Music Spotlight: Ami Rushes

Ami Rushes is a gospel singer with a sound that is definitely her own.  She has a lot to Testify about which is the name of her fourth album.  Her skills were honed from years of singing with the Rev. James Cleveland.  She is a native of Los Angeles, CA and a longtime member of West Angeles Church of God in Christ under Bishop Charles E. Blake.

Ami has plenty to sing about.  While in her 20’s she started on a diet, just looking to lose a few pounds.  But she ended up losing 50 pounds instead.  Her mother was heavy when she was a child, and she didn’t want to have to go through what she did.  Ami’s mother told her daughter that no matter what she didn’t want this to happen to her.  It became evident to Ami she had become anorexic and that turned into bulimia (binging and purging).

This would become a 20 year battle for Ami in which she was hospitalized three different times due to her bulimia. After praying everyday, and looking up all scriptures she could find on deliverance, bondage, and restraining the flesh, there seemed to be nothing that could help free her from this struggle she was enduring.  Although she would get temporary freedom, nothing lasted.

While listening to Kenneth Cope, and his addiction to food, Ami found the key to her addiction — and for that matter any addiction. He found that the root of his addiction which found him at 100 pounds overweight was that of lasciviousness, which simply means “no restraint” and it’s a spirit.  

After the years passed by, one morning (while listening to Marilyn Hickey) Ami learned it takes 21 days to make a habit and 21 days to break it.  She made it through 14 days with no binging and purging.  However, she thought nothing about this because in the past her deliverance only lasted for a just a few days.   About this time, Ami met with a minister of music at a well-known church in Los Angeles.  After singing for him, he invited Ami to sing at a Wednesday night service.  Knowing this was a great opportunity, Ami thought to herself, “maybe God could really use me.” 

Arrangements were made for her to go and minister at that service.  As she was leaving, she felt in her heart something was lifted.  It was quiet and peaceful at that moment. God had finally deliver her from the 20 year struggle — she was absolutely free!!

Throughout her battle, Ami was never in a prayer line, and nobody laid hands on her. She thought this was a thorn in her flesh and that she would never be free from this bondage.  But what brought her through was God in His mercy and grace and his mighty work in her life.  No matter what you are addicted to, God can and will deliver you out of it when you least expect it.

Ami’s fourth album Testify is just a continuation of her mission to bless, uplift, and lead people to the Lord — just like her three previous albums Refreshed, Lifting and Covering.  In her own words, Ami expresses, “I pray that the anointing that is on this new project will be transferred to the listener and remove burdens and destroy yolks.”

On this latest album, as with all her others, Rushes continues to support the gospel classics.  She kicks the project off with her adoration for traditional gospel with a tribute to the late Rev. Timothy Wright who wrote the title track and single “Testify.”  Ami wanted to pay tribute to Rev. Wright; every song on the album simply testifies to the goodness and greatness and the healing power of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

As with her other projects, Ami teams up with longtime friend (and sought out songwriter and producer) Kurt Carr to put together an exceptional array of gospel renditions.  Kurt pulled out all the stops on this album, and offers inspirational classics, starting with the title track “Testify,” i.e., a contemporary hit that makes you want to get up and dance.

Songs like “Nothing Too Hard for God,” takes a look back at the 60’s and says that God can do anything, and “Determination” (written by Carr) speaks to the fact that we must be determined to go all the way with the Lord. The song “I Go to the Rock” pays tribute to the late Dottie Rambo and reminds us that when all else fails we have Jesus our Rock that we can go to in prayer.

This album is full of songs to make you feel better, strengthened, and more hopeful.  There are also songs that lift up the name of Jesus in adoration, and to stay encouraged in the Lord.  

As with all her releases, 10% of the proceeds from Testify will benefit South Africa’s Children, a charity founded by her pastor the Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake of West Angeles COGIC in Los Angeles, CA.  The charity currently provides support to over 160 orphanages throughout Sub-Saharan Africa.

Ami is currently on her Testify tour; you can check her website at www.amirushes.com for more information and tour dates.

Let us all continue to support Ami and her latest project as she spreads Christ’s good news that offers spiritual happiness and hope beyond the listener’s experience with her testimony.

 Author:  Kay Ann (@KayAnn_G), social media strategist, blogger, lover of gospel music

   

• Getting to Know Ami Rushes (Part 2 of 2 Part Interview)
• Getting To Know Ami Rushes (Part 1 of 2 Part Interview)