James Fortune never imagined that playing drums for his father’s church choir at the tender age of five would lead to a worldwide ministry that has uplifted and empowered believers.

A graduate of Kempner High School in Sugar Land, Texas, Fortune attended Cal State Northridge before entering ministry full-time. From the beginning, Fortune’s ministry centered on young people’s life struggles of peer pressure, drug addiction, fornication, club hopping and all other acts of ungodliness. In 1998, Fortune began Youth For Christ (YFC), a youth ministry focused on reaching youth through song and dance. YFC ministers at churches, workshops, youth events and conferences throughout Greater Houston, Texas.

Fortune expresses, "The youth of today must realize that true happiness and fullness of joy is only found in the presence of Yahweh, our Heavenly Father."

Within the span of only a few years, Fortune, along with his band, FIYA, has gone from empowering youth in the Greater Houston area to uplifting millions through their debut album You Survived!, released in September 2004. The title track from that record reached number two on the R&R Gospel Singles chart and became one of the Top 7 Most Played Gospel Songs of the Year, earning Fortune honors at the 19th Annual ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards and the 2006 ASCAP Writer’s Award for Gospel Song of the Year.

Fortune received the 2009 ASCAP Award for Song of the Year – “I Trust You.” He also recently appeared on the 10th Anniversary Show for Celebration of Gospel, the 25th Anniversary show of the 2010 Stellar Awards, Bobby Jones Gospel, BET’s Lift Every Voice and many other networks.

Accompanied by iconic GRAMMY-Award winning Gospel artists such as Kirk Franklin, Shirley Caesar, and Yolanda Adams, Fortune & FIYA grace their audiences with their fiery presence and continue to enjoy crossover success with their wide-reaching message of hope and salvation set to uplifting urban contemporary music.

Fortune released his new project, entitled, “Encore” on January 26, 2010. This album features great artists such as, Kierra “Kiki” Sheard, William Murphy, Isaac Carree, Anaysha Figueroa, Zacardi Cortez, Canton Jones and more.

Fortune truly believes and is living the testimony – if you trust in God and wait patiently on Him, you will receive all that is in store for you!