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Psalm 138:8 – The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth forever…
Ami Rushes has a heart for people. Whether through her music ministry or her humanitarian endeavors, Rushes’ life mission has been to reach God’s people and offer hope, inspiration and support. Rushes’ sophomore album, Lifting, is a continuation of her debut Covering. This second collection of Rushes’ interpretations of gospel classics continues to showcase her adoration of traditional gospel music. Because that’s where I started, says Rushes, a one-time member of Rev. James Cleveland’s Southern California Community Choir. “That’s my roots! That was my introduction to gospel music, through Rev. Cleveland, and he’s about as traditional as it gets.”
On Lifting, Rushes reunites with sought-after songwriter/producer Kurt Carr—whom she shares a 17-year friendship with—to offer unique arrangements of gospel gems like “I Can Go To God in Prayer;” “He’ll Welcome Me;” “Stand By Me;” “Ordinary People;” “In Christ Alone;” and “Been So Good,” among others. “We’re going further back this time. We’re going way back. We’re going back to stuff you haven’t heard in forever and a day,” Rushes offers about the material, before adding: “Kurt has done amazing arrangements on these songs.”
The CD’s title, Lifting, captures the essence of a message Rushes aims to deliver with the project. “The prayer behind the title is that for every listener who listens to this project, burdens will be removed and yokes will be destroyed! Those heavy, heavy things that people go through will be lifted just by hearing the music,” she emotes.
In a time of war, a surplus of sex and violence and countless natural disasters, Rushes believes faith-based music is the balm to help soothe the world. “It’s more important than ever and more important than anything. Sometimes music touches the heart in a way that maybe even the spoken word doesn’t. If you go to Japan, they know the words to all of your songs and they don’t speak the same language. They probably don’t even know what some of these things mean. But it touches a place in the heart! Today, we need it…God we need him, more than ever,” she says.
Marrying her music ministry with her philanthropic nature, Rushes decided to get involved with Save Africa’s Children, a charity founded by her pastor, Bishop Charles E. Blake of the West Angeles Church of God in Christ in Los Angeles, California. As with her debut release, Covering, 30% of the proceeds from the sales of Lifting will benefit that organization, which currently provides support to over 160 orphanages throughout sub-Saharan Africa. “So there’s a bigger blessing that consumers are able to be a part of when buying Lifting and Covering,” she explains.
Though this California native had sung many years with Rev. James Cleveland and has been a longtime member of the predominantly African-American ministry, West Angeles Church of God in Christ, people always ask Rushes: “How did this blonde hair, hazel-eyed white woman find her soul and end up singing gospel music?” “God gave it to me! God did it,” she laughs when the question is posed. “Even when I was singing secular music back in the day in the club, my influences were Aretha Franklin and anything soulful, anything funky. But then came Rev. Cleveland who was a major influence on me.” If Rev. Cleveland could get a call through from heaven to tell Rushes what he thought of her continuing his legacy, what does she believe he would say? “I would hope he’d tell me that he was proud of me because I so looked up to him,” she replies.
Rushes hopes that Lifting will continue to spread Christ’s good news; offering spiritual happiness and hope beyond the listener’s circumstance. “I think people need to be uplifted, healed and delivered! God has done all of those things in my life. Every one of them! If I can give back now and share with other people through ministry and through music what God has done for me. The biggest lesson I have learned through my journey is: God is bigger than we think He is—even in those situations that are so dire and so bleak,” she concludes.
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