‘I Wanted the Best for You,’ Says Lecrae’s Mom as They Discuss Church Hurt, Single Parenting and Success

After bringing on guests such as Priscilla Shirer, Matt Chandler, and Jackie Hill Perry, Christian hip hop artist Lecrae invited his mom, Ormie, to join him on his podcast. The duo kept the conversation “real” as they discussed growing up in the church, incredible success, abuse at home, and family relationships.

“We gotta keep it real. We gotta come from underneath that rug, sweep the dust off us, and get down with it,” shared Ormie.

Lecrae and His Mom Talk About ‘Deeper Wounds’ They Have Together

As a single parent, Ormie fought to give Lecrae the life she wanted for him. The two struggled for years, both being arrested at different times, both wanting better for the other, and both going about life differently. “I get pushback in the family for being too transparent, maybe too vulnerable,” said Lecrae.

Ormie reflected on her favorite moments in Lecrae’s career. “Jimmy Fallon was a moment. The Today Show was a moment,” she said. “Then, your friends calling you saying, ‘Oh, I saw your son.'”

Before all of Lecrae’s success, there was chaos in the home. Ormie was a single mother who brought other trouble for her family. “It was my fault, my fault for that mess. ‘Cause I saw the mess coming, and I stayed,” she remembered.

“I remember the yelling. The fighting was so intense,” Lecrae said about a time when he was 12 years old. He used to sleep with a knife under his bed to help protect his mom and himself.

In an effort to create a stable home, Ormie committed to a man who was “toxic.” Lecrae recalled, “I don’t feel like you contributed to my trauma. I just think you were fighting for something that was never going to happen.”

Ormie shared more about her past and how she felt about church. She grew up in a “strict” and “rigid” church, attended youth group, and sang in the choir. Occasionally, her church would put up a tent outdoors with sawdust on the floor, and hold a revival. “Please, I don’t want to go to another revival,” she said.

When Lecrae mentioned that some people liked that type of upbringing, Ormie continued, “I felt restricted and I felt uncomfortable and I felt judged.” She described how church leaders would pray over her, and she had to “fake” like she was “falling out” to appease those praying over her.

Ormie’s grandmother said to her one day, “You’re such a pretty girl. You’re going to hell.” Her grandmother didn’t approve of Ormie’s makeup or red nail polish.

“I felt like an outcast,” Ormie said. Her family couldn’t go to basketball or football games because the church felt the events were “secular.” She continued to try and go to church, and even sang in the choir, until Lecrae was a little kid. Then, Ormie had had enough.

The two left the church, and Ormie later found a loving church that welcomed her and taught biblical truths.