Irreka currently resides in Suffolk, Virginia with her college sweetheart husband and their vibrant and extraordinary daughter. The Knotts’ are loyal sons and daughters of Gethsemane Community Fellowship in Norfolk, Virginia under the anointed leadership of Pastor Kirk T. Houston.

With a diversity of style that has been compared to CeCe Winans, Nora Jones and India.Arie (and a vocal range to match), Irreka’s versatility has been praised by fans and colleagues alike.

Yet with all of these accomplishments and those unwritten, Irreka urgently proclaims that falling in love with Jesus is the very best thing she has ever done. Her goal is to encourage the hearts of believers, win for Christ the souls of the lost and influence all who hear her music to have a deeper encounter with the Master and Savior of all. This power-packed voice in its small frame is certain to surprise, delight, soothe and encourage all at once.
 

The freshman project of Irreka Ruffin-Knotts "Renew My Spirit" is the birthing of a seed and dream deposited many hears ago. Prepare to be blessed…

A multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and arranger, C. Stephen McDonald was born to encourage others through his God given ability.

Born in Sumter, South Carolina at the early age of four, with strong encouragement from his parents, Stephen rapidly developed a fondness for the drums, piano and keyboards. Realizing that Gods hand was upon him, he dedicated his life to Christ and was baptized in the name of Jesus, receiving the Gifts of the Holy Spirit at the age of 11. From 1986 -1991, Stephen was blessed with numerous opportunities from being appointed Music Director for the Arlington Youth Choir (Children of the Light) to working as a staff musician, writer and arranger at M&M Recording Studios in Marlboro, Maryland where he arranged music for over 150 recordings with local and national artists including Daniel Winans of the famed Winans Family.

In 1993, he produced his first album entitled, Its Time with the Hampton Evangelistic Center (HEC) Mass Choir. Three years later with his newly formed group (Divine Continuum), which was hand picked from the 60+ member HEC Mass Choir, he released his second projectPower in the Praise. The project began to garner Stephen and Divine Continuum a lot of respect in their
tri-state area as they traveled regularly sharing the Good News through song.

Such a response became a launching pad for Stephen and the group as the blessing to share the ministry throughout the country and the world became evident when Italy was on the calendar to visit in 2001 for its annual Gospel/jazz festival. With the craving for Gospel so strong in other parts of the world, Stephens unique approach to presenting his ministry was well received by the Italians.

Stephen has conducted several Music and Choral Workshops from Jackson Music Ministers Conference - Jackson, MS, East Regional Music & Arts Conference (ERMAC) Gaithersburg, MD, Castle Hills Music Workshop San Antonio, TX and various others that taught the importance of vocal variety with a dynamic delivery. He has also been blessed to share the stage with several national recording artists including Tyscots Franklin Bubby Fann, Byron Cage, the Mississippi Mass Choir, John P. Key, Trinity 5:7 Rickey Dillard, Dawkins and Dawkins, Hezekiah Walker, and Winans Phase II.

Genelda began singing in the Greater Love Baptist Church choir, in Austin, Texas, at the age of two. This became the foundation upon which her love for singing gospel music was built upon.

Genelda continued to sing in youth choirs at the churches where her family worshipped in such places as Clovis, New Mexico, Newport News, Virginia and Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. While living in Turkey, Genelda began studying piano and continued her studies upon returning to the United States.

Genelda’s song and poetry writing capabilities began at the age of five and have developed tremendously over the years. She attributes this to her relationship with the Lord and her life experiences. God has given her songs while riding in the car and even while she was sleeping.

The vision the Lord has given her is one of all nations worshipping and glorifying the Lord in the beauty of holiness. He has impressed upon her spirit an urgency to spread the Gospel throughout the world using worship as a method to usher all people into the presence of the Lord.