Donnie McClurkin in Tobago for Easter

Donnie McClurkin is set to take the stage for the Easter Weekend in Tobago. The gospel singer, who has won countless awards for his many hits, will be performing in the sister isle on April, 21st for a concert entitled ‘In his Presence’. The Grammy Award-winning singer will perform live with his full band alongside some of the Caribbean’s finest gospel singers including Jamaican Gospel artiste Reynold Howard known as ‘Goody Goody’. Also set to take the stage are our own Minister Michelle Modeste, Pastor Peter Regis, Kevin Corbertt (Panist), Projek 5, Divine Ministries and Donald Job.
Dominion Promotions is in charge of the event and it will be McClurkin’s first visit to Tobago, having visited Trinidad in February of this year. The singer was involved in a three-day conference to assist with raising funds for missionary work that takes place both locally and internationally. Several years before that, he performed in Trinidad on Republic Day (September 24th) at a concert titled ‘Forever Gospel- The Concert’
Donnie McClurkin was born on January 25th, 1959 in Louisville, Mississippi. He was plagued with incest at a young age having been raped by his uncle tender age of 8 and again by his cousin (uncle’s son) at the age of 13. He lost his brother to a road accident-his brother two years old at the time- and continued to struggle with abuse. He found solace through an Aunt who sang background vocals with gospel artiste Andrae Crouch. Through his Aunt he developed a relationship with Christ and started playing the piano and singing with his Aunt’s Youth Church Choir. There he formed the McClurkin Singers and later formed another group, the New York Restoration Choir.
Because of his lifestyle he struggled with homosexuality throughout his youth, continuing for a brief period during his later years. He was hired as an Associate Minister at Marvin Winans' Perfecting Faith Church in 1989 and further served as an assistant for the Winans for over a decade. Through the Winans, he was ordained and sent to establish Perfecting Faith Church in Freeport, Long Island in 2001. He is currently a Senior Pastor at that church. His history and statements of homosexuality have often been criticized and this led to him being removed from performing at United States (U.S) Senator Barack Obama’s 2008 Presidential Campaign. He was also diagnosed with leukemia but decided to leave the healing to his maker, Jesus Christ.