Music career
Cruse began ministering at the age of six alongside her family, The Cruse Family, a well-known evangelistic musical group. The group, popular throughout much of the 1970s and early 1980s, traveled and ministered all across the world. They released 25 albums and received two Dove Awards.
While Cruse said she always had a heart for music ministry, she would not become involved with worship music herself until later in life.
At the age of nine, she became the youngest licensed ASCAP songwriter. Since that time, she has written for and produced more than 100 album recordings.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Cruse recorded two Christian album-oriented rock/melodic rock albums entitled The Edge and Small Town Girl. Her husband at the time, contemporary Christian Music artist, Tim Miner served as executive producer for Small Town Girl.
From 1997 to 1998, she traveled with Revival Ministries International leading worship for evangelistic crusades in the United States and abroad. In late 1998, she moved to Covenant Church in Carrollton, Texas, serving as one of three worship leaders.
In January 2000, she received a phone call from Lakewood Church Pastor Joel Osteen, who offered her the opportunity to become the church's worship director. She was Osteen's first hire when he became the new pastor of Lakewood. [5] While Cruse said she and her husband did not initially feel drawn to the church, they quickly fell in love with the people and moved to Houston.
Today, Cruse leads weekend worship services at Lakewood Church alongside Steve Crawford and Da'dra Crawford Greathouse, former members of the Contemporary Christian music duo Anointed.
In May 2010, Cruse released her first studio album in over ten years, 23. The album features 12 original songs including "Shout it Out Loud", "Living in Me", "Hurricane", and more. [6]
Personal life
Cruse lives in Houston, Texas and is married to Marcus Ratcliff, whom she met while working at Covenant Church. [7] The two have a son named Windsor. On July 17, 2008, the couple adopted twins after trying to have children. After taking a leave from the church, she returned on Saturday, September 27, 2008 and told the congregation her testimony about the adoption of the twins. She also introduced "Lord Of All"—a new song she wrote with her nephew Ryan Cruse.
Cruse is the daughter of Joe and Nancy Cruse, and is one of five children. Her siblings, Jane Cruse Bearden, Dr. John Cruse, Joe Cruse III and Karen Cruse Adams are all involved in full-time Christian ministry. [2]
An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), vinyl (record), audio tape, or digital. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early 20th century as individual 78 rpm records collected in a bound book resembling a photo album; this format evolved after 1948 into single vinyl long-playing (LP) records played at 33+1⁄3 rpm.
Lakewood Church is a non-denominational evangelical Christian megachurch located in Houston, Texas. It is among the largest congregations in the United States, averaging about 45,000 attendees per week. The 16,800-seat Lakewood Church building, home to four English-language services and two Spanish-language services per week, is located at the former Compaq Center. Joel Osteen is the senior pastor of Lakewood Church with his wife, Victoria, who serves as co-pastor.
Resurrection Band, also known as Rez Band or REZ, was a Christian rock band formed in 1972. They were part of the Jesus People USA Christian community in Chicago and most of its members have continued in that community to this day. Known for their blend of blues-rock and hard rock, Resurrection Band is credited as one of the forerunners of the Christian metal genre. Christianity Today called them "the most influential band in Christian music history." Following their debut in 1978, the band's greatest popularity was during the early 1980s, but later in the decade they received some crossover success when they had two music videos featured on MTV.
Joel Scott Osteen is an American pastor, televangelist, businessman, and author based in Houston, Texas, United States. Known for his weekly televised services and several best-selling books, Osteen is one of the more prominent figures associated with prosperity theology and the Word of Faith movement.
Anointed is a contemporary Christian music duo from Columbus, Ohio, known for their strong vocals and harmonies, featuring siblings Steve Crawford and Da'dra Crawford Greathouse, along with former members Nee-C Walls and Mary Tiller. Their musical style includes elements of R&B, pop, rock, funk and piano ballads. The group has won seven Dove Awards, two Stellar Awards and three Grammy Award nominations. The group has also been featured on several Christian compilation albums such as Real Life Music, 1996 and WOW The 90s.
Acappella is an all-male contemporary Christian vocal group founded in 1982 by Keith Lancaster, who has been the singer, songwriter, and producer throughout the group's history. The group only consists of vocalists who sing in a cappella style without instrumental accompaniment.
Donald James Moen is an American singer, pianist, and songwriter, specializing in Christian worship music.
Victoria Osteen is an American author and the co-pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. She is the wife of Joel Osteen and the daughter-in-law of John Osteen.
Shane & Shane is a Texas-based contemporary worship music band known for acoustic praise and worship music. The band consists of Shane Barnard and Shane Everett (vocals). They are often joined by their drummer and manager, Joey Parish.
Amazing God is the twenty-fifth album released by Christian singer Marcos Witt. The album was recorded live from Houston, Texas. This was Witt's first English language album recorded.
Martha Denise Munizzi is an American Christian music singer, songwriter, author, and pastor.
Mary Alessi is a Christian songwriter and Worship leader.
More is a gospel album by Mary Alessi which was recorded at the Covenant Church in Dallas, Texas and released on July 19, 2005.
When Women Worship is a gospel album by Mary Alessi which was recorded on August 30, 2006 at the Covenant Church in Dallas, Texas and released on January 2, 2007.
Cruse is a surname of English origin.
Glen Soderholm is a Canadian, singer-songwriter, minister, praise and worship leader, speaker and teacher based in Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Danilo Montero is a Costa Rican contemporary Christian music singer, author, and pastor, who is pastor of Lakewood Church's Spanish-speaking congregation.
Harold David Box was an American rock and roll musician in the early 1960s. Box was influenced by fellow Texan Buddy Holly, and even took his place as singer of his group, The Crickets, for a short time after Holly's death. Box also collaborated with Roy Orbison, and found local success with his own group, the Ravens.
Ana Paula Machado Valadão Bessa is a Brazilian Christian worship leader, singer-songwriter and pastor. She is the leader of the contemporary praise band Diante do Trono, which has sold more than 15 million worship albums globally and has led worship gatherings of as many as two million people in attendance. She has led millions in worship throughout the world and believes that worship is a major instrument for the restoration of a nation.
Tauren Gabriel Wells is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist from Houston, Texas, known for making contemporary Christian music.
