Cece Winans - Believe for It

K-LOVE Books

West Oaks Blvd.

Rocklin, CA 95765

Copyright 2022 by CeCe Winans

All rights reserved. Except as permitted by the US Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted without prior written permission from the publisher. For information, please contact .

Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV Text Edition: 2016. Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Scripture quotations marked NCV are taken from The Holy Bible, New Century Version. Copyright 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

He is Concerned Courtesy of Kayla Music Publishing, written by Kayla Denise Parker

Printed in the United States of America.

First edition: 2022

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

ISBN: 978-1-954201-34-7 (Hardcover)

ISBN: 978-1-954201-37-8 (Trade Paperback)

ISBN: 978-1-954201-35-4 (E-book)

ISBN: 978-1-954201-36-1 (Audiobook)

Publishers Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Winans, CeCe, author. | Gosselin, Suzanne, author.

Title: Believe for it : passing on faith to the next generation / CeCe Winans; with Suzanne Gosselin.

Description: Rocklin, CA: K-LOVE Books, 2022.

Identifiers: ISBN: 978-1-954201-34-7 (hardcover) | 978-1-954201-35-4 (ebook) | 978-1-954201-36-1 (audio)

Subjects: LCSH Winans, CeCe. | Christian life. | Self-actualization (Psychology)--Religious aspects--Christianity. | BISAC RELIGION / Christian Living / Inspirational | RELIGION / Inspirational | SELF-HELP / Spiritual

Classification: LCC BV4598.2 .W565 2022| DDC 248.4--dc23

Cover design by Charissa Newell

Cover photo by CMON Creative

Interior design by PerfecType, Nashville, TN

Early Praise for Believe for It

CeCe is a powerful woman of God who lives her faith on-stage and off. Her personal story and message of her faith in God is inspiring and something we need more than ever in our world today. I believe her book will help both older and younger generations who want to be authentic followers of Jesus and draw others to Christ!

Joyce Meyer, Bible teacher and bestselling author

CeCe Winans and her family are treasured friends in ministry with me, my children, and she was especially a great friend over the years with my deceased wife, Lois Evans. The Kingdom work I have witnessed them leading and being a part of has spanned decades in multiple generations. That is the heart and biblical wisdom of what CeCe shares in Believe for It . My prayer is that this book helps people see what God can do through intentionality in family, church community, and fervent prayer.

Dr. Tony Evans, President, The Urban Alternative, Senior Pastor, Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship

My friend CeCe Winans is a gifted and beloved Gospel recording artist, and she has written a new book that is refreshing and needed today. In a culture that is heavy-laden with failed marriages and broken homes, CeCe writes about the hope that Jesus Christ brings into family life when parents and children honor the Lord through obedience to His Word. Her own story will inspire and capture anew what happens when Christ is put at the center of our hearts and homes. No matter what has happened in life, it is never too late to Believe for It.

Franklin Graham, President and CEO, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Samaritans Purse

I believe in the power of what God can do through family. What my friend CeCe Winans has done in Believe for It shows how God uses generations to pass down faith.

Bishop T. D. Jakes, New York Times bestselling author

DEDICATION

I dedicate this book to my mom, Delores Winans. Thank you for being a perfect pattern to model my life after. Your beauty and grace intensifies with each passing day.

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

I was the eighth child born in my family, but I was the first Winans.

Though my heritage is rich and faith filled, my family tree isnt picture perfect. My father, David, was conceived out of wedlock and raised by a single mother, Laura Glenn. Since his father, Carvin Winans, wasnt in the picture when he was growing up, my father went by the surname Glenn. So when my seven older brothersDavid, Ronald, Marvin, Carvin, Michael, Daniel, and Benjamin (BeBe) came alongthey were born Glenns.

My great-grandfather Isaiah Winans came from Mississippi. He was a bishop in the Church of God in Christ and founded Zion Congregational Church of God in Christ in Detroit, Michigan. A short time before I was born, my great-grandfather approached my dad and requested that he take the name Winans. Even though my dads father hadnt been present during much of his life, my dad consented to his grandfathers wishes out of respect. And thats how I earned the bragging rights of being the first child of my family to be born a Winans.

I have always appreciated my rich Christian heritage. I think thats why Im passionate about influencing the next generation. We have all been influenced by those who came before us. Along with faith, music played a big role in my upbringing. I suppose its fitting that music is what brought my dad and mom together. They met in 1950 as members of the Lemon Gospel Chorus, a citywide gospel choir led by gospel great Louise Lemon.

Dad and Mom married in 1953 at the tender ages of nineteen and seventeen. Music was a part of their home, even before my oldest brother was born the following year. Mom played the piano, Dad played the saxophone, and both had impressive singing voices. (Later in their lives they would record several albums together.) Before children came along, both had traveled half the country in a handful of musical groups, so I suppose its no surprise their children followed in their footsteps.

A large family wasnt part of my parents plan. Mom used to tell us, I only planned to have two children, a boy and a girl. Its just that the girl was slow in coming. Clearly God had different ideas. In 1964, I was born Priscilla Marie Winans. Priscilla was the beautiful baby girl name my mom had been saving up in her heart through all those years of having sons. Sometime early in my childhood, CeCe became my nickname. By 1972, God had blessed my parents with two more daughters, Angelique (Angie) and Deborah (Debbie), completing the Winans family.

I remember two major things about my childhood. The first is that our home was always filled with music. Gospel music played throughout our house morning and night. Most of my siblings played the piano and wrote songsor at least they thought they couldso someone was always either playing the piano, writing a song, or rehearsing for a program. It seems we were singing before we learned to talk.

The second thing I remember is the faith that surrounded me; it was as strong and consistent as the air I breathed. My parents commitment to the Lord and His Word enveloped us and guided everything we did. He was unequivocally the center of our home.