Tonya Carter Profile
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"Yes, God, all I want, no matter what, is for you to be glorified. Every time I have the opportunity to sing, to minister, I want for eyes to move off of me and focus on You. So, I’m just willing to do whatever God wants me to do.”
"What I do in life for Him is so that He gets the glory. There’s a song:
All I want is for you / All I want is for you to be glorified / To be lifted high.
And every time I sing that song, it just makes me weep. It makes me just say to God, ‘All I want is for you, not me, but you, to be glorified, for you to be lifted high.’
When I first heard the song, I was like, wow, I have to do that song. But it ministered to me. It made me think, yes, God, all I want, no matter what, is for you to be glorified. Every time I have the opportunity to sing, to minister, I want for eyes to move off of me and focus on You. So, I’m just willing to do whatever God wants me to do.”
All I want is for you / All I want is for you to be glorified / To be lifted high.
And every time I sing that song, it just makes me weep. It makes me just say to God, ‘All I want is for you, not me, but you, to be glorified, for you to be lifted high.’
When I first heard the song, I was like, wow, I have to do that song. But it ministered to me. It made me think, yes, God, all I want, no matter what, is for you to be glorified. Every time I have the opportunity to sing, to minister, I want for eyes to move off of me and focus on You. So, I’m just willing to do whatever God wants me to do.”
Ministering in worship was nothing new for Ms. Carter, having hailed from a family of musicians and singers with some local celebrity. Because of this heritage, she began singing at a very young age. From there, she never stopped.
“I started singing at the age of four. I come from a family of four, two sisters and two brothers. We’re the Little Johns, growing up in Boston, Massachusetts. We started by singing in different churches. It’s been 50 years.”
Though a seasoned minister of worship, a master in her own right, she still faced some hardship as she pressed forward in gospel music.
“I started singing at the age of four. I come from a family of four, two sisters and two brothers. We’re the Little Johns, growing up in Boston, Massachusetts. We started by singing in different churches. It’s been 50 years.”
Though a seasoned minister of worship, a master in her own right, she still faced some hardship as she pressed forward in gospel music.
“There was a time when I felt that I just wanted to give up. At times, you get a little stagnant and you think, oh God, there's so much more to You than what I see with the natural eye. I wasn't really getting anywhere, I was just kind of at a standstill. I said to God, ‘I know that you gave me this gift. I know that you gave me this gift to minister to the world and to the people in the Church.’ I really got to the point where I just wanted to throw in the towel – to say I'm just going be a regular member, sit in the chair, sit in the church pew. I’m not gonna sing. I’m not gonna do anything. I was at the point in my life that I really felt like giving up.”
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In spite of the odds, the worship songstress described how God’s Word, church, family, and personal ministry kept her going.
“What kept me from completely throwing in the towel was prayer, fasting, staying under the Word of God, staying in the church … staying. I had such a good relationship with my former pastor, Emma Black as well as the late Pastor Edred Black while I was a part of Grace Christian Centre for 20 plus years. I also received encouragement from my home church, House of Prayer #5 and so on and so on.
"My mom … she was quite a person. I thank God for her because she was a woman that prayed. She always encouraged me to stay under the Word, stay in prayer, and watch God turn things around. And God actually turned things around for me at that point in my life. When my mom was alive, I used to call her. I’d say, ‘Mom, I'm just really to that point in my life where I just want to give up.’ She would say, ‘No Tonya, you can't give up. You got to hang in there.’ When you're a part of a really good ministry, you stay put, and watch God turn things around for you. I began to see that. So, I thank God for that.
“What kept me from completely throwing in the towel was prayer, fasting, staying under the Word of God, staying in the church … staying. I had such a good relationship with my former pastor, Emma Black as well as the late Pastor Edred Black while I was a part of Grace Christian Centre for 20 plus years. I also received encouragement from my home church, House of Prayer #5 and so on and so on.
"My mom … she was quite a person. I thank God for her because she was a woman that prayed. She always encouraged me to stay under the Word, stay in prayer, and watch God turn things around. And God actually turned things around for me at that point in my life. When my mom was alive, I used to call her. I’d say, ‘Mom, I'm just really to that point in my life where I just want to give up.’ She would say, ‘No Tonya, you can't give up. You got to hang in there.’ When you're a part of a really good ministry, you stay put, and watch God turn things around for you. I began to see that. So, I thank God for that.
"I thank God for my dad. He was a man that was quiet, of few words. He loved his daughter. He loved me … powerful love. He was just happy to see his daughter get to that point in God with music. My family is very supportive. My siblings, Gigi, Adam, and Jonathan, my children Iesha---up and coming artist – my son Calvin, my very supportive husband, Nathan – are with me. I thank God for my beautiful family. I don’t know where I would be without their support and those who have supported me through my music ministry.
"While Pastor Edred Black was here, we were able to hang out. He would talk to me. I would go to his home. He would just say, ‘Tonya, I can see God doing great things for you. Pastor Emma Black – past times and present – encourages me as well.
"While Pastor Edred Black was here, we were able to hang out. He would talk to me. I would go to his home. He would just say, ‘Tonya, I can see God doing great things for you. Pastor Emma Black – past times and present – encourages me as well.
"And as I got older, I realized through my prayers, yes, this is what God wants me to do: to minister, not just to the people in the church, but also to minister to the ones that come to church and don't even know who He is."
"I’m now a part of a new ministry under Pastor Lee Martez and his wonderful wife Pastor Michelle Martez at Freedom Church. I'm a part of a great ministry. They encourage me. Being a part of their worship team, being with other worship leaders … it encourages me. It’s important that you can work with worship leaders that desire to do the same thing that you love to do.
"What also caused me to keep going is the gift that God gave me. I didn't quite know exactly what that gift was at first, because I was so young when I started singing. Now I'm much older, and I have a better understanding. Between the age of four, until now, I began to seek God and say, ‘God, what is my purpose? What is your desire? What things do you want me to do for You?’ Because it's not about me, it's about Him. So, I say to God, ‘God, okay, I want you to just reveal it to me, show me.’
"What also caused me to keep going is the gift that God gave me. I didn't quite know exactly what that gift was at first, because I was so young when I started singing. Now I'm much older, and I have a better understanding. Between the age of four, until now, I began to seek God and say, ‘God, what is my purpose? What is your desire? What things do you want me to do for You?’ Because it's not about me, it's about Him. So, I say to God, ‘God, okay, I want you to just reveal it to me, show me.’
"I began to pray and really seek God for what I'm called to do. And as I got older, I realized through my prayers, yes, this is what God wants me to do: to minister, not just to the people in the church, but also to minister to the ones that come to church and don't even know who He is.
"When I look at people that come into the church, you kind of know the ones that are the saints. I also see and know the ones that come from outside of the church. They just sit, look, and they hear you. They watch you. Those are the ones that I minister to more. God lets me know, that young person or that person sitting there, with tears coming down their eyes … they’re looking at you, seeing something about you.
"They give you that look. It’s just a look. I can't really explain it. And you're like, ‘Oh God, okay. That's the one right there. That’s the one. He puts it on your heart--- that yes, that's the one He’s leading me to minister to. God lets you discern that – the person sitting right there with tears running down their face – he or she heard a specific song that ministered to them – He is reaching them through that song. It makes your heart feel great. It feels good that God is ministering to them.”
Even though the contemplative vocalist experienced disappointment along the way, she found joy on her journey.
"When I look at people that come into the church, you kind of know the ones that are the saints. I also see and know the ones that come from outside of the church. They just sit, look, and they hear you. They watch you. Those are the ones that I minister to more. God lets me know, that young person or that person sitting there, with tears coming down their eyes … they’re looking at you, seeing something about you.
"They give you that look. It’s just a look. I can't really explain it. And you're like, ‘Oh God, okay. That's the one right there. That’s the one. He puts it on your heart--- that yes, that's the one He’s leading me to minister to. God lets you discern that – the person sitting right there with tears running down their face – he or she heard a specific song that ministered to them – He is reaching them through that song. It makes your heart feel great. It feels good that God is ministering to them.”
Even though the contemplative vocalist experienced disappointment along the way, she found joy on her journey.
"I don’t want to be compared to anyone else because God anoints us all in different
ways. We all have the same goal: souls, souls, souls.”
ways. We all have the same goal: souls, souls, souls.”
“One of my joys is to be able to travel. I love traveling. I love ministering. I have ministered within different ministries and different churches for over 50 years. I'm so blessed to be able to not just minister in my home church, but to be able to travel everywhere. It has been a joy. It really has … just to be able to do the Bobby Jones Gospel Showcase, to meet Bobby Jones was an honor. If felt great just to have him encourage me after I was done ministering … saying, ‘Be encouraged young lady, God’s got something great for you.’ I’ll never forget that. I also got an opportunity to meet John P Kee, to sing in one of his conferences. And then to be able to go to the Stellar Awards every year and meet so many different artists – Tonex, Karen Clark Sheard, just to meet so many different artists, throughout my journey – I was truly blessed.”
As she ministered and traveled, for her, one surprise came to light.
“What I didn't expect was this: sometimes you look up to certain people and when you meet them, they're not quite what you see on TV. It’s important as an artist and I can speak for myself, that you live what you sing about. The reason why I say that – we see people in a different light on TV than when we see them in person. We meet them in person, and sometimes, they're not what you think. It makes you go hmm.
"God knows, I would love to be signed by a particular record label in the future. But I’m thinking, I'm learning. There are the ins and outs of being a recording artist. Once you sign your name on the dotted line, it’s almost like they own you. I don't want to be owned by anyone. I want to be free. I want to basically be free, where I can continue doing what I've been doing all this time – that's ministry. That’s important to me. I want to have control of that. Praise God for that.”
As she ministered and traveled, for her, one surprise came to light.
“What I didn't expect was this: sometimes you look up to certain people and when you meet them, they're not quite what you see on TV. It’s important as an artist and I can speak for myself, that you live what you sing about. The reason why I say that – we see people in a different light on TV than when we see them in person. We meet them in person, and sometimes, they're not what you think. It makes you go hmm.
"God knows, I would love to be signed by a particular record label in the future. But I’m thinking, I'm learning. There are the ins and outs of being a recording artist. Once you sign your name on the dotted line, it’s almost like they own you. I don't want to be owned by anyone. I want to be free. I want to basically be free, where I can continue doing what I've been doing all this time – that's ministry. That’s important to me. I want to have control of that. Praise God for that.”
“No matter what you're going through in life, continue to trust and keep believing His word. Never give up, because I know what it feels like to give up and really want to throw in the towel. But never give up. My passion is that when I sing, God's presence is always there. That someone will be healed, someone will be delivered. So we want it to be that the Anointing will always be there. Without His Anointing, it’s just singing just to be singing."
In retrospect, there’s a particular change she would have made on her journey. She now puts that change into practice.
“I wouldn’t put people on a high pedestal and compare myself to them. We compare ourselves with other people. I don't want to do that. God made me who I am. I don't want to be compared with the newest artists that are out today. I want to be who I am. My name is Sister Tonya Carter, recording artist – that’s right. I don’t want to be compared to anyone else because God anoints us all in different ways. We all have the same goal: souls, souls, souls.”
“I wouldn’t put people on a high pedestal and compare myself to them. We compare ourselves with other people. I don't want to do that. God made me who I am. I don't want to be compared with the newest artists that are out today. I want to be who I am. My name is Sister Tonya Carter, recording artist – that’s right. I don’t want to be compared to anyone else because God anoints us all in different ways. We all have the same goal: souls, souls, souls.”
"I always look at those ones that are just sitting there. They have never moved from the time you started singing until the end of the service. Those are the ones I minister to. I want to reel them in. I say, ‘God touch her. God touch him. God, you know, and you see. You know exactly what that person needed when they came in today."
She has a message that she would like people to receive as she sings and ministers to others.
“No matter what you're going through in life, continue to trust and keep believing His word. Never give up, because I know what it feels like to give up and really want to throw in the towel. But never give up. My passion is that when I sing, God's presence is always there. That someone will be healed, someone will be delivered. So we want it to be that the Anointing will always be there. Without His Anointing, it’s just singing just to be singing.
"You can see someone walk in the church from off the street or just come in with somebody, and they’re not one of the ones that are saying ‘Sing, sing’, putting up their hands, throwing the towel, and all that other stuff you see people do. I always look at those ones that are just sitting there. They have never moved from the time you started singing until the end of the service. Those are the ones I minister to. I want to reel them in. I say, ‘God touch her. God touch him. God, you know, and you see. You know exactly what that person needed when they came in today.’
"When I see that one, two, or three people, ones way in the back, you can picture them. God will give you discernment. They may become a powerhouse for Christ, which is where God takes them. They become that person that just says, ‘I'm completely on fire for God.’ You can deposit something great into them. When they come up to you after it’s all said and done, what touches your heart is when they say, ‘Wow, you just, you really touched me today.’ So, it’s all about Him… all about Him.”
“No matter what you're going through in life, continue to trust and keep believing His word. Never give up, because I know what it feels like to give up and really want to throw in the towel. But never give up. My passion is that when I sing, God's presence is always there. That someone will be healed, someone will be delivered. So we want it to be that the Anointing will always be there. Without His Anointing, it’s just singing just to be singing.
"You can see someone walk in the church from off the street or just come in with somebody, and they’re not one of the ones that are saying ‘Sing, sing’, putting up their hands, throwing the towel, and all that other stuff you see people do. I always look at those ones that are just sitting there. They have never moved from the time you started singing until the end of the service. Those are the ones I minister to. I want to reel them in. I say, ‘God touch her. God touch him. God, you know, and you see. You know exactly what that person needed when they came in today.’
"When I see that one, two, or three people, ones way in the back, you can picture them. God will give you discernment. They may become a powerhouse for Christ, which is where God takes them. They become that person that just says, ‘I'm completely on fire for God.’ You can deposit something great into them. When they come up to you after it’s all said and done, what touches your heart is when they say, ‘Wow, you just, you really touched me today.’ So, it’s all about Him… all about Him.”
"Even though I am ministering outside of the church, I’m still a worship leader. I love worship. I can worship all day long. I’m a worshipper.”
Through her message and in song, Ms. Carter exemplifies, for her, it’s all about worship.
“I was the music director at Grace Christian Centre. I was the music director for about 20 plus years. Then, God is so good, I transitioned to another ministry, and now I am one of the worship leaders at my church in Leominster, Ma. I also have another ministry. I don’t really call it a separate one, because it’s all one ministry. But, it’s where I actually go out of the four walls and go and sing and minister at different other churches. It’s a little different from being a praise and worship leader at your church.
"I’m a worship leader slash recording artist. So I minister as a worship leader and I minister as a recording artist outside of the church. I'm going to different churches. I'm going to minister at different conferences, you name it – just really traveling and ministering. Even though I am ministering outside of the church, I’m still a worship leader. I love worship. I can worship all day long. I’m a worshipper.”
“I was the music director at Grace Christian Centre. I was the music director for about 20 plus years. Then, God is so good, I transitioned to another ministry, and now I am one of the worship leaders at my church in Leominster, Ma. I also have another ministry. I don’t really call it a separate one, because it’s all one ministry. But, it’s where I actually go out of the four walls and go and sing and minister at different other churches. It’s a little different from being a praise and worship leader at your church.
"I’m a worship leader slash recording artist. So I minister as a worship leader and I minister as a recording artist outside of the church. I'm going to different churches. I'm going to minister at different conferences, you name it – just really traveling and ministering. Even though I am ministering outside of the church, I’m still a worship leader. I love worship. I can worship all day long. I’m a worshipper.”
"I thank God because He's the one that gave it to me. He's the one that gave me the lyrics to write it out and now I'm able to take it, and present it to the world. And so if it touches me, if it ministers to me, then I know it’s going to minister to someone else."
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She noted how her music not only ministers to a congregation or an audience, but it ministers to her as well.
“I love what I do. I love ministering. That’s just a passion of mine, ministering for the God I love. I just love ministry. I love … I just love worshiping. I love putting out that invitation to the people that I serve
every Sunday and just invite them to come and worship God: ‘Can we come and worship God together? Can we just worship God together?’ You know, it's not about me, but it's about Him.
"My music, when it ministers to me, that's the key right there. Then I know, it’s going to minister to that person that's in front of me. This time I am singing my own song – a song that ministers to me. And, I’m like, wow … and I thank God because He's the one that gave it to me. He's the one that gave me the lyrics to write it out and now I'm able to take it, and present it to the world. And so if it touches me, if it ministers to me, then I know it’s going to minister to someone else.
“I love what I do. I love ministering. That’s just a passion of mine, ministering for the God I love. I just love ministry. I love … I just love worshiping. I love putting out that invitation to the people that I serve
every Sunday and just invite them to come and worship God: ‘Can we come and worship God together? Can we just worship God together?’ You know, it's not about me, but it's about Him.
"My music, when it ministers to me, that's the key right there. Then I know, it’s going to minister to that person that's in front of me. This time I am singing my own song – a song that ministers to me. And, I’m like, wow … and I thank God because He's the one that gave it to me. He's the one that gave me the lyrics to write it out and now I'm able to take it, and present it to the world. And so if it touches me, if it ministers to me, then I know it’s going to minister to someone else.
"When I hear someone say, ‘Yo, sister Tanya, when I heard a song that you wrote off your CD, it just really, really touched me and at that particular time in my life you didn't know how much I needed to hear that song.’, it blesses me. From my first CD, “My Life is In Your Hands”, the song, “Your Blessing is on the Way.” People say, ‘Yes, God, my blessing is on the way.’ They begin to speak the lyrics in their hearts, into their lives: ‘Yes God, my blessings is on the way. Yes. I'm not gonna give up. I'm not going to give in. In the end you will win. Why? Because my blessings is on the way.’ Two of my favorite songs on the album are “Your blessing is on the Way” and “Have Thine Own Way”. I love others, but those two are the main ones that I love.”
The up and coming artist shared a lesson she picked up during her gospel journey.
“Sometimes life is not going to be as easy as you think. We try to move things quick. We don't have patience. I think I was at that point in my life, when my patience was running out. I figured, ‘God, okay, can I help you out?’ You want to help him out. No. God doesn't need help. He moves when He's ready. And once He says, ‘Okay, this is your time. This is your season.’ Then it’s time for you to step into it and walk into it.
"I'm at that point now in my life that I'm walking into my season. I see so many things. So many doors are being opened – it just blows my mind every time. And this time, this is my time, this season. All right, so I'm excited. God got my back.”
As she moves forward, Ms. Carter looks to expand where her feet will tread, adding another leg to her gospel journey.
“My next step … I would love to go on tour. I basically would like to get a team, start my own production company, really get myself out there and find some doors that will open with churches that will say, ‘You know what, Sister Tonya, yeah, come and do a live concert here at my church.’ That's my goal. I desire to start my own tour and really get the gospel out there.
"It’s coming. It's coming. It’s coming. It's been a long time. And people have been waiting and wondering, when is it all going to come together? It will, but it's all in God's timing and as God leads.”
And so, it appears, Ms. Tonya Carter, with a half-century legacy of worship behind her, will continue in that reverent legacy, in or outside of the church doors, perhaps, for another five decades to come.
The up and coming artist shared a lesson she picked up during her gospel journey.
“Sometimes life is not going to be as easy as you think. We try to move things quick. We don't have patience. I think I was at that point in my life, when my patience was running out. I figured, ‘God, okay, can I help you out?’ You want to help him out. No. God doesn't need help. He moves when He's ready. And once He says, ‘Okay, this is your time. This is your season.’ Then it’s time for you to step into it and walk into it.
"I'm at that point now in my life that I'm walking into my season. I see so many things. So many doors are being opened – it just blows my mind every time. And this time, this is my time, this season. All right, so I'm excited. God got my back.”
As she moves forward, Ms. Carter looks to expand where her feet will tread, adding another leg to her gospel journey.
“My next step … I would love to go on tour. I basically would like to get a team, start my own production company, really get myself out there and find some doors that will open with churches that will say, ‘You know what, Sister Tonya, yeah, come and do a live concert here at my church.’ That's my goal. I desire to start my own tour and really get the gospel out there.
"It’s coming. It's coming. It’s coming. It's been a long time. And people have been waiting and wondering, when is it all going to come together? It will, but it's all in God's timing and as God leads.”
And so, it appears, Ms. Tonya Carter, with a half-century legacy of worship behind her, will continue in that reverent legacy, in or outside of the church doors, perhaps, for another five decades to come.
-Sources:
Album | Year: My Life is in Your Hands | 2001; Sing (Single) | 2015
Link (s):
https://www.facebook.com/Tonya-Carter-1677699945805560/
-Wakeelah’s Picks:
Song: “Sing” | Album (Single): “Sing” | Year: 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHr2KQuRGYQ
Song: “You’re Blessing is on the Way” | Album: My Life is in Your Hands | Year: 2001
Song: “Have Thine Own Way” | Album: My Life is in Your Hands | Year: 2001
- Carter, Tonya. Youtube, www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHr2KQuRGYQ.
- Amazon, https://www.amazon.com/Sing-Tonya-Carter/dp/B01AMEDC1W
Album | Year: My Life is in Your Hands | 2001; Sing (Single) | 2015
Link (s):
https://www.facebook.com/Tonya-Carter-1677699945805560/
-Wakeelah’s Picks:
Song: “Sing” | Album (Single): “Sing” | Year: 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHr2KQuRGYQ
Song: “You’re Blessing is on the Way” | Album: My Life is in Your Hands | Year: 2001
Song: “Have Thine Own Way” | Album: My Life is in Your Hands | Year: 2001
Wakeelah Cocroft-Aldridge is a Freelance Writer residing in Chicago, IL with her husband. Her writing includes academic writing and creative writing such as fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Wakeelah likes to laugh and cry about the sweet somethings of life, and find out about the unique stories of others. She loves comedy, animation, extended metaphors, quiet times, and she is an avid listener of gospel music. Oh … and she likes Peppermint Stick ice cream!
Wakeelah has joined us as a Columnist, forming Purposeful Gospel Profiles, a periodic column. She hopes, as she interviews each Gospel Artist, to portray their purpose for singing gospel music and what it means to those who provide a musical narrative for the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Wakeelah has joined us as a Columnist, forming Purposeful Gospel Profiles, a periodic column. She hopes, as she interviews each Gospel Artist, to portray their purpose for singing gospel music and what it means to those who provide a musical narrative for the Good News of Jesus Christ.
“Purpose is the essential element of you. It is the reason you are on the planet at this particular time in history.
Your very existence is wrapped up in the things you are here to fulfill. Press on with purpose.” – Chadwick Boseman
Your very existence is wrapped up in the things you are here to fulfill. Press on with purpose.” – Chadwick Boseman
Disclaimer: All claims or statements in Purposeful Gospel Profiles column were deemed truthful to the best knowledge of the Columnist at the time of publication. All views or opinions by persons featured in the column do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Columnist or Voice of One CNC Online Magazine. The Columnist reserves the right to make any changes to the column at any time.