With nine Grammy Awards and 18 Dove Awards to her credit, Gospel singer CeCe Winans wowed crowds during two concerts this past weekend held at St. Paul AME Church and hosted by Faith Based Tourism.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, Priscilla Winans Love, known professionally as CeCe Winans, was born the eighth of ten children to David and Delores Winans, an amazingly talented musical family.

"I started as a teen with my family in Detroit," Ms. Winans said. Then, she and her brother, Benjamin, better known to many as BeBe, were signed to sing for the PTL Club, which was then under the direction of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker. The pair sang on the show for about five years.

Now, with more than 20 years in the industry, CeCe doubts that she'll ever stop singing.

"God has kept me in it," she said. "I'm doing what I was created to do. You sit back and realise that's a good thing.

"(The music industry) has definitely changed over the years," she added.

"But as long as I have a voice, I'll continue to sing."

CeCe recorded her first album, "Lord Lift Us Up," in 1984 with BeBe. The pair went on to record six albums together, as well as producing a "Greatest Hits" and "The Best of BeBe & CeCe Winans", before each launching solo careers in 1995.

"I am doing a new album with BeBe, though," she added, something she admits is long overdue. The album is set to launch in autumn 2008 and will be followed by a world tour.

In addition to a demanding music career, CeCe has also been instrumental in the creation of "Always Sisters", a ministry to young women aged 13 to 26.

With such a large following through the years, especially among young women and teens, CeCe had often received letters from her fans seeking help.

"I really have a burden for young people … I had been wanting to create a platform to answer the questions and to give guidance," she explained. Unfortunately, the time never seemed right, until she realised that: "The time was never going to be right," so she needed to just do it.

In 2005, just one month after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, which nearly saw the cancellation of the event, more than 700 young ladies descended on Nashville, Tennessee for the very first Always Sisters conference.

In 2006, attendance grew to 2,500, and this year, there were more than 3,000. Plans are already in place for the 2008 event.

"We deal with real issues," CeCe shared, including AIDS, body image, sexuality, self-esteem and fathers and daughters.

"I'm about leaving them changed," she added.

Both of CeCe's children, Alvin III and Ashley, are involved in the event, with her son helping to organize the final concert, and her daughter shared briefly with attendees this past year.

"I hope to put Ashley more in front in the future, as a speaker," CeCe said. "I really want it to be taken over by a younger woman."

Through the years, CeCe has managed to do so many fantastic things, from singing and songwriting, to acting and writing, many have thought she was a superwoman.

"We're not superwomen," she says of herself and to encourage other women.

"People help me do a lot of what I do." None more than her husband of 23 years, Alvin Love, Jr., whom CeCe credits as being her unending support through the years. Alvin even gave up a long-time job with Xerox to travel with her when she turned solo in 1995.

So what does a multi-platinum, award winning recording artist listen to?

CeCe smiled and said that she's been thoroughly enjoying jazz guitarist Jonathan Butler's new Gospel CD, "Brand New Day," as well as her brother, Marvin Winans' new album, "Alone But Not Alone".

Marvin's album was produced by CeCe's own record label, PureSprings Gospel.

CeCe, who has travelled to Bermuda on several occasions before working with local churches, was delighted to be back on the Island again. She was accompanied by her husband, tour manager and back-up singers.

"The only thing I'm sad about is that I don't have my band," she said.

CeCe's latest album, "Hymns At Heart," is set for an April 2008 release.

She found that singing many of the old hymns was a comfort to her, and while she enjoys contemporary Christian music, she said: "It's really important that you have both."

Her favourite passage of scripture is Philippians 4:13, which states: "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (KJV).

"You have to always remind yourself that you can do it," she affirmed.

"I believe in staying focused with what God has called you to do."