Cindy Cruse-Ratcliff is a Dove Award winning singer-songwriter who serves as the senior worship leader at the largest and fastest growing church in the United States, Lakewood Church

Lakewood Church

Lakewood Church is a non-denominational Christian megachurch located in Houston, Texas. It is the largest congregation in the United States, averaging more than 43,500 in attendance per week. The 16,800-seat Lakewood Church Central Campus, home to four English language services and two Spanish...

 in Houston, Texas

Texas

Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...

.

Music career

Cruse began ministering at the age of six alongside her family, The Cruse Family, a well-known evangelistic musical group. The group, popular throughout much of the 1970s and early 1980s, traveled and ministered all across the world. They released 25 albums and received two Dove Awards.

While Cruse said she always had a heart for music ministry, she would not become involved with worship music herself until later in life.

At the age of nine, she became the youngest licensed ASCAP songwriter. Since that time, she has written for and produced more than 100 album recordings.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Cruse recorded two Christian album-oriented rock

Album-oriented rock

Album-oriented rock is an American FM radio format focusing on album tracks by rock artists.-Music played:Most radio formats are based on a select, tight rotation of hit singles...

/melodic rock albums entitled "The Edge" and "Small Town Girl". Her husband at the time, Contemporary Christian Music

Contemporary Christian music

Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...

 artist, Tim Miner served as executive producer for "Small Town Girl".

From 1997 to 1998, she traveled with Revival Ministries International leading worship for evangelistic crusades in the United States and abroad. In late 1998, she moved to Covenant Church in Carrollton, Texas

Carrollton, Texas

-Climate:*On average, the warmest month is July.*The highest recorded temperature was 112°F in 1980.*The average coolest month is January.*The lowest recorded temperature was 1°F in 1989.*The most precipitation on average occurs in May....

, serving as one of three worship leaders.

In January 2000, she received a phone call from Lakewood Church Pastor Joel Osteen

Joel Osteen

Joel Scott Osteen is an American author, televangelist, and the senior pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. His ministry reaches over seven million broadcast media viewers weekly in over 100 nations around the world.-Biography:...

, who offered her the opportunity to become the church's worship director. She was Osteen's first hire when he became the new pastor of Lakewood. While Cruse said she and her husband did not initially feel drawn to the church, they quickly fell in love with the people and moved to Houston.

Today, Cruse leads weekend worship services at Lakewood Church alongside Steve Crawford and Da'dra Crawford Greathouse, former members of the Contemporary Christian music duo Anointed

Anointed

Anointed is a Contemporary Christian music group from Columbus, Ohio, known for their strong vocals and harmonies, featuring siblings Steve Crawford and Da'dra Crawford Greathouse, along with former members Nee-C Walls and Mary Tiller . Their musical style includes elements of R&B, Pop, Rock,...

. They are also frequently joined by Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter Israel Houghton

Israel Houghton

-Other recordings :* "Champions for Christ" - Hi5 * "Where Are the Fathers?" from He-Motions * "Send Me to the Nations" from A Wing & A Prayer...

, who also serves as one of the church's worship leaders. In early 2008, her position in the church changed from director of music and worship to the senior worship leader.

In June 2008, Cruse announced she would release her first solo album in more than a decade sometime later in the year.

In May 2010, Cruse released her first studio album in over ten years, "23". The album features 12 original songs including "Shout it Out Loud", "Living in Me", "Hurricane", and more.

Personal life

Cruse lives in Houston, Texas and is married to Marcus Ratcliff, whom she met while working at Covenant Church. The two have a son named Windsor. On July 17, 2008, the couple adopted twins after trying to have children. After taking a leave from the church, she returned on Saturday, September 27, 2008 and told the congregation her testimony about the adoption of the twins. She also introduced "Lord Of All"--a new song she wrote with her nephew Ryan Cruse.

Cruse is the daughter of Joe and Nancy Cruse, and is one of five children. Her siblings, Jane Cruse Bearden, Dr. John Cruse, Joe Cruse III and Karen Cruse Adams are all involved in full-time Christian ministry.

Discography

Compilations

• "Even Now" from John Jacobs and the Power Team (Frontline, 1990)
• "I Lift Up My Hands" from New Season (Integrity, 2001)
• "I Will Sing of Your Love" from Amazing God
  Amazing God
  Amazing God is the twenty-fifth album released by Christian singer Marcos Witt. The album was recorded live from Houston, Texas. This was Witt's first English language album recorded.-Track listing:#"All Out" - 3:52#"You Reign" - 4:36...
  
  (Maranatha, 2003)
• "Lord I Seek You" from Amazing God (Maranatha, 2003)
• "Agnus Dei" from When Women Worship (Miami Life Sounds, 2007)
• "Always Welcome" from When Women Worship (Miami Life Sounds, 2007)
• "Great Grace" from When Women Worship (Miami Life Sounds, 2007)
• "I Open My Heart" from When Women Worship (Miami Life Sounds, 2007)
• "Thirst For You" from When Women Worship (Miami Life Sounds, 2007)
• "When I Find Him" from When Women Worship (Miami Life Sounds, 2007)