Five Questions for...Donnie and CeCe
(10/25/01, Essence.com ) Two gospel favorites take their praise-filled
music on the road.
It's easy to
imagine how gospel heavyweights Donnie McClurkin and CeCe Winans can
use their own soothing lyrics to remain calm amid this phenomenally busy
and tense time. Taking their success in stride, Winans and
McClurkin have teamed up for a 23-city gospel tour, which began in San
Diego, Calif. on Oct. 17, and is already sold out at many stops.
Rapidly approaching
"legend" status, Winans is calling the shots with
a new self-titled CD and record label, Wellspring Gospel.
McClurkin has people praisin' on both sides of the Atlantic with his
latest CD Live in London and More..., which includes the
chart-topping hit "We Fall Down," and as pastor of The
Perfecting Church in Long Island, NY.
Having Winans and
McClurkin team up for a double-dose of inspirational songs is just what
we need during these stressful times. Essence.com caught up with
the two to talk about their music, their messages, and how to stay inspired
and sane during the occasional craziness of touring.
I know gospel
fans are thrilled to find you two touring together. Why did you
decide to work with one another?
Donnie: We
just started the tour last week and so far, nothing unusual or crazy has
happened. You might want to check with me in a few weeks
(laughs). Seriously, this tour was in the planning stages before
Sept. 11. We just thought the timing was right. There's such
an urgency to get the message out to people that God loves them and that
there's hope in Jesus. We hope people will get this message in
their hearts and be comforted in knowing they don't have to live in
fear. There's nothing happening that God is unaware of, because
He's in control.
CeCe: Oh,
we're having a great time. We had two shows so far, started off on
the West Coast, and it's turning out better than we had planned.
We always have fun. It's just a time where it's needed, in terms
of all the trials that everyone's going through right now. To be
able to come with good news and music that heals the soul and uplifts
the spirit--it's more meaningful now, probably more than ever.
What do you
think about secular artists who do gospel songs or rap about God, and
then go back to their "worldly" routines?
Donnie: Only
God knows the heart of man, so even if someone is singing gospel music
because of its popularity or for financial gain, He's going to use it to
His glory. Every time someone sings a song, they're hearing it as
well, and a seed is being planted whether they [realize] it or
not. Hopefully, that will have an effect on their life. It's
hard to sing praises to God and it not affect you in some way.
CeCe: My
prayer is that everyone will turn from wicked ways and that they sing
songs that are uplifting and positive. But if someone chooses to
do a gospel song and then go back to what they normally do, the Bible
says, "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord."
Everybody has a right to praise Him, no matter who you are, where you
come from or what you're doing later on that day (laughs). And
hopefully through that praise, they'll become closer to Him. So, I
don't have a problem with secular artists doing gospel music at
all.
What do you
think is the biggest misconception people have about Christians?
Donnie: There
are a lot of misconceptions about Christians, but by and large, people
have the idea that Christians are supposed to be perfect. I guess
that's because we Christians sometimes give that impression. We
don't talk openly about our flaws and weaknesses. We try and hide
or downplay those, and magnify the strong points. I'm not where I
am today because I've done everything right. I'm n the position I
am, because I've acknowledge where I've been, and what God has delivered
me from. I don't enjoy sharing the awful things I've been through
but I know that's what God expects me to do. He wants others to
know that what they're experiencing is not beyond Him. He has the
power to heal and deliver them from whatever they're going to
face.
CeCe: That
we're not human (laughs)! They feel that when you're a Christian,
you can't relate, they're surprised when you experience pain. God
never told us we wouldn't experience pain, but He said He would be
there. It's almost like they don't feel like you can relate to
natural life, and we do. We go through the same things. I
really thought I would skip "teenage stuff," but I didn't
(laughs)! I thought that being a Christian would kind of take me
over that, but [my kids] turned into something else! They're great
kids, but they're just teenagers, and they go through their
stages. So that's been an adjustment. But God is faithful in
that we're human, like everybody else.
CeCe, your new
self-titled CD is the second release from your record label, and it's
doing very well. How are you celebrating your growth as an artist
and entrepreneur, and what has been your biggest challenge?
I'm excited about
where I am right now. when you get older, you thank God because
you get wiser and celebrate the simple things in life more than anything
else. Over the years, you learn that you're blessed so that you
can bless others. It's not about you, but about: "How can I
bring a smile onto someone else's face today? How can I encourage
someone else, so that they can make it?" And that's where
your blessings come from. I think I'm my happiest when I'm a
blessing to somebody else.
[With my label],
everything that I've been through up until this point has prepared me
for now. I think the greatest challenge is overcoming your fears
and realizing that, "I can do all things in Christ who strengthens
me." After you do that, you can sit back and say, "Man,
I could have done this a long time ago!" (laughs) I think all of us
hesitate because of fear of the unknown. Yeah, it's going to be
hard sometimes, but it's so much more rewarding when you have something
of your own. I wasn't in a rush to make it a huge success
overnight, but we're learning from our mistakes, and God is bringing
some great people in to work for us, and it's gonna be great.
Donnie you've
overcome much hardship in your life and you touch upon it in your book, Eternal
Victim, Eternal Victor. Why do you think it's easier for some
people than others to overcome the "victim" mentality?
It depends a lot
upon the individual, their strengths and level of faith. The irony
of overcoming a victim mentality is that victory has to start in one's
mind--the very place the person is struggling. The person has to
see [him or herself] in a different light, and above all want to change
their situation. Overcoming any type of hardship is never an easy
thing to do, however, there are some people who are more persistent and
determined to make the necessary changes to break free from that victim
mentality. My book does not promote a quick-fix program or supply
readers with five steps to obtain victory over their hardships.
What it does is offer a very candid overview of what I experienced as a victim--the
emotional trauma, the strongholds that tried to dominate my life and the
battle I fought to stand here today, totally delivered so my testimony
can help others.
Vonetta
Booker, a freelance writer who lives in Brooklyn, NY., is the editor of
the urban lifestyle e-zine Triscene.com.
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