"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.
-snip-
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.
:
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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African American Examples Of Walk Arounds - Ring Shouts And Other Religious Expressions

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a three part pancocojams series on African American examples of historical and contemporary walk around (circle) movements.

Part II features five examples of religious walkaround movements - videos of religious ring shouts and other religious expressions.

This examples included in this post aren't meant to represent all examples of African American religious walk around movements.

The comments in the beginning of the essay that is showcased in Part I provide some background to these walk around examples.

Part I showcases Andrew Antonio Allen's essay about African American walk around dances and other movements including the Chicago style walk. This essay was written for the "Personal Recollections: The History Of Stepping Project. ("Chicago Stepping" is also known as "Chicago Bop" dance styles.) Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/04/reflections-on-history-meanings-of.html for that post.

Part III features examples of non-religious walk around movements including the cakewalk, Chicago stepping (dance), and historically Black Greek letter fraternity and sorority strolling. Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/04/african-american-examples-of-walk_11.html for that post.

The content of this post is presented for folkloric, historical, cultural, religious, entertainment, and aesthetic reasons.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post, and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

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[Excerpt ADDED August 19, 2017]
http://civilwar.revelsdc.org/wp-content/uploads/spirituals-article.pdf From Spiritual to Freedom Song: Tracing the Road to Freedom through Music

[...]

The Birth of an Art Form
Spirituals, religious folk songs of sorrow, hope, and redemption, provided comfort and a means of expression to enslaved African Americans. They were a method of coping for a people forced to abandon their native traditions to take on the culture of a hostile, unfamiliar world. They were a participatory art form that survived the Middle Passage, and became a way of life.

Characterized by their use of traditional West African rhythmic and harmonic patterns, the spirituals often employ a “call and response” pattern in which a leader sings or chants a few lines and the group repeats or offers variations on the lines in response. The songs thus draw upon many of the practices central to the African cultures the slaves had been forced to leave behind, emphasizing the primacy of the spoken word, celebrating verbal improvisation, and encouraging group participation.[2]

The retention of those West African rhythms and harmony was evident in the tradition known as the ring shout, an ecstatic expression of praise in which men and women moved in a shuffling, dancelike counterclockwise movement to singing and the beat of stomping feet, clapping hands, and other improvised percussion. This tradition, practiced largely by enslaved persons on the Sea Islands off the coast of Georgia and South Carolina, was called “shouting.” It is believed that the word “shout” was derived from the Arabic word, sha’wt, (which pertains to the circular movement, not the singing), and the movements of the ring shout echo of that West African dance.

Lorenzo Dow Turner, an African American academic and linguist who extensively studied the culture and language of the Gullah people of the Sea Islands during the 1930s, determined the ring shout was “directly inherited from Muslim slaves that had been brought to the Sea Islands.” In doing the ring shout, they recreated the act of moving around a sacred object, similar to the movement of Muslim pilgrims around the Ka’bah in Mecca. [3]

The ring shout also spawned secular dances such as the “buzzard lope,” and was a precursor to the “Greek Step” tradition among African American fraternity and sorority groups.* Variations of the “shout” still exist in some African American faith communities today.
-snip-
*Italics added to highlight this sentence.

Even more than steppin', the historically Black Greek letter organizations movement activity known as "strolling" (or "party walks") with their circular formations should be considered to be a contemporary remnant of ring shouts.
-end of August 20, 2017 addition.

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FEATURED EXAMPLES
These examples are presented in chronological order based on their posting dates on YouTube, with the exception of the ring shout examples which are presented first.

Example #1: Geechee Gullah Ring Shouters perform.MP4



hoshidas47, Uploaded on Jul 23, 2011
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The ring shout begins at 2:19 in that video. The religious song is "Give Me Two Wings".

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Example #2: Weeksville Heritage Center



Mireille Liong, Published on Jul 7, 2012

RUN MARY RUN: Jubilee Curator and choreographer Rashida Bumbray's newest installment of her dance work, RUN MARY RUN : Jubilee, considers the harmonic ideas and tonal vocabulary of the McIntosh County Shouters. Creating an active ritual for the ceremony of the ring shout, Bumbray and the performers take us on a ride through the cosmologies of the Low Country, Geechie Sea Islands, Tennessee Blues, P Funk, and Hip Hop. This iteration of Run Mary Run is developed in collaboration with Dance Diaspora Collective and special guest master dancer, Adenike Sharpley, Professor, Oberlin College.
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Selected comments from this video's discussion thread:
Azaka86, 2012
"I have to say as a member of The McIntosh County Shouters. This is by far the greatest reinactment of the ring shout in a ceremonal fashion I have ever seen. Growing up and watchin the ring shout as a child the elder never took the shout to the point it was taken in this clip, because of the rules of "church" against dancing but to see that you guy held true to the shuffling of the feet while making the circle truly make me proud. The only thing that was missing was the beating of the stick. :)"

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Azaka86, 2012
[in response to the video publisher's thanks]
"You are most welcome and in shuffing your feet you must be in beat with the music. very awesome job just slow down allow yourselves to become one with the music and the song. That is when you really know you are shouting and not just going around in a circle. And whoever lead the song beautiful voice"

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Roz Harden, 2015
"Ring Shout in in best form. I love this song "You Got A Right" "

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[Comment added to post on 10/4/2016]

Giksy Redcloud, 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxvtT7MR2ck

Many of the slaves in the Gullah Geechee belt were taken from the Futa Tooro region of southern Mauritania. Futa Tooro was destroyed when occupied by the french and it became Mauritania. The people there still do the same dance.
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The name of this video is "fulbe Mauritania"

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Example #3: Crystal's run,shout praise



terence hobbs. Uploaded on Jul 10, 2009

Lord i'm running,trying to make 100, 99 1/2 won't do!!!
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Selected comment:
Blckberi, 2014
"You better run and praise Him! All of you who find this wrong should just shut right on up. If David danced and tore his clothes off while praising God, who are we to tell anyone else how to praise the Lord. Run, dance, clap, sing, cry, snap your fingers, leap, fall out, it doesn't matter. God wants all of our praise. Stop judging how someone expresses their love and appreciation for who God is in their life. Well if you ever come to my church, you better praise or move out of the way and give us room to do it."

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Example #4: MCHCA Ushers & Nurses Grand March



Mount Calvary Holy Church Inc, Uploaded on Aug 19, 2009

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Example #5: Ushers Day Celebration...and they Marched for Jesus



Uploaded by GodsBlessingU on May 3, 2010

Anointed One Ministries Ushers Day Celebration ... as the Ushers Strutted during offering. Services were held at Bethel AME Church in Cambridge, MD

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"What Do You Want The Lord To Say" (videos & lyrics)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases seven videos and one sound file of the congregational song "What Do You Want The Lord To Say?"

"What Do You Want The Lord To Say?" appears to be an old African American Apostolic song which may still be commonly sung by those congregations (and others). Notice that Example #8 of this post is of a predominately White Apostolic congregation singing "What Do You Want The Lord To Say" during their worship service.

I've included a basic transcription of the lyrics of this song from these featured examples as those lyrics don't appear to be otherwise online. Additions and corrections and information about this song are welcome as this old song is new to me.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the composer of this song. Thanks also to all those who are featured in these videos and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube and those who are quoted in this post.

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LYRICS: WHAT DO YOU WANT THE LORD TO SAY
(composer ?)

1st verse:
What do you want the Lord to say?
Oh-o-o, What do you want the Lord to say?
“Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Enter in the joy of the Lord.

[Repeat 1st verse]

2nd verse:
That’s what I want the Lord to say?
Oh-o-o, that’s what I want the Lord to say?
“Well done, good and faithful servant/”
Enter in the joy of the Lord.*

[Repeat 2nd verse]

[Return to 1st verse, and repeat verse]

[Return to 2nd verse]

[Repeat 2nd verse with Vamp *the lead singer improves and choir singing "Well done, good and faithful servant.” as a response to those vamped lines.]

[End with the last line “Enter in the joy of the Lord.”]

*This last line is also given as "That's what I want the Lord to say".

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FEATURED EXAMPLES
These examples are presented in chronological order based on their posting date on YouTube with the oldest dated example given first.

Example #1: What do You want the Lord To Say



Bruce Butler, Uploaded on Aug 29, 2011

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Example #2: Throwback Music Medley. Pastor Marvin Winans



Drew Camp Uploaded on Dec 18, 2011

Pastor Marvin Winans and Perfecting Praise Choir, Live in Toronto. Dec. 17,2011 [Canada]
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"What Do You want the Lord to Say" is the first song that was sung in this medley. That medley also ended with this song (prior to the praise break.)

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Example #3: Bebe Winans What Do You want the Lord to Say



Musicdone4real's channel, Uploaded on Feb 13, 2012

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Example #4: 2012 PAW Summer Convention - What do you want the Lord to say?



apostolic660, Published on Aug 28, 2012

Bishop Richard Young & PAW Praise Team leading us singing "What do you want the Lord to say?" at 2012 PAW Summer Convention 8/7/12 Evening Service in New Orleans, LA
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Note this comment about the tempo:
BrotherTy Page, 2014
"That's the right speed...its an apostolic church lol"

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Example #5: What Do You Want The Lord to Say



rodneyzgal, Published on Mar 31, 2013

Apostolic Faith Choir
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"Just A Little While" is another song. In 2012 Aaron Johnson, a commenter in the viewer comment thread of the video given in this post as Example #2, gave those lyrics for that song:
"Just a little while to stay here, just a little while to wait! Just a little while to labor in the path that's always straight! Just a little more of trouble in this low and sinful state! Then we'll enter Heaven's portal, where we'll go SWEEPIN' through the pearly gates!!"

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Example #6: "What Do You Want The Lord to Say?" Performed by the CCU CIA - Gospel Sing Out



Sterling Silver, Published on Mar 2, 2014
via YouTube Capture

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Example #7: Deacon Samuel Mayo "What Do Want The Lord To Say"



TTOJC Wilson, NC Published on Apr 16, 2014

I created this video with the YouTube Video Editor (http://www.youtube.com/editor)

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Example #8: What Do You Want the Lord to Say



Michelle Twiner-Perry, Published on Oct 27, 2014

HC14 friday night Mass Choir singing led by Sis Pamela White, Trish Mcdonald, Darla Denmon, and Rev. Matthew Cannata

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Miracle Tabernacle COGIC's Praise Generation - "Lord I Thank You" & "I'm So Glad That The Lord Saved Me" (video & lyrics)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part IV of a four part series that showcases examples of and lyrics to the old Gospel song "I'm So Glad The Lord Saved Me".

This post showcases an example of & lyrics for"Lord I Thank You" and "I'm So Glad That The Lord Saved Me" as sung by Miracle Tabernacle COGIC Praise Generation choir. If I'm not mistaken, that church is in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

This post also includes the video 1955 Carman (with lyrics) - greatest hit!. That video features a COGIC choir singing "I'm So Glad That The Lord Saved Me".

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/12/old-school-gospel-song-im-so-glad-that.html for Part I of this series.

Part I showcases an example of that song that is led by Pastor Mark Moore, Sr. of Faith Covenant Church, Atlanta, Georgia.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-original-five-blind-boys-of.html for Part II of this series.

Part II showcases an example of "I'm So Glad That The Lord Saved Me" and lyrics of that song as sung by "The Original Five Blind Boys Of Mississippi". That post also includes information about this singing group.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/12/bishop-g-e-patterson-im-so-glad-that.html for Part III of this series.

Part III showcases an example of & lyrics for "I'm So Glad That The Lord Saved Me" as sung by Bishop Gilbert Earl Patterson. Information about Bishop Patterson is also included in that post.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

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FEATURED VIDEO: "Lord I Thank You" & "I'm So Glad The Lord Saved Me" - M.T's Praise Generation"



MiracleTabTv, Uploaded on Jan 31, 2010

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LYRICS: LORD I THANK YOU & I'M SO GLAD THAT THE LORD SAVED ME"
(as sung by "M.T's Praise Generation")

Chorus:
Lord, I thank you, thank you, thank you
Thank you, thank you, thank you
Thank you all the days of my life.

Oh, Lord I thank you, thank you, thank you
Thank you, thank you, thank you
Thank you all the days of my life.

When I was down, Lord, You raised me [repeat 3x]
I thank all the days of my life

Chorus [repeat 2x]

When I was sick, Lord, You healed me [repeat 3x]
I thank You all the days of my life

[Flow right in to the song “I’m So Glad That The Lord Saved Me”.]

Oh I’m so glad that the Lord saved me
I'm so glad that the Lord saved me
If it had not been for Jesus where would I be
I'm so glad that the Lord saved me

[Ssing all of these words one more time.]

Lead singer -He saved me
Choir - He saved me
Lead - He saved me
Choir- He saved me
All - If it had not been for Jesus where would I be
I'm so glad that the Lord saved me.

[Sing the chorus to "Lord, I thank you" again. In this video, the choir sang it two times.]
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Transcription by Azizi Powell. This transcription doesn't include the spoken words toward the end of this song encouraging the congregation to give God some praise.

Additions & corrections are welcome.
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Read comments about "I'm So Glad That The Lord Saved Me" in Part I of this series.

Also, read this pancocojams post about "Cut A Step" And Other Black Pentecostal Words, Phrases, & Sayings, Part I http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/12/cut-step-and-other-black-pentecostal.html

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ADDENDUM: 1955 Carman (with lyrics) - greatest hit!



cervenabudka, Published on May 13, 2012

I clearly remember how my father brings this videotape home!
Fantastic essence of old times!
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There's a 1992 DVD entitled Carman - Addicted to Jesus, but I'm not sure if that is the source of this video. I'm also not sure if this video is a spoof on Pentacostal religion or is meant to be taken seriously. But the historical (or historical-like) clip of the choir singing is worth watching and hearing.
The song "I'm So Glad That The Lord Saved Me" begins at 5:47 and the entire song begins at 2:19. A transcript of the entire song beginning at 2:19 including "I'm So Glad That The Lord Saved Me" is included in the summary.
Click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRV9JunkE0Q

However, I was interested in the entire video, particularly how the video show the White sponsor of the church concert being concerned that the White towns people wouldn't like the fact that a COGIC choir (also referred to as a "Colored" choir) would be singing at that concert.

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This concludes Part IV of this series.

My thanks to for their music. My thanks also to the publisher of this sound file on YouTube.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Andrae Crouch - Can't Nobody Do Me Like Jesus (from the Jeffersons TV Show)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases a clip from a 1981 episode of the American television show The Jeffersons. In this clip Andrae Crouch sings a version of the praise song that he composed "Can't Nobody Do Me Like Jesus".

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

In addition to the song itself, I'm particularly interested in how this television clip documents, sometimes humorously, the use of call & response in African American churches. I'm also interested in how this clip documents double time and other types of handclapping as accompaniment to Gospel singing & music playing.

FEATURED VIDEO
The Jeffersons featuring Gospel Singer Andrae Crouch - Men of the Cloth (Part 2 of 2)


Uploaded on Jun 21, 2010

George tries to fool gospel singer Andrae Crouch into singing at his grand-daughter's baptism. (1981)
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Andrae Crouch sings his composition "Can't Nobody Do Me Like Jesus". That title means "no one can take care of me [care for me] like Jesus.

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PARTIAL LYRICS
Can’t nobody do me like Jesus
Can’t nobody do me like the Lord
Can’t nobody do me like Jesus
‘Cause He’s my friend

[other words sung by the Lead]
I came to Jesus just as I was
weary worn and sad

I found in Him a resting place
and He has made me glad

He’s my friend over troubled waters
He’s my joy in the midst of sorrow
-snip-
After it appeared that the song had ended, the singing begins again with double time clapping accompaniment. This common feature of Gospel singing can lead to extended "Praise breaks" -Definition of "Praise Break":
A praise break is an unscripted portion of a Christian worship service when individuals feel the [Holy] Spirit and spontaneously praise & worship God by “getting happy” (shouting). When people feel the spirit during a praise break they may testify (give praise to God), do a holy dance, jump up and down, speak in tongues (speak words that aren’t part of any language), cry, become distraught, lift their hand/s to heaven, etc. Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/05/black-church-praise-break-videos-part.html for videos of praise breaks.

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RELATED LINKS
Click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUsL47G5FMg for Part I of this television episode.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/11/cant-nobody-do-me-like-jesus-black-talk.html for a video of this song aws performed by the Reverend James Cleveland & Choir.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to Andrae Crouch for composing "Can't Nobody Do Me Like Jesus". My thanks also to the actors and actresses, producers, writers, and staff associated with the Jeffersons. Thanks also to the uploader of this featured video (as well as Part I of this episode whose hyperlink is given above.)

Finally, thank you for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Black Church Praise Break Videos, Part II

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a two part series on Black Church praise breaks.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/05/black-church-praise-break-videos.html for Part I of that series.

Part I contains more information about praise breaks and additional videos of praise breaks are included in Part I of this series

The content of this post is presented for historical, spiritual, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

My thanks to the ministers, speakers, musicians, and vocalists, and other members of the congregation of churches featured in these videos. My thanks also to the videographers and the uploaders of these videos, as well as to the authors of the information that is quoted in this post.

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DEFINITION OF "PRAISE BREAKS"
A praise break is an unscripted portion of a Christian worship service when individuals feel the [Holy] Spirit and spontaneously praise & worship God by “getting happy” (shouting). When people feel the spirit during a praise break they may testify (give praise to God), do a holy dance, jump up and down, speak in tongues (speak words that aren’t part of any language), cry, become distraught, lift their hand/s to heaven, etc.

While praise breaks may be a spontaneous portion of a worship service, these expressions of worship may also be helped along by the minister's words, or another speaker's words which are accented by the organist, keyboardist, drummer and other musicians. Or musicians may begin a praise break and continue it accompanied by any spoken words or singing. The usually uptempo chords that the musicians play serve to galvanize the congregation to praise & worship God.

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FEATURED VIDEOS
Video #1: Old School COGIC Praise and shout with Mother Willie Mae Butts



Uploaded by SamuelButts on Oct 24, 2008

Mother Willie Mae Butts Sings old school COGIC Praise "let your light shine, because theres too many people down in the valley trying to get home. They don't do it like this anymore.

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"COGIC" = Church Of God In Christ, a Pentecostal denomination

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Video #2: Bishop BD Moore- Praise Break



Uploaded by LilMaestr0Bishop on Oct 29, 2007

Sunday Morning Praise break

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Video #3: Praise Break @Kennerly Temple COGIC



Uploaded by letme1989 on Jul 11, 2008

Saints in praise at appreciation service for Elder Robert V. Woodie, Minister of Music @ Kennerly Temple COGIC

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Video #4: "Pentecostal Praise" - Bishop Leonard Scott



Uploaded by pannellctp on Jul 13, 2011

Bishop Leonard Scott Hymns & Church Songs Live From Alabama

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Video #5: Juanita Bynum Praise Break for Victory



Uploaded by matthew5and9 on Jul 19, 2008

Praise Break

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Black Church Praise Break Videos, Part I

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I of a two part series on praise breaks in African American churches.

This is Part I of a two part series on Black Church praise breaks. Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/05/black-church-praise-break-videos-part.html for Part II of that series.

The content of this post is presented for historical, spiritual, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

My thanks to the ministers, speakers, musicians, and vocalists, and other members of the congregation of churches featured in these videos. My thanks also to the videographers and the uploaders of these videos, as well as to the authors of the information that is quoted in this post.

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DESCRIPTIONS OF AND COMMENTS ABOUT PRAISE BREAKS AND THE HOLY DANCE [amended 12/6/2013]
A “praise break” is an unscripted portion of a Christian worship service or Christian event such as a revival when individuals who feel the [Holy] Spirit spontaneously praise God (Jesus) by doing one or more of the following spontaneous actions: holding up one or both of your arms toward Heaven and give verbal praises to God and/or “testimonies” about how God has touched their lives (while seated or, more commonly standing up from one's seat); moving out of your seat and walking fast, running down the church aisle, or around the church sanctuary (the main room where church service are held); doing dance-like movements in the church aisle/s or in front of the sanctuary’s rostrum, and/or “speaking in tongues” (speak words from a language that is not formally recognized by linguists).

These worship behaviors are most commonly found in Black American and White American Pentecostal churches, and from these sources, in other Pentecostal churches throughout the world. However, they may also be found in some Baptist churches, and in certain other Christian churches.

Persons who do one or more of these actions often appear to be in a semi-conscious, trance-like state. “Feeling the Spirit” and “getting happy” are two general terms that African Americans have used to refer to this trance-like state of consciousness and the largely involuntary action or actions that occur while in that state of consciousness. Also, particularly among African Americans, the dance-like movements that are done while feeling the Spirit is called "the holy dance". And “shout” (used with its 18th century and on African American meaning)* is still a commonly used referent for the fast walking, running, and/or dancing that praisers do. Particularly among African American Pentecostal worshippers, these actions are referred to as “shouting” (“getting your shout on”), “praising” (getting your praise on”), “dancing”** (“doing the holy dance”), “getting your dance on), and “going in” (“went in”). This last referent may be short for “going in [experiencing] a Holy Spirit filled state of being”]

Ministers’ sermons often help initiate praise breaks. Also, certain songs praising God (known as “praise & worship songs” since at least the late 20th century) help galvanize worshipers to perform one of more of the above noted praise behaviors*. Particularly in African American churches, certain types of percussive instrumental music played by church organist, pianist/keyboardist, guitarist, and drummer help galvanize worshippers to experience the Holy Spirit in the ways that are noted above. This instrumental music is generally referred to as “praise break music”. This music has a fast tempo, and since at least the late 20th century [?], that tempo has gotten faster. The musicians (particularly organists) play chords in respond to the pastor’s words (particularly toward the end of the pastors’ sermon). Musicians also may play music in response to the dance movement of one or more of the people who are doing the holy dance. Although a minister, or a master/mistress of ceremonies during a religious service, may try to bring the worship service back to its scheduled order of progression, the musicians may continue playing praise break music, especially if they notice one or more people who are “getting their praise on”. Eventually, the praise break stops, and the church service continues, until another praise break spontaneously occurs or until the end of that worship service.

A wide open space was needed to do ring shouts indoors. If there were chairs or tables or boxes in that space, before the ring shout began, people would have to clear the floor. But when it became customary for church congregational seats [church pews] to be fixed to the floor of the sanctuary, there was no more physical space for the circular ring shout. That old form of "shouting" changed from an activity where a mixed group of males and females shuffled around a circle in a line while chanting or singing, to an individual activity which might spontaneously emerge from singing -and later from the playing of musical instruments, but one in which the shouter (now referred to as the "praiser") no longer sung or chanted. The most common second shout form which historically occured after the circular ring shout form was one in which an individual ran or walked fast down a church aisle or around the church's sanctuary. While that form of shouting is still done to date, the most common forms of contemporary shouting are when people stand in their church pews with one or both arms raised to the heavens or when an individual does a "holy dance" -usually one that emphasizes fast footwork, jumps, turns, and/or slides, while standing in the aisle near his or her seat, or while standing in the front of-or in the front corner of- the church sanctuary.

*From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_shout
"A shout or ring shout is an ecstatic, transcendent religious ritual, first practiced by African slaves in the West Indies and the United States, in which worshipers move in a circle while shuffling and stomping their feet and clapping their hands. Despite the name, shouting aloud is not an essential part of the ritual."
-snip-
I would amend that statement to say that speaking loudly isn't necessarily a part of religious shout experiences.

**There's no way to verify which came first-the religious shout footwork or the secular dances that had the same or similar fast paced foot motions. This dance form almost certainly has its source in Black African traditional dances.

Incidentally, buck dancing is still performed by members of New Orleans Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs and their second line followers. Furthermore, the same or similar footwork that is characteristic of these historical and contemporary forms of "shouting" are also characteristic of contemporary [non-religious] Chicago footwork and Detroit jitting.

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FEATURED VIDEOS
Video #1: Praise Break (Hezekial Walker)



Uploaded by ccsweetstuff on Jun 26, 2007

Hezekiah Walker and the Love Fellowship crusade choir a praise break before performing I'll make it.

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Video #2: A Pentecostal Praise Break Done Right!



Uploaded by atlpraiser on Apr 24, 2008

This is my Church, Faith Covenant Church in Atlanta, Georgia doing what we do best, giving God the Praise! Our Pastor is Pastor Mark Moore, Sr. and he is a preaching machine...

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Video #3: Praise Break during benediction- PART TWO



Uploaded by TempleSaint on Jul 14, 2007

The Benediction that never happened! Dr. Larry D. Reid and a few of The Breakthrough Church members of Raleigh NC @ Abundant Life in Wilson NC the first night( Prophet Hardy in brown is the presider and member at Abundant Life thats in Wilson, NC)

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Video #4: Cathedral Praise Break – West Angeles COGIC



Uploaded by joco76 on Jun 16, 2009

Bishop Blake preaching on being a premeditated praiser!!!! And then they praised!!!!!

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RELATED LINK
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/05/african-american-ring-shouts-origins.html African American Ring Shouts (Origins & Examples)

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