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By Da Preacha This is the first installment on a feature from GHHP on how to start a rap ministry. This is not based on some theory. This is from experience. I started a rap ministry in the fall of '91 when I started a rap group in Bible college. We have rapped in cities all over Northern California. We have rapped for youth groups, in prisons, juvenille halls, YA's, and for 5 years in a row at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. (Where we had a chance to perform after T-Bone.) We have rapped in front of audiences as small as 20 to as large as 800. We are currently completing our first CD. (You'll hear about it as soon as it's ready!) I have seen God do a lot through this ministry and had the chance to see many get saved and many more recommit to livin' for God for real. The purpose of these articles is to help those of you who feel God's call to be able to do the same. Rap Ministry vs Rap Industry The first thing we need ta get straight is that there is a difference from being in the rap industry and in a rap ministry. You can be a Christian. You can write Christ centered rhymes and STILL NOT be in rap ministry. It all depends on the focus and purpose of your ministry. I remember back in the day when I saw my first Christian rap group. It was cool that they were rappin' about God, but I wasn't to impressed with the whole thang. It seemed to me like all they was tryin' ta do was be like every other (Non- Christian) rap group. Their rhymes were alright. Their peformance was alright, but they DIDN'T really minister. All they did was do a show. I remember that when God called and confirmed for me to do this rap ministry thing, that I knew I didn't just wanna spit a rhyme and rock the crowd, but I wanted to see God use me and the power of rap to reach all types of people. I wanted to see people get saved. I wanted to help other Christians to get serious about God. I wanted to see people come to the altars and be changed. I wanted to minister! And I've gotten to see that happened, thanks to God usin' us because we were in this to minister, not just perform. | I'm not judgin' any other emcees or groups. I'm not sayin' that no other groups do this. I just want you to see that there's a difference! And I'm gonna be showin' you in future articles not just how to get to the point that your performin' and makin' CD's, but ALSO how to see God use you to reach people for Him! It's cool to spit a rhyme in front of a crowd. It's cool to perform in front of all types of people and see them get into your music. BUT it's EVEN BETTER to see God use you to reach and change people's lives. That makes all the rest of it twice as nice! You see, if you wanna be in the rap industry then all you care about is gettin' out your album, collectin' those checks, and gettin' the fame. If you wanna start a rap ministry then you might have an album, have checks comin' in, and EVEN have fame, BUT that's not your GOAL, that's NOT YOUR FOCUS! Your focus is to reach as many people for God as you can. Your focus is to shine the light in the darkness. Your goal is to speak the truth in a world full of lies. I started out by sayin' that you could be a Christian, you could write Christ centered rhymes and STILL NOT be in rap ministry, but I need to say this too. You could have an album out that goes gold or platinum, make a lot of money and have a lot of fame AND STILL BE in a rap ministry! You need to see that I'm NOT sayin' that in order to be in a rap ministry that you can't be successful! I'm just sayin' that no matter whether you're successful or not, whether you're famous or not, whether you make money or not -- it doesn't matter to you when you're in a rap ministry, because you're trusting in God to use you however He wants to reach whoever He wants. God is lookin' for emcees that love Hip-Hop, that know the Hip-Hop culture to use them to reach people in and out of the Hip-Hop culture. These are the ones who'll have minstries that He'll bless. Pray and check your motives and see if that's YOU. Stay tuned for the first steps to start this kinda MINISTRY all off! |
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