'The Gospel,' according to Donnie McClurkin: the singer and minister talks about his new movie, church and his most difficult struggle in life

DONNIE McCLURKIN'S voice has already transcended the Sunday morning pulpit to soar to the top of record charts, where his music has remained steadfast while reaching gold and platinum status. Now the minister/singer/songwriter is poised to take over the silver screen. Tall, handsome and playful, McClurkin's ability to deliver contemporary gospel hits such as "We Fall Down" and "Speak to My Heart" has melted the most hardened of hearts. He is continuing to spread the good news via his new movie, The Gospel.

"I don't know who was on drugs the day that they asked me to act," says McClurkin, laughing. He jokingly laments that he does not have a love interest in the film, shot on location in Atlanta, and would have welcomed a "smooching scene" with Halle Berry were she available. He is content, however, with his role as Minister Hunter in the film, which co-stars Boris Kodjoe, Idris Elba and Nona Gaye. The movie focuses on the gospel music world and the trials of the leader of an African-American megachurch.

"It's a good movie," McClurkin says of the family film. "It has powerful performances by Yolanda Adams, Hezekiah Walker and Fred Hammond." Audiences may be shocked by one particular aspect of the movie--McClurkin does not sing in The Gospel.

That, however, is not the case on Sundays inside Perfecting Faith Church in Long Island, N.Y., where McClurkin ministers to the souls of about 2,000 worshippers. The Grammy Award-winning recording artist delivers rousing Sunday morning sermons, whipping up the congregation with his powerful vocals and Baptist preacher-style sermons in a sanctuary that is a former grocery store. Each Sunday, services are "racked, stacked and packed," according to the pastor.

While the Perfecting Faith congregation is accustomed to its own celebrity pastor, known by practically everyone as simply "Pastor Donnie," it's not uncommon to have Beyonce sit among the regulars in the church pews, which she has done twice. Missy Elliott showed up once to help McClurkin celebrate his birthday. If secular artists mingling with church folk seems a bit out of place, then you are missing the point, according to McClurkin, who insists that "gospel music is best in the secular, just as light is best in the dark."

"Everybody thinks that they are wild and out there," says McClurkin. "Usher, Beyonce, Missy Elliott, Steve Harvey--they all go to church. They all listen to gospel music." McClurkin's latest CD, Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs, rose to the top ranks of the R&B charts after its release earlier this year. Unlike his modern gospel hit, "Stand," from his breakthrough album, Psalms features more traditional gospel music. His Live In London CD, released in 2000, spent 37 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Gospel Album charts and sold 1.3 million copies. "I can't explain it. When Psalms came out, it was hard-core gospel for church people only," he recalls. "When it was No. 5 on the R&B charts, I thought, 'What in the name of God?'"

With his new film role, a recording career in full swing, concerts, preaching engagements and heading his church, McClurkin says that he is more alive than he has ever been. Still, he says, there are a few things that are missing from his life. "I would like to have been married earlier and have 10 kids by now," says McClurkin. "Like many single people in and out of the body of Christ, being single is difficult, more so now than ever before in my life. God has been so great to me. He has blessed me. I don't need money. My health is good. The one thing missing is a wife and family."

McClurkin is now an empty-nester since his adopted daughter, Michelle, 20, moved to London, where she is going to school, working and trying to buy a home of her own. He adopted her when she was 10 years old. "My battle with loneliness is my greatest battle and wanting, in fact, to be 'normal,'" he says.

For McClurkin it all came to a head while on a red-eye flight to L.A. He had just spent two grueling weeks on the road and was facing another few weeks on tour when he had a spiritual meltdown. "I told God, "Why can't I just be normal with a wife and kids and cat and white picket fence? This is not what I signed up for.' I wanted to know, 'Where is mine?'"

As a result of posing those questions, he says that two breakthroughs came out of the experience. "God told me, 'I never promised you that you would not feel the burden of ministry,'" McClurkin recalls. Later, while still on the plane, God gave him the words for the song "Stand," and, he says, in 20 minutes the words flowed inside his head. "How do you deal with the shame of your past ... you stand," he continues repeating the words. "I had to sing to myself over and over again to remember."

In a relatively short period of time, McClurkin has traveled a long road to gospel superstardom. His journey began 45 years ago in Amityville, N.Y., where he was born to Frances and Donald McClurkin. His parents, who had 10 children, soon learned that their 3-year-old son, Donnie, could hum an entire song before he could talk. The first 8 years of McClurkin's childhood were fun, but included great tragedy--he witnessed the accidental death of his 2-year-old brother. Also, in his book, Eternal Victim-Eternal Victor, he says after the funeral, he was raped by a male family member. Later, while in his early teens, McClurkin says he was molested again by another male relative.