Woman on a Mission Ami Rushes is a Singer, Philanthropist, Author from Los Angeles, California
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do professionally. I am first and foremost a woman of God who loves the Lord and loves people. I am a national recording artist and I minister Gospel music through out the country.
2. What do you enjoy most about your profession and why did you choose it in the first place? What was the inspiration for your company/project? I feel that I am walking in my purpose. The purpose God has me here for. I feel if I can be a blessing to somebody then my living will not be in vain. I don’t just want to take up space on the planet; my hearts desire is to give someone hope and let them know that with God all things are possible no matter what situation they may find themselves in. I pray God will use this ministry to be a vehicle of blessing and to bring someone else into the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. Tell us about any new projects you have coming up or recently completed. I would be happy to tell you because I have just written my first book called Monday Manna: Spiritual Nuggets To Start Your Week. What started out as a weekly blog for my web site and face book page turned out with an instruction from the Lord to be a devotional-book. This book is for anyone who needs a little spiritual encouragement to start the week.
I’m also working on my 5th CD produced by award-winning Kurt Carr and it will be available Spring 2013. The songs on this new project are written by some of the best songwriters in the country. I’m so grateful to the Lord for making this possible.
4.What is a typical day like for you? A typical day for me starts at 5am with Morning Prayer, and then it’s off the park where I walk 2 and a half miles 4 days a week. Once I have me together, I start working on music, checking in at the office run errands, eat etc.
5. Tell us about your community involvement- what you are passionate about outside of work and home and why/how you participate? I am passionate about an organization founded by my pastor Bishop Charles E Blake of West Angeles Church of God in Christ called “Save Africa’s Children.” This is an organization that provides food, medicine and helps fund orphanages for the children in Africa that have been infected and affected by the Aids virus.
The need is great and Bishop Blake is part of blessing the continent with humanitarian aid. When I recorded my first project, I felt the Lord was encouraging me to give ten percent of the proceeds to Save Africa’s Children so that’s what I did. In fact ten percent of every sale from every project I do goes to this great foundation.
6. What is the biggest risk you ever took professionally and or the biggest obstacle you have overcome? The biggest obstacle I had to overcome was the passing of my Dad. When he died I never thought I would sing again. He was everything to me and I just shut down. I ended up in a hospital and prayed that the Lord would let me die. I couldn’t eat, sleep, or carry on a conversation. I didn’t want to pray, read the word or watch Christian television. I truly thought it was over for me. But God in His mercy and grace began to heal me little by little. He began to restore the desire to sing that was once dead in me. God gave me an opportunity to go to Pastor John P Kee’s church in Charlotte North Carolina to sing. I stepped out on faith and went. I remember I sung a song called “He’s All Over Me and He’s Keeping’ Me Alive”. That is exactly what He was doing. That night I came back to my hotel room and a burning desire rose up in me sing again and that night Ami Rushes Ministries was birthed. That was ten years ago now and I have to say that these past ten years have been the most fulfilling joyous years of my whole life. Glory and praise to God.
7. From where to you draw inspiration and who have been your roll models? I think by now you can guess that my inspiration come from God. My inroad to gospel music was through the King of Gospel Music Reverend James Cleveland. I joined his church, which was called Cornerstone Institutional Baptist Church and sung in the choir. I remember that Reverend Cleveland would choose me for special projects and was very kind to this Caucasian girl in an African American church Some of my happiest times were in that church and I will be forever grateful to Reverend Cleveland for being so gracious and welcoming. He is indeed a great role model for me. The other person who had impacted my life so much is my best friend Kurt Carr. Kurt is also a gospel minister of music, one of the most prolific songwriters of our time and the country’s finest gospel producers. We’ve been friends for over 20 years now and he has shown me what it really means to live this Christian life with integrity and grace.
8. What do you do to keep yourself sharp? What one thing have you done in the past year that has made a significant difference in your life? There is a scripture that says, “the memory of the righteous is blessed” I speak that over my life every day which is the first and most important thing I do to keep sharp. The thing that has made a great difference in my life is that 5am prayer we spoke about earlier in this article. It just sets up the day with God at the helm…. You might think, 5am that so early and it is and at the beginning it was hard to do but let me tell anyone who is reading this that it is well worth the effort and great blessing and protection is the reward.
9. What one thing would you like to learn this year? Spanish! My Rosetta stone has been on the shelf for about 4 years now!!
10. What do you do for fun relaxation and entertainment? I love the stories…you know, the soap operas. I have watched The Young and The Restless, and the Bold and the Beautiful from the first day they both aired. These 2 shows are great relaxation for me and I also love to go out to eat and the movies.
11. Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers? I think we covered everything:)
Best way to contact me is info@amirushes.com or you can go to my web site amirushes.com also my fan page on face book.
