I Made It Through 14 Chapter Twelve: 1995: God's Just Getting Started!

In the mid—to late—1990s, as my new calling began to take shape, I spent much of my time traveling, while we continued to build our family. Praise G.o.d! G.o.d was not even close to completing the work of major transformation he had begun in my life during the amazing year of 1995. While seeking G.o.d through prayer and fasting in preparation for a ministry invitation, I had decided to consecrate a few days to Him. I was to break my fast on the ftnal day at 6p.m., but suddenly began to feel extremely hungry and unusually faint and tired early on the ftnal day. Wanting to break earlier than the scheduled time, I was almost ready to quit when I felt the Lord's encouragement cheering me on not to quit. He also impressed very strongly on my spirit that He would release a very special blessing to me that day if I did not quit. I was still contemplating quitting and had almost succ.u.mbed to temptation, ready to give in to my weakness, when the phone rang. I had suddenly received a phone call from a Christian friend who proceeded to chat with me, and before I knew it, the official time for me to break the fast was up! G.o.d surely is a wonderful helper and an expert at strengthening the weary. We chatted for so long that I forgot the time and how exhausted I was.

Another of His promises states:

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak." (Isaiah 40:29 NIV)

"I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint." (Jeremiah 31:25 NIV)

A few days afterward, G.o.d's reward came in a very big way as He had promised. I received an invitation to minister in songs at a women's meeting being held at a hotel in London. The special guest speaker was an American missionary living in Scotland. The Lord impressed strongly upon her as I sang, that she should invite me to minister in special songs at the women's conference she annually hosted. I accepted her invitation and attended the event from April 21—23, 1995 in

Scotland, accompanied by the women's fellowship leader from my local church. G.o.d had, however, meant serious business when He spoke to my heart not to give up my fast that day, as this would turn out to be no ordinary invitation. In attendance at the Scotland event was an African American woman of G.o.d named Evangelist Christine Liddell, coordinator of one of the largest Christian women's conferences for women of color in America at that time (this was before Woman Thou Art Loosed and Megafest), the EC Reems Women's International Conference. This yearly event, named after its founder Bishop Ernestine Cleveland Reems, was again about to become a major turning point in my life and our family's lives.

While I had ministered during the Scotland event, the Lord again invaded the room. His tangible presence was so powerfully manifested, that the American lady evangelist Christine Liddell felt prompted during that three-day event to invite me to this very major women's conference. It was the shortest of notices and scheduled to take place the very following month, May 17–20, 1995 at Washington, DC, in the United States. With just a few days left to obtain visas, arrange childcare, and pack, I ftnally found myself at the venue for the event, the Sheraton Hotel ballroom in Washington, DC, only a short distance from the White House!

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The event was attended by the most recognized and proliftc preachers in the nation. Bishop Reems was a gracious and generous host. I was especially privileged to join her, Evangelist Liddell, and a small company of ladies in the very early morning prayers each day of the almost weeklong event, seeking G.o.d's heart for all the attendees. After the evening services, I joined her other special guests in her personal suite to fellowship with and be encouraged by many well-respected and renowned Christian leaders of the time.

However, the Lord still had more surprises in store for me. Despite some of the most gifted and famous American gospel artists of our time being Bishop E. C. Reems's spiritual sons and daughters (her late father Bishop Cleveland had been a spiritual mentor to many of our well known and beloved gospel artists), I was granted the very special honor of ministering as the solo artist before their very special guest speaker came up on stage to speak. Backed by the largest choir I'd been privileged to work with up until that point, I sang and prepared the atmosphere to welcome and usher in G.o.d's presence. That special servant of G.o.d was none other than Bishop TD Jakes, now a very famous preacher all over the globe.

G.o.d's divine set ups did at all not end there! He was actually only just getting started. On one of the afternoon break times during the conference while I was getting ready to take a nap before the big evening service, one of my a.s.signed protocol hostesses suddenly called for me. "There is somebody I'd like you to meet" she said, so I quickly got dressed and followed her to the hotel ballroom. "This is Evangelist Sandra Crouch, twin sister of the famed songwriter and gospel artist Andrae Crouch." This time I was now a little more familiar with the name, having previously sung his song at the RCCG event and just recently read about his newest release, a gospel alb.u.m t.i.tled "Mercy." This legendary gospel music great, whose name was written at the end of many of our worship songs, had worked with every famous artist on earth. His songs have been recorded by everyone from Elvis Presley to Paul Simon, and he has worked as a producer and arranger with many of music's top artists, including Michael Jackson, Madonna, Quincy Jones, Diana Ross, Elton John, and many others. Andrae can also be heard on Michael Jackson's. .h.i.t singles "Man in the Mirror," "Keep the Faith," "Will you be there," and "Earth Song."

This G.o.d-ordained encounter with evangelist Sandra Crouch would result in a friendship over many years with her and her "twin," the generous, humble, loving, accessible, Grammy award winning, with a star on the Hollywood walk of fame, brother in the Lord, Pastor Andrae Crouch. Over the years I was privileged to minister for, and prophesy over them both on many occasions at the local church they both pastored. The church originally founded by their parents was the New Christ Memorial Church, in Pacoima, California. I was also blessed to share the word with him backstage at the Trinity Broadcasting Network's television station studios in Tustin, California, before he would go on their live "Praise the Lord" program, accompanied by a mutual friend Sister Evelyn. Evangelist Sandra Crouch a few years later also invited me to attend her official ordination, and preservice reception ceremony into her new position as co-pastor at their church. At that event, I was privileged to meet the special speaker for the day, author and preacher, the late Doctor Myles Monroe.

I am today still in awe of G.o.d for the many great privileges and amazing encounters, experiences, and memories I will forever cherish. Upon Pastor Andrae's pa.s.sing in January, 2015, his twin sister Pastor Sandra Crouch again granted me the honor of VIP seating alongside friends of many years to celebrate his life at the West Angeles Cathedral in Los Angeles, California. The President of the United States, Barack Obama released the following statement to honor Pastor Andrae:

Mich.e.l.le and I were saddened to learn of the pa.s.sing of music legend Pastor Andrae Crouch. Pastor Crouch grew up the son of a minister in California and discovered at a young age that he was blessed with extraordinary musical talent which would lead to an iconic career that spanned over 50 years. As a leading pioneer of contemporary Gospel music, the soulful cla.s.sics that Pastor Crouch created over the years have uplifted the hearts and minds of several generations and his timeless inßuence continues to be felt in not only Gospel but a variety of music genres. We are grateful that his music and spirit will continue to live on for years to come and our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and fans during this time.