Elder Goldwire McLendon | Sunday Best 3

See photos Elder Goldwire McLendon | a season three finalist.

Elder Goldwire McLendon - <B>BET.com:</B> What motivated you to audition for “Sunday Best 3”?<br><br><B>Goldwire: A young lady came to me last year and said she’d lost her father, and she wanted me to be her father. She told me to go down and audition. She told me, ‘try it.’’ I got there about 9 a.m. The lines were on both sides of the sidewalk.

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Elder Goldwire McLendon - <B>BET.com:</B> What motivated you to audition for “Sunday Best 3”?<br><br><B>Goldwire: A young lady came to me last year and said she’d lost her father, and she wanted me to be her father. She told me to go down and audition. She told me, ‘try it.’’ I got there about 9 a.m. The lines were on both sides of the sidewalk.

Elder Goldwire McLendon - &lt;B&gt;BET.com:&lt;/B&gt; How many biological children do you have?&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;B&gt;Goldwire: I had five. I lost my oldest daughter a few years ago. I was blessed with two girls and three boys. I have 15 grandchildren and 14 great grands.

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Elder Goldwire McLendon - <B>BET.com:</B> How many biological children do you have?<br><br><B>Goldwire: I had five. I lost my oldest daughter a few years ago. I was blessed with two girls and three boys. I have 15 grandchildren and 14 great grands.

Elder Goldwire McLendon - &lt;B&gt;BET.com:&lt;/B&gt; Are you surprised that you’ve made it this far?&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;B&gt;Goldwire: I couldn’t hardly believe that I was in the presence of these people. I’ve been singing since I was 9 in Philadelphia. I came to Philadelphia in ’47. I’m just excited about what God is doing in my life.

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Elder Goldwire McLendon - <B>BET.com:</B> Are you surprised that you’ve made it this far?<br><br><B>Goldwire: I couldn’t hardly believe that I was in the presence of these people. I’ve been singing since I was 9 in Philadelphia. I came to Philadelphia in ’47. I’m just excited about what God is doing in my life.

Elder Goldwire McLendon - &lt;B&gt;BET.com:&lt;/B&gt; Are you surprised this is happening to you at 79?&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;B&gt;Goldwire: Yes, I am. They could have decided they didn’t want anyone that old. Maybe they just wanted young people with energy and pizzazz. Like Kirk was saying, ‘Elder Goldwire is going to give these young folks a run for their money.’

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Elder Goldwire McLendon - <B>BET.com:</B> Are you surprised this is happening to you at 79?<br><br><B>Goldwire: Yes, I am. They could have decided they didn’t want anyone that old. Maybe they just wanted young people with energy and pizzazz. Like Kirk was saying, ‘Elder Goldwire is going to give these young folks a run for their money.’

Elder Goldwire McLendon - &lt;B&gt;BET.com:&lt;/B&gt; You used the word “anointing” again as the judges have done several times. What does that mean to you?&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;B&gt;Goldwire: I’ll put it this way. The anointing has a tremendous effect on my life. When I hear someone say that, I’m grateful that they can see it. I can preach right now, but I won’t do that to you.

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Elder Goldwire McLendon - <B>BET.com:</B> You used the word “anointing” again as the judges have done several times. What does that mean to you?<br><br><B>Goldwire: I’ll put it this way. The anointing has a tremendous effect on my life. When I hear someone say that, I’m grateful that they can see it. I can preach right now, but I won’t do that to you.

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Elder Goldwire McLendon - &lt;B&gt;BET.com:&lt;/B&gt; What was the best advice you received from the judges?&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;B&gt;Goldwire: All of them gave good advice, but Kim Burrell said, ‘Elder, you’ve got to hold your head up and look at the audience. You can’t hold your head down. You shut the people off.’ I’ve been trying to do that ever since she said that.

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Elder Goldwire McLendon - <B>BET.com:</B> What was the best advice you received from the judges?<br><br><B>Goldwire: All of them gave good advice, but Kim Burrell said, ‘Elder, you’ve got to hold your head up and look at the audience. You can’t hold your head down. You shut the people off.’ I’ve been trying to do that ever since she said that.

Elder Goldwire McLendon - &lt;B&gt;BET.com:&lt;/B&gt; What are you going to do if you win?&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;B&gt;Goldwire: I’m going to scream. I’m going to dance before the Lord with praise and thanks because He did it all. He just used me for His purpose and His glory. I’m going to praise Him for his blessings. That’s what I’m going to do. Oh, and I’ll need a garage, though, once I get that car.

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Elder Goldwire McLendon - <B>BET.com:</B> What are you going to do if you win?<br><br><B>Goldwire: I’m going to scream. I’m going to dance before the Lord with praise and thanks because He did it all. He just used me for His purpose and His glory. I’m going to praise Him for his blessings. That’s what I’m going to do. Oh, and I’ll need a garage, though, once I get that car.

Elder Goldwire McLendon - &lt;B&gt;BET.com:&lt;/B&gt; What’s your favorite song or hymn?&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;B&gt;Goldwire: The one song that comes to my mind right now is an old hymn with a tremendous story behind it: “’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His word.” I love that song. It’s so sweet to trust Him. Why? Because I’ve learned to love Him more than I have all my Christian life. I can’t help but sing that song.

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Elder Goldwire McLendon - <B>BET.com:</B> What’s your favorite song or hymn?<br><br><B>Goldwire: The one song that comes to my mind right now is an old hymn with a tremendous story behind it: “’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His word.” I love that song. It’s so sweet to trust Him. Why? Because I’ve learned to love Him more than I have all my Christian life. I can’t help but sing that song.

Elder Goldwire McLendon - &lt;B&gt;BET.com:&lt;/B&gt; If you could share one thing about the Gospel, what would it be?&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;B&gt;Goldwire: Make sure that you are saved. You got a lot of folks singing gospel, but don’t know Jesus Christ. Make sure you’re on the Lord’s side, then you can sing with an anointing. You can’t start a car without the battery. If you want to sing gospel, make sure you’re on His side. He wants to win souls.

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Elder Goldwire McLendon - <B>BET.com:</B> If you could share one thing about the Gospel, what would it be?<br><br><B>Goldwire: Make sure that you are saved. You got a lot of folks singing gospel, but don’t know Jesus Christ. Make sure you’re on the Lord’s side, then you can sing with an anointing. You can’t start a car without the battery. If you want to sing gospel, make sure you’re on His side. He wants to win souls.

Elder Goldwire McLendon - &lt;B&gt;BET.com:&lt;/B&gt; How do you stay so healthy?&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;B&gt;Goldwire: The longevity that I have comes from Exodus 15 and 26. I live a righteous life. I do exercise and do push-ups to keep the body toned. It’s very important to eat the right things. I take my vitamins and the fish oil and things of this nature. I have to keep the body functioning the way that God wants it to function.

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Elder Goldwire McLendon - <B>BET.com:</B> How do you stay so healthy?<br><br><B>Goldwire: The longevity that I have comes from Exodus 15 and 26. I live a righteous life. I do exercise and do push-ups to keep the body toned. It’s very important to eat the right things. I take my vitamins and the fish oil and things of this nature. I have to keep the body functioning the way that God wants it to function.