A ONE WOMAN MISSION… THE STORY

OF GOSPEL SINGER JUANITA FLETCHER

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By Susan Gaide

What do you say to a woman who tells you she’s on a mission? That’s exactly the question I asked myself when, out of the blue, I received an e-mail from a gospel singer named Juanita Fletcher. As I dialed her phone number, I assumed that she was just another singer looking for a record deal.  I was wrong.  In fact, a record deal isn’t even Juanita’s ultimate goal.  It is merely a vehicle for her mission -- her vocal ministry.  Through her music, Juanita intends to change the world –- one kid at a time.  Juanita is on a mission for God –- and she’s going to need a little help.

     “There isn’t much further that I can take this mission without the help and resources that a record company can provide,” Juanita said to me during that first conversation.  “I’ve got to nail this deal.  I ‘heard the call’ and made a promise to God.  I cannot break that promise.”

     Ordinarily, I wouldn’t take a statement like that too seriously.  Many people haven’t, simply because Juanita doesn’t look like your typical gospel singer.  But, after spending just five minutes talking to her, the sincerity sparkled through like a diamond in the rough.  I had no choice but to become involved.  I had no choice but to hear the call myself.

The “Call” Came 

     Juanita’s “call” came the morning of September 11, 2001, when she, like many others, watched in horror as television stations across the country showed images of the burning Pentagon, the collapsed World Trade Center and the downed airplane in Pennsylvania. A native of Chester, Pennsylvania and now a resident of Chesapeake, Virginia, the tragedy hit Juanita “way too close to home.”  The first thing that ran through her mind was how the youth of this country was going to react –- and act -– in the post-September 11 days, months and years.  

     “What will this disaster teach our kids?” Juanita asked herself.  “And what will it teach them to do as they grow into adults?”  The bigger question in her mind, says Juanita, is what we would do – we whose charge it is in this life to teach our children. After all, hatred is the cornerstone of future disasters like the one we witnessed on that fateful morning of September 11, 2001.

Juanita’s Mission Takes Root

     “On September 11, 2001, President Bush called all Americans into action, asking each of us to voluntarily perform community service,” says Juanita.  “It was not long after that that I received my ‘call’ –- not from the president, but from God Himself -– and I knew exactly what I was destined to do.  His call to action turned every question mark in my mind into an exclamation point.  In that moment, my mission took root.”

     “The biggest problem,” Juanita continued, “is that this nation’s youth is filled with fear, and consumed with anger and resentment,” continued Juanita. “Some of these kids, because they come from disadvantaged backgrounds, already have had no self esteem, no sense of self worth. That’s why they make easy targets for recruitment by those who seek to destroy.  It’s bad enough that we’ve got outside forces trying to destroy this country – but we’ve also got a lot of problems right here at home that need to be resolved, too, or we’re going to destroy ourselves, long before our enemies do.  Change will start when we get our nation’s youth back on the right track. And, it doesn’t matter if those kids are black, white, or any shade of gray in between, either.  The problems we face with respect to this nation’s youth bridge all cultural and racial divides.  No one is immune. Whether we want to admit it or not, our society needs to make some big changes, and, to put it the way a kid would put it, ‘Okay, I’ll go first!’”

A Rising Star is Born

     Juanita’s story begins in Chester, Pennsylvania, where, at the age of just five, she sang her first notes in a church ministered by her grandmother, the Reverend Melvina White. According to family and friends, Juanita’s destiny was clear from the very first note she sang. But, at the age of eighteen, an unplanned pregnancy dashed her dreams of pursuing a singing career.

     “I decided to stop singing and to concentrate on raising my daughter,” says Juanita.  “Later, I met the man that I eventually married.  We had more children, who required my time and attention.”

     In 1994, with all but one child in school, Juanita decided it was time to go back to work. After taking computer classes, she landed a job in the Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office and simultaneously took paralegal training at Old Dominion University.  A career in law, however, did not provide the fulfillment she sought.

     After meeting a successful insurance agent, Juanita decided to attend classes towards obtaining her own license.  She passed both the Property and Casualty and the Life and Health exams on the first try.  Her first job in the field was a part time position with Cigna, which earned her eight dollars an hour.  Juanita was not fulfilled, so she decided to take a job with a small insurance agency in her area.  During her nine months at the agency, Juanita attended as many meetings as she could, particularly those that her employer did not himself want to attend.  Juanita took advantage of the networking opportunities afforded by her attendance at those meetings and made valuable contacts.

     By 1997, she was ready to start her own agency.  Juanita opened Available Insurance in Portsmouth with operating capital of only ten thousand dollars.

     “For the first six months, I sat in my office praying every day, working long hours, and eventually questioning my faith in God,” explained Juanita.  “Finally, God heard my cry for help and literally ‘opened the flood gates.’ My business started to ‘boom.’”

     Juanita now had what most only dream of – a supportive husband, beautiful children and a successful business that was started “from scratch.”  A real “rags to riches” story, to say the least.  Yet, Juanita was still unfulfilled.

     Juanita’s mother knew exactly what was missing in her daughter’s life.  She knew that there was only one path to ultimate fulfillment for Juanita – singing.  In May 2000, Juanita’s mother gave Juanita the name and telephone number of a vocal coach who owned his own recording studio.  Juanita was reluctant to call.

     “God helped me build a successful business,” says Juanita, “and I didn’t want Him to feel like I was turning my back on that gift.  Besides, I hadn’t sung in such a long time, I hadn’t the nerve to even try.”

     Juanita held on to the phone number for six months, every so often looking at it and feeling that old familiar yearning in her heart.  Then, her mother said something that “turned the light bulb on” in Juanita’s head.

     “You know, Juanita, if you bury a talent that God has given you, he might just give it to someone else,” Juanita’s mother said to her.   Those words played over and over again in Juanita’s mind.  Not wanting to lose her precious gift of voice, she finally decided to make the call.

     “Once I started singing again, I just couldn’t get enough!” says Juanita.  “I started to realize that I had taken the easy way out – I had used one excuse after the other to hide from my real fear – the fear of failure.  All those years that I wasn’t singing, it was because I was afraid that I couldn’t compete with all the other really talented and successful singers out there.  But, then I thought about how I built my insurance business from scratch.  A lot of people thought I was crazy for even attempting to build a business in such a competitive industry as the insurance industry.  But, I did it.  And, I succeeded.  So, I thought to myself, ‘Why then, couldn’t I be just as brave and daring in another industry – the music industry?’”

      “My one big mistake,” continued Juanita, “was that I had turned away from God. I made the mistake of letting the Devil sabotage my self confidence.  So, I ‘took the plunge’ and started recording and performing R&B.  But, something was still missing!”

The Turning Point

     Juanita began singing at every R&B engagement that came her way. But, both she and her family noticed that her best performances seemed to consistently be the ones she gave at Christian events.  For the first time in her life, Juanita says she finally “got it.”  She knew what had been missing.  Juanita had reached a major turning point – not just in her singing career, but in her life. 

     “I knew that God was sending me a message,” Juanita explains.  “So, I sent a message back.  I gave my life back to God.  Singing R&B was no longer an option.  It was gospel or nothing.  I was ready now to let God take charge and lead the way, and I was ready to follow.” 

     And so, Juanita recorded her first full length CD, which she entitled “I Surrender All” to mark the total surrender of her life to God.  The only problem was, Juanita still had a business to run – an insurance business that was still thriving.

     “I once again called upon the Lord for guidance. He led me to sponsor a women’s conference, which I titled “Step Out On Faith, From Risk to Reward.”  My intention in sponsoring the event was to encourage women to follow their dreams.  I had no idea that I was actually encouraging myself.  I realized after the event was over that I needed to concentrate on my singing full time – and to devote that singing to God’s purpose.  And, I also knew that I would have to give up my insurance agency in order to do that.”

A Giant Leap of Faith

     In a giant leap of faith, Juanita sold her business on July 1, 2002 and followed her “call” from God. 

     “I’ve got no income right now, which is scary,” says Juanita, “but, I keep following the signs that God gives me.  He’s leading the way for me to be successful in my musical career. He’s also leading the way for me to be successful with my ministry, which I call the Juanita Fletcher Vocal Ministries. With His grace and guidance, I’ve been able to partner with several non-profit organizations and have been able to secure the support of several radio stations to help me organize and carry out my fundraisers.”

A Successful Start

      In November 2002, Juanita sponsored several events to raise money for organizations which seek to build community youth centers.  She has also successfully collected food donations for disadvantaged families so that they may enjoy the holidays this year.  She has more events planned in the weeks and months ahead.  

     “It’s all about the kids,” she says.  “They’re not just hearing me talk about doing good, they’re watching me put my words into action.  And, now they’re starting to take action too – in a positive, meaningful way.  You know, had it not been for my family, I would have been lost as a single teenage mom not so many years ago.  I was lucky, and I know that now.  Most of the kids you see out on the streets today are not so lucky.  They need shelter, not just physical shelter, but emotional shelter, to survive the storm that we call ‘life’ as it has been redefined by the events of September 11.  Someone’s got to help them dare to dream and to achieve their dreams.  Someone’s got to reach out a hand and tell these kids that it can be okay.  We can make it okay.  It’s all in the decisions we make in life and how we either choose to serve the Lord or not serve the Lord.  It’s like I said – I’m on a mission.  God keeps leading me and I keep following.  I will accomplish this mission – in the name of the Lord.”

     A diamond in the rough…a woman on a mission.  What do you say to someone like that?  I say, “YOU GO GIRL!”   And may God be with you, Juanita.