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In the wake of the Bishop Eddie Long scandal and the amount of scrutiny on churchgoing Christians as a whole, Crawford is teaching her members that only God is perfect!
"It is critical that we place our hope in God and not in man because man is imperfect and is subject to moral failure. When you put your trust in man, you set yourself up for disappointment and discouragement. I tell the members all the time at our church to put their trust in God and to develop a relationship with Him for themselves. Pastor Beverly is flesh and blood and is subject to let them down but they can always depend on God," she told BV Buzz, before adding: "For He never fails!"
The 49-year-old vocalist won her first Stellar Award for "Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year" in 20
09 for her CD, 'Live in Los Angeles - Vol. 1.' That album featured the hit song, 'He's Done Enough,' a tune Fantasia has performed on several television specials and during concerts.(Read: 'Fantasia: 'American Idol' Star Hospitalized for Overdose.')
Crawford shared with BV Buzz that she could relate to the 'American Idol' winner's recent suicide attempt and like Fantasia; she survived to tell the story.
"Like Fantasia, I've been in situations where I thought I just couldn't take it any longer and would rather give up on life than go on. I too attempted suicide but I thank God that I am still here," she confessed.
Though she hasn't seen Fantasia since the incident occurred, Crawford said that she's been constantly praying for the VH1 reality show star.
"I say to my sister Fantasia, 'don't give up! Trust God and love yourself! Use your testimony from this experience to encourage yourself and help someone else. The devil meant it for bad but God turned it around for good!' Hey, you gonna make me preach up in here," she sermonized. "Things will get better for Fantasia! All she has to do is trust in God and He will see her through everything. I love her and pray for her strength in the Lord daily, because she has such a great anointing on her life! Thank God we serve a God of a second chance!"
Many singers who also preach begin to lose vocal quality and range. That hasn't been the case with Crawford, whose energetic singing delivery and soaring range has earned her comparisons to Patti LaBelle.
"First of all, I thank my father for giving me his genes. As a preacher and singer, he rarely ever got hoarse, so it's certainly a gift from God that our family is blessed with strong voices and durability. But I definitely don't take my vocal gift for granted. The most important thing for me in taking care of my voice is getting plenty of rest. I also drink herbal tea which helps tremendously right before I sing. But getting lots of rest is the most important thing for me," she enlightened.
"'Live in Los Angeles - Vol. 1' was such an awesome experience, so as we began planning for the follow-up project, going back to Los Angeles was a no-brainer. Bishop Kenneth and First Lady Ulmer at Faithful Central are dear friends so it was a natural choice. Like 'Vol. 1,' the atmosphere of 'Vol. 2' was simply electric! The atmosphere was set for praise and worship from the outset and
the Lord just really showed up and showed out! What I like most about the recording is that the producers, Michael Bereal and Professor James Roberson, really allowed me to do what I do and just minister. The result is what you hear on the recording! Oh man, we danced, we cried, we praised, we worshipped and I believe that people are going to mightily blessed by the music and the message on 'Live in Los Angeles - Vol. 2,'" she expressed.Crawford, who once sang with Dr. Bobby Jones' New Life Singers and was previously signed to Bishop T.D. Jakes' Dexterity Sounds Record Label, said ultimately she wants this CD to offer listeners hope during these tough times.
"With everything that is going on in the world, especially in the times we're living in, I want the people to know that 'It's About Time For a Miracle' in their lives. So no matter what you're going through – financial trouble, health challenges, marital problems, whatever – just hang in there and know that God has not forgotten you," she closed.
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VIDEO: Watch Beverly Crawford sing her smash hit 'He's Done Enough.'
Black Music Notes Mar. 19
3/19/09: Rihanna / Chris Brown
Contrary to previous claims that Rihanna and Chris Brown reunited in the studio last month to record a new duet, record producer Polow Da Don recently confirmed that the couple recorded the newly surfaced track last year. "The reports are inaccurate," Polow's publicist, Laura Wright, told US magazine. "The duet was recorded long before the incident." According to People, the track, reportedly titled 'Bad Girl,' was intended to be on the soundtrack for 'Confessions of a Shopaholic,' but the song was eventually recorded by the Pussycat Dolls.
Frank Micelotta, Getty Images
3/19/09: Kanye West / The Dream
Seven years ago this month, music heavyweights R. Kelly and Jay-Z released their highly anticipated collaborative album 'The Best of Both Worlds.' Now it appears Kanye West and The Dream are vying to work on a similar project. "Everybody is trying to talk us into it," Dream told 'MTV News' of his and West's friends and business associates. "It was first thought of by me. I was in Miami at the time, and I gave Kanye a call and said, 'The best thing would be for me and you to do an album.'... Let's take the best of both worlds and put it on a CD and try to make something we can sell to the consumers. He says he's with it. We're gonna try to make it happen." For now, you can catch Kanye on Dream's potential third single 'Walking on the Moon,' which is featured on his newly released album 'Love vs. Money.'
Getty Images
3/19/09: The Miracles
Legendary Motown group The Miracles is the latest musical act to receive a Hollywood star on the world-renowned Walk of Fame. The 'Ooo Baby, Baby' singers were presented with the 2,381st star on March 20 by Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, President and CEO Leron Gubler. Motown founder Berry Gordy and Stevie Wonder were also on hand as guest speakers for the ceremony.
Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
3/19/09: Chester Gregory
After several years of blowing audiences away on the 'Great White Way,' Broadway Star and R&B soul recording artist Chester Gregory is preparing the release of his debut album 'In Search of High Love.' The March 31 release finds the multitalented singer introducing himself as a thoughtful and sensitive songwriter blessed with a voice that captivates and demands attention. "While I've thoroughly enjoyed performing on Broadway -- eight shows a week and telling other people's amazing stories -- now it's time for me to share my own," explained Gregory. Highlights of 'In Search of High Love' include the poetic 'Clouds to the Ground,' the crossover-bound 'Say it's Over' and Jackie Wilson's soaring 1967 chart-topper 'Higher and Higher.'
Jemal Countess, WireImage
3/19/09: Sammy Davis Jr.
Altovise Davis, the widow of Rat Pack member Sammy Davis Jr. , recently died at the age of 65. Two days prior to her death, she was admitted to Los Angeles'Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after suffering a stroke. The couple, who met in 1967 on the set of the musical 'Golden Boy,' married in 1970 and remained together until Davis' untimely death of throat cancer in 1990.
Evening Standard / Getty Images
3/19/09: Earth, Wind & Fire
Iconic Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group Earth, Wind & Fire is set to hit the road this summer for a 30-city tour beginning June 5 in Orange Beach, AL. In addition to Maurice White and company gracing the stage will be pop-rock band Chicago, which will perform a full show before joining for a final set together, according to Billboard. The tour will conclude on Aug. 1 in Lake Tahoe, NV.
Santiago Llanquin / AP
3/19/09: Kim Burrell
Gospel vocalist Kim Burrell is on deck to release her first new album in nine years titled 'No Ways Tired.' The project's title is inspired by gospel pioneer James Cleveland's classic of the same name. In addition to covering Cleveland's hit, Burrell also tapped other timeless classics including 'My Faith Looks Up to Thee,' 'What a Friend We Have in Jesus,' 'O Lamb of God,' and 'I Surrender All.' There are also a few originals. 'No Ways Tired' is set to hit stores April 7 via Shanachie Records.
Zomba
3/19/09: Mike Jones
Despite being on hiatus since the release of his debut album 'Who Is Mike Jones?' Houston's own Mike Jones is ready to make his mark on the charts once again with the release of 'The Voice.' Jones' sophomore effort is packed with some of the industry's most talented artist including, Lil' Wayne, T-Pain, Devin the Dude, Hurricane Chris and Twista. He's had recent success with his latest single 'Next To You,' which is currently number 16 on Radio and Records Rhythmic charts. "For the past four years, I have been doing a lot of restructuring, getting this record right, making sure my business is right and more," Jones said of his hiatus. "Now, I am ready to finish what I started. I'm hoping my fans will feel 'The Voice' was worth the wait." Mike Jones 'The Voice' is due in stores April 28.
Gilbert Carrasquillo, FilmMagic
3/19/09: Prince
With the recent announcement that Michael Jackson will return to the stage this summer, another influential artist is also planning to make his return. Beginning March 25, Prince will be performing on the 'Tonight Show with Jay Leno' for three consecutive nights. In addition, the 'Little Red Corvette' singer is also readying the Mar. 29 release of his two new albums 'LOtUSFLOW3R' and 'MPLSoUND.' Prince is the latest artist to promote a release through multiple late-night talk show performances. U2 also recently performed five nights in a row on the 'Late Show with David Letterman' in support of its new album 'No Line on the Horizon.'
Kevin Winter, NCLR / Getty Images
Comments: (7)
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By: Beautiful G on 10/10/2010 9:50AM
I like Pastor Bevery Crawford. Her music has graced my ipod (lol). What she said about Fantasia and Christian leaders was right on!
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By: Dorothy on 10/10/2010 9:30PM
I feel the same way, only God is perfect. Man will fall but God. But God will forgive u, and pick you right back up. Anyone that says they don't sin is a lier. People we must stop acting like the preachers or elders are better, they are only a voice from God, just like you and I should be, even when you are not in church. Watch out for someone is always watching u.
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By: Tausca Thompson on 10/12/2010 6:19PM
I love how your articles are so informative
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By: Just Wondering on 10/15/2010 6:39PM
While I enjoyed reading the article, I have to wonder why the Pastor only gave encouraging words to Fantasia and not also to the wife who got blindsided in this mess? Fantasia went into this with her eyes wide open. "Things will get better for Fantasia" Well, what about the abandoned wife and kids of the dude? I sure hope things get better for them, too.
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By: james wiliams on 12/30/2010 8:53AM
“Man has a Divine Inheritance and a Divine Destination”
True Theologians
"He is not here; for he is risen” (Matthew 28, 6)
From the island of Cyprus (Acts 13:4,5).
Dear Beverly, beloved Christian brothers and sisters,
There are those today who live in not so distant places that have a real life person to Person relationship with Lord Jesus!
These humble words that are shared with brotherly love and respect, point out to the kind of relationship man was made to have with our Lord Jesus Christ. The following paragraphs, where taken from the book of Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos Entreaty” (Paraklitika), and it is knowledge that must be shared with all those who have Lord Jesus Christ as their Heavenly Father.
“Those who have made their selves worthy to see God are the True Theologians. Saint Gregorios the Theologian taught that those who saw God like Apostle Paul can safely theologize, because the sight of God cleans them from all fantasy, and renders them true preachers of the truth making them explicitly different from philosophers and philosophies”.
Metropolitan Hierotheos who is member of the Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Church continues in his book:
“It is with a lot of awe and fear of God that we dare write here that even today there are Saints (that are alive today) who saw and see Christ in the Light, they converse with him, and stay in His Sight for days and even weeks. We have been blessed by God to personally meet such people who saw Christ in His Divine Light, who attest to the fact that Lord Jesus is a True God, the only Savior of man, our only hope for Eternal Life, our only way out of the dead end that we have reached”. (John 17:3) “And eternal life means knowing you (personally), the only true God, and knowing Jesus Christ, whom you send”
Saint Gregorios (3rd century) description of his personal experience who saw Christ in His Divine Light is used as an example to describe how the Saints are able (became worthy), to see and know God in His Divine Glory.
“UNDER CONDITIONS OF CONTINUED PRAYER AND UPWARD EXTENSION THAT HAVE AS CLIMAX THE UNION WITH GOD, MAN IS POSSESSED ENTIRELY FROM LIGHT OF DIVINE GLORY THAT IS SEND FOURTH ETERNALLY FROM THE TRIAD. AFTER THE MIND IS SEIZED FROM THE DIVINE LIGHT AND ENTERS THE LIGHT IT BECOMES ITS SELF-LIGHT. THUS LIKE LIGHT, IT SEES LIGHT”
A notion, which Saint Symeon goes to great lengths to clarify in his writings, is that of the Divine Light as personal. It is not simply a sensible radiance—an inanimate luminosity such as one might receive from a lamp, or from the sun. Rather the Divine Light is the very ‘Person’ of the Divinity Himself: it is not simply a product of God, it is God. “Your light, O my God, is You”, he writes, and to this point of emphasis he often returns. Saint Symeon is also known to emphasise in his teachings… “If we don’t see Lord Jesus in this life…we will never see Him ever”!
There is no other theology higher than being in the presence (union) with God. The object and the purpose of our Christian Life is enabling our selves in His Divine presence by becoming in His Likeness (“Be Holy because I am Holy” (Peter 1, 16) through a THERAPY that was delivered to the Apostles the day of Pentecost ONCE AND FOR ALL 2000 years ago!
Orthodoxy teaches that it has an unbroken Holy Tradition of spiritual knowledge a way of life (in and out the Church) that leads to the mystical union with God. This mystical union is also known as Sainthood, Supernatural condition, the overcoming of mans mortality state, or being a god by the Grace of God. They also teach that it is not possible for this union to become an object of any kind of an academic study that can “discover” or “deepen” in the knowledge, because Christianity is all about Divine Grace.
The people of the Nations belonging to Orthodox Christianity will never claim that they have discovered the road (THERAPY) for Salvation. However they will tell you that their prime directive and responsibility has always been to keep everything that was passed down from Jesus (the Holy Spirit) and the Apostles u n c h a n g e d for these methods and teachings that were put forward for the Salvation of all man constitute or sum up the Divine Will of God.
To know Lord Jesus philosophically is to have a love relationship with an idea “philosophy” and not Lord Himself who appears to his Saints in His Divine Light as a PERSON!
Interesting relating Internet addresses:
ORTHODOX-PSYCHOTHERAPY
http://www.greekorthodoxchurch.org/orthodox_psychotherapy.html
Lord Jesus did not come to teach philosophically but THERAPEUTICALLY.
The personal experience of the Saints begotten during conduct with Divine Light is the very base of Orthodox theology.
The term "Orthodox Psychotherapy" does not refer to specific cases of people suffering from psychological problems of neurosis. Rather it refers to all people, for it is the darkening of the “nous” (mind) a condition disabling man to ever have communion (PERSON to person) with God.
http://oode.wordpress.com/2009/04/14/miracleofholylight/
An awesome miracle that takes place Orthodox Saturday Easter each year for the past couple hundred years at the spot Lord Jesus was born, in the Temple of Nativity in Jerusalem.
I belong to no organization and no one pays me.
God bless,
your friend and servant
Constantinos (J.W) 357(Cyprus) 99873390 (mobile)
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By: Matthew Primous on 3/16/2011 8:41AM
Dear Mrs. Beverly Crawford,
This was one of my favorite gospel song, Yes Lord Yes at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spojtCfyJWQ
I've been singing since I was 5 years old and I've been invited to sing at New York Music Festival at age 15. Gospel has been my favorite music now 26 years old. I performed Amazing Grace visit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAHIXhs60lI
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By: sharon c. ennis on 5/23/2011 10:33AM
i have listened to your music as a sermon to my spirit.at this very moment i neede to hear i have always trusted in the LORD, BUT AT TIMES I TOO WANTED TO COMMIT SUICIDE,I tried several times,but at the age of 37, the voice came to me as i sleep in that hospital and said"it's not time yet". something i kept to my self for a while because being diagnosed with depression, you feel others will take it the wrong way. but at age 58 yrs. a wonderful husband and 2 grown children, we have all made it through. we have had some serious things go wrong in our lives, but GOD,has kept us. i wish you well, and will continue to let your sermonic music minister to me.
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