Styles: Black Gospel, Contemporary Gospel, Ur… Read Full Bio ↴Born: November 9, 1959
Styles: Black Gospel, Contemporary Gospel, Urban
Biography:
Donnie McClurkin is a gospel vocalist with the soul of Andraé Crouch and the contemporary flair of Kirk Franklin. Born into a home filled with domestic violence and drug abuse, McClurkin was saved by an aunt who sang background vocals with Crouch himself. After staying close to Crouch throughout his boyhood, he began to play piano and sing with his church youth choir. He formed the McClurkin Singers by the time he was a teenager, and later formed another group, the New York Restoration Choir.
Hired as an associate minister at Marvin Winans' Perfecting Church in 1989, with his vocals during a seminar, McClurkin endured a bout with leukemia that year. A friendship with a Warner Alliance executive resulted in his signing to the label for his 1996 self-titled LP, with producers Mark Kibble (of Take 6), Cedric and Victor Maxwell plus Andraé Crouch. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide
http://music.msn.com/music/artist-biography/donnie-mcclurkin/
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Donnie McClurkin is a Gospel superstar whose voice is recognized around the world. His voice has already transcended the Sunday morning pulpit to the top of record charts where his music has remained steadfast while reaching gold and platinum status.
While on an airplane, God gave him the words for the song “Stand,” and, he says, in 20 minutes the words flowed inside his head. “How do you deal with the shame of your past…you stand,” he continues repeating the words.
McClurkin has been able to overcome and excel to the point that fans, celebrities and a cross section of music lovers recognize his talent as “special.”
In 1983, while working with the choir, McClurkin met the Reverend Marvin L. Winans. Impressed by McClurkin’s performance a gospel workshop seminar, Winans invited McClurkin to Detroit to help start a ministry. Six years later, in 1989, McClurkin moved to Detroit, became an associate minister at Perfecting Church and began touring and singing at different churches across the country.
At age 31, Donnie was diagnosed with leukemia. But at 36, with church, music and an unyielding faith, Reverend McClurkin hit gold with his debut album and changed his life.
McClurkin is head pastor at Perfecting Faith Church, a nondenominational Pentecostal church in Freeport, New York with a 1,000-plus congregation. He is home for the services every Sunday unless traveling overseas.
This Grammy award winning artist may sing for presidents, but he’s known for “being real.” And whether in his local church pulpit or on a stage before thousands, he preaches a forthright, often-provocative message about his troubled past, and his faith in God. Music, he says, is his sermon.
The Great I Am
Donnie McClurkin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
God of every nation
You?re the Holy of Holies
Angels bow before Thee
Tenor ? Mighty King
You are the Great I Am
Sap ? Almighty King
Praise Jehovah Jireh
For being my provider
Praise Jehovah Rophi
Because You healed my souls diseases
Praise Jehovah Shalom
You?re the peace that calms all of my raging seas
You are the Great I Am,
Sap ? Almighty King
You are the Great I Am
Praise God from whom all blessing flow
Praise Him all creatures, here, down here below
Praise Him above ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Sap ? Almighty King
You are the Great I Am
Sap ? Almighty King
You are the Great I Am
I am, I am. You are the Great I am.
I am, I am. You are the Great I am.
I am, I am.
You are the Great
Sap ? I am, I am, I am
You are the Great
Alto ? I am, I am, I am
You are the Great
Tenor ? I am, I am, I am
You are the Great
I am, I am, I am, SAP, Alto, Tenor
I am, I am, I am, Alto, Tenor, Sap
I am, I am, I am, Tenor, Alto, Sap
The lyrics to Donnie McClurkin's song The Great I Am pay homage to the power and greatness of God, who is referred to as the "Author of Creation," the "God of every nation," and the "Holy of Holies." The song speaks to God's omniscience and omnipotence, with the angels themselves bowing before him in reverence. The song goes on to praise God for being the provider of all things, the healer of diseases, and the source of peace that can calm even the most turbulent seas. The lyrics repeat the phrase "You are the Great I Am," emphasizing the eternal and all-encompassing nature of God's existence.
Line by Line Meaning
You?re the Author of Creation
You are the one who wrote the story of life and brought everything into existence.
God of every nation
You are the ruler and protector of every country and all of its people.
You?re the Holy of Holies
You are the ultimate embodiment of purity and holiness, beyond compare to anything else.
Angels bow before Thee
Even the most heavenly of entities, the angels, show their reverence and submission to you.
Mighty King
You are a powerful and majestic ruler, unmatched in your strength and authority.
You are the Great I Am
You are the ultimate being, existing forever and unchanging, the one who defines all things that are and will be.
Praise Jehovah Jireh
We give thanks to you, our provider, who has blessed us with all that we need.
For being my provider
We thank you for providing us with all of the necessities of life, both material and spiritual.
Praise Jehovah Rophi
We thank you for being our healer and mending our physical and emotional needs.
Because You healed my souls diseases
We thank you for tending to the wounds and maladies of our inner selves.
Praise Jehovah Shalom
We thank you for bringing us peace, quieting the chaos and turmoil of our lives.
You?re the peace that calms all of my raging seas
We thank you for being the anchor that grounds us during turbulent times in our lives.
Praise God from whom all blessing flow
We give thanks to God, the source and inspiration for all the good things we experience in life.
Praise Him all creatures, here, down here below
We acknowledge that all living things are under God's watchful eye and protection.
Praise Him above ye heavenly host
We recognize that God is the ruler over all, including the most exalted beings in heaven, the angels.
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
We honor the Holy Trinity, praising the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
I am, I am. You are the Great I am.
We acknowledge our limited and finite existence, while recognizing that God is the everlasting and eternal presence who transcends all time and space.
You are the Great
We recognize and honor your greatness as the divine and ultimate being.
I am, I am, I am
We reaffirm our own identities as distinct and valuable individuals made in your image.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DONALD MCCLURKIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@vincenthannah7209
This is one of those hand clapping foot stomping good old church songs.
@martinadebose9482
PRAISE GOD HE STILL GOOD!!!!!!
@justlanita
I heard this in the car and almost ran off the road! Hallelujah!!!!!!! Praise Him!
@MrFredWills
I was on my way to dialysis early in the a.m. and heard this on WHUR (Wash, D.C.); almost crashed my car shoutin. Could hardly sit still in my dialysis chair replayin it in my head...
@kathyshinallgodzlady1050
This is one of my favorite songs."THE GREAT I AM".There's no one like our GOD.
@veethompson4685
Who is still here in 2022!
@willampatmon5885
Recorded live at straight gate church in Detroit Michigan , September 26 2008! This was a good album .
@willampatmon5885
I wish I was there !
@tmjseven7
whoever the 13 were that disliked this video I forgive you, because I realize your mouse wasn't positioned right & you clicked on the wrong button. Awwwww gloray, For God is the great I am!!!!
@zeldajohnson6908
Lol