Gospel Highlights

“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy” (1 Peter 4:12-13, NKJV).

Not only has Bishop Larry Trotter preached this scripture on numerous occasions, but he has had to literally live it in the eyesight of his congregation.  As the senior pastor of Sweet Holy Spirit Church in Chicago and a well respected gospel music artist, there was nothing to indicate that a storm was brewing in and around his life.  Suddenly, it came.

Bishop Trotter began to lose some of the things that most people would lose their minds over.  Almost instantaneously, his marriage of 19 years was over.  He lost his home, his car, and his health began to suffer.  More importantly than any of that, he began to lose his identity in the LORD, until a word from on high gave him a simple instruction: trust Me.  Throughout his Job experience, the one constant that remained was his faith in a comeback.  God became his umbrella, and the storm dried up right before his very eyes.

His seventh album, I Still Believe, is an uncensored and unrelenting testimony that no matter what happens, Jesus Christ is more than anything that can ever be taken away from you.  In this touching and candid conversation, Bishop Trotter talks about the troubles he has faced, the rumors that he has endured, and what has kept him alive in the midst of everything crumbling around him.

Gospel Highlights: There are a number of items I would like to get to, but of great importance is the album that you have recently released.  What is the title of the album?

Bishop Larry Trotter: The name of the album is I Still Believe.

Gospel Highlights: The album is currently in stores now, correct?

Bishop Larry Trotter: The album has been out for two months now.

Gospel Highlights: Was this album independently distributed, or did you work with a major label?

Bishop Larry Trotter: This is actually a joint venture.  We have our own label, which is Utopia Music Group, but this is a joint venture with Tyscot, and we use the same distributor.  This is our seventh project, and it is uniquely different.  Everything on this project has something to do with my life over the past two years.  I lost a house, I lost a car, had trouble in my family, went through a divorce and the church dwindled down.  I Still Believe is my testimony that if I lost everything and still have Jesus, I will start all over again.  The success of the project has been that in these recessionary times, everybody is hurting and they need to be able to say, “I believe God.”  The other part is not too often do you hear a pastor or bishop of a large church say, “look, I am struggling, too.”  So, I had two years of darkness.  It started with surgery.  I had cancer of the gall bladder and part of my colon.  They [also] took my appendix out.  I was 330 lbs. two years ago, and now I am down to 160 lbs. with no cancer anywhere.  After nine pathology reports, there is not a sign of cancer anywhere.  So, songs on the album like “I Still Believe,” “With God I Can,” and “Made A Way” [in particular] talks about how He made a way for me.  When I was sick, He healed me.  When I was down, He brought me out.  I am excited about the project because I know it is going to encourage the Kingdom worldwide.

Was this album recorded live, or was it a studio album?