An Evening of Worship with the Legendary CeCe Winans in Charlotte

The Believe For It Fall Tour Stops at Bojangles Coliseum

It’s always a very special event when a legendary artist comes to town, but sometimes the experience goes beyond what you could have imagined and turns an ordinary concert into something extraordinary. This is exactly what happened when Gospel great CeCe Winans stopped in Charlotte on her Believe For It Tour Wednesday evening. The combination of the outstanding singer and a community of music lovers gathered in faith and fellowship made for an evening we won’t soon forget.

The crowd began to arrive early, lining up outside the coliseum in anticipation of what was to come. There was a great mix of people in attendance for this night of worship music. I saw families with children, couples both young and old, and groups of people coming together for this special night. Some were dressed in their Sunday best while others chose hoodies and jeans. It was a coming together of people from all walks of life coming together for a few hours to celebrate, worship, and believe.

The evening got started with a short set from singer and former professional baseball player Todd Dulaney. After several years of playing ball in the minor leagues, Todd found his true calling and began his journey in music. His 2016 release A Worshipper’s Heart made it all the way to number one on the Billboard Gospel charts. The talented singer showed true passion and joy for both his music and his faith during his performance. Under beautiful lights, he shared a little of his testimony before letting his powerful voice bring it home. What a wonderful start to the evening. If you’re heading out to catch the tour, be sure to get there early enough to catch him.

Next up we had singer, songwriter, musician, and speaker Jenn Johnson. Jenn is the co-founder of Bethel Music and Bethel Music Worship School and has been at the core of their 16 albums. As the lights beamed down on the stage, Jenn took her place, situating herself on a stool at the front as she led the talented group of musicians through a set that had the audience on their feet, hands held up high as they gave themselves over to the emotions and feelings of the music. Her voice is something special and she really has the knack to make the songs come alive. She’s another outstanding addition to the tour and one you don’t want to miss when you have the chance.

After Jenn’s set, we had a short intermission which allowed for the crew to prepare the stage for CeCe Winans but also allowed for an opportunity to get the audience involved. Compassion International was on hand to talk about its mission and the impact you can have on a child’s life through their sponsorships. Volunteers were passing out information and sign-up packets to those who chose to share their love with a child in need and I’m pleased to say that there were a lot of hands up in the crowd willing to do just that.

Once the volunteers were done making sure everything was in order, it was time for us to welcome the biggest Gospel artist of all time to Charlotte, CeCe Winans. Winans of course, needs no introduction. She is truly synonymous with Gospel music, selling more albums and winning more awards than any other female Gospel artist in history. With 15 Grammy Awards, 27 Dove Awards, and 15 Stellar Awards under her belt, she has nothing more to prove and yet she just keeps getting better and tonight was no exception.

It has been over 10 years since CeCe has gone on tour and her Charlotte area fans were more than excited to finally see her hit the stage. The band and backing vocalists took their places on the darkened stage before CeCe came out to cheers and applause. She looked elegant in a white flowy top which reminded me of a choir robe as she got the evening started with “Fire” from her Believe For It album. Red and white lights shone down on the stage as words from the song appeared on the screen at the rear of the stage.

She made her way from one end of the stage to the other, giving everyone in the venue a chance to see her closer up as she ran through her set of songs. The lighting would change throughout the night from reds and whites to blues and whites, often beaming down on the musicians with a heavenly glow.

For me, music, and especially live music, is all about the emotions. I wanted to be able to feel the energy and the passion and let it overtake me during the concert and yet I wasn’t fully prepared for what I was about to experience. There’s something magical about CeCe’s voice and as she resonated over the depth of the coliseum, she was a force to be reckoned with. Her vocals are strong and powerful, yet so full of love and light that you can’t help but become a part of it all. My heart was as full of joy as a child on Christmas morning as well as overcome by the power and glory of God. I think the rest of the crowd was feeling it too as we sang and praised along with CeCe. She asked if there were any believers in the crowd and we all cheered and clapped.

What a show and what an experience! The Believe For It Tour was more than a concert. It was music, prayer, and community all in one glorious evening. There are still a few more dates left on the tour. Don’t miss your chance to believe along with CeCe Winans while you can.

See the Full Gallery of the Evening Here!

If you happened to capture any shots of the night, feel free to tag us on social media at Shutter 16 Magazine and throw in #Shutter16 and #TwitFromThePit for the world to see.

Believe For It Tour

October 17 – Orlando, ( Longwood) Florida

October 18 – Atlanta, GA – The Fox Theatre

October 19 – St. Louis, MO Chaifetz Arena