'Converted' Kanye West Shares the Gospel at DC Performance
ARTICLE SUMMARY
- Kanye West surprises Howard University student with a pop-up of his Sunday Service during Homecoming weekend.
Some people were not comfortable with him being there, thinking that he has a warped mentality about Black issues.
Ye later performed in a scheduled event on the campus of George Washington University at Lisner Auditorium.
He revealed that he got saved and converted to Christianity earlier this year.
(The Slice): People have been wondering if Kanye West is exploiting Christianity with the "Sunday Service" concerts he is taking around the country. The rapper provided an answer during performances in Washington, DC on Saturday. Ever since the first public "Sunday Service" at Coachella in the Spring of 2019, where over-priced merchandise was sold (2 pairs of socks were priced at $50) and his entire choir wore his clothing brand, his intentions to .
— Howard University (@HowardU) October 12, 2019Performing his timeless classic “Jesus Walks” from his album, The College Dropout, @kanyewest closes out “Sunday Service” for #HowardHomecoming . @PUSHA_T #HUHC19 pic.twitter.com/NqwEJU82mb
In a video clip that TMZ posted West told students at George Washington University on Saturday, "I am not here for your entertainment. We are here to spread the gospel." The crowd applauded in support as he revealed he is "a recent convert who got saved this year."
He also talked about not putting anything before God and confessed that he was guilty of influencing pop culture with his past behavior. "I worshipped cars. I worshipped the city I grew up in. "I probably said Chicago in my career more than I said Jesus," He said referring In Christianity, focusing ones attention and affections on any thing more than God is considered idol worship.
Recently, Kanye has been condemned for appearing to use the traveling concerts to promote the forthcoming album "Jesus Is King," which is due to be released on Oct. 25, with a companion documentary "Jesus Is King: The Kanye West Experience" hitting select IMAX theatres on the same day. Now I ain't saying he's a gold-digger, but he ain't missing no marketing opportunities. (There was a free screening of the film in Detroit in late September.)
West's pastor in California, Adam Tyson said in a Pure Flix Podcast that the artist told him he wants to serve Christ through music.
At GWU, he offered music with a message. When the "Jesus Walks" rapper spoke the crowd was silent and completely receptive to his words. Ye shared his favorite scripture from the King James version of the Bible, Mark 1: "The Kingdom of God is at hand. . .repent and believe in the gospel."
Some African Americans have their doubts about this unique approach to ministry.
Before going to Lisner Auditorium at GWU, he and his wife Kim Kardashian-West popped-up at HBCU Howard University, some in the audience were more skeptical. Several online posts and tweets after he said questioned why he was allowed to perform as at Black school after saying in a 2018 interview that slavery was a choice. West was also shunned all over again for spewing anti-Black opinions in association with his support of Pres. Donald Trump.
At Howard, in the presence of an impromptu crowd, Ye and his gifted choir did an impressive set that consisted of a gospel version of the Shirley Murdock classic "As We Lay" that he calls "As We Pray." He has also re-made the Hezekiah Walker classic "Pwer Belings to God." In the midst of this song, Ye stops to testify about the poer of God transforming his life
"He brought me to my knees. I was
Howard U Professor Keneesia Grant said, "This Kanye West thing makes me uncomfortable. There I said it." On the other hand, another observer at Howard said the worship gathering was Kanye's way of healing and reckoning with the Black church.
