big AL

More pics coming soon…

Big thanks to Danny Wilson @ Holy Hip Hop and all of the people that we met! We love you and hope to see you next year!

God bless…

Head on over to http://www.bigalmusic.net/?page_id=162 to download them for free!

Big AL will be making a special appearance on 100.9 FM “The Hill” on Friday. Needless to say it will TRULY be a “Black Friday”. The show will start at 7AM! There will be lots of great music, give-aways, and big AL will be doing a special FREESTYLE. Be listening and CALL IN!

ENCOURAGEMENT FOR ALL FISHERS OF MEN

It’s 3 am on an early February morning.  The alarm sounds.  The anticipation of what could happen today on the lake causes a nervous-excitement to overtake the angler.  He dresses in layers because the temperature is 48° F and will increase to 70°F before the close of the fishing tournament.  The angler gathers his tackle, meets his fishing partner, and heads for the lake where opportunity looms.  The expectation of the anglers is not just to catch a nice quantity of fish, but to amass a quality stringer of fish to weigh-in.  Upon arrival at the area of the lake where the pair will start their fishing day, the anglers give a silent nod to each other, and then say “let’s go fishing”.

What most may not know is that the anglers in the above stated paragraph are me and my dad.  Yes, it’s true!  I am an avid bass fisherman, which is probably one more thing that I can add to my list of things that HHH/CHH/R&P artists don’t typically do…along with being an AP Calculus teacher in a local high school.  I absolutely love to fish, and even more so, with my dad.  This is the true story of a fishing trip from a short time ago.  Honestly, I must admit that my dad caught a greater number and quality of fish than I did that day.  The irony is that we used the same bait, used the same tackle, dressed in similar attire, fished for the same group of fish, fished in the same area, and we didn’t catch the same amount or weight.  I caught one fish that weighed one pound, and my dad caught 5 fish that weighed more than 10 pounds.  How could this be?  How could he catch more fish than me?  This is when he made a profound statement that changed my view of life and ministry.  He said, “They just aren’t feeling your presentation today”.

Wow!  What a word!  This fishing excursion became an eye-opening experience for me.  I have shared the stage with many artists, and it’s amazing how we often validate our calling and/or effectiveness in ministry by the reaction of the souls {fish} that we are trying to win {catch}.   I know that most of us are running with the call from the Lord that says “come, follow me…and I will make you fishers of men” [Mark 1:17], but we find ourselves internally and externally competing to catch more than our partner {fellow laborers}.  We put unnecessary stress and pressure on ourselves because we want the “big” numbers, but we have to remember that on any given day, in any given place to witness, our presentation may not be what the majority of that group of fish is feeling.  It can happen to the best of anglers on any day.  So, there should be no room for comparison or competition, the important thing is that we all fish!

In closing, here is the beauty of the fishing trip.  Although, my dad caught five fish, the one I caught, really helped to take us over the hump.  You see, the one that I caught, still served to be very important and necessary for our stringer.  The truth of the matter is that “…all of heaven rejoices when one sinner repents…” [Luke 15:7].  Therefore, I don’t have time to worry about how many fish you’re catching and how many I’m not.  I just decided that because we are fisherman for the Lord, ‘LET’S GO FISHING!’

Several local students got backpacks loaded with school supplies and some special treats thanks to Big Whit 77 Foundation, First Baptist Church of West Monroe and area hip-hop artist “Big Al.”

The foundation teamed up with Big Al, a teacher at Richwood High School and representatives of Broaden Horizons, a ministry of First Baptist Church of West Monroe, to supply the backpacks.

NFL lineman Andrew Whitworth of the Cincinnati Bengals recently established his foundation to mentor and assist local children.

His parents, Mike and Charlotte Whitworth, serve in a dual capacity as facilitators for Big Whit 77 Foundation.

Mike Whitworth said Broaden Horizons is the perfect example of a local organization the foundation wants to partner with to help area children.

“The Big Whit 77 Foundation wants to make an eternal, positive impact on the lives of youth in Louisiana by creating and supporting programs that provide love and encouragement to help each grow intellectually, spiritually and physically,” Mike Whitworth said. “So, Broaden Horizons was a perfect match.”

Collins Wade, a community transformation specialist with Broaden Horizons, added, “Each of these students received a beautiful Big Whit backpack already stocked with school supplies, helping each student and their families at this critical time.”

“We are so appreciative of The Big Whit 77 Foundation for their commitment,” Wade said.
One final ingredient in this equation came when Whitworth asked his parents to consult with general manager Rick Godley The Hill about positive music he would recommend for students.

Godley recommended local Richwood High School math teacher and hip-hop recording artist ‘Big Al’ to Whitworth’s parents.

“It was a pretty simple answer: Big Whit meets Big Al,” Godley said.

Known as Mr. Cherry to his students, Al Cherry recently won “Holy Hip-Hop Artist of the Year,” and his CD, “The Opening Act,” won “Holy Hip-Hop CD of the Year.”

“A chord of three is not easily broken, and we always look for a win-win-win scenario,” Godley said. “Big Whit is local, Big Al is local, Broaden Horizons is local and The Hill is live and local as well.”

Big Al’s music is in heavy rotation on 100.9′s play list.

“The feedback I receive and the opportunity to make a positive impact on this generation inside my classroom and outside has been a double blessing,” Cherry said.

Included in the backpacks were two of Big Al’s CD’s, “The Opening Act” and “The Son of Jor-El, Mixed Tape Vol. 2.”

“It was music to all our ears,” Charlotte Whitworth said. “We love it when a plan comes together.”