Tragedy strikes members of the faith community

Over the Fourth of July weekend, the gospel music industry suffered a tremendous blow. It seemed as though news came back-to-back: a deadly car accident involving Rev. Timothy Wright and the passing of Bishop Charles Ashley Craig. Just a few days prior Pr

According to David Wright and other close sources, after a Church of God in Christ convention, Rev. Wright, his wife, Betty, and their grandson, Daniel “D.J.” Wright, were traveling back to their home in New York. Unfortunately, while en route, a man driving a 1992 Chevy Corsica the wrong way on Interstate 80 hit the Wrights’ 2002 Lincoln Blackwood head on.

Police also said that another vehicle traveling in the same direction as the Wrights could not see the smoke from the accident and ran into the rear of the Wrights’ vehicle.

Consequently, Betty, 58, died. The couple had been married for 37 years and have five sons. D.J., 14, was taken to a nearby hospital but was released from life support hours later and died.

According to the family, Rev. Wright sustained multiple injuries, including broken legs and a broken right ankle. He also has several broken ribs, collapsed lungs and a broken jaw.

Authorities also reported the driver of the Corsica, now identified as John Pick, 44, also died as a result of the crash.

Please continue to pray for the Rev. Wright, pastor of Grace Tabernacle church in Brooklyn. He has recorded dozens of albums and given us hits such as "Let It Shine," "I Made It Over" and "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus (The Katrina Songs)" written by his late wife, Betty. His current single, "You Must Come In at the Door," is climbing the charts. It was reported that Rev. Wright was to negotiate another record deal soon.

If you would like to make a donation to the church in honor of Rev. Wright and his family, send it to: Grace Tabernacle, 1745 Pacific Street, Brooklyn, NY 11213.

The same weekend as the Wright accident, Bishop Charles Ashley Craig III made his transition. Craig was part of the Craig Brothers and was instrumental in the Gospel Music Workshop of America and beyond.

“They were the sons of the Rev. Charles Ashley Craig and, back in the day he had a choir called the Voices of Tabernacle. Rev. James Cleveland recorded with that choir. They recorded the songs "Just Knowing Jesus" and "Sign Me Up",” Deandre Patterson said.

“Please pray for his wife, Wanda; his children Charles ‘Volley’ IV and Tiffany; his devoted brother, Bishop James Lenzy; as well as the Craig Memorial Church family.

Then it was reported that a three-alarm blaze caused extensive interior damage to the Greater St. Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church in New Orleans. Bishop Paul Morton is the pastor. The building was heavily damaged during Katrina but had since been restored.

The popular televangelist commented in May on how thrilled he was that co-pastor, Debra Morton, would be more active in their New Orleans ministry.

“God gave me the greatest wife I could ever have. A great wife, mother of my children, and now helping us because of one church in two states, and she’s taking the lead role in New Orleans and just blowing up. She is a preaching woman, just gifted and I appreciate all of the gifts that God has given to her,” Morton said.

“Please remember regardless how rough it gets, God is still in control, and He knows right where you are, and He knows what you are going through, and He will not put on you more than you can bear. And if we trust and believe Him, He is going to take the very test that you are dealing with, and He’s gonna make an awesome testimony out of it, and your future looks better,” Morton said.

Effie Rolfe is Sunday morning host of “Get Your Praise On” WVAZ-FM/102.7 E-mail her at effie@theinspirationalcafe.com.