CTI Coordinator: Welcome to the ChristianityToday.com Auditorium! We are happy to be live with you tonight and to welcome our very special guest Nicole C. Mullen! Nicole C. Mullen has emerged as one of this generation's most compelling singer/songwriters. Her new album, Talk About It, continues the journey that Nicole began with her breathtaking, self-titled, multi-Dove Award winning debut effort. Blessed with one of contemporary Christian music's most distinctive voices, she is also a songwriter of rare insight and sensitivity. Indeed, the songs on Talk About It create a space of unity in this often fragmented world — a place where everyone can feel welcome. So welcome Nicole, we are so glad to have you join us tonight! Do you have any opening comments for us? We are so glad to have you join us tonight! Do you have any opening comments for us?

Nicole C Mullen: I'm so glad to be here! I'm fresh off of a plane.

CTI Coordinator: We're going to start off talking a bit about Nicole's interests and music, and then we will open it up for you to ask Nicole some questions. Please be sure to use the submit question box at the bottom of your screen. Nicole can you tell us a little bit about your travels right now, you are on tour … tell us about that.

Nicole C Mullen: Actually, we start touring this coming weekend, but prior to this I'm doing spot dates. I'm just getting back from a mainstream retail conference. I had a chance to sing there the day before yesterday and God looked on that with favor, so hopefully we'll see some great things from that. This coming weekend we start our "basketball tour" because we're doing some WNBA games, and there's another league we're doing this weekend. If you want to find out more you can go to NicoleCMullen.com and that'll tell you exactly where I'll be.

CTI Coordinator: Tell us about your new album release.

Nicole C Mullen: It's called Talk About It taken from Psalm 107 which says, "The Lord is good, and his mercy good forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so." It's about ordinary people being touched by God to do extraordinary things.

CTI Coordinator: Praise God for that. What is the title about?

Nicole C Mullen: It's pretty much that we should be compelled to talk about things that God has done in our lives. Sometimes it's with our words sometimes it's with our actions we need to preach always, as St. Francis said, and if necessary, use words.

CTI Coordinator: What are some of the songs on it?

Nicole C Mullen: I have a song there called "Let Me Go" that addresses the fear issue, especially in light of 9/11. Another song is the title cut, "Talk About It." It's upbeat; you can dance to it. It's a celebration of Christ in our lives.

Nicole C Mullen: "Call on Jesus" is my modern-day Superman song. You go into the booth and before you enter the booth you're normal, just like Clark Kent, but in the midst of our hurt and turmoil, we can go into the booth, we can ask Christ for help, and we become more than we were. Thanks to Christ's power. There are songs for the weary, the joyful, the hurting, the black and the white. It's pretty much a "whosoever will" type of an album.

CTI Coordinator: I love that. They all sound good. Have you done anything special in light of 9/11?

Nicole C Mullen: I've written a song for the Todd Beamer foundation, for his wife, Lisa Beamer. He was one of the guys on flight 93. He and several of the other guys overtook the hijackers. I wrote the song called "I See You in His Eyes" and got the chance to perform the song on Larry King Live and Good Morning America a couple of weeks ago. We're also going to do it at Carnegie Hall in a couple of weeks.

CTI Coordinator: Oh that is awesome. What a wonderful testimony God is producing out of all of that at the end of this chat we'll pray for you regarding that … such a great opportunity.

Nicole C Mullen: Oh yes, it's interesting how the Scripture says that unless a seed falls to the ground and dies … God really brings the glory out of the tragedy out of Todd's death, and the deaths of the others. And we haven't seen it all yet. I think the best is yet to come! Thanks, Jan, I covet all of your prayers.

CTI Coordinator: Yes, he sees above it all and it's such a comfort to know He does.

Nicole C Mullen: One of my greatest desires is to have my feet planted firmly in the church so I can reach over firmly in the world and pull people over without falling in. I say this often. And please pray for me as I do this.

CTI Coordinator: What does "I see it in your eyes" refer to? Can you share a bit of the lyrics?

Nicole C Mullen: Yes, the first verse is from Lisa Beamer's point of view. "Look at the child we've made — he's funny, handsome and brave. A superhero at play he's got a world to save. Could you have taught him evil won't win as long as goodness steps in and fights with all its might? Be willing to sacrifice." The chorus says, "And I see you in his eyes the way he laughs, the way he smiles, cannot be denied. A beautiful thing I realized, the heart of love can never really die, cause I see you in his eyes."

CTI Coordinator: Praise God. Thank you Nicole for writing that — what a tribute and special blessing for the family your album, Talk About It. It has been called an album that builds bridges over cultural boundaries. Was this your intention when you started out? And how did the album develop?

Nicole C Mullen: Yes, it was my intention. I had done it on the first album also. I'm a firm believer that when God made the rainbow, he made it multicolored on purpose, because he loves color, beauty and variety.

Zoeboboey: You are so right!!!

Nicole C Mullen: So I think it's important that when we see each other we don't need to ignore the differences, but we shouldn't stop there because our color was only meant to describe us and not define us. The album came about from life, you know.

Nicole C Mullen: Seeing different people's lifestyles—everybody's story the widow-lover, the 14-year-old girl, the mom who's trying to make it with 3 kids and no husband again, how God can take the ordinary and do the extraordinary with it. The Bible is definitely my inspiration as we see this time and time again in Scripture.

CTI Coordinator: Yes, he will equip us for what He has called us to do we can really feel your fervor for this and that is refreshing — your heart is a blessing. I'm going to take some of the audience questions now. Several people are curious how old you are, if you feel comfortable with answering that.

Nicole C Mullen: Okay, here's the answer to the age question that everyone wants to know — I'm older than Britany and younger than Janet. =) LOLOL

CTI Coordinator: Enajeiram asks: Where can we get the song she wrote for Todd Beamer's wife.

Nicole C Mullen: They're supposed to be releasing an album later in 2002. It'll be called Let's Roll, and will be put out on Curb Records. All proceeds will be to support the Todd Beamer foundation, which will support the children left behind from Flight 93.

CT Host Heather: Ebailey asks: how long has Nicole been singing?

Nicole C Mullen: I've been singing since I was about 2 years old. Both my granddads were pentecostal preachers. So we had a built-in forum all our lives. My sister and I sang in youth groups, and choirs, etc. My dad would play the piano, my mom would play the organ on occasion. Then years later I found myself singing background for my husband, David, who was an artist at the time, and later for Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Newsboys, Cece Winans, etc. A couple of years ago, the Lord saw fit to open the curtain and have me step out on stage. So voila! Here I am. :)

CTI Coordinator: Enajeiram asks: How many albums does your husband have out?

Nicole C Mullen: He had 3 out on Warner Brothers. He actually won the Dove for New Artist of the Year the same year DC Talk came out.

CTI Coordinator: Awesome. And of course, you also won a Dove.

Nicole C Mullen: Yeah. In '98 was the first time for "On My Knees" — my husband, a friend of ours, and myself wrote that one. Last year I think I won 4.

CTI Coordinator: She thinks … LOL. What were they for?

Nicole C Mullen: For song of the year, pop-contemporary song of the year, and one of those was for publishing also, and the other one was songwriter of the year. I was very excited — it was my Cinderella day. :)

CTI Coordinator: What song was it for?

Nicole C Mullen: For "Redeemer" I told you, God can do extraordinary things through ordinary people!

CTI Coordinator: I have to say that song really really is moving I feel God's power when you sing it … the power of the resurrection that is what it's all about.

Nicole C Mullen: It's totally a God thing, definitely.

CTI Coordinator: ApostleDon asks: Nicole, I am a great fan of yours and recently saw a show on sky angel that you were hosting. Would you elaborate?

Nicole C Mullen: Was it a video show? Because I taped it but I never saw it myself.

CTI Coordinator: I think unfortunately he was bumped out so if he gets back in we'll ask him.

Nicole C Mullen: Oh well.

CTI Coordinator: Tell us about mentoring. You have a mentoring ministry — how did that get started?

Nicole C Mullen: You know, I really don't know, to be honest. I just started hanging out with some girls and really it's been interesting, because some girls I hang out with for a month, others I've known for 8 years. Sometimes they move away, sometimes they're busy. I do my best to listen to them. Some travel with me all over the world, and they become good friends. They tell me their secrets, their dreams, their fears, and I pray the Lord would give me answers, and when I didn't have an answer, I'd pray and listen. Almost every day after school, they come to the studio and hang out. I remember when I was that age, there was a lady named Cecelia who would help me with my singing, give me encouraging words, play with my hair and generally make me feel good about myself. It made me want to help too, and be responsible with their hearts and with their dreams.

CTI Coordinator: That's neat — a way to pass it on! I know one day you'll know how much of an impact it has made.

Nicole C Mullen: You know, what's interesting is that you can't be responsible for the length of time you are with someone, but you can be responsible for the quality of that time. The length of time is really out of your control.

CTI Coordinator: Don's back with a comment regarding the tape. ApostleDon says: I enjoyed the show — I tape it and watch it all the time. Do you plan on doing more acting?

Nicole C Mullen: I think so. I read a script this past week for a movie, but you guys would NOT be proud to see me in it, trust me. So I said, NO. But we're praying about it, me and my family, so we'll see what the Lord has in store.

CTI Coordinator: Never say no … LOL. Ok Nicole, as we wrap this up we want to ask you how can we be praying for you in the coming months?

Nicole C Mullen: That the Lord would continue to give me wisdom in the decisions that I am to make. That he would give me favor and continue to anoint me, and that he would keep my family strong. Thank you very much for your patience, too, waiting for me to come!

CTI Coordinator: Ok, let's pray together now for Nicole. Father, we lift up our sister. We praise you because she has shown us her heart and the love for you she's shown. We ask that you bless her for it. Keep your hand upon her, protect her physically and emotionally seal her. Protect her spiritually. Keep your hand over her relationship with her husband and with her children. Bless them all richly. May her heart for you be passed on to her children, and to her spiritual children, and to all she comes in contact with, God, as you open doors for her. Help her to boldly go through them. What a joy that you have chosen to use her for this purpose! Be with her in the coming events and appointments that you have planned. Give her rest tonight. We pray this in your name, Jesus our Redeemer! Amen.

Nicole C Mullen: Amen. My heart's so full my eyes are leaking.

CTI Coordinator: Blessings on you and your family Nicole, thank you very much for sharing your heart with us tonight. May our Lord richly bless you … and all here you can visit and learn more about Nicole and her upcoming engagements at her Web site.

Nicole C Mullen: Thank you very very much!

CTI Coordinator: Visit Nicole's Web site: http://www.NicoleCMullen.com check out the article online from the recent issue of Today's Christian Woman magazine.

CTI Coordinator: This has been an interview with Nicole. Thank you all for joining us. May God richly bless each of you and have a good restful night. Good night!

Copyright © 2002 by Christianity Today International

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