Generation J

Urban gospel foursome Generation J is on a mission to deliver an experience unlike any other. This powerhouse group of vocalists seek to reach every generation with the message of Christ's love through their high-energy combination of urban contemporary gospel, pop, reggae and rap. With the release of their latest project, Secret Place, Generation J is poised to take that experience to a wider audience than ever before.

Generation J is a family affair, made up of four multi-talented cousins - brothers Aaron and Pierre Sanders and sisters Leslie and Adrienne Hudson. The Atlanta-based group grew up singing together in church, each becoming comfortable on stage as early as five. The foursome now feels right at home on any platform, where they not only sing but dance and even act in a multi-faceted variety show designed to glorify God.

"For as long as we can remember, we've been doing the same thing - singing, dancing and recording music," says Pierre. "Our foundation is singing in the church, and listening to the 'greats' of gospel music like The Archer Sisters, John P. Kee, Donnie McClurkin and Shirley Caesar."

Now ranging in age between 19 and 24, the cousins have shared stages with some of Gospel music's greatest luminaries, including CeCe Winans, Fred Hammond, Mary Mary, Daryl Coley, Kim Burrell, and many others. They are carving their own place in Gospel music history with Secret Place, the group's first nationally distributed project, and are carrying a message that resounds through everything that they do.

"The 'J' in our name stands for 'justified,'" expounds Aaron. "We want people to understand that it doesn't matter who you are, where you've come from or what you've done, we can all be justified through Christ. God's love is so much bigger than our mistakes, and that's what we want people to experience every chance we can perform for them - the love and power that God has for each of us."

Generation J worked with a stellar team of producers to record that passionate message on Secret Place. Maximizing the group's expansive vocal range and musical diversity were producers Roger Ryan (Shirley Caesar, Anointed), Chris Bevins of Latin-infused group Salvador, and the team of Richie Pena and Ziggy Diaz (Rachael Lampa). Aaron, Adrienne, Leslie and Pierre also demonstrated their songwriting skills on Secret Place, co-writing seven of the album's ten songs and communicating clearly the theme of abundant life in Christ.

"Our songs come right out of our own life experiences with God," Leslie tells. "The things we experience in our faith every day become opportunities for us to write songs. We also love to perform songs about other people's experiences that have really ministered to us, because we hope that we can share that blessing with even more people."

Secret Place includes exceptional renditions of the classic gospel favorites "Going Up Yonder/Get Ready" by Walter Hawkins, which opens the project, and "Worship Medley" from Kurt Carr's album Awesome Wonder. In addition, Generation J shines on "Glory," written by Nee-C Walls Allen of Anointed, with Jamie Jones and Jason Pennock.

"The first time we heard 'Glory,' we knew it was a song we'd love to have on the album because it talks about receiving all that God has for us," shares Pierre. "He has healing, deliverance, wholeness and hope for each of us, because He loves us so much and wants us to experience abundant life in Christ."

In one way or another, that theme underlies every song on Secret Place. "This album is about being in the presence of God," Adrienne adds. "We want people to know that God is right there waiting for them just like He was for us, and when we come into His presence, He opens up a whole new world of possibilities. God did that for us, and now we can't do anything but share that with other people."

Generation J uses many avenues to tell others what God has done for them. Working together with their home church, Creflo Dollar's World Changers Ministries, Generation J frequently appears on the ministry's television, radio, internet and print productions, which reach a combined worldwide audience of over 1 billion homes. They have also made guest appearances on "Bobby Jones Gospel Explosion" in Nashville, Tenn., and Las Vegas; on New York's "Showtime at the Apollo;" on the Trinity Broadcasting Network's (TBN) "Praise the Lord," and on the nationally-syndicated "Say Yes" program, with host Candi Stanton. The group has appeared in such national publications as Sister to Sister, Gospel Flava and Upscale Magazine.

The foursome also performs as part of a traveling theatrical production known as "Stand Up America." The program uses music and dramatic interpretation to encourage high school and middle school students to stand up against negative peer pressure. "This program has fulfilled a personal dream for me," shares Leslie, "because we've been able to talk with young girls who were insecure about themselves or depressed, and we've had the chance to embrace them and let them know that, no matter what they've done, there is hope in Christ."

"We know that we can't reach everybody, but if, through this record, we can change even one person's mind about the way they see themselves, we believe that will ultimately change the world," Pierre says. "We've all been in a place where we've made mistakes, or had times where we didn't think much of ourselves, but we want to help people find freedom from that guilt and remorse, and find the power to be who God really intends for them to be."

Aaron, Adrienne, Leslie and Pierre rely on God's power to put every talent they have toward delivering what they dub "the ultimate praise and worship experience." Once you experience the music of Generation J, no matter who you are, their message will move you to agree, to celebrate, and to dance right along with them.