Today we’d like to introduce you to Cristabel Clack.
Cristabel, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born and raised in San Antonio, TX. My family has always been musical and my siblings and I were a family group that sang at every local event in our city. As the years went by, I grew leery of the “performance” of it all and wanted something deeper. I would find myself crying out to God in my private time and creating a space for him to reveal himself to me. His presence invaded my life one day and I never looked back.
Since then, I’ve made His presence a priority in my life and I worship freely, with a zeal and a passion to give God all the praise and worship I can muster. I guess you can say I’m a little radical with my praise. I’ve been singing with Israel and New Breed since 2008. I’ve had the opportunity to travel the world, and be on stages many dreams of.
When asked how I got the privilege, I attribute it to being a servant. I’ve never coveted a mic or a solo and I believe God honors humility and servanthood. I also had a short stint on American Idol, where I made it into the top 20 ladies in season 12. I honestly don’t know why I auditioned because I had sworn off competition shows after a few failed attempts, but I believe God ordered my steps through the audition process.
With each “yes” I received from the judges, a new confidence was birthed in me. I told him, God, “you take me as far as you want me to go and I’ll make sure you get the glory.”Along the way, I was able to share my faith with others and even share my story in a highlight on the show. When I got to the live shows in Vegas, I knew that would be the end for me, because the Holy Spirit let me know I’d be cut.
However, after I was cut from the show, I asked God what was the point of it all, because although I had given God permission to take me as far as he wanted me to go, I found myself frustrated, feeling like I was back to square one, questioning what he wanted to do with my life and “what now?” The only thing I had to hang on to was the promise he gave me right before I got cut: “This is just a glimpse of what I want to do with you.”
A few short weeks later, he began to open door after door. I was invited to lead worship all over the nation. For the past decade, God has been incredibly faithful to his word.
We pastor here in Memphis to my high school sweetheart, Brandon Clack, for 17 years and we have 3 beautiful children on this side of heaven, and a sweet Angel baby that we can’t wait to see again. We pastor All Nations Worship Assembly, Memphis
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It has not always been easy. As a pastor and worship leader, I’ve fought a lack of confidence and the comparison syndrome. I never wanted to be anyone’s “First Lady” and I fought God AND my husband on that. But God has really graced me to do both and he’s really shown me how to love His people and lead with compassion.
I’d say the hardest thing my family has had to walk through was the death of my baby girl, Zoey Moriah in May of 2021. It was like someone ripped my heart out. After praying and believing God for a healthy pregnancy, just like the others, it seemed like we were faced with bad news after bad news.
Our daughter was born with 2 completely random and rare birth defects that had nothing to with one another. It felt like God had forsaken us. I was ready to walk away from everything I ever believed in, because how can the God I sing and preach about, seemingly, do me so wrong!? My faith was so shaken. I pleaded with God. I asked him why. I even gave him an ultimatum: “if you don’t fix this, I’m done.”
But God, in his mercy, began to show me that he was still with me, and although the outcome was not what we had hoped, I continued to worship him, because he IS good, in spite of how I feel or how things look. As I worshiped, the heaviness left, the grief lifted, and I promised God I would never fault him for taking my baby. I had to ask myself: “has God always been horrible to me?
Has he always been a bad father?” When I couldn’t answer yes, I decided I had a reason to thank him, I had a reason to love him. I don’t think we’ll ever get over the loss, but trusting that God is always with us, and knowing he’s a comforter, gives us the strength to keep going, day by day.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a Pastor, and a worship leader, I oversee 2 worship departments and assist churches in the area of praise and worship. I am also a professional background vocalist, which is one of my favorite things. I really love everything that I get to do.
Each of my roles has a different facet of leadership, but I am pastoral in every role. I believe is raising the standard in the lives of those I touch.
I am honestly the proudest of the teams that I’ve built and the leadership I’ve raised to replace me. I don’t believe that I’m the only one that can or should lead. I strongly believe in duplicating myself, and that’s what I’ve done.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I don’t know if I would attribute anything in my life to luck. I strongly believe everything is divinely orchestrated and I believe I receive what I ask for, pray for, and go after.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @cristabelclack
- Facebook: Cristabel Clack
- Youtube: Cristabel Clack
Image Credits
Greater Shiloh Church @Lalatakeslife and All Nations Worship Assembly-Memphis
