Lately it seems as though everyone around us has stressed the importance of filling out the 2010 Census Form but when it comes from your pastor it seems a little more urgent huh? LOL Well in St. Louis, the pastor of Lane Tabernacle Christian Methodist Episcopal Church Rev. James Morris, who also represents the 58th Missouri House district, sent out letters to several pastors in neighboring states asking that they recruit people in their congregations to apply for census jobs.

“Dear Pastor, The U.S. Census Bureau needs your assistance, as community leaders, to help us fill crucial positions in order to carry out a fair and accurate count in the 2010 Census.” Morris wants to make sure those temporary jobs are filled by people in his neighborhoods.

The U.S. Census forms began arriving in mailboxes in March and were to be filled out and mailed back by April 1. Those homes that did not send the form back by then can expect a visit from an enumerator, a census worker who will go to each door asking the same questions that are on the original form. Here’s a pastor trying to keep the community involved, Kudos to Rev Morris!

Women have always had important, influential roles in the church and since February, a total of 104 churches all across the world have invited women to preach for an annual promotion both to celebrate and educate congregations about women in ministry.

Pam Durso, executive director of Baptist Women in Ministry, said “We have churches in 18 states and the District of Columbia participated in the 2010 Martha Stearns Marshall Month of Preaching.” First Baptist Church of Williams in Jacksonville, Alabama, which has welcomed women preachers for several years, participated in Martha Stearns Marshall Month for the second time.

For the first time, this year Martha Stearns Marshall Day took things outside of the United States! Lauren Colwell, associate minister for spiritual formation and families at First Baptist Church in Savannah, Georgia, preached through an interpreter at Iglesia Bautista Genesaret in Sancti Spiritus, Cuba. WOW! What better way to celebrate women than in the church?! This is awesome!

♫OC MUSIC SAMPLER:  ‘The MARIOBrown PROJECT “GOLRY”’ ♫

Ok so what’s new? Who’s new? Who is the next gospel star to rise out of the darkness?! LOL ok a little dramatic but Mario Jermain Brown aka “Rio” seems to have done just that! This gifted singer and songwriter once a part of a R&B group known as “Reign” (I know sounds real churchie for R&B) and a gospel group known as “New Creation” “Rio” is far from a stranger to the music industry.

Rio’s distinct sound and unique deliverance has earned him notability in the gospel world with his 2009 album entitled “The Mario Brown Project” The music that he creates is refreshing and definitely one of a kind! “The Mario Brown Project” features great songs that are spiritually uplifting for people of any age.

Having grown up in the church and having his grandfather not only be his pastor but his mentor, Rio’s background in the church shines through his music. In due time, who wants to bet this guy will be battling it out for Grammy’s and Stellar’s with the likes Donnie and Fred themselves!!! LOL Rio is due for a new album soon and has three record deals on the table, so you will see him again very soon. For more on Brown stay tuned to the OC or visit www.malakent.com for more!

Mrs. Obama helped kick off the National Education Association’s 13th annual “Read Across America” celebration at the Library of Congress. The event marked the day that Dr. Seuss, or would have turned 106!

The first lady celebrated Dr. Seuss’ birthday Tuesday by reading “The Cat in the Hat” to a group of children wearing red and white striped stovepipe hats like the book’s main character. How adorable is that?! LOL “Do you know the president of the United States reads all the time,” Mrs. Obama told the children.

And of course we all know the first lady has remained in the spotlight for her bold and trendy looks. Well for this occasion, the first lady wore a pretty fashion forward “outfit”!!! A gray argyle sweater set with a silver metallic belt and a strand of pearls. I’m sure office execs across the country will be wearing a variation of this outfit on Monday! JLOL Well the Obama’s remain busy and the OC continues to wish them the best!

Latice and Jeff sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g, first comes love, then comes marriage…then comes REALITY TV??!! LOL So a couple of months ago the fabulous OC was the first news medium to inform the public that BET’s “Sunday’s Best” season 2 contestant’s Latice Crawford and Jeff Spain decided to get hitched and have been inseparable ever since.

Now, not only are the two love birds getting married, but check this out…BET is giving them their own reality show! The show entitled “Almost Married” will be taking a closer look into their relationship and leading up to the big day!

The show will premiere this summer and I suppose it will give us a real insight into this match made in heaven! According to BET the reality show will be making stops in Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, Nashville and Ghana, the show will capture the anxieties of meeting the parents and also capture the couples journey to becoming gospel superstars. Be sure to visit BET for more information on the shows airing and of course you can always check back with the OC for more updates on the two!