The NEW JERSEY MASS CHOIR flew into Britain, sang up a storm and departed leaving clamorous crowds dancing in the aisles. James Attlee caught the show...and the bus.

"We know that the music can at least pave the way, and the words are so powerful, it's the Word that really convicts, so we know if we can just lay a foundation for somebody to come to know Christ, that's a good start."

Donny remains unrepentant about having worked with Foreigner, despite the criticism he's received from some sections of the church. Making that record, and making other forays into the secular music scene, like appearing at the "Motown returns to the Apollo" concerts, backing Stevie Wonder and Pattie Lavelle, have brought the choir new opportunities and a new audience. "It opened more doors for us then the gamut of just taking your local route into town." He is similarly pragmatic about financial considerations - "if you don't feed the ministry, it'll starve, simple as that - " and looks forward to the day when record companies put the kind of financial muscle behind gospel that they have invested in dance music and rap.

At present, the ministry seems in little danger of starvation, with the choirs latest recording "Heroes" riding high in the Billboard black gospel charts in the States. The record manages to make use of the latest technology and production techniques, without in any way compromising the fire, commitment and passion that go to make great gospel music. Donny spoke of the inspiration that lies behind the title-track.

"What I'm trying to get across is - Christ is greater than the one that's in the world - that's Satan, you understand - A lot of times Satan puts things up against us. The lyrics say 'even as we sing, the battle rages...'. You see, people don't know there's a battle. We wrestle not against flesh and blood - the battle is not between you and me - it's against spiritual wickedness, and principalities, and all that stuff. Once we know that, we know how to fight. Don't be afraid, cause with the power of God, who's a winner all the time, you're a hero - that's what I was trying to get at.

"I did an album called 'Hold up the Light' and on the cover, we had on sequins glittery stuff - and people thought. 'Oh they're not saved' 'We're serving notice across this land/So you'll know just where we stand/ we've soldiers fighting in the army of the Lord/For the kingdoms of this world to become the kingdoms of our God. Hold on, Hold on I say, and don't stray lean not on your own understanding but lean on Jesus/And we can all say, Hallelujah, we're heroes!'."

The New Jersey Mass Choir have served notice across the UK, and left us in no doubt as to where they stand, or where they're going. If you failed to see them live on this visit, Radio 1 FM are broadcasting their London Concert on 12th of April at 9.30pm, and their albums are available in the UK via Word. Meanwhile, Donny is starting work on tracks for their fourth album, which will be the first that he's produced himself, a long-term ambition. I'll let him have the last word.

"I feel people we've been given a name above all names, and at the name of Jesus every knee bows, and every tongue confesses, and I don't think we have nothing to be ashamed of - when it's presented in the right way, when its presented with good production, good lyrics and all that stuff, then you'll see how much more Christ will win - every time! Amen."