The Gravity of Gospel Hip Hop
By: Min. Angela Lee Price
Embracing contemporary gospel music may not be the answer for every church congregation, but it can be a way to keep young people from slipping into what secular hip hop mogul Jay-Z calls “the wild.” Jay-Z won a Grammy in February for "No Church In The Wild", his collaboration with Kanye West featuring Frank Ocean & The-Dream, a song that prophetically and pathetically describes the state of postmodern America. He says society has gotten so bad that people have been reduced to nothing, to a mob. In the hook, he rhetorically asks, "What’s a mob to a King? What’s a king to a God? What’s a God to a non-believer who don’t believe in anything?" In a violent and troubled time, Jay-Z is asking where is the church? He is being facetious because to him the answer is clear. The church is nonexistent. It is ineffective. There is no church in the wild, the wilderness. To a great degree he is right. In a time when people show no respect for God nor for human life, the church has become ineffective, a social gathering place. Even Bishop T.D. Jakes, one of the most well-known preachers on the planet said recently that he's tired of the "Hollywood Spirit" in the church.
I am so glad God is raising up a new generation of young men and women in this postmodern age who are not afraid to stand up against forces that speak against the church. God is gifting young people to speak truth to power with integrity, authority, and in the power of the Holy Spirit. While the church has its issues, the Bible declares that the gates of hell shall not prevail against her. The 21st century church has to stand up and begin to embrace our best and brightest young representatives, artists like Da Truth, and LeCrae, who has not only given a strong Christian retort to "No Church In the Wild" in his song, "Sacrifice," but also won a Grammy this year himself. LeCrae won a Grammy for “Best Gospel Album” for his groundbreaking "Gravity" CD. In winning the award, LeCrae made history becoming the first gospel hip hop artist to win a Grammy. LeCrae has proven that gospel hip hop can no longer be taken lightly. With gifted artists such as LeCrae giving a contemporary defense for the faith with integrity, Gospel hip hop has become an undeniable force in the gospel music industry.
I have been wearing my "radio hat" more regularly these days, sitting in for the announcers on WLOU Radio. On Friday, April 19th, Pastor Alvin Darling stopped by the WLOU studios and talked with me and WLOU's afternoon announcer Brodric Purvis on air about pastoring two multi-cultural churches, one in New Jersey and the other in Long Island, NY, and his illustrious gospel music career, his affiliation with St. Jude Hospital, and new CD being released on April 23rd. He was in town for a St. Jude Benefit Concert at New Hope Baptist Church. I will be sitting in this Thursday and Friday for Purvis, so check me out on Praise Power 1350 WLOU and the New Praize 104.7 FM.
Who Got Skills? Hair Battle and Fashion Show
Who Got Skills? Hair Battle and Fashion Show
Jesus Saves Social Network members Alayna Middleton, Monica Hughes, with model Alisha Aniton hanging out with me at the Jesus Saves Ministries table at the Who Got Skills? Hair Battle and Fashion Show on Sunday, April 21st at The Venue in Louisville. Alisha, in the middle, modeled in the fashion show. PraisePower 1350 WLOU and the New Praize 104.7 FM sponsored this first-time event, and awarded $1,200 in cash and prizes to barbers and Cosmetologists in several categories. Check out the pictures on facebook.com/praize1047.
My Brother Marvin Stage Play Responses:
"Thanks for the tickets to My Brother Marvin. My wife and I did make it to the 7:30 PM showing and we enjoyed ourselves. The play depicted how Marvin's life came to a tragic end and the play brought it all back to life for a moment. I enjoyed the second half best as it was filled with singing. This was the first time that my wife (of 45 years) and I had been out on a date night for a while and we both enjoyed ourselves." Steve Jones, LouisvilleI went to see this play last night with my sister THANKS 2 PRAISEPOWER1350 WLOU. WE had a GREAT time. You never know someone's story until they either die or get killed. Kim Scott, LouisvilleThe play was great!!! It would have better if we could have heard some of Marvin's songs! Mary Johnson, LouisvilleThank you PraizePower 1350 WLOU for the tickets! It was a great play and we also missed all those original hits of Marvin's. Linda Spencer, Louisville
Whispers of God's Love
Jesus Saves Ministries has released this short eight-page e-booklet or women entitled, Whispers of God's Love - 2013.pdf,, 2nd Edition, of original devotions and prayers by a few of the women bloggers, ministers, and evangelists on the Jesus Saves Social Network. There is a prayer on foster parenting and adoption, a prayer on helping you manage your finances, a devotion with testimony on contentment, a devotion on letting God fight your battles, another on growing in Christ based on the book of Ephesians, and a devotion to encourage women who are struggling with their weight. God has given our contributors a word of encouragement just for women. We hope "Whispers of God's Love," 2nd Edition, will aide and encourage you, or the women in your life in mending, comprehending, defending, and recommending the gospel of Jesus Christ to others. Please download and share it with your friends, relatives, co-workers, church members, Christians who need to be strengthened in their trials, and to the unsaved. Don't let the flowers be the only thing growing in this season. Now, grow and go with Whispers of God's love!
Feedback:
"I wanted to say thank you for Whispers of God's Love! I truly have enjoyed reading it and have gained so much from the word shared in each reading!!" Isabell Wilson
Welcome New Member, Rhonda Sanders, Indianapolis, IN
I'm a single woman. I love to laugh and have fun. I'm also a Christian and love God. I am a member of Mt Zion Apostolic Church. My Favorite Preachers include Bishop Lambert Gates Sr. My favorite gospel artists include Fred Hammond, Marvin Sapp.
Featured Member: April Starks, Louisville, KY
"I'm a daughter of the King of Kings! I love my family, church, career, community, and serving others. I am a graduate of Centre College (B.S. Economics), UofL (Paralegal). I am a member of New Birth Ministry Center, Louisville. I am a member of the National Council of Negro Women, Louisville Chapter.
Thank you, Ms. Angela! I'm looking forward to sharing and networking on this great ministry outreach. I truly admire your kingdom perspective and passion. Miracles & Blessings......" April Starks, Louisville, KY
Tell your friends, family members, church members, and co-workers about this network! It is FREE and easy to set up a page to receive regular updates from this ministry and participate in our group discussions and promotions!
It is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!
The Uprising Pastor's Conference Was Held on April 18th
Ange Canessa posted this picture and a comment from the Uprising Conference hosted by his church, Quest Community Church, Lexington, KY.
The fourth annual Uprising conference called pastors and church leaders together on Thursday, April 18th. It featured speakers Steven Furtick and Mark Ashton, among others. Pastors and church leaders in attendance in previous years were emboldened and impassioned to make the Gospel of Jesus Christ the central focus of their church.
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Thank you Rev. Angie. Lots of folks were in that same spot, where Jesus broke our hearts for what breaks His. We are ministers of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:17-21). That's where I wanna be, what we were called to do.
Check Out These Posts:
- The Street Corner Preacher: Are You a Courageous Witness?
- When Was the Last Time You Went In Your Prayer Closet?
- The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost
- Winners in My Brother Marvin Stage Play Giveaway
- It's A Spiritual Gift: Don't Get It Twisted!
- MVP (Most Valuable Prayer)
- EXCUSES ACCOMPLISH NOTHING
- Shawn Papi presents A Fellowship & Networking Event
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