Tag: DunAmis Gospel Awards

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

The 10th celebration of the DunAmis Gospel Awards took place Saturday, November 11, 2023, amid the exuberant atmosphere of Cedar Grove Tabernacle of Praise in Greensboro, NC. The main show brought together a near-capacity congregation of gospel enthusiasts and luminaries for an unforgettable night in recognition of spiritual excellence. Billie M. Johnson and Yves T. McKenzie shared hosting duties, leading the audience through the program of praise, worship, and well-deserved accolades.

Mike Yelverton and the Disciples of Christ, The New JC Worshippers, and The Worship Collective of William McLaughlin, III, Jalessa Cade, Christian Anderson, and Kennethia Mason—who paid tribute in song to gospel music’s legendary Hawkins family—were among several of the evening’s performers who were also nominees. Special performances were rendered by the NC A&T Alumni Fellowship Gospel Choir, in salute to DunAmis honoree Ron Jones, and by the Bishop Rickey Hayes Mass Choir (Western NC Chapter of the GMWA), recipients of the Bishop John H. Heath Music of Excellence Award.

The DunAmis Gospel Awards is one of the fastest-growing awards shows in the Southeast, with a vision rooted in the desire to honor, recognize, and uplift area churches, pastors, artists, and other ministries that form the heartbeat of gospel expression. This year’s event celebrated finalists in nineteen categories along with seven honorees.

The complete list of DunAmis Gospel Awards recipients is below. Congratulations to all!

Female Pastor of the Year
Pastor Latoya Brewington
Rhema Word Christian Center

Male Pastor of the Year
Bishop Kevin Womack
St. Paul Apostle Church of Jesus Christ

First Lady of the Year
Pastor Leila Womack
St. Paul Apostle Church of Jesus Christ

Praise & Worship Team of the Year
New Jerusalem Cathedral Worshippers

Worship Leader of the Year
Christina Gaylor – Abundant Life Church International

Choir Director of the Year
Jerry Sadler

Church of the Year
Greater Praise Deliverance Church

Holy Hip Hop Artist/Group of the Year
Effram “Class” Winstead

Quartet of the Year
The Torain Family

Media Publication of the Year
Elite Business Women Magazine

Dance Ministry of the Year
Mikeal Barnes, II – Unspoken Triumph

Community Choir of the Year
Mitchell Johnson and Rehoboth Fellowship Chorale

Producer of the Year
E.J. Stewart

Female Musician of the Year
Pastor JaShawna Bellamy

Male Musician of the Year
Matthew Goldston

Songwriter of the Year
Prophetess Brandi Rojas

Female Vocalist of the Year
Elder Shamelah Luster

Male Vocalist of the Year
Johnathan Hodges

DunAmis Artist of the Year
Shanice Powell

Bishop Jerome O. Dawson Lifetime Achievement Award
Rev. Dr. James A. Webster (awarded posthumously)
Former Pastor of Oak Ridge Baptist Church

Living Legend Award
Apostle Alice J. Totten
Presiding Prelate, Solid Rock Ark of Safety True Holiness Churches of the Apostolic Faith

Doris C. Harbor Pioneer Award
Elder Cynthia Duncan-Nash
Preacher, Singer, and Founding Member of Sister Circle International

Trailblazer Award
Chief Apostle Timothy Warren
Founder and Visionary of The Victory Center and the Global Covenant Consortium

Humanitarian Award
Pastor Q. Anthony Knotts
Visionary, Founder, and Senior Pastor of M.O.R.E. Church

Bishop John H. Heath Music of Excellence Award
Bishop Rickey Hayes Mass Choir – Western NC Chapter of GMWA

DunAmis Special Tribute
Ron Jones
Musician, Songwriter, and Former Director of the NC A&T Fellowship Gospel Choir

Libra Boyd

Libra Nicole Boyd, PhD is a musician, award-winning author, gospel music aficionado, and the founder and editor of Gospel Music Fever™. Her commitment to journalistic integrity includes bringing you reliable gospel music content that uplifts and advances the art form. Libra is presently working on several scholarly projects about gospel music in the media as well as gospel music in social movements.

T.L. Young Ministries celebrated its 9th year honoring independent gospel artists and faith-based leaders during a spirited weekend of events, which concluded with the sold-out DunAmis Gospel Awards main show Saturday, November 12, at Cedar Grove Tabernacle of Praise in Greensboro, NC. Yves Mckenzie and Mya Fountain shared hosting duties for the evening.

Christian Anderson was among this year’s winners, picking up the Artist of the Year Award. Gospel Music Fever’s Libra Boyd took home the award for Media Publication of the Year. She also was a presenter for the Producer of the Year Award, which Chris Adams won for the song, “We Are One.”

The program featured performances from Mike Yelverton, Dr. Victoria Hanchell, East Coast Mass Choir, Kingdom Sound, Will Harris & Friends, MillUnz DaGospel, St. Thomas Chapel Mass Choir, David Spencer, Voices of BK, Voices of Life Fellowship Chorale, and Sir’Jerry Sadler & SOP. 

Bishop Myron K. Dawson, Will Harris and Friends, and Apostle Alicia F. Lindsay were among this year’s special honorees, receiving the Humanitarian Award, Bishop John H. Heath Music of Excellence Award, and Trailblazer Award, respectively. Also honored were Bishop Tyrone D. Hunter, recipient of the Doris S. Harbor Pioneer Award; Bishop John C. Parks, recipient of the Living Legend Award; and Apostle Janice Thomas, recipient of the Bishop Jerome O. Dawson Lifetime Achievement Award. 

The full list of DunAmis Gospel Award winners and honorees is below, and GMF extends congratulations to all.

Female Pastor of the Year
Apostle Janice Thomas – His Kingdom Ministries

Male Pastor of the Year
Bishop Richard Adkins – Impact Redzone

First Lady of the Year
Lady Tina Hairston – Zion Tabernacle of Deliverance

Praise & Worship Team of the Year
The Remnant Church – Danville, VA

Worship Leader of the Year
Dominique Prunty – The Remnant Church

Choir Director of the Year
Jonathan Parker-Ashley & Higher Dimension Praise Chorale

Church of the Year
The Victory Center – Thomasville, NC

Holy Hip-Hop Artist of the Year
MillUnz DaGospel

Quartet of the Year
Tammy Edwards and the Edwards Sisters

Media Publication of the Year
Gospel Music Fever Online Publication

Dance Ministry of the Year
Unheard Mime – Alexis Lambert

Community Choir of the Year
Anthony Sutton & Fresh Wind

Producer of the Year
Chris Adams
“We Are One”

Female Musician of the Year
Gloria Butler-Graves

Male Musician of the Year
Charles Wright

Songwriter of the Year
Alicia Moore
“Striving”

Female Vocalist of the Year
Jalessa Cade

Male Vocalist of the Year
David Spencer

Artist of the Year
Christian Anderson

Humanitarian Award
Bishop Myron K. Dawson

Bishop John H. Heath Music of Excellence Award
Will Harris & Friends

Trailblazer Award
Apostle Alicia F. Lindsay

Doris S. Harbor Pioneer Award
Bishop Tyrone D. Hunter

Living Legend Award
Bishop John C. Parks

Bishop Jerome O. Dawson Lifetime Achievement Award
Apostle Janice F. Thomas

Inaugural Scholarship Presentation
Northeast Guilford High School

Libra Boyd

Libra Nicole Boyd, PhD is a musician, award-winning author, gospel music aficionado, and the founder and editor of Gospel Music Fever™. Her commitment to journalistic integrity includes bringing you reliable gospel music content that uplifts and advances the art form. Libra is presently working on several scholarly projects about gospel music in the media as well as gospel music in social movements.

Over the weekend, Dunamis Gospel Awards were handed out in 25 categories at Central Triad Church in Winston-Salem, NC. Throughout the evening, with emphasis on its motto, “power in action,” Bishop Terry L. Young, president and founder of the Dunamis Gospel Awards, and Yves McKenzie and Billie M. Johnson, the show’s hosts, punctuated the significance of community and camaraderie among artists, churches, and leaders.

Husband-wife duo David and Tiffany Spencer (pictured right) were multiple winners at Saturday’s eighth annual ceremony, earning a pair of awards for Dunamis Artist of the Year and Dunamis CD/Song of the Year. Other highlights of the night were the live performances that charged the atmosphere, including Jalessa Cade’s rendition of Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir’s “My Help,” which segued into the chorus of Richard Smallwood’s “Total Praise.” Later, Jonathan Parker-Ashley presented her with the award for Worship Leader of the Year. Before the night was over, Parker-Ashley had himself collected an award for Group/Duo of the Year. Members of his group JPA & Ascension joined him onstage to accept the glass trophy.

Choirs and ensembles were well represented with dynamic performances from Higher Dimension Praise Chorale, Will Harris & Friends, Jeremiah Salter & United Worship, Pastor H.E. Dixon & Truth Tabernacle Choir, Macedonia Mass Choir, Dionn Owen & Renaissance, and Sir Jerry Saddler & SOP. Brea Miles and Antwaun Millunz were among the Holy Hip-Hip artists who rocked the mic. Earlier in the evening, Miles picked up the award for Holy Hip-Hop Artist of the Year. Testimony Mime, quartet group Gift3d, and vocalist Ora Roberts also offered stirring performances at the ceremony. Gift3d went on to win the award for Quartet of the Year.

In addition, Bishop Young and his wife Lady Geneva took to the stage to make several special presentations honoring area ministry leaders for their service: Apostle Sylvester D. Johnson (Bishop Jerome Dawson Lifetime Achievement Award), Pastor Leroy Kelly (Mother Doris Cohen Harbor Pioneer Award), Dionn Owen & Renaissance (Apostle John Henry Heath Music of Excellence Award), and Bishop Greg Hargrave (Humanitarian Award). In light of COVID-19 putting the Dunamis Gospel Awards on hiatus last year, 2020’s recipient of the Living Legend Award, Bishop Franklin O. Hanes, was recognized at this year’s show.

Congratulations to all the 2021 Dunamis Gospel Award recipients. Below is the full list of winners and honorees.

Pastor of the Year – Male
Overseer Aaron McNair, Jr.

Pastor of the Year – Female
Apostle Flora Morris

First Lady of the Year
Lady Shawna Milton

Choir Director of the Year
Sir Jerry Saddler

Church Choir of the Year
Voices of Deliverance

Worship Leader of the Year
Jalessa Cade

Church Praise and Worship Team of the Year
Greater Hope Cathedral

Musician of the Year – Male
Kwynn Gilbert

Musician of the Year – Female
Joyce Harbor

Vocalist of the Year – Male
Carlton Doggett

Vocalist of the Year – Female
Angeline Crank

Dunamis Artist of the Year
David and Tiffany Spencer

Quartet of the Year
Gift3d

Holy Hip-Hop Artist of the Year
Brea Miles

Group/Duo of the Year
JPA & Ascension

Dance/Mime Ministry of the Year
Alexis Lambert

Community Choir of the Year
East Coast Mass Choir

College Gospel Choir of the Year
Winston-Salem State

Media Publication of the Year
Divine Connections Magazine

Comedian of the Year
T-Roy

Songwriter of the Year
Alicia Moore

Producer of the Year
Charles Wright

Gospel Announcer of the Year
Brandon Smith

Dunamis CD/Song of the Year
David and Tiffany Spencer

2021 Bishop Jerome O. Dawson Lifetime Achievement Award
Apostle Sylvester D. Johnson

2021 Living Legend Award
Apostle Faye D. Thomas

2021 Humanitarian Award
Bishop Greg Hargrave

2021 Mother Doris Cohen Harbor Pioneer Award
Pastor Leroy Kelly

2021 Apostle John Henry Heath Music of Excellence Award
Dionn Owen & Renaissance

2020 Living Legend Award
Bishop Franklin O. Hanes

Church of the Year
His Kingdom Ministries

Photo highlights from the 2021 Dunamis Gospel Awards

Libra Boyd

Libra Nicole Boyd, PhD is a musician, award-winning author, gospel music aficionado, and the founder and editor of Gospel Music Fever™. Her commitment to journalistic integrity includes bringing you reliable gospel music content that uplifts and advances the art form. Libra is presently working on several scholarly projects about gospel music in the media as well as gospel music in social movements.

The 2021 Dunamis Gospel Awards, said to be one of the fastest-growing awards events in the Southeast, is set for this weekend in Winston-Salem, NC. 

“These prestigious awards of honor will highlight some of the area’s most prominent pastors, first ladies, church and independent gospel artists, radio stations, radio announcers, and choir directors for their accomplishments and spiritual commitment through their ministry gifts to the Kingdom,” says Dunamis Gospel Awards founder, Bishop Terry L. Young. 

The eighth annual ceremony takes place November 13, at Central Triad Church on 2935 Cole Road. Red carpet interviews begin at 5 PM and the awards show starts at 6 PM. 

Among several artists delivering special music performances are Will Harris and Friends, Sir Jerry Sadler and SOP, Jonathan Parker-Ashley and Higher Dimension, and Macedonia Mass Choir. First Lady Billie Mason Johnson and Yves McKenzie have been tapped as the evening’s co-hosts. 

In recent weeks, the public had the opportunity to cast their votes to help determine winners in each of the awards categories. Winners will be revealed at Saturday’s event. Gospel Music Fever is honored to be nominated for Media Publication of the Year. 

Tickets for the Dunamis Gospel Awards can be purchased at ticketbud.com.

Libra Boyd

Libra Nicole Boyd, PhD is a musician, award-winning author, gospel music aficionado, and the founder and editor of Gospel Music Fever™. Her commitment to journalistic integrity includes bringing you reliable gospel music content that uplifts and advances the art form. Libra is presently working on several scholarly projects about gospel music in the media as well as gospel music in social movements.