Hi Marcus, how are you man?

I am blessed, how about yourself?

I am doing fine. Well, it’s good getting a chance to speak with you. I am feeling the new project, I already have it.

Thanks you. The project is now in stores all over the country. It’s been a blast man, we’ve been traveling a lot and promoting it and I am enjoying it.

How did you get signed to PureSprings Gospel?

This was definitely a prayer of mine. I didn’t know that PureSprings would have been the label, but it was a prayer of mine for many years, that I would have been picked up by a label with integrity, and one who still believes in hearing from God in terms of decisions would pick me up. It so happen that Mano Haynes who produced the project; is also the Music Director for CeCe Winans and myself decided that we were going to do an independent release, the idea came up to approach PureSprings Gospel. While they were on the road, Mano played the CD and it got CeCe’s Attention, and the rest as they say was history!

You were a member of Commissioned, how did that come about. We know that commissioned is a bad group and you are a bad vocalist yourself, so how did you get linked up with them?

In 1996, my wife and I were living in Atlanta during our first year of marriage, and there were some great things going on down there, but my wife and I decided to move back to Michigan. One of the things that somewhat prompted that move was that Jive Records was doing a showcase in Flint, MI. While we were at the showcase, Mitchell Jones form Commissioned was there with a couple of his acts, and we got a chance to talk. We talked a lot about Commissioned, but never about joining the group. A few weeks went by and I got a call from the group’s road manager who told me that Marvin Sapp was leaving the group, and asked if I would consider coming up to Grand Rapids and audition. I did, they liked it. The week my son was born was my first gig with Commissioned and the last for Marvin Sapp which was in New York at Radio City Music Hall.

You are a respected songwriter and producer, and I know that you’ve done some work with Lexi. How was it working with her?

Working with her was like coming over to the house, watching the games and just kicking back and having fun. That’s the kind of relationship my wife, her husband that passed and I have with her. We just formed an incredibly real relationship that had nothing to do with the industry. She came over and told me that she wanted to get me on one of her songs, and so we went down to the basement and made it happen! We’ve also performed a few times live as well…she’s just a terrific person and a talented woman of God.

Let’s talk about the new project; how long did it take to put together and what are your expectations for it?

It took about two years to get this project together, and that was pretty quick for Mano and me as he lives out in Los Angeles. We decided that we were just going to work on some songs, not necessarily thinking about an album at the time, simply writing songs that meant a lot to us. There was a period during that time when I believe that God was really grooming me to be a worshipper not just in song, but in lifestyle. When people ask me if this is a worship album, I tell them no it’s not, but it is from a worshipper. This album to me is like a journal that would tell people where I was from the days of Commissioned to where I am today as a worship pastor at my church in Highland Park, MI. I am expecting a blessing in the lives of all who listens to this project.

Are there any tours currently or any in the making Marcus?

Absolutely, I have opened up for the CeCe Winans and Donnie McClurkin tour. I have a number of dates with them that will be taking me to New York, Detroit and all over the place. I am certainly honored and blessed to have even been considered to be a part of that tour. CeCe and Donnie are two great worshippers, so it’s just an honor to be a part of that.

Do you have a website?

Yes, it www.marcuscoleministries.com. Just log on and leave your questions and comments and let me know what you think about the album and where you think gospel music is headed and what people expect from gospel music. I think that is the most important thing.

Marcus, thank you for this wonderful interview and I wish you many blessings on this album.

Thank you for the opportunity and God bless you.