An Interview with Martha Munizzi

Photo: Donnie McClurkin & Martha Munizzi – compliments of Perfecting Church.

Martha Munizzi’s deepest desire is to, “transcend cultural, generational, and denominational boundaries, and bring all people together through worship.” Although based in Orlando, Fl, Detroiters were blessed by one of our nation’s most popular worship leaders during Perfecting Church’s Holy Convocation. Detroit Gospel.com’s writer/producer, Reneé, took this opportunity to speak with Martha about her music ministry, influences, and most recent project, “The Best Is Yet To Come”.

Photos: Keith Crosby and Perfecting Church

Interviewing Martha while she was here for Perfecting Church’s Holy Convocation at Calihan Hall was a wonderful experience. She has such a pleasant personality and a sweet spirit. Most of all we really connected because she is definitely a “soul sister” (smile).

DG.com: How does it feel being in Detroit singing for Perfecting’s Convocation?

Martha: It is such an honor to be here in Detroit. And it’s just awesome being a part of Perfecting’s Convocation.

Martha went on to express that because of the love she has for Pastor Winans and his family, it was a thrill and an honor to be invited to sing.

When asked about her music ministry, Martha had a lot to say. She shared how she traveled a lot with her family growing up. Her father was a pastor, singer and songwriter, and her mother was a musician and singer. Martha credits her mother as the person who actually taught her how to sing. When Martha was 16 she met Dan Munizzi, who would later become her husband and manager. Because they were both musicians and singers they married knowing their destinies were the same. Martha and her husband love giving their talents to the Lord. Being raised in the church, they seemed to always be involved in putting bands and singers together. “Every church we attended, somehow we were the [music] directors or the praise and worship leaders,” says Martha. Martha and Dan have been married for over 15 years and have been blessed with three wonderful children, Danielle, Nicole, and Nathan.

Martha Munizzi, Renee’ and Martha’s husband, Dan

For eight years this dynamic couple were the music directors for Faithworld, a church in Orlando, Florida that started out small and has grown to about 6000 members in six years. Martha and her husband, Dan, began a choir that initially had 30 members and increased to about 200. About three years ago Martha says the Lord spoke to her and her husband and told them to walk away from their ministry at Faithworld Church to expand their borders and enlarge their territory. “Even though walking away was the hardest decision we’ve ever made, it was the best decision,” comments Martha. Martha also says they just trusted God and said, “We’re ready,” and this is when God began to open doors. Martha shares that all those times of leading praise and worship for the body of Christ is what birthed the songs “Because of Who You Are,” “Say The Name,” and “Shout” from her most recent CD, “The Best Is Yet To Come” recorded live at Pastor Joel Osteen’s Lakewood church in Houston, TX, and produced by Israel Houghton. “Because of Who You Are” went on to be nominated for a 2004 Dove Award for “Contemporary Gospel Song of The Year.”

Martha says seeing people set free by getting in God’s presence is what motivates her to do what she does. “There is healing and joy in God’s presence,” she adds. “The revelation of who God is, is in God’s presence”. This is the message Martha wants to get across to people. She feels strongly that God called her to give Him the glory He deserves everyday. “It’s so much freedom in giving God the glory.”

DG.com: Who are your influences?

Martha: There have been so many influences over the years.
CLICK HERE to hear Martha Munizzi in her own words.

Martha’s Detroit influences include the Pastor Marvin Winans and other members of the legendary Winans family, BeBe and CeCe Winans. She also tells how her husband encouraged her to listen to André Crouch when she was about 20 years old. At that time she had never heard of André, but after hearing his music she was moved from “a Southern Gospel experience to a Gospel experience.” She laughs as she acknowledges that even though she moved to Gospel, Southern Gospel has “Soul” too because it comes from the heart. But listening to Gospel music artist such and Yolanda Adams, Kirk Franklin, and Donnie McClurkin has changed her life completely.

DG.com: What was the inspiration behind the title of your new CD “The Best Is Yet To Come”.

Martha: When God transitioned us out of the church we loved, and [were] successful in, it was very difficult.
CLICK HERE to hear Martha Munizzi in her own words.

Martha goes on to say that she and her husband thought at that time that maybe the devil was telling them to leave Faithworld Church because they felt this was the church they would be buried in. She said they ignored God’s calling for about six months. But soon after, they realized that they were just experiencing growing pains. The revelation simply came that they had grown out of that ministry. That’s when the idea came, “the best is yet to come.” So, when Martha heard Israel Houghton’s CD, “New Season” and particularly the tracks “Your Latter Will Be Greater,” and “New Season” she called Israel and expressed to him how she wanted to record these songs because they blessed her so. Israel agreed to produce Martha and along with her husband Dan as Executive Producer, they recorded “The Best Is Yet To Come”. “It is a prophetic statement for my life and the body of Christ,” says Martha.

DG.com: How has debuting at Number 9 on the Billboard Gospel Chart and your Dove Awards nomination impacted your ministry?

Martha: It has definitely impacted my ministry. So many people know who we are and [are] being blessed by the ministry.

But Martha wants people to know that while accolades and awards are great, at the end of the day it’s really all about who God is, and is He still that to you. The attention is exciting for Martha because she recognizes that it’s God’s favor. However she is quick to say she has to lay all that aside because she knows it’s no one but God who opened the doors. She is just enjoying this season and gives God all the praise for it.

DG.com: How does it feel to be connected to Detroit’s own Karen Clark Sheard?

Martha: [Karen]… is one of the top… female vocalists in America, so to have her actually record my songs is an honor…and a highlight. It’s a huge complement and validates my writings…It’s awesome.
CLICK HERE to hear Martha Munizzi in her own words.

DG.com: Any advice for up-and-coming artists?

Martha: My advice is the scripture sticking on my heart, “be anxious for nothing” also “in all thy ways acknowledge God and he shall direct your path.”

It is Martha’s belief that if you are striving for success in your ministry or record sales, don’t be anxious. Don’t doubt God because God will bring it to pass in His season. God’s plan is not to hurt His people and His will causes us to prosper. Martha adds that we should acknowledge God and know He’s always moving in our lives. God is always putting things together so no matter how bad it looks, “the best is yet to come.”

DG.com: Any closing remarks?

Martha: Detroit is the greatest city in America.

Martha is always excited about coming to Detroit because as she puts it, “we’re coming to have church.” “There is a revival here in Detroit and such a hunger for worship makes my job easier.” Martha adds, “I’m thrilled to pour out my gifts to the people in Detroit.”

And Detroit Gospel.com is thrilled to have had the opportunity to spend some time with this gifted, talented, and most importantly, anointed woman of God. Thank you Martha for a wonderful interview. May god continue to bless you and your family.

1. Lift Him Up
2. Glorious
3. Mighty God
4. Sing
5. I Will Always
6. Say The Name (remix)
7. Jesus Medley
8. God Is Here
9. I Know The Plans
10. Your Latter Will Be Greater
11. New Season
12. Shout (remix)
13. Because of Who You Are (remix)

Produced by: Israel Houghton and Aaron Lindsey for New Breed Productions
Executive Producer: Dan Munizzi

©2003 MMM (Martha Munizzi Music). All Rights Reserved