Veteran Christian music groups NewSong and Newsboys have recently announced the return of band members from their lineups in the 1990s. Russ Lee, lead vocalist for NewSong on the albums and tours for People Get Ready (1994) and Love Revolution (1997), is rejoining as lead singer and guitarist Jody Davis, a member of the Newsboys from 1992-2003 and was replaced by Paul Colman, has rejoined that group as guitarist. Colman has left to resume his solo career.

Get ready to set your DVRs for the upcoming 2008 Billy Graham Christmas Special With Franklin Graham. The 60-minute special starts airing on seven national networks and in 150 markets in the U.S. and Canada Dec. 6 and will be airing through Dec. 14th.

A host of musical guests will be debuting world premieres of their Christmas music videos, including Steven Curtis Chapman ("Miracle of Christmas"), Ricky Skaggs ("Go Thee Down"), Nicole C. Mullen ("Lamb of God") and Erin O'Donnell ("Mary, Did You Know?"). And in a blast from 1977 Billy Graham Christmas Special past, June and Johnny Cash perform "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day."

Also featured are inspirational messages and testimonies from Franklin Graham, evangelist RV Brown and Steven Curtis Chapman, as well as footage from vintage Billy Graham Christmas TV specials.

For more information on TV stations and air times, or to order a copy of the Jan. 5 DVD release of the Christmas special, visit www.billygraham.org/TV.

With the growing popularity of Hillsong United you'll understand why news that the band will be touching on American soil in 2009 is so exciting.

So, that's why when I heard about the Hillsong United Encounter event April 17-18 at the Bank United Center, at the University of Miami, another Encounter conference in Anaheim, Calif., Aug. 28-29 at the Anaheim Convention Center, and several tour dates in North America in August and September, I was thrilled!

Produced by Integrity Live Events, Encounter is chuck full of breakout sessions, speakers, teaching and concerts. The conference, geared toward pastors, youth leaders, worship leaders, musicians and students will "focus on the subjects of worship and justice and equipping young people to bring both to their local communities," Integrity Music announced.

Registration for the Miami Encounter has already begun online at www.integritylive.com, with early bird registration before Feb. 20 at $89 a person. Pre-registration for the Anaheim Encounter has also begun and runs through April 31st at a discounted rate of $69 per person. Details about other United North America appearances in '09 are also listed now on the Hillsong United Web site.

For more information on the mates from Down Under, check out their Web site, www.hillsongunited.com, or their MySpace page, www.myspace.com/hillsongunited.