CeCe Winans entertains WSSU students, community

Legendary gospel songstress CeCe Winans performed to a full house of energetic gospel- music fans Sept. 19 in K.R Williams Auditorium. Winans’ concert was the first presentation of the semester by Winston-Salem State University’s Lyceum Cultural Events Series. “Coming to this concert was a complete surprise to me. CeCe Winans is one of my favorite artists,” said an Appalachian State University senior who was brought to the concert as a surprise from her friends. Winans began her concert with what she called a “worship experience.” She opened with the R&B hit “Well Alright,” followed by “Anybody Wanna Pray with Me?”Winans also shared personal testimony about how she started out singing duets with her brother BeBe and how God blessed her in her 20-year singing career. Although she sang 10 of her award-winning songs, the crowd pleasers included “Everlasting Love”, “Heavenly Father,” and “Holy Spirit Come and Fill This Place,” While singing, Winans demonstrated to the audience what Mary must have done while washing Jesus’ feet.Winans knelt down and illustrated washing His feet with her tears and her hair. The demonstration got the audience up and involved in the “worship experience.” Members of the audience raised hands and uttered constant words of thanks and adoration. ” I feel that CeCe Winans is a true woman of God and is not about show,” said junior occupational therapy major Allison Draper.During her performance, Winans offered an invitation to those who may not have known Christ. She asked the audience to join her in a group prayer. After that experience many people gave their lives to Christ. Winans then invited the new converts to join in worship with her and explained the concept of her newest CD “Throne Room.””I love Jesus, and I wanted to write Him love songs. So I wrote Him this CD.”After her explanation she sang “Jesus, You’re beautiful to Me,” a song featured on “Throne Room” CD. “I thought the concert was a very uplifting and spiritual experience,” said Dr. Melvin Johnson, Provost for WSSU. “The music was for people from all different backgrounds.”