Millions of viewers watched as singer Mandisa (full name Mandisa Lynn Hundley) was humiliated about her weight during the fifth season of American Idol. She transcended that episode with strength, grace, and a powerful sense of purpose.

Today Mandisa is performing nationwide and talking to groups about her struggles with her weight. Her new album, Freedom, was released in March, and she is the author of Idol Eyes: My New Perspective on Faith, Fat and Fame.

Let’s go back to 2006. How did you feel when American Idol judge Simon Cowell demeaned you during a broadcast by saying your size meant the show was “going to have a bigger stage this year”?

This was my worst fear coming into my audition. And in a way I expected it. But while I was on the stage he didn’t say anything about my weight. Instead, he said my face was beautiful. I thought, “I am home free.”

I didn’t realize until later, when I watched the program with all my friends, that he made comments about my weight after I left the stage. I shouldn’t have been shocked, because this was true to form. But in terms of how devastated I felt, this was definitely a ten. Those hurtful words cut very deeply, causing a lot of pain and embarrassment.

You dealt with this humiliation by publicly forgiving Cowell later in the season. Here’s what you said: “Yes, you hurt me and I cried and it was painful, it really was. But I want you to know that I've forgiven you and that you don't need someone to apologize in order to forgive somebody.” When he heard this, Cowell apologized.

Yes. I told him that if Jesus could die so that all of my wrongs could be forgiven, I could certainly extend that same grace to him. It was very freeing.

“Freedom” is the title song of your new album. What does freedom mean to you?

It’s about how we serve a big God who can set us free from absolutely everything.

There are plenty of ways to be addicted. My issue is food, but the song “Freedom” tells how you can be addicted to alcohol or drugs. It may not even be a substance. You can be addicted to the search for money so that you miss out on life while spending every single moment to achieve the American dream. Or some people turn to other people to fill the void in their life. So people can be an addiction.

Addiction is a kind of idolatry. Anything we turn to other than the Lord can be idolatry. When we set anything above God, that’s idolatry. But thank God, he has set me free from addiction and idolatry.

Where are you in your struggle with your weight?

This has been the biggest struggle of my life and it began as a very young girl. I was abused as a child and began turning to food to protect myself. That’s what happened to me, but all kinds of people turn to food for comfort. When I get up and talk about my story and how God is setting me free, other people say this is their story, too.

Right now I am on a journey to lose 100 pounds, and so far I have lost 75 pounds. Part of this is a daily regimen. I watch what I am eating. And there are emotional and spiritual aspects of that, too.

I am tempted every day. During Gospel Music Week in April, I hosted an event where they served apple pie, which is an all-time favorite. But through meditating on scripture and studying the Word I continually remind myself not to look for fulfillment in things other than God.

You’ve been busy touring and doing media appearances. How do you stay grounded?

I’m very thankful that I have a great church home, Bethel World Outreach Center in Brentwood, Tennessee, where I have been a member for 13 years. We have a great diversity, with worship songs of different styles, and different styles of people, including racially and socio-economically. It’s amazing.

And thankfully, I travel with a band of eight very grounded people and a road manager who love the Lord. They strengthen me.

Describe your journey of finding your purpose and calling.

I was working at LifeWay, the publishing house in Nashville, when the Lord plucked me and had me doing music full time. The very first thing I did was a three-week worship tour with Don Moen and Twila Paris. I had no idea what do with my life after that.

One of my friends at LifeWay gave me a copy of The Purpose Driven Life. That helped me see that I really have been created to worship God. It also helped me appreciate how I was created. I am an introvert, which is funny because I have been thrust into public view. I am glad to be out there, and I am not shy by any means. But I realized that the way I am energized is being by myself.

I’ve learned a lot about myself, including how God created me, how to use the gifts He created in me, and also how to use the experiences I’ve had. Got wants to use all of that to build my purpose. I’ve sung at Saddleback Church several times, and I’ve told Rick I do not believe I would be where I am today without that book. It has shaped a large part of my life.

We know you as a singer, or performer. But who are you in your own eyes? Or in God’s eyes?

It’s interesting, but I describe myself first as a minister. Many people hear minister and they think pastor, but I have really come to understand that anyone who’s a Christian is a minister. God has given me music to use as an outlet, and that’s one way to minister. But it’s not the only way. I try not to define myself as singer alone. It’s just a part of what God has called me to do.

Steve Rabey is an award-winning writer and an adjunct professor with Fuller Seminary.