I just found this from back in 2015, as this is what the Charleston Chronicle wrote after I sang in Mother Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church after the shooting of the pastor and church members in Charleston, which had become political. The interim pastor heard me singing on a Wednesday night when I had gone there to simply bring gifts for the family members, and he asked if I could come back the following Sunday morning to sing a solo in the main service. He said he hated how the shooting had become about racism. Of course, I was so happy to get to sing in this church after such a tragedy. The Charleston Chronicle wrote this, which included a reference to my song “Walking’ in the Light,” as the song was played before the service began. I am posting this because it was a greater honor than anything else I could imagine at the time, as this was part of God’s work in the lives of the people mourning in Charleston after the shooting.
Charleston Chronicle, August 2, 2015
Everyone worshiped in unity when red-haired, fair-skinned Dwayna Litz sang “Til The Storm Passes By” Sunday morning, August 2, 2015, at Mother Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal on Calhoun Street in Charleston, SC. Litz’s singing brought down the house where the racist shots were fired last June. Her song of struggle won by faith tore down the wall between blacks and whites. The packed church stood in applause.
Rev. Norvell Goff hugged Miss Litz when she finished. The applause continued as he hugged her once more with people standing on their feet still applauding. “You have blessed us,” he said, as he grabbed her microphone. Litz replied, “You all have blessed me.”
“I could feel God’s spirit as you sang,” said a church member afterwards. Litz replied, “That is the greatest compliment anyone could ever give me.” The tragedy of the nine Christians shot while having Wednesday night Bible study at the AME Charleston church shook the world in June, 2015. The following month Litz traveled there to give gifts to the families of the Christians shot, including her song on CD “Walking in the Light” at the Wednesday night Bible study in the same room where the shooting had taken place.
Sitting beside one of the survivors from the tragedy, she explained she was a singer. When the bishop entered to begin the Bible study, this survivor asked the reverend if Litz could sing a hymn. There in the same room with holes in the walls from the gun shots, Litz sang “Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross.” At the end of the Bible study she sang, “I Surrender All.”
Reverend Goff asked, “Are you going to be here Sunday morning? I want you to sing in our church the next Sunday you are in Charleston.” She returned last Sunday to sing and worship with the members of the church and give more gifts to the survivors of the shooting, including her song on CD “Walking in the Light.” Dwayna Litz co-wrote “Walking in the Light” for victims of crimes against humanity. She dedicates it now to Charleston. The lyrics illuminate the better choice—to walk in the light rejoicing in forgiveness and faith, just like these Christians in Charleston continue to exemplify. It can be heard everywhere music is streamed.
“Walking in the Light” is published by Litz Music (ASCAP) and Baby Munsta Music (BMI). Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, Dwayna Litz began singing hymns before she could plainly talk. At the age of seventeen, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to pursue a career in music as a singer and songwriter. Her first cut as a songwriter was on Patti LaBelle’s Grammy nominated “Flame” album, cowriting and recording “Let Me Be There for You.” She then had several production deals with producers affiliated with Arista, Warner Brothers and Garth Brooks and publishing contracts. Ensuing years landed Litz in Los Angeles, California where she founded Lighting the Way Worldwide, a Christian nonprofit organization that has since spread internationally.
For more about Dwayna Litz go to www.DwaynaLitz.com.
