CrossMix Interview with Joy Williams

 The following interview was done by Ray Martinez at the 10^th Annual Movieguide Awards with contemporary Christian Recording Artist, Joy Williams. This will be one of many interviews for DJs as well as the buying public to get to know the artists and what they stand for. Here’s a personal look with Joy Williams.                                             

Crossmix: On the credits of your CD you are very thankful to the Lord for the talents He has given you, share with us what He has done for you.

Joy Williams: Just the way that the Lord works and moves in our lives everyday, it’s just an amazing thing to me. That the creator of the universe would even bat an eyelash towards my way, which He does for everybody, is just an amazing thing. That’s just because Jesus Christ died on the cross, and was crucified for my sin, because I was separated from that for the rest of my life until someone came around and that was Jesus Christ.

He gives us eternal life and He gives us purpose, and He gives us destiny. I can’t take any credit for anything that I’m a part of or doing I’m just grateful to be praising God this way.

CM: You’re a vessel.

JW: That’s right!

CM: How old were you when you got saved?

JW: I was about four, as I was growing my faith began to grow and I rededicated my life when I was about 13 or 14 and those were very crucial times in my life.

CM: You have a very special family, tell me about them.

JW: I have a wonderfully amazing family, who loves the Lord. My Father is in ministry and is Executive Director of a Christian Conference Center on the West Coast. I have an older sister, Sarah, who is actually studying at seminary, getting her Masters. My Mom is a stay at home, wonderful homemaker. It’s a small family but we all love the Lord and we have been serving Him faithfully.  

CM: You also mention the Prayer of Jabez. What does that mean to you?

JW: Although the Prayer of Jabez has been a craze, I still think what Bruce Wilkenson talked about asking God to expand your territory, and stretch you beyond of what you think you can normally do. Ask God to do the impossible, because it says that “All things are possible with Christ,” and I believe that.

CM: Tell us about the first album you did and some of the cuts on it.

JW: The first album came out in July 2003. Two of the cuts are titled,

“Up” and “It’s All Good.” The first one talks about really getting excited, just loving life and being thankful that you’re here and for all that God has done for you.  The second one, talks about the every days of life, even though sometimes things get hard, its O.K., because in the end there is a purpose and a reason behind it, and that God is always with you and He’ll never leave you.

CM: Has there been any special musical influences that have helped you in your career?

JW: Oh goodness, everything from classical to Miles Davis, to Billie Holiday to Frank Sinatra, to 70’s rock, to top 40 all of that.

CM: How about Christian artists that influenced you?

JW: Definitely Crystal Lewis, Amy Grant, Take 6, man there’s so many, the list goes on and on.

CM: What is it like touring and have you toured with some of the big name Christian artists?

JW: I’ve been able to perform with DC Talk, Rebecca St. James, Jaci Valasquez, Point of Grace, Bryan Duncan, Bob Carlisle…

CM: Carlisle is a great guy.

JW: He is a great guy, a lot of people to work with, it’s been a great privilege.

CM: Have you found that the Christian Music world is a lot different than the secular music world.

JW: I’m not to heavily involved in the secular music world, so I can’t really give you a really entirely educated answer. I think there are differences. The message behind the music is so much stronger than in other areas I would say. There’s the message about Christ and that positivity of the fact that there is salvation, and that Christ is that saving grace and that is what He is.

How we can live our lives and be encouraged by that.

CM: Being in entertainment weather you’re a DJ like us or a singer, how do you handle temptations on the road, and what would you share with them to keep their faith?

JW: I would definitely say that keeping a strong relationship with Christ, by reading the Word and in prayer, through accountability, those are really vital things to have. Continue to remember, it’s Gods sovereignty and God’s grace that has brought you through to where you are. You can never take too much credit to being on a stage.

CM: Young lady, you really have your head on your shoulders straight, and keep singing the Word of God!

JW: Thank you so much