Judith Christie McAllister

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Judith Christie McAllister In His Presence, LiveThe basis for which Judith Christie McAllister has built her ministry and her artistry is simply this - to worship. Everything that comes out of her in teaching, in ministering, in song and certainly in her most recent vehicle IN HIS PRESENCE, LIVE - the thing that absolutely defines her is WORSHIP.McAllister widely referred to as the 'preeminent woman of worship' explains her philosophy and definition of worship in three dimensions. "First, worship in the context of the individual, I believe that when the believer lives in the perfect will of God for their lives, there they will find worship in its truest form. We worship and give God glory, when we are walking in the purpose that God has preordained us to walk in. That is our Destiny - This is where we can find Worship."Continuing, she said "secondly - worship in the framework of the worship service, is the time when the people can meet with their God to bless Him and receive from Him." "Thirdly, worship in the perspective of Music is many things, namely the song of the Lord, the ability of the people to sing unto the Lord. Praise & Worship Music should be and must be a song of the 'people' (i.e., the congregation) to the Lord.""Worship is the destination that we reach through our vehicle of praise and it is in my initial function as worship leader, I find my purpose, which is to lead the people into the presence of God."IN HIS PRESENCE, LIVE is exactly what McAllister knows best - how to lead listeners into worship. McAllister quickly shies away from using the term 'artist.' "I don't see myself as that at all ... that word 'artist' doesn't suit me really," she said. "I am a minister who is blessed to have had CDs released that hopefully it will bless the world."Much like the word artist becomes inappropriate in describing McAllister, so are words like project or album. IN HIS PRESENCE, LIVE is genuinely more like an experience - an interactive and participatory moment in time where you literally get pulled into communing with God right along with McAllister, and those ministering with her.Without restriction, the new release is entirely music that is aimed at (no matter who we are or where we are) leading us into His presence and into a personal exchange with God. IN HIS PRESENCE, LIVE combines the structure and sophistication of McAllister's classical training and the power and intensity of Praise, taking the listener through the cycles of worship and the amazing expressions of God. The lead track, "To Our God," kicks off in high gear and is a rhythmic beat-driven expression of gratitude and thanksgiving. For the listener the vividly and victoriously melodic song sets the tone as we begin the journey into His Presence with anticipation.One of the album's unquestionable highlights is the "Expressions From My Soul mini-mix (Bless Thou The Lord Oh My Soul). Leading it off is an anthem of high worship, transitioning into a moment of contemporary call and response, soaring with harmonic modulations and ending with a "Praise Jam" - an all out jamboree of dancing, shouting and high praise."The whole 'Bless The Lord' segment came spontaneously out of a powerful worship service, as many of my songs do," McAllister said. "Most of what I write is inspired totally by the Holy Spirit and is unplanned.Moods change as IN HIS PRESENCE, LIVE progresses. Before we enter into The Holy of Holies, McAllister prepares the way with prayer with the jazz inspired rendition of "The Lord's Prayer, which moves us forward into the intimacy of worship. What follows next is an opportunity for the listener to move deeper into the presence of God with the "In His Presence medley, consisting of what will come to be known as a popular personal devotional aids including: "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus/Oh To Be Like Him/Face-To-Face. Truly reflective of this minister's heart, is one of her favorite selections, "One Thing, which speaks of her personal passion to dwell in and to be inhabited by the presence of the Lord.McAllister shared throughout the recording, her testimony of God's awesome and absolute healing power. Having suffered with chronic pain since childhood, due to a severe case of scoliosis, at the age of 13 she received a negative prognosis that as she grew, the scoliosis would continue to develop, adversely affecting her heart and lungs to the point that it would be unlikely for her to live past her 21st birthday, had she not opted to have surgery at that time.Even then, at that young age, McAllister did not receive the negative report. "As the world was formed by the words of the mouth of God, so OUR worlds are framed by the words of OUR mouth ... I choose to say good things and resist the temptation to fall prey to the spirit of negativity," she said. "The victory is in our mouths as Proverbs 18:21 tells us death and life are in the power of the tongue."In 2003, McAllister postponed the much-needed back surgery to tend to her ailing mother, by traveling to New York City from Los Angeles, once, sometimes twice a month. She continued this routine for 10 months with acute pain racking her body, until she suffered the unimaginable losses of both her mother and mother-in-law within one week of each other.With her beloved mothers in glory, she decided to move forward with the recommended treatment of corrective spinal surgery. In March 2004, McAllister went under the surgeons knife to have the necessary corrective treatment that included a spinal fusion, removal of discs and re-joining her spinal column with innumerable rods and pins. "The prayer I uttered before the anesthesia took effect was 'Lord, for your glory,'" McAllister recalled."When I came to, I was unable to either feel or move my right leg. It was discovered after thorough examination that one of the pins inserted to support a rod, slightly nicked the nerve which was vital to the use and function of that leg."The next day, McAllister underwent yet another major surgery to remove the pin that caused her paralization. Having to endure a second surgery, what was initially supposed to be a 5-day stay turned into almost a month and a half ordeal in the hospital. Again defying doctor's prognoses that normal function of her leg would not return to her until 2 to 5 years later with rigorous physical therapy McAllister would not accept paralysis of any kind - even temporary. She willed herself to be strong; committing herself to doing rehab 3 to 4 times a week and within 3 months time she was walking with just the aid of a cane and driving her car. As we learn of her story, songs like "Healing Stream and "We Wait On You offer so much meaning and add a level of poignancy and depth to this release.As our journey with McAllister closes we go out rejoicing with the delightful celebration Caribbean-tinged tracks "Zion Rejoice and the song co-written by her children Christina & Michael McAllister, "I Live To Worship You. And as if the best was indeed saved for last, the really progressive stuff comes at the end. One of McAllister's signature songs, "Like The Dew is given the hard rocking, addition "Rain which promises to be a favorite amongst the radical worshippers."It's so important to know that people can live in His presence, outside of the traditional worship service," she said. "I hope that people can catch a sense of what it is like to be in His presence ... these are reflective, singable songs that each believer, regardless of skill level, can offer the Lord and enter into His presence - That is what God desires of each of us."IN HIS PRESENCE, LIVE unlike most projects was turned around with unprecedented quickness. Although aware of her recording contract, McAllister was basically informed of the project and live recording just months before the actual date. The recording in January 2006 held at Cathedral of Praise COGIC in Nashville, was pulled together is just under two months. A lesson learned on McAllister's behalf, she noted with confidence "when God does something and there is an acceleration in the Spirit, He will move quickly and you have to learn to go with it and go with what God says.""Honestly, I wasn't thinking of doing a new project but God began to shift situations very quickly in my life and ministry. I want people to know that THIS is the season of acceleration ... Things that would take years to do, are now being accomplished in much less time as previously required. In this regard, when the task is complete, only God will get the glory and we will have to step back and say - WOW, look at what The Lord has done!!"