Apostle Rejoice Marie Dupree: We Will Miss You!

Apostle Rejoice Marie Dupree

 March 26, 1949 - July 26, 2013

 

While glazing over all of my Facebook friends' pages,  sadly, someone has moved on to another level in life.  

Apostle Rejoice Marie Dupree transitioned Friday, July 26, 2013.

It's interesting how The Father will place us in the most unexpected areas, while placing His most gifted individuals on our path, revealing who we are, and showing us why we are even here.

During the year 1997, I was invited to sing at a winter holiday event in SC.  After vocalizing "Oh Holy Night," I was approached by a very astute, and highly anointed lady, who provided such prolific words, through the Holy Spirit.  The words were so in tune with what The Father had been speaking to me, all I could do was cry, and give exhilarating praises to The Most High, for how He was using this truly amazing woman!  She didn't know me from Adam, but she portrayed an honored vessel, and meat for the Master's  use!

"Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses!" (2 Corinthians 13:1)

The Father continued to move through her, reminding me of what He's been getting His  children ready for, how He's filling us with His presence, for such a time as this.  The minister  was so clear as to what I needed to know, blessing me confidently.  She was then led by the Father to lay hands on several others in the service, through singing, exhorting, encouraging, and supernatural healing, WITH POWER from ON HIGH!

After the service, we exchanged phone numbers, and began having many conversations, regarding The Father's thorough and pure, unadulterated Word, becoming life, right before our very eyes.  Our chats also included how we were constantly claiming victory over the lives of our own children, and how they would be used to the Glory of The Father, in every facet, every experience, every door they would enter, and every person they would come in contact with.  Whether in school, college, work, even church attendance, they would all be kept in Our Father's victorious care, while they flow in His directions.

Suddenly, and without notice, Rejoice moved to another state, and we lost contact for a few years.  Yet I continued to remember what The Father told us during those destined conversations, making sure we remained receptive to His orders.

Min. Dupree was like an older, yet wiser, sister to me.  She was someone who knew the voice of The Father, flowing under the power of the Most High in so many ways.

Quite an amazing singer, she was gifted to touch people from different walks of life, as the Holy Spirit guided her, through small presents she would dispense, or blessing by laying hands on each one, in Jesus' name, touching those who feel there is no one who cares, or the lost, forgotten, depressed, etc., through the power of anointing of the Holy Spirit.

The testimony of her life was always so thought-provoking, and "real."  A native of Houston, TX, raised by a devout mother and grandmother, Min. Dupree later matured in the neighborhoods of northeast Washington, D.C., where the dangers of inner city life would eventually force her to re-evaluate her own decisions, which ultimately meant giving up a promising rock and roll career.

During one of her interviews, she shared how she was on the verge of signing a recording contract with a major label: 

"When you're in serious trouble, there are only two people you can call for help: Momma and God, and Momma couldn't help me!  There were those who had it in for me, and God closed the door!  I surrendered to Him, and made a promise that I would get right, if HE would get me out of it!  He did, and I have kept my word!  I've been running for the Lord ever since!  The Lord re-directed my path, and I knew then that I couldn't sign that contract!"

Her re-connection to the church, which included her salvation as a born-again Christian at the age of 30, and a Pentecostal minister since 1985, became a permanent condition.  Instead of walking on that dismal road, she "got busy" in the church.  Her transformation from a rock-and-roller, traveling with the wrong crowd, to the caterer of the "Hugs of Love and Big Heart Ministries," which she founded in 1993, while serving parishes in Michigan and South Carolina.  She was provided opportunities to travel the country, preaching and singing her way to the Kingdom of Our Heavenly Father.  Music, throughout Rejoice's life, as well as gift-giving, remained a central part of her "hugs-and-heart" ministry. 

Oddly enough, once I moved back north in 2000, somehow, as The Father would have it, we reconnected again!  What an awesome blessing!  Rejoice had moved to Virginia Beach in 1997 to broaden her ministry, which helped her gain momentum that same year, when she won first place in the solo division of a national gospel music convention.  She was the first African-American woman to do so, in the convention's 40-year history!

After requesting to listen over the phone, Rejoice was one of the first to purchase from me a copy of Larry McCullough and Chosen Generation's "HE LIFTED ME" CD.  Reason being that I was listed as a leader of one of the listed songs, "Chosen," composed by Larry himself.  I remember her tearfully telling me how she was so blessed, both by words and melody.  Such a true testament of what constitutes a real friend.

The last time we spoke, she had moved back to SC, and we asked each other how different elements were taking place in our lives.  No matter how often, whether we conversed or not, I always thought of her as my extended older, yet wiser sibling, who knew she had a consistent right relationship with The Father, keeping her ears open to His voice at all times, for clear and concise directions, while here on earth.

A glowing beacon of Light, sitting in darkness, Apostle Rejoice Dupree never had a problem sharing the Love, Goodness, Passion, or Forgiveness that The Father instills in His children.  I will miss her deeply, but I know that everything that her chosen journey took her through, she will hear the Father say, "Well done, good and faithful servant! Come on, home!" 

I'm also praying that her two wonderful children, whom she always adored and spoke of dearly, will continue to keep that perfect peace of our Heavenly Father, draped around them, as it resonates throughout their lives, as well as the family and loved ones.

Apostle Rejoice, the name speaks for itself, and WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU.  Rest in Peace, and the Power of the Most High!