on channel 64 on Sirius.

Gospel music industry veteran Donna Creer and her husband died June 12 in a suspicious fire at their Little Rock, Ark., home.

Creer, 57, and her husband Donald, 51, were in bed during the early morning blaze, which police suspected was arson, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported.

The Creers were well-known in the gospel-music community in Little Rock. Inducted into the Broadcasters Hall of Fame, Creer served as a longtime gospel radio personality on several Arkansas stations, including KIPR Power 92 FM, KLIH-AM 1250 and 94.9 Hallelujah FM, the Democrat-Gazette reported. She also served as president of the Arkansas Gospel Announcers Guild and was on the Stellar Gospel Music Awards steering committee.

Creer was diagnosed with stage four cancer earlier this month, katv.com reported. A memorial service will be held June 21 at Greater St. Mark Baptist Church in Little Rock.

Virginia-based publisher The Good Book Company has signed an agreement with The Gospel Coalition to produce a series of curriculum resources for churches worldwide.

"Through our websites and conferences, The Gospel Coalition encourages and equips pastors to shape their ministries around the priorities of the gospel," said The Gospel Coalition Editorial Director Collin Hansen. "These new resources will help whole congregations unite around this vision. We are partnering with The Good Book Company because of their expertise in writing and developing materials of this kind and because of their international distribution networks."

The curriculum will have five tracks, each of which is based on the five points of gospel-centered ministry from The Gospel Coalition's Theological Vision for Ministry. Each stream will have several components—daily devotionals, group Bible study and Sunday school training material.

The resources will be released in a rolling program starting in early 2015. Authors for the tracks include Jared Wilson, Erik Raymond, Todd Engstrom, Tom Nelson and Stephen Um.

"We're delighted to be partnering with The Gospel Coalition," said The Good Book Company Creative Director Tim Thornborough. "We are excited to be working with such a passionate group of authors, who are connected to the realities of everyday ministry and life."

Visit thegospelcoalition.org for more information.

CBA President Curtis Riskey was presented this week by the American Society of Association Executives with its highest professional credential in the association industry. Less than 5% of all association professionals have earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential.

"It's great Curtis took the initiative to seek this credentialing on his own," said CBA Board Chairman George Thomsen. "The CBA board is very supportive of it and his efforts to better equip himself to serve the industry, our members and the association."

Riskey is "adopting best practices that already have influenced important CBA operational areas, including strategic planning, new services and program development, and other areas that directly benefit association members," CBA officials said.

To earn the CAE credential, candidates must have a minimum three years' experience in nonprofit-organization management, complete at least 100 hours of specialized professional development, pass a stringent examination and complete ongoing professional development. More than 4,000 association professionals hold the credential, which is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies.

The American Society of Association Executives represents more than 21,000 association executives and professionals, representing 10,000 leading trade associations, membership societies and voluntary organizations in the U.S. and nearly 50 countries.

Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) this week honored the writers and publishers of last year's most-performed Christian songs on U.S. radio and TV during its annual Christian Music Awards, held at the organization's headquarters in Nashville.

Carroll L. McGruder was recognized with his first Songwriter of the Year award for writing two of the songs on the year's most-performed list, "I'm Going Home with Jesus" and "Saved by Grace."

"Where I Belong," written by Building 429 frontman Jason Roy and award-winning songwriter/producer Jason Ingram, was named Christian Song of the Year. Also named Christian Song of the Year by Billboard, the song was published by Havery Publishing and Sony/ATV Tree.

With the highest percentage of copyright ownership among the year's most-performed songs, Word Music Publishing (Dayspring Music) was recognized as Publisher of the Year.

Former Word Entertainment CEO Jim Van Hook was honored with a Special Citation of Appreciation for his years of service and impact on Christian music.

Building 429, Brandon Heath and Steven Curtis Chapman performed during the June 18 event.

"We are continually inspired by the messages of hope and faith spread through the Christian music community," said BMI Vice President and awards co-host Jody Williams.

BMI, a performing rights organization that recognizes the writers and publishers of the most-performed Christian songs on radio and television, presented awards for songs in five categories, including Christian Rock, Contemporary Christian, Inspirational, Urban Gospel and Southern gospel.

Visit http://www.bmi.com/press for the complete list of winners.

Winners of the Christian Retailing’s Best awards will be announced Tuesday, June 25 at the International Christian Retail Show (ICRS). Singer Tammy Trent will be featured, and The Harbinger author Jonathan Cahn will present the 2013 awards at the Town Center Stage on the exhibit floor of America’s Convention Center Complex in St. Louis. All show attendees are welcome to come to the free-of-charge event.

Finalists were announced in April for Christian Retailing’s Best awards sponsored by Christian Retailing magazine. Nominating companies and authors submitted books, Bibles, gifts, DVDs and more in this year’s competition. In each category, three finalists are named, although some categories have more than three due to ties in the voting.

Yancy, whose songs are featured in the latest Standard Publishing Vacation Bible School (VBS) program, will again contribute new songs and music videos to the publisher's VBS curriculum next year.

To be released in 2014, Jungle Safari will "teach children that God is creator, provider, protector, Savior and king," company officials said.

"It's my third year to write, produce and perform the music and music videos for Standard Publishing's Vacation Bible School curriculum," Yancy said. "I'm honored to continue this partnership, making an incredible impact in young lives from coast to coast."

Standard's 2013 VBS curriculum, God's Backyard Bible Camp VBS also includes mini-concerts from Yancy.

For more information about Jungle Safari, visit www.vacationbibleschool.com. Visit www.yancynotnancy.com for more information on Yancy.