Vickie Winans Performs In Winchester

October 15, 2007 – The congregation of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Winchester, Virginia showed their beloved pastor of ten years, Gilbert Mack, Jr. their gratitude by hosting a ten-year anniversary celebration.

“I am truly thankful and humbly honored to have served as Senior Pastor of the Mt. Carmel Baptist Church for ten wonderfully growing years,” said Pastor Mack in a message printed in the anniversary bulletin.

To help celebrate the occasion, members of the church had gospel powerhouse and the always lively, Vickie Winans perform.

“This is my first time in Winchester, Virginia”, said Winans. “I love it.”

Winans performed favorites like Shake Yourself Lose, and Rainbow, a song from her first Christmas CD entitled Happy Holidays from Vickie Winans.

During her performance for the nearly sold out crowd Winans told stories of her childhood, discussed recently losing her mother, being one of twelve children, and delighted the audience with her testimony of turning fifty-four, and the challenges women face when reaching the fifty something milestone.

“I have to catch my breath. B-R-E-F”, said Winans jokingly, after performing her first song of the evening, Long as I Got King Jesus.

“There should be no women in hell”, said Winans. Menopause [hot flashes] is to remind us that hell is not where we want to be.”

Opening for Vickie Winans was recording artist Iyona Blake, a graduate of Winchester’s Shenandoah University and Conservatory of Music. Blake, a native of Arlington, Virginia attended Mt. Carmel Baptist church while attending Shenandoah University.

“I love the Pastor”, said Blake. “It’s always a joy to perform for his church.”

Blake began ministering as a child. She would later receive a voice performance diploma from Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C., and has taught music in Arlington and Fairfax County public schools.

Iyona currently resides in Fort Washington, Maryland with her husband and two children where they attend Macedonia Baptist Church. Her CD titled Released, which she likens to ‘the first fruits of a ministry poised to take flight’, is available now.

Mt. Carmel Baptist Church is located at 1317 S. Pleasant Valley Road in Winchester, VA, and on the web at www.historicmcbc.org.