"This Is A War Cry" - African American Church "War Cries" (Information, Comments, & YouTube Videos)

 

"This Is A War Cry: Calling All Of The Warriors" ♪Micah Stampley

Praise & Worship Songs, Published on Mar 8, 2012

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post provides information about and five YouTube videos of African American church praise break chants and music that are referred to as "War Cries".

The content of this post is presented for folkloric, cultural, religious, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube. And thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
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Most of the content of this post was published in a 2015 pancocojams post that has been deleted.

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INFORMATION ABOUT CHRISTIAN CHURCH "WAR CRIES"
Christian "War Cries" are chants with up-tempo, "hot" percussive music that is sung and played for "praise breaks". The "War Cry" is most closely associated with Apostolic Bishop Kenneth H. Moales, Sr. who spread his particular rendition of that chant throughout African American Apostolic and Pentecostal congregations as well as other Black and non-Black Christian congregations in the United States.

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THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH WAR CRIES
"War Cries" are part of the Apostolic and Pentecostal traditions of "praise breaks". The purpose of praise breaks is to help bring down the Holy Spirit so that worshippers praise God by doing the Holy dance ("shout", "get happy", "get your praise on", "cut a step"), by speaking in tongues, and in other ways.

Micah Stampley's "This Is A War Cry Calling All Of The Warriors" song was recorded in 2005. A recording of "War Cry" led by Bishop Moales, Sr. was released January 4, 2011 -after Bishop Moales, Sr's death. That album Greater Mount Calvary Live As Told By The Music Ministry was recorded when Bishop Moales' visited that church which is located in Washington DC. Bishop Moales' church was in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Here's an excerpt from a book about the Pentecostal denomination that describes "praise breaks" although it doesn't use that term:

"The Special Language of Pentacostalism [Pentecostalism]" from Elaine J. Lawless, God's Peculiar People University Press of Kentucky, 1988 http://www.folkstreams.net/context,104
"In a typical Pentecostal church service several activities are common, all of which are geared toward helping the group members get happy or get a blessing, which refers to states where uninhibited behaviors such as crying, dancing in the spirit (in possession), jerks, tongue-speaking, and shouting can be exhibited. Shouting can take various forms, from shrieking to crying to speaking in tongues. It is viewed as a supranormal utterance, and, like spirit dancing, cannot be controlled by the individual. This marks the distinction between such behaviors as secular activities and as sacred activities performed in the context of the church service. Under the power of the spirit of God, the saints are not responsible for their acts; performed by choice in the context of the “world.” The same acts become desecrated. Participation in congregational singing, dancing, shouting, praying, and tongue-speaking is strongly encouraged; saints long to see the house on fire for God, that is, all members actively involved in exalting God and invoking the spirit to move among the members.
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Referring to this chant & music as a "war cry" follows the Christian conceptualization of the devil being in constant warfare with Christians. People who are sanctified are considered to be "soldiers" who are "on the battlefield" for the Lord.

It's important to emphasize that "War Cries" are the opposite of plaintive or wailing vocalizations. "War Cries" are joyous, victorious praise giving to God.

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SELECTED COMMENTS ABOUT AFRICAN AMERICAN CHURCH "WAR CRIES"
These comments are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.
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1. Love this song. I'm a warrior in the army of the Lord. I was getting my praise on the entire song !"
-sjett95, 2015 -  Stampley♪", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOC2vR9nxhM "This Is A War Cry Calling All Of The Warriors ♪Micah

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2. "[Micah Stampley's] War Cry is the type of praise song that will get you up on your feet and make you feel like you are right there in the choir. The tempo is funky and upbeat and Stampley's voice is reminescent of Donnie McClurkin's in pitch as he actually demonstrates a high pitched war cry several times during the song. The chorus will have you repeating "This is the war cry...of the warriors...pick up your weapons: fight, fight! This is the war cry, of the warriors, pick up your weapons, fight, fight! This is the war cryyyyyyy...of the warriooooooorrrrss..."
- Beverly, "A Refreshing Addition to the Gospel Tradition", on April 3, 2005, http://www.amazon.com/Songbook-Micah-MICAH-STAMPLEY/dp/B0007VF29Q

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3. "I love this song it gets me in the spirit all the time"
-@Tammarrah100, 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzorD7B_vyY&t=154s"Bishop Kenneth H. Moales, Sr. leads The YES War Cry"

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4. "how is this a WAR cry?"
-carter murphy, 2012 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Me3CWI6iR6U Ricky Dillard & New G "War Cry" [This video is no longer available.]  

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Reply
5. "A cry for spiritual warfare, when the praise would muster up and they will use it against the enemy. Israel done this many a times before they battled, they would give a great shout of victory before they won the battle. That's what happened when Joshua led them to Jericho and their war cry tore down the walls. But you have to be sanctified in youur shout because Israel also lost the battle because they shout wasn't sanctified. BE SANCTIFIED IN YOU SHOUT, that's all I'm saying!"
-C.L. Banks, 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Me3CWI6iR6U Ricky Dillard & New G "War Cry"

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6. "The war cry is the cry of Victory among the saints of GOD. It's war against the enemy. When you have been baptized in Jesus name and filled with the holyghost according to Acts 2:38 the devil lose you."
-Meyouna Johnson, 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uu5qh71ar8U Ricky Dillard & New G "War Cry" 

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7."Okay!!!!! I NEED me a church like this honey!!! Thats some old school praising!!! The energy!!! I need that in my life!!! My Goodness!!! Those people were shouting for their lives!! Amen!"
-fkn02, 2011, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3NuGb-DfXw "COGIC "WIC" Praise Break/War Cry" 

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8. "To be honest the war cry is just a remake of the old times when they did this war cry wayy back. nobody made it they remade it into something more of the dayss now thts all"
- Skyler Hardy, 2012, "Ricky Dillard & New G - "War Cry" " 

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9. "This video is 15 years old, but the power of the LORD is still bringing healing and deliverance. Thank you, Jesus ! 🙌💃🕺"
-@helengcray1125, 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzorD7B_vyY&t=154s  "Bishop Kenneth H. Moales, Sr. leads The YES War Cry"

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"Puts me in warrior mode every time"
-@Tammarrah100, 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzorD7B_vyY&t=154s "Bishop Kenneth H. Moales, Sr. leads The YES War Cry"

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ADDITIONAL YOUTUBE VIDEOS
(These videos are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.)

SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - Bishop Kenneth Moales Jr. - War Cry @ Lady Peggy Moales Homegoing

Dorian davis, Jun 11, 2018

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 -  Bishop Kenneth H. Moales, Sr. leads The YES War Cry

Joshua Brown, May 4, 2010

Great Uncle does it again! Bishop Kenneth H. Moales Sr. leads Greater Mount Calvary into a YES War Cry for our 44th church anniversary.

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #4- CALVARY WAR CRY



Byron Phillips Uploaded on May 10, 2009

SING VOICES OF CALVARY

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #5- Ricky Dillard & New G "War Cry"



@TheSundaySchoolCollection, May 21, 2024 

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