Matthews, who is an evangelist, claims that she realized three days after meeting Smith that he was the man God had chosen for her. They met in Feb 1995 when they collaborated for some humanitarian activities and felt an instant connection with each other.

Former sultry singer Vanity, who now uses her real name Denise Matthews, recently ended a brief, monthlong courtship when she married pro football player Anthony Smith of the Los Angeles Raiders.

The wedding and reception took place before a small crowd of about 20 family and friends at Smith`s french chateau-style home in the upscale Playa del Rey section of Los Angeles.

Ms Matthews, who now is an evangelist spreading the word of God to groups across the country, told JET: "I knew right away that he was the man God had chosen for me. I proposed to him three days after I met him. I was in his arms and I said, `Anthony, I think we should get married.` He said, `I think so, too.`"

The two met in late February after Ms. Matthews, 36, was living in San Jose, CA, and read about some of the numerous charitable activities Smith was involved in around Los Angeles. Smith, 26, who just completed his fifth season with the Raiders, has worked with several inner-city groups and donated food and money to various organizations.

She wanted to meet him and discuss the possibility of working together on some humanitarian activities. Representatives of the two worked out the details and she flew down to meet him at his home.

"I stopped to get him some flowers," she recalled. "A friend suggested that I get roses, but something told me not to. I got him some purple flowers and it turned out purple is his favorite color. When I rang the doorbell, he opened with the widest smile. And I knew then. We talked for three or four hours when we met. Two days later, I got him baptized at my church in San Jose." Her church is the non-denominational Jesus Christ For All Nations in nearby Sunnyvale.

The flowers were not the only coincidence in their relationship. When Smith selected his tuxedo in the Marina section of L.A., he soon found out that Denise, who still lived in San Jose, selected a wedding gown in the store that was directly next door to the one he had chosen. "Everything was right," she said.

Instead of a piano or organ, the two chose music from a harp. His home was decked in purple and white, with dutch lilacs, casablanca lilies and white tulips. The cake, to no one`s surprise, was also purple. Smith said his love for purple has nothing to do with the fact that he pledged Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, an organization whose colors are purple and gold.

The beautiful bride wooed everyone as she descended the spiral staircase in a white silk and satin gown with ruffles and alterations that she designed herself. Smith wore a custom-tailored tuxedo with a David Rickey tailored white shirt with a touch of black around the collar. The two had a double-ring ceremony. Hers was a four and-a-half carat diamond ring. The ring she chose for her groom, unfortunately, was a few sizes too big even for his large fingers.

Rev. Willie Harper, pastor of Denise`s church, officiated the ceremony and also gave the bride away. She explained to JET that her parents were in bad health and could not attend. Two of her six sisters, however, did make it to the wedding.

The wedding provided the couple with a major challenge--getting everything done in about a week`s time. It did come off without any major hitches. The caterers told JET that they were accustomed to tight deadlines and were prepared. Besides the cake, guests munched on assorted fruit, brie cheese, finger sandwiches, vegetables and cookies.

"Dennise told me she didn`t want to go to a honeymoon place that was so pretty it would take attention from us," Smith said. "She told me she just wants a week alone with me. We can be right here." He said that at some time he plans on taking his bride to a nice bed and breakfast in California`s wine country where they can go for strolls, bike rides and have picnics.

Denise and Anthony surprised many with the whirlwind nature of their courtship and wedding announcement. "We were very surprised," said Denise`s two sisters, Patricia and Renay.

"We found out two weeks ago," Patricia said. "She deserves a good man. And he`s very nice. We never had a brother. So, he`ll be a brother--in--law! I was a little doubtful. But when I met him, I knew he was right," she said.

Renay said of her sister: "She said she knew the moment she saw him that he was the right one. That (those words) has never come out of her mouth."

Smith is the Youth Mentor Ambassador for the Los Angeles City Housing Authority`s Youth Mentor Program and works with various programs all over the city. On top of that and his work as a defensive end, he recently launched an acting career with an appearance on the United Pictures Network series "The Watchers." He told JET that if Denise continues making movies, he will have to be her leading man.

Several years ago, Vanity stunned the entertainment industry by announcing that she was giving up the fast-lane world of Hollywood and its sex and drugs and turning herself over to the Lord. She said that her 10-year relationship with heavy drugs hurt her kidneys to the point that she is on dialysis three times a week for three hours on each of those days. She shrugged it off when questioned by JET and said it`s the price she had to pay for her former life.

Although she has had relationships, she said she wasn`t sure she would ever get married. "I was content to have the Lord as the only man in my life. But now the Lord has selected Anthony as the man for me."

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