Theology Thursdays: A Journey From The Nation Of Islam To Christian Evangelism by Michael Ireland

A former first tenor with Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes, who studied Islam with Minister Louis Farrakhan, is now on a mission to bring the Gospel to Muslims.

Jeremiah Cummings was born in Augusta, Georgia to a 15-year-old teenage mother.

“I was supposed to have been an aborted child, but God did not allow the turpentine and Gin to destroy this month-old fetus,” Cummings told ASSIST News Service (ANS).

Cummings grew up and moved to Washington D.C. when he was nearly 9-years-old.

“I was always interested in music as a child, and after winning talent shows in Washington D.C and the Howard Theater talent show in 1971 I met Harold Melvin who was in search of a first tenor Bluenote, and signed with him in 1973. I now have 3 gold and two platinum albums. I met Kool and the Gang at the Apollo Theater and found out that they were Muslims and most of the Bluenotes band were also Muslims. But it was not until 1987 that I personally met Minister Louis Farrakhan face-to-face and became his spiritual son and minister of the Nation of Islam,” Cummings said.

Minister Farrakhan had a powerful effect on his life.

“He became the father I never had as a child. He was a very peaceful man until you did something to tick him off. He loved to tell jokes and laugh at the dinner table and he often said that pastors need to take control of their communities and clean up the drugs and prostitution. He took me out to dinner as well as served me, and sometimes my wife, at his own dinner table. He treated me as though I was his own son,” Cummings recalled.

He became a Christian on July 14, 1997 after 13 months of study and fasting over whether Jesus was the Son of God.

“After 13 months of study and prayer, God filled me with the Holy Ghost and in May of 1997 I resigned from the Nation of Islam. I was told that Minister Farrakhan warned all the leaders of the Nation of Islam that they better not touch me or say anything to me. They have not in the last 7 years given me anything but total respect whenever they come out to hear me preach,” he said.

“I have learned that there are some immature Christians and I have met some lazy ministers who are too comfortable in their positions. Personally my life has become an adventure. I have had stumbling blocks, but God turned them into steppingstones.”

Cummings’ new book is "Reaching for the World" and it promises to be a giant seller.

“This book actually reveals Jesus as the Messiah from the Koran,” Cummings said.

During a speaking engagement in Winter Springs, Florida, evangelist Cummings preached a message entitled "Being in the right place at the right time" not knowing that the MVP of Super Bowl XXXV, Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens, was present. Ray Lewis gave his life to Christ that night and was baptized. Ray Lewis is currently the defensive player of the year in the NFL for 2003.

Cummings sees himself following in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul. Cummings said he too opposed Christianity as a minister and student under Minster Louis Farrakhan of the Nation of Islam for 9 and a half years. But in 1997 evangelist-to-be Jeremiah Cummings came to know Christ as his Savior in a mighty way --through a debate that pitted Islam vs. Christianity. He was baptized on July 14, 1997.

This debate between then evangelist Jeremiah Fard Muhammad and Dr. Jack Evans, staged at the historical Bronco Bowl in Dallas, Texas on June 29, 1996 eventually bought Minister Muhammad closer to Christ as his Savior. The video has become a one-of-a-kind collector’s item. Today, Cummings is an international ambassador for Christ who is now speaking to Christians and millions of Muslims about the true will of God.

Now an evangelist and ambassador for Christ, Cummings is the president of the Worldwide International Campaign for Christ television network which airs programs on the MBC network into 33 million homes. According to his website, 10,000 former Muslims now call Jesus Lord because of his outreach.

“I would also love to come to cities across the country to share the vision of redeeming the Seed of Ishmael. I am currently involved in a conference that was birthed here in Orlando, Florida called ‘Let Us Make Man.’ Please see our website for all of my messages that are available on dvd, vhs and also the debate in 1996 called ‘Showdown at the Bronco Bowl’ in Dallas, Texas. This debate began to open my heart up to study Jesus as the Messiah,” he said.

Jeremiah Cummings is once again producing music as the executive producer and president of his new record label Messiah Records International. The flavor of music has been named "gospel soul.”

To learn more about Jeremiah Cummings, visit www.wicctv.org.



Michael Ireland is an international British freelance journalist and chief correspondent for Assist News

Note: This article appeared at SAworship.com

Thursday, April 29, 2004