Grammy Winning Singer Donnie McClurkin Says Music Saved Him from Bondage

By Leah Marianne Klett
4682548.png

Pastor Donnie McClurkin is no stranger to proclaiming his faith. The Grammy winner, who has publically expressed his belief in the power of the gospel, recently gave an emotionally charged testimony crediting his success to the prayers of a leading gospel singer.

"I never thought that I would be doing this because people told me what I could not do," said McClurkin during a performance at the Holy Land Experience in Orlando. "They didn't tell me who I was, they never told me what I could accomplish, who I could be. They put the shackles on and the limits on."

McClurkin said he had been a slave to debilitating feelings of guilt and shame from the early age of 11, and believed there was no end to his struggle. He has been vocal about his troubled youth, including the death of a sibling, his battle with drugs and being sexually abused by family members.  

Despite these obstacles, McClurkin believes the influence and prayers of Andrae Crouch, a pastor and legendary gospel singer, helped set him free.

"Andrae Crouch laid his hands on my head...and prayed one simple prayer: "Lord, give him what you gave to me," McClurkin recalled.

The pastor believes that without God's healing through music, he would still be struggling with shame.

"But God used music to free me by increments of all the bondage. Until I could move past what people thought of me, until I could move past people's opinion, until I could move past people's nay-saying, until I could see in me what others wouldn't tell me was there," he continued.

McClurkin, who formerly engaged in homosexuality due to his being abused as a child, said in a 2002 interview that God had delivered him from a gay lifestyle.

"I've been through this and have experienced God's power to change my lifestyle. I am delivered and I know God can deliver others, too," he shared, according to The Washington Post.

McClurkin made headlines in 2013 when he was removed from the lineup of a concert celebrating the March on Washington due to anti-gay comments.

The singer, who also pastors Perfecting Faith Church in Freeport, N.Y., has won several Stellar, Grammy, Dove and other awards. 

Related: Grammy-Winning Gospel Singer Donnie McClurkin: 'We Need More Faith-Based Event in Hollywood' 

  • ‘Wang Mingdao’s Diary’ reproduction highlights complexities of contemporary Chinese Christianity

    On December 9, the China Graduate School of Theology (中国神学研究院) hosted a public lecture titled “A Courageous Witness in the Times—Launch of Wang Mingdao (王明道)’s Diary.” The lecture, themed “Faith Patterns in Beijing’s Christian Churches Through the Lens of Wang Mingdao’s Diary,” featured Dr. Ni Buxiao (倪步晓), Associate Director and Assistant Professor at the Christian Faith and Chinese Culture Research Center of Alliance Bible Seminary (建道神学院), as the keynote speaker.

  • Floating library ‘Doulos Hope’ arrives in Taiwan; spreading love and hope from a former cruise ship

    Doulos Hope, the international floating book fair ship, has returned to Taiwan and is now docked at Kaohsiung Port, open to the public from December 18, 2024, to January 12, 2025. Originally built in 1991 and renovated in 2022, the ship features over 2,000 books on various topics, including faith, science, and art. It is operated by a diverse crew of 140 volunteers from 25 countries, offering services such as education, healthcare, and community outreach. The ship's mission is to spread hope and

  • Chinese Online School of Theology publishes annual ministry report: Expanding Chinese theological education through new strategies

    In the 2023-2024 academic year, New York-based Chinese Online School of Theology (COST) has seen significant development in expanding its ministry in theological education and mission outreach. They have promoted a series of new events and projects to explore different strategies that expand theological education for Chinese ministers. The following are some highlights from the 2023-2024 annual report:

  • Dr. Fenggang Yang: How foreign forces transformed traditional Chinese legal systems

    In a recent lecture to Chinese Christians, scholar Dr. Fenggang Yang (杨凤岗) gave an in-depth analysis of the historical evolution and contemporary significance of the modern legal system in Chinese society. He explored the tensions and integrations between traditional law and modern rule of law, highlighting the distinctive characteristics of China’s traditional legal system and emphasizing the role of foreign influences in introducing modern legal practices into Chinese society.

Top Stories