Tribute to the Late Bishop Hersey Lee Mitchell, Jr.
By Bernadette Holder
Interview (Excerpts) by Larry Katz
Tribute
That’s the philosophy I have. Jesus didn’t come to save the saved. He came to
save the sinner. The people in the church are already saved. We have to reach out
to those who are not. I had to have a meeting with [House of Blues booker] Teo
Leyesmeyer. I had reservations, but I had a chance to minister to people who won’t
hear me sing in church because they don’t go to church. I saw it as a chance to
reach out to people. I see the gospel as something so important, you need to
prepare your singing. I’m old now. If I haven’t got it right by now I’m not going to
get it right. You have to put the time in so when people hear the gospel they go,
“Wow!” You have to have something overwhelming to win a soul.
What sort of group will you be performing with?
I have four musicians and three background vocalists, including my two daughters.
Now I am part of the Salvation Christian Center, which is part of the Church of God
in Christ, which is the national organization. We’re hoping to be very visible soon.
We’re in the preparation stage. I’m doing a lot of counseling now, but in the future,
soon, we’ll be very visible in the community. I’m looking forward to it, because
there’s a lot of work to be done. We’re looking to get a building of our own to help
us spread the gospel. The gospel is the good news about Jesus Christ, the burden
removing, yoke destroying, miracle working power of God. The gospel is the good
news that Jesus Christ has been anointed with this power. That’s revelation
knowledge. And that’s why I’m striving that this CD is played everywhere. It’s going
to make people aware.
I found out that this CD is universal. Chinese people like it. It’s really rhythm and
blues music, but it’s gospel lyrics. There’s a message in there. I’m singing what a lot
of other artists don’t sing because I’m a minister. The lyrics are from the scripture.
And experience. I write about my life. If this can work it will bring a new trend to
gospel. The music has an R&B spirit, the lyrics have gospel, and they fit like a hand in
a glove. Linda Hopkins, she’s using one of the songs from the CD. Barry Marshall
says she loves it. It’s called “Witness.” She uses it to close her show. So I’m excited. I
feel like I finally got a record that is easy for people to relate to. It brings joy and I
want to make people happy.
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Bishop Hersey L. Mitchell, Jr.
In addition to singing in church, Producer Barry
[Marshall] told me you’re going to be doing
that Gospel Brunch they have at the House of
Blues. I know that this is something that’s
controversial in the gospel community, with
some folks saying that gospel music should not
be performed in places where they serve
alcohol. But others say that it’s taking the
message of gospel where it’s needed most.