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WINTLEY PHIPPS PHOTOS
Oprah Winfrey, who reached out to Phipps long before she became famous, calls him her spiritual compass.
The Phippses traveled to South Africa to visit Nelson Mandela.
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memorial services for Gen. Colin Powell and for civil rights
legend Rep. John Lewis of Georgia.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich once told Phipps that
“every time I hear you, you touch my life.”
Phipps feels he is just doing the job God intended for him.
“I tell people I go where people need the Lord,” he said. “My
ministry has been supported on both sides of the aisle.”
His unforgettable voice honored Rosa Parks at her 77th
birthday celebration at the Kennedy Center, took him
to South Africa to welcome Nelson Mandela from
imprisonment and celebrated Mother Teresa at a special
event. The twice Grammy-nominated Phipps sang for Pope
John Paul II at the Vatican. His rendition of Amazing Grace
has amassed more than 25 million views on YouTube.
After a performance in Baltimore, a discouraged young
woman who had just lost her job approached Phipps
for advice.
“I told her God was going to bless her and that she would
have the opportunity to speak to millions,” Phipps said.
He was right, for the young woman was Oprah Winfrey, who
became a staunch friend.
“We’ve had conversations, prayers, tears, joyous moments,”
said Oprah, who called Phipps her spiritual compass.
OPRAH IS A FAN
Phipps has been a guest on Oprah’s show, as well as on Saturday
Night Live. Sporting bell bottoms and a nifty Afro, he was also the
first gospel singer to star on Soul Train.
Traveling on Amtrak, Phipps once spotted a despondentlooking
man on the train and asked if he could help. The fellow
was Chuck Colson, once known as President Richard Nixon’s
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