Mandisa to join other Christian musicians on Rock & Worship Roadshow stop in Cape

The Rock & Worship Roadshow will make a stop Feb. 13 at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau.

This smorgasbord of talent will feature Christian music artists Jeremy Camp, Newsboys, Mandisa, Phil Wickham, Family Force 5, Audio Adrenaline, Danny Gokey and Citizen Way, along with Shaun Groves as a speaker.

The eighth annual event, presented by Compassion International, was founded in 2009 and has conducted more than "170 shows to an audience of more than 1.3 million," according to CMA Media Promotions.

Mandisa, known most for competing in season five of "American Idol," is looking forward to being part of this group for whom she says she has "so much respect."

Mandisa said she is living her dream -- inspiring and being inspired on the journey.

MandisaPhoto courtesy of the Rock & Worship Roadshow

"I came out of my mother's womb singing," the Grammy Award winner said. "Some of my earliest memories were singing into my curling iron."

She said she would lock herself in a bathroom and sing Whitney Houston songs.

"The curling iron was my microphone, and the shampoo bottle was my Grammy," Mandisa said.

The award was one of her greatest career accomplishments. After placing ninth on "American Idol," she said, "you don't expect to hear much from that person, so to win a Grammy? I still can't believe that happened. It was a dream come true."

Mandisa appreciates the awards selected by her fans as well, and though she does not put all her "weight and worth into awards," the acknowledgment feels like approval, she said.

Phil WickhamPhoto courtesy of the Rock & Worship Roadshow

She did not go from bathroom to big time overnight, however. Sharing some of her journey, she recalled how she got her break. She was doing data-entry work at LifeWay Christian Resources headquarters and was a member of LifeWay's worship team. Christian music singer-songwriter Travis Cottrell was Christian artist Beth Moore's worship team leader, and he asked some employees to sing with him during a spring revival. When a singer on his team had to pull out, Mandisa was asked to step in. That singer was Nerva, who went on to get a job with Christian music sensation TobyMac.

"You knew God was in the middle of that," Mandisa said. "You knew God was the one who planned that out. You could see God working." With that, God "moved [her] from the background to the front."

The singer carries with her a lesson she learned from her "American Idol" experience: "Always stay true to yourself. In a [Hollywood] world where sex sells, and 'it's all about me,' ... it's really easy to compromise because you feel that is what the world wants you to do," she said.

Mandisa, however, decided not to pretend to be someone she was not "just to become a star."

"If that were the case, I wouldn't be singing Christian music," she said. "True peace comes when you don't listen to what everyone thinks you're supposed to be."

Jeremy CampPhoto courtesy of the Rock & Worship Roadshow

Four full-length albums later, the singer still is learning and applying those lessons to her craft. She is intimately attached to her music and does not sing what does not affect her personally.

"My songs are based on what God is teaching me and showing me at that moment," she said.

It's been that way from the beginning, with her first album, "True Beauty." Having just competed on "Idol," where Simon Cowell made fun of her weight, she knew she did not look the way people expected. That experience, like others, shaped her music.

Her song "Overcomer" is most special to her because it was inspired by her friend Kisha's fight with breast cancer while pregnant.

"That was weighing heavily on me," Mandisa said. Quoting the song's lyrics, she said, "I wanted to encourage her to 'stay in the fight 'til the final round.' ... Her final round came about a year and a half ago, when she went to be with the Lord."

Mandisa said "Overcomer" means so much to her because she is "still able to use that song to encourage people going through things."

"I miss my friend so much, ... but I can find gratitude that her memory lives on through that song," she said.

Another popular song is "Stronger." Similar to "Overcomer," it provides hope through difficulties.

"So often, we don't talk about difficulties we face," she said. "You need hope, and hope can be found through music. When music speaks truth through God's word, you find hope. ... It's like water to a dry soul. It's music to your ears -- literally and figuratively."

The theme on which she has been ruminating lately is "fighting through feelings," and this can be found in her song "Press On." After losing more than 100 pounds, Mandisa fell back into old habits and regained the weight, which brought feelings of embarrassment and struggles with self-image. Discouraged at times, but not defeated, she reflected on the lyrics to the song: "One step in front of the other/No looking back, no looking back/One step in front of the other/I'm gonna press on, I'm gonna press on."

Once again, she spoke of being inspired by her friend Kisha, saying Kisha has gone on to receive her reward.

"I'm still here. I still can fight," Mandisa said.

As listeners are encouraged by her lyrics, she is equally encouraged.

"The Holy Spirit uses my own songs to convict me," she said.

Looking ahead to the concert, Mandisa promised "variety" -- "something for everyone," as well as impact. Though she never has toured with this group of artists, she has performed with some of them.

"I know these guys and the shows they put on. It's going to be entertaining and impacting," she said. "If people don't leave impacted, we've not done our job."

But she is certain people will be affected.

"They can walk out feeling better about themselves," she said, and included herself. "I'm looking forward to it as an audience member."

The concert will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 13 at the Show Me Center. Admission is $10 at the door. Doors open at 5:45 p.m., and the preshow will begin at 6:15 p.m. For more information, including VIP ticket opportunities, visit www.theroadshowtour.com/show/cape-girardeau-mo.

Pertinent address:

Show Me Center, Cape Girardeau, Mo.