CeCe Winans

By Em Fergusson

Three million albums sold. Seven-time GRAMMY winner, mother, singer, author, songwriter and recording artist, CeCe Winans graciously shared her vision for her new release Thy Kingdom Come. Her sheer talent for singing, songwriting and compassion for the troops in Iraq demonstrate how CeCe Winans is called by God to do what she's doing. Her purpose for recording her eighth solo album? "I want to encourage others," she says, answering all my questions with the theme of inspiring others.

Em: Can you talk about your newest album, Thy Kingdom Come. This is your eighth solo album. What's different this time around?

CeCe: You know, I just think every time I go around, the message is different. It's about encouraging God's people all over the world, to be just that. To remind them of the power we possess inside: that we really do control our destiny. And we have to be reminded of this. Especially when you turn on the news and you hear about shootings on college campuses and you know, it just moves me to pray more and to understand the responsibility, not just for me and mine, but the responsibility that we have for the neighbors and for the children and the next generation. And the power we possess of prayer and love. It was a CD made to encourage everybody to stand up and "let's make a difference!"

Em: So is this what you want listeners to come away with, that feeling of empowerment, with, "Yes, we can do something"?

CeCe: Yes, yes. Our first single is "Waging War." And we're in a war every day; making the right decisions, doing what's right…we have to understand the responsibility that we have to make change. So I do want people to hear this CD and to encourage them to keep fighting the good fight of faith…so don't be discouraged, don't give up…

Em: You mentioned the first single, "Waging War." Can you talk about this song and what it means, as our troops are still in Iraq?

CeCe: Yeah, exactly! You know, I never really thought about the two. And people have asked me that since we started, "Well, do you think it would have a bad effect because of the war?" But no…when I think about our troops, and I do think of them often…they're sons and daughters (they're very young), have their own life in front of them. When you think about that, it's [also] about us at home who should be fighting for them and should be praying for them daily, pray for our leaders…we should feel their pain and we should pray for them as if it's our own children out there. Because it really is…we're waging war…this song is about the authority we have to stand up and make a difference. When we allow God to be the head of our lives, we pray His will into the earth; we change the atmosphere…so that's really what that song is about – not to sit back. We have to fight for what's right…for the next generation…for our children. Not let things fall where they may. We have to fight.

Em: You wrote or co-wrote eight of the songs on the album. What influenced your decision to include them on this project?

CeCe: When you look over my projects, it varies. I'm a firm believer in putting the right pieces to the puzzle, whether I write it or not…when I write things…they say what they mean to say about the project…so, it just kind of happens that way. I just go in looking for the right stuff.

Em: The worship and praise – theme songs deliver a strong point on Thy Kingdom Come. Did you intend to create a worship and praise album this time around?

CeCe: Yeah…! I felt when I was in prayer… I just kept feeling, kingdom, kingdom. And kingdom is about God's people all over. And I wanted to create…a project that, on there, is a project we could all sing together. It's like sing-along – a lot of songs could be sung in the worship services every Sunday morning. All of them aren't like that, but most of them are. That's the direction I felt like I wanted to go on this project.

Em: Being alone in God's presence has been a theme on many of your previous albums. How important is it for listeners to grasp that deep, yet important experience?

CeCe: It's most important! If I had a list of what's the most important, that would be number one. Because that is where we all get our strength from, that is the lifeline. Prayer is the privilege that we have to connect to our divine source. If we don't take the time to [get into] His presence, then we will not have the strength we will need to fight and be victorious. It is the key to a strong relationship…that will not crumble when the storm comes... it is the rock that will stand come what may….that is where you get your clarity when you're confused…where you get your strength when you're wounded…it's in His presence. It's the most important message I can give.

Em: Have you experienced anything on a personal or other type of level that drove you or inspired you for the album?

CeCe: Yeah…Like one of my favorite songs on this particular album is 'You Are The Only One.' I co-wrote it…the music just took me…it really is just my testimony. It's a very simple song and is one I will probably have problems singing without crying. It really is about being in His presence…I fell in love with God a long time ago, as a kid, and I'm so glad that I had enough insight then to know that He would be my best friend for the rest of my life. If I could get all people…especially young people ( the younger you give your life to Him, the better off you'll be) and because of the relationship I have with Him and that I've had, it's been a love affair, I always knew having God in your life was very valuable. So I didn't spend a lot of time looking for other things…I just think this song is about falling in love with Him and about [my] relationship with Him…when you have a made-up mind, it really stops you from wasting time. A lot of times we spend a lot of time looking for love in the wrong places.

Em: You've sold more than three million albums as a solo artist and I'm assuming Thy Kingdom Come will not be the last we hear of CeCe Winans. Do you have any special plans in the works, such as writing another book or a reality TV show?

CeCe: Oh, Jesus! [Laughs] I really didn't plan for that! You know, somebody has approached me with different things like that – and I [was like] "Are you kidding?!" I don't even know how that would work! You know, my prayer is…it's kind of scary when you hear of things more than once!...My prayer is, always has been, and is, and always will be,  that God's perfect will, will be done in my life, cause you never know what will happen…so I don't have any plans for any reality TV shows, we may do more [books] in the future. But I just take one day at a time…these are not my plans; I can't take any credit for it. It's been a daily walk…the older I get, the wiser I get and I the more comfortable I become. I trust God for whatever [His plan] is.

Em: Americans are facing a tough economy and these are troubled times. Can you share some uplifting words with our readers?

CeCe: It kind of takes us back to the Kingdom. God has a system that doesn't depend on our economy, whether it's going to work or not…whether things look really scary. If you can get alone in His presence and realize He's in control…you have to know God enough, love God enough, fear God enough, to know He's already worked it out. So yes, when you turn on the news and you see all the different things going on in our economy or just the violence that has just happened, you have to have that firm foundation to know that you are a child of the king and things will work it out….so don't panic! Panic is a sign of hopelessness but prayer is a sign or hope. …Be prayerful and know He's our hope for tomorrow. It's not God's will [for us] to panic…So, that’s  my word – "Don't panic, just be prayerful and God will take care of you."

CeCe Winans newest release, Thy Kingdom Come can be purchased on her website at www.ceeceewinans.com