Sisters' Story

There's an old song that perhaps you sang in church youth group - it started out, "It only takes a spark to get a fire going..."  That song was entitled, Pass It On.  That concept is addressed in 2nd Timothy chapter 2:
1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

Paul is communicating how love of Christ and His truth are passed on.  I think of the passage in Judges 2 regarding how God's principles were not passed on and an awareness of righteousness was lost within the course of a generation.  We are commissioned to keep that fire of the Lord going, living the life, applying His principles, proclaiming His presence through the way we act and speak. It takes determination and a commitment to discipleship, and it's critical in the perpetuation of the gospel.

+++++

Our faith journey, essentially, doesn't stop with us - we have the chance to impact those who will
outlive us with our expression of Christ's love. Psalm 145 states:
3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable.
4 One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts.
5 I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, And on Your wondrous works.
6 Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, And I will declare Your greatness.

It was what you might call a ratings smash or a perfect storm, in a positive sense - a biopic on a family of gospel singers shown during the Easter season, with some star power involved in the project.  The Christian Post reports that:

Lifetime’s original movie “The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel” brought in a record breaking 2.7 million viewers on Saturday.

The viewership count collected by Nielsen Media Research revealed that the film, based on the lives of the legendary singing siblings, is now Lifetime's highest-rated movie since 2016. It also became the most-watched original movie in all of broadcast and cable television so far this year across key demographics.

The article quotes from the film's synopsis:

The film recounts the story of the highest-selling female gospel group in history and their trailblazing mother, Mattie Moss Clark (Aunjanue Ellis). Credited with bringing gospel music to the mainstream, the five Clark sisters overcame humble beginnings in Detroit, Michigan, enduring abuse, loss, rejection, betrayal, and sibling rivalries to achieve international fame as icons of the Gospel music industry,” the film’s synopsis says.

One of the executive producers is pop singer Mary J. Blige, who said, "I've learned so much from them. They just have the anointing..." She added: “Seeing their story was like seeing what do our angels go through? They've been my Earth angels. So we all want to see what their life was like. What did they sacrifice? What did they give up to save our lives? That's why we're telling the story,” she said.

Another executive producer, Holly Carter, is quoted in the article:

“I think it’s all about how you tell the story,” Carter said, according to Deadline. She called the film, “A little aspiration, a little inspiration, a little Jesus.” Claiming the challenge was “connecting them to a story that could touch the masses. You do that by telling stories than connect to every man … it has not been easy. But it has been possible.”

A short bio appeared on the Hollywood Life website about this dynamic family gospel group:

The Clark Sisters initially consisted of 5 sisters. The group started out with Jacky Clark Chisholm, Denise Clark Bradford, Elbernita “Twinkie” Clark-Terrell, Dorinda Clark-Cole, and Karen Clark Sheard. The Clark Sisters rose to fame in the 1980s and are known for helping bring gospel music to the mainstream. Their first album, Jesus Has a Lot to Give, was released in 1973. Their most popular songs include “Is My Living in Vain”, “Hallelujah”, “He Gave Me Nothing to Lose”, “Endow Me”, “Jesus Is A Love Song”, and more. The group has won Grammy Awards, including Best Gospel Performance and Best Traditional Gospel Album. They are the highest-selling female gospel group in history.

Interestingly enough, Kierra Sheard played the role of her mother, Karen Clark Sheard.  Kierra, or "Kiki," who is a gospel music artist, said, according to the Detroit Free-Press: “It was a super honor and a blessing,” adding, “It was a dream for me to be able to show the world that this is what my mom, my aunts, my grandmother, my family have gone through, have done for artists that are singing gospel music today. They are history makers.”

Sheard also said:

“There were moments where I drowned myself in tears because I just didn’t know they’d gone through so much to build a legacy and blaze a trail for people in places they didn’t even see then, but that they may see now,” she says.

“There are so many things any individual can get from this story; that is strength, that is perseverance, that is faith,” Sheard says. “The seasoned saints used to say, ‘Only what you do for Christ will last’ and these ladies are still going strong, still traveling the world and singing their songs.”

I think there are several considerations here.  One is the pervasive power of Christian music - and I believe there is a special exuberance in that genre known as "gospel" music.  There is an emotional connection that is communicated and I think that may explain why you hear of popular singers who "got their start," sort of speak, in the church or at least were influenced by it, even though their current music or lifestyles might not reflect that perspective.  You could say that the seed has been planted.  We can admit that music has a unique ability to communicate truth, the truth of the Word of God.

There's also something to be said here about leaving a family legacy.  You can see the impact that I outlined from the matriarch, Mattie Moss Clark, to her daughter, Karen, then to her granddaughter, Kierra, who played her mother in the movie.  The legacy was apparently built through much trial.  We can consider what we are leaving behind, the seeds we are planting, and the principles we are modeling. What we fight for - the cause of Christ - and how we did it, will hopefully make an indelible mark in the years to come.