She waltzed into the restaurant wearing a stunning blue outfit with matching accessories. I'm referring to the Rev. Kim Yancey James, first lady of The Paradise Baptist Church in the city of Newark, NJ, where her husband, the Rev. Jethro James, sits at the helm as under shepherd.

The stylish minister and well-known singer agreed to do the interview in celebration of Black Music Month, a time when the musical contributions of a talented tribe of people are highlighted, and rightly so. For it is blacks themselves who are at the vanguard of implementing creative music and placing such music in a worldwide venue.

Kim's musical journey began at Canaan Baptist Church in Paterson, NJ, where she assisted the choir director in the person of the Rev. Louis Norris. She recalled that under his tutelage, she learned to flow with the word that was brought forth from the pulpit. She learned which songs were appropriate for the Spirit that was flowing at the time. She also credits Phenician Sullivan, a church organist, for helping her enhance her skills.

Upon leaving Canaan, Kim went to Paradise and for 17 years toiled in the vineyard with her musical gifts. She concedes that she does less singing these days and focuses on the preached word, another anointing that God Himself has deposited in her spirit.

Several months ago, I attended a women's conference headed by Rev. Yancey and I was completely taken in, not simply by the orderliness of the event, but by the preaching and teaching that came forth. She had recently come from Las Vegas having led a three or four-day conference at a Methodist church. My own church had the privilege of hearing a word, as they say, from the Lord through this young woman during the Christmas season...and we were blessed.

Asked why one does not hear inspirational songs on religious stations as much as we used to, Kim thought about it and said, "Inspiration can come from any source, but a song that is solely focused on the Lord Jesus Christ allows a listener to know that it is God who has the answers to our problems, not some other source."

Because she comes from a traditional background, I asked her about praise dancers and mimes that have become part of the Black Church experience in many places. Kim said that as long as these things are not tantamount to entertainment, she saw no reason why the body of Christ could not enjoy worship in these non-traditional ways.

She quickly added that, fortunately, at her church devotional songs are still sung by the praise and worship team. We can assume that, unlike at some churches, the pastor and first lady of The Paradise Baptist Church don't believe in throwing the baby out with the bath water. Translated: just because we have broadened our knowledge concerning what is or what is not acceptable in the house of God, there's no reason to believe that everything that was done in the past is obsolete. It isn't.

An invitational hymn to Christian discipleship is never planned beforehand she told me. She explained why. No one knows how God is going to lead the man of God, so the choir and/or others ought to be led by what God is telling them through him and act on that by singing the appropriate song that meets the needs of the people.

Rev. Kim was asked to participate in Gilmore Memorial Church's annual gospel breakfast on June 9, but is unable to attend. That's unfortunate. Gilmore, like many other black churches, is the catalyst for heartfelt songs that first were sung in the fields on the plantation, then in storefront churches, then structured churches. And now, well, now they're being sung in the White House, in Carnegie Hall and everyplace that folks want to hear that old time religion that was good enough for those with immeasurable talent and miniscule resources.