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Through It All: Getting Personal With ‘Sunday Best’ Winner Le’Andria Johnson…

Hello World, le'andria

A few weeks ago, I was one of 30 bloggers given the opportunity to take part of a blogger conference with Le’Andria Johnson, season three winner of BET’s “Sunday Best!” Below is a brief biography, if you have not heard of the rising gospel singer…She has an inspiring testimony that I’m sure will minister to some…

Her debut CD, “The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson,” entered at #1 on multiple music charts.  She received her first GRAMMY nomination for Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian music performance for her debut single “Jesus.” Le’Andria Johnson became the first “Sunday Best” winner to go on to win a GRAMMY.

Le’Andria Johnson’s journey to the spotlight in the gospel music industry has not been one without controversy and backlash.  The 30-year-old, twice divorced, mother of four has dealt with ridicule, judgment and her own personal struggles.  In 2012, an unwed Johnson announced that she was pregnant with her fourth child which was not received well within the gospel industry or church community.  Johnson continued to minister where she was invited but dealing with the closed doors that were once open was a test.

It was suggested by some for her to have an abortion.  Her manager at Music World Gospel told her it was career suicide to carry the baby.  Johnson was fully persuaded that she would not abort her baby but allow God to use the very thing that man tried to kill her with as a testimony.  “I did not kill to be killed” became one of Johnson’s slogans during that time.  Johnson continued to stand in spite of.  “He was my strength.  He said I’ll never leave you nor forsake you.  God I know that you forgave me and if you forgave me, you’re telling me to move on.  But I knew there were millions of Le’Andria’s in the world.”

While expecting, Johnson went on to record her third album under The Music World Gospel label, “Le’Andria Johnson, The Experience,” a live recording.  It was during Johnson’s pregnancy that God began dealing with her and pushing her to minister beyond the music.  Imperfect People Changing Ministries would be birthed during that time.  God was birthing something in and through Johnson in the natural and spiritual.

Below are few questions and answers that I believe will really help people who are going through similar struggles…

How have you overcome the stigma in the church of being a two-time divorcee?  Well, that’s life. Being a two-time divorcee is life. I’m not the only two-time divorced woman in the world or man. There are men that have been divorced twice…I was never bound by the stigma in the church. People knew that I was divorced twice because I decided to tell it, not because somebody read up on it…

What was the toughest part to deal with when the public criticized you for having a child out of wedlock while continuing to minister?  …The tough part was trying to show these women that this mistake or whatever you want to call it. This turnaound. This detour has been made. It’s a part of our life now, but we’ve got to keep moving forward. Ain’t no way that we should abort or kill or give away, put away or whatever you want to do. That was the tough part of trying to tell these women, ‘listen, live and not die’ so that was the toughest…

As a pastor’s daughter, did you ever resent the requirements of ministry on you parents? Heck yeah! Yes, I did, because I was taught God, God, God, God, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. There ain’t anything wrong with that but I never understood life because we were always in some Bible meeting. We were always in some revival. We were always in some shut in…Being in church all of my life crippled me. That’s how the whole issue with men that I was dealing with came to be…I couldn’t wait to put on a pair of booty shorts. I couldn’t wait to put on a pair of hoop earrings, red lipstick, eyelashes…I couldn’t wait to get tattoos… I couldn’t wait to smoke, couldn’t wait to drink, couldn’t wait to have sex…But by me doing those things, I had to go through my own personal issues and in that I found God to be who they didn’t teach me He was. I was taught that God is a ‘reprimander’ and that He was jealous. I was taught that God was going to punish you for this. It was negative…But I found out He was the sweetest. He is the sweetest man I’ve ever known…I had to find all of that stuff out after I did the sin…

Wow, she really said a lot…(On a side note: I’m probably the only pastor’s daughter that can’t carry a tune in a bucket…oh well…)

Below is a video of Le’Andria on “Sunday Best.”

You can connect with Le’Andria Johnson by following her on Twitter and Facebook! The blogger conference was hosted by Rhachelle Nicol’, founder of Mother 2 Mother, freelance writer and owner of RN Brand & Design.

Any thoughts?

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Will You Be Watching the “Preachers of L.A.” TONIGHT?

Hello World,

Move over the “Real Housewives of Atlanta” or even the “Real Husbands of Hollywood,” the “Preachers of L.A.” want to get in the mix! Their new show debuts tonight on Oxygen at 10 pm/9pm Central…If you haven’t heard about the show, below is a summary of the premise of the show…

The “Preachers of L.A” is a rare glimpse into the lives of six high-profile pastors from Los Angeles. From pro skateboarder Pastor Jay Haizlip to Grace Jones’ brother Bishop Noel Jones to Bishop Clarence McClendon, who reaches 250 million homes via international broadcast each week, “Preachers of L.A.” will explore the human side of these ambitious and very powerful men of faith.

If you want to know more about them, check out their Facebook and Twitter pages….And below is a video snippet of what you will see on the show…

Any thoughts?

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Deliver Us From Hypocrisy: Senate Chaplain’s Barry Black’s Scathing Prayers in the government shutdown…

Hello World,

Like many Americans, I imagine, I am thoroughly disheartened that the people we elected cannot seem to work together to govern our country…I am reminded of when I first began as a reporter and covered school board meetings…I was shocked at how childish and petty the school board members acted. I felt like many of them either forgot or never learned the basics of good manners and appropriate behavior and instead chose to further their self interests instead of doing what was best for the children…I am not privy to all of what has transpired in the House and Senate but from my view, they are conducting themselves like children who want their way no matter what…

But thankfully, there is a voice of reason that has the unique ability to tell these so-called leaders about themselves…I learned about Senate Chaplain Barry Black from MNSBC’s Rachel Maddow…Prior to the government shutting down and throughout the government shutdown, Senate Chaplain Barry Black, who opens the meeting of the Senate each day with prayer, has used his prayers to admonish them and their shameless petulance…

  • On the Friday before the shutdown, Black said, “Keep us from shackling ourselves with the chains of dysfunction. Lord, deliver us from governing by crisis.”
  • On last Monday, Black said, “Lord, lead them away from the unfortunate dialectic of us versus them as they strive to unite for the common good of this land we love.”
  • On last Tuesday, Black prayed for “replacing cynicism with faith and cowardice with courage.”
  • And on last Wednesday, Black said, “Save us from the madness. Deliver us from the hypocrisy of attempting to sound reasonable while being unreasonable.”

He said that, didn’t he?! Go head Senate Chaplain Black! Reminds me of the scathing prayers of the Old Testament prophets! Although Senate Chaplain Black is praying for our leaders, he shouldn’t be the only one…We are commanded to pray for our leaders 1 Timothy 2:1-2…

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

Check out Senate Chaplain Barry Black’s prayers in the video below…His voice is so rich, deep and authoritative…Almost like James Earl Jones…Hopefully, his prayers combined with our prayers will be answered…

Any thoughts?