In the Spirit

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CeCe Winans Powerful Message of Love

by Thelma Sardin

With 25 years in the industry, Gospel recording artist CeCe Winans accounts all of her success to her relationship with God. The author, philanthropist and businesswoman is the eighth of ten children born to David Pop and Delores Mom Winans, pillars of the renowned gospel music family, The Winans.

Born Priscilla Marie Winans, CeCe is a native of Detroit, Michigan but currently lives in a suburb of Nashville, Tennessee.

Winans is also half of the contemporary gospel duo, BeBe and CeCe Winans and shares the bill with her brother BeBe. The duos music gained crossover appeal with R&B and pop music audiences earning them several Grammy and Dove Awards and soon theyll get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame this year on Oct. 19.

Gospel music admirers are familiar with the positive messages in Winans music. She is a firm believer that messages of love can uplift the mind, body and spirit.

I think our mind, body and spirit craves love. One thing we all have in common is that we all need love, Winans said. While Winans is happy her music inspires, she knows a lot of other music does not carry the same positivity. Music is very powerful. Unfortunately, its just as powerful when it is negative. It [can] influence people to feel negative feelings and influence them to do the wrong thing instead of the right thing. Im just grateful that mine is always positive because its about good news, its about the gospel of Jesus Christ, she said.

The gospel singer also believes it is important for women to feed the human spirit because it is instinctive.

Were nurturers. For the most part, we as women are so busy nurturing everybody else, our husbands, [and] our kids ,Winans said. She continued by saying women should also nurture themselves. When you do that it makes you a better mom, a better wife, a better friend, a better person, she said.

In essence, Winans says that it is important for women to nurture the spirit, soul and body because it is what God wants. You just cant feed the spirit and not take care of your body. Then your spirit is full of joys but then your body is wretched with pain or disease. You want to be whole. Thats Gods desire for us and it should be the desire for ourselves.

During challenging times and in the midst of trials and tribulations love can help heal. Winans says that one way women can overcome obstacles is to love their enemies. She said the Bible says to love our enemies and that women often hold on to grudges or evil done to them. When you choose to be offended and you choose to have negative emotion all it does is eat your own spirit, your own health and your own well-being, Winans said. She also says that when you use love in a time of conflict, youre going to be victorious because love is the only power that will conquer all.

Winans has a very close relationship with God. She says that her relationship with Him is the most important one in her life. He is my Lord and Savior.He is the reason why I sing. His word is my foundation, I can stand no matter what life brings I know I am blessed because He is in my life, she said. Winans says women who do not have God in their life should considering giving Him a try. I have to tell other women out there if you havent tried God, if you dont have your spiritual life in place then youre missing a big piece of the puzzle. Even if you feel like you are doing alright. If you add him on and you put him first, your life is going to change for the better, in a great way.

Winans is a busy woman. She is in the process of planning her youth conference, Always Sisters Forever Brothers. The events goal is to educate, motivate and redirect the life choices of teens, young women and men. Winans has hosted the conference for the past five years. This year it will be held July 21-23 in Nashville. For more information, visit www.alwayssistersforeverbrothers.com.

I would not be who I am today if I didnt have people who took out time to pour into me wisdom, love and encouragement, Winans said about giving back, she added, When I see those[kids]encouraged and charged up to do the right thingit doesnt [get] better than that.

Winans and her brother BeBe are preparing to go on the road with MaryMary for the Still Something Big tour. She says she and Bebe are grateful Chicagos continued support. Its been fifteen years since weve done music together and toured. To see that people still love and appreciate the music that weve put out over the years [makes us] very appreciative. Chicago was there for us in beginning and Chicago has been there for us every step of the way.

Winans has been married over twenty five years to Alvin Love, Jr. and have two children, Ashley and Alvin III. As a working mom, she balances work, life and family by prioritizing. You only have so many hours in a day. You have to prioritize. Im called to be a wife and a mother first and everything else comes after that. When you put things in the right order, God honors that. He blesses you with the right people to help you, she said. Winans is quick to point out she is not a superwoman but that she has super people around her to help with everything she does. I have a great husband who supports me 100%, [theres] no way I could do what I do without him. Ive always had my mom there to help or his momso it takes a lot of people. I couldnt dare take all the credit myself. I have a lot of great people helping me accomplish the will of God for my life.

A place of sanctuary is important to reflect and nurture the spirit. Winans says that her place of solidarity is church. At the end of the day, if Im sitting in church, Im really happy, Im really at home. When youre outside of that, it becomes more about the call. But when youre inside, you dont have to be mindful of other things. Youre just alone in His presence, she said on her website.

The Still Something Big tour hits Chicago on April 2 at the Chicago Theatre. For more information or to buy tickets, please visit ticketmaster.com or call the Chicago Theatre at 312-263-1138.

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