Shawana Roach

Shawana Roach was born and raised in Disputanta, VA, but is living in Norfolk, VA now. Although only 23 years old, she has the anointing of a 50 year old Evangelist. Shawana, pronounced SHA-JUAN-NAH, is the Praise & Worship leader at church, pastored by her father, Bishop W. L. Roach, in Halifax & Petersburg, VA. She’s been leading Praise & Worship since the age of 14.

It was just this year of 2004, that the Lord inspired Shawana to began her music ministry. Although she’s been singing since age 5, she just now, along with her family, recognized her gift of ministry about three years ago. It was actually her mother that pushed her take the next step to be what God called her to be. There’s nothing like good parents to recognize the gift in you, when you can’t recognize it in yourself.

Growing into a teenager, Shawana became complacent sitting in the congregation. One day her father asked her to sing with her mother because the other leader did not show. Out of obedience, she did. To make a long story short, the anointing was so strong on her, that after service her mother said, “ I think we’ve found our new Praise leader.” Shawana has been singing and praising God every since.

It has been her dream to be a singer every since she could remember. She entered a few talent shows, which she placed in the top 3. She was a member of her high school chorus and gospel choir. She was even given “The Best Singer” award in her 12th grade year. Many churches called her to sing solos. After all of that, the devil still tried to hinder her by telling her that she wasn’t good enough to sing. So she began planning what college she wanted to go to so that she could have some kind of stability in her life when it came to choosing a career. After graduating from high school, Shawana moved to Virginia Beach where she attended ECPI College of Technology. She majored in Business Information Technology, with concentration on Web Design. She then, graduated from there in November of 2002, where God blessed her with a career right out of college at Cox Communications in December of 2002.

Being the youngest of 3 children and the only girl, Shawana works very close with her 2 older brothers, Terrell and Carleton in her ministry of music. “Having family and loved ones standing in you corner makes life a little easier,” says Shawana. She definitely can be a witness because it was Carleton’s inspiration that encouraged her to pursue her musical career. His hobby to produce beats and tracks turned into her passion to begin writing to them. One of the very first beats that she heard from her brother turned out to be the song that she entitled, “You Said You’d Do It”.

One of the local gospel stations in the Hampton Roads area initiated a contest called the “Hampton Roads Rising Gospel Star Contest” in which they showcase 3 local talents’ song on a Thursday evening, afterward, the radio listeners would log onto the station’s website to vote for their favorite artist. Surprisingly enough, her debut song, “You Said You’ll Do It” won. It’s been history from there. We are looking for great and powerful things from this young lady.

When asked what her ultimate goal is, she replied, “For God to use me as an instrument to restore Holiness and Righteous back unto His people and nation through song.”