Sunday on HUR@HOME Inspiration, we were graced with an interview with Bishop Rance Allen. Bishop Allen a legendary Gospel singer and Pastor of the New Bethel Church in God in Christ in Toledo, Ohio. He began singing and preaching since the age of 5.

In the midst of the sickness and death caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the anger and protests over frequently fatal incidents of racial injustice protests, Bishop Allen believes that God will allow something good to come out of the turmoil and confusion. He prays that the protesting can be done in a peaceful manner.

Rance Allen was born in Monroe, Michigan, one of 12 children. He listened to Mahalia Jackson and the Rev. James Cleveland. He started the Rance Allen Group in 1968 with his brothers Tom and Steve.

The group won a contest in Detroit and gained the attention of Dave Clark and A Bell of Stax Records. Bishop talked about his days with Stax and how it nurtured the growth of his career. At Stax, the Rance Allen Group recorded the hits “Aint No Need of Crying,” I Belong To You”, and “Just My Imagination.” They recorded “Miracle Worker with Al Bell’s label, Bellmark Records. The Rance Allen Group’s current label is Tyscot.

Bishop also talked about how he came to record “Blessing Me Again” with Snoop Dogg. He said he is a witness that Snoop Dogg told him that he gave his life to Christ. Bishop also told us how he came to record “Something About The Name, Jesus” with Kirk Franklin and blessed us by the singing of the song in the interview.