Church celebrates five years of ‘Hip-Hop Sunday’
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At first glance it may seem like a night at the club, but really it's worship service at the House of Divine Purpose Ministries in North Austin.
Sunday was the five-year anniversary of the church’s ‘Hip-Hop Sunday’ event.
"Any church perception that you have, it blows it out of the water," performer J-Nice the Kingdom Builder said.
The event, which takes place the fourth Sunday of every month, brings together Christian music artists with a flair for hip-hop.
"There is hip-hop music that is for the world, but we are trying to use that same platform to draw people to Christ," Pastor Varnell Norman Jr. said.
For the Christian artists, the gospel's good news and hip-hop culture are perfect combination.
"People who are in this genre, in this culture, have a place to come and display their talent," J-Nice the Kingdom Builder said. "Why wouldn't we want to interject truth or positivity or Christianity into it?”
Pastor Varnell Norman says the hip-hop service gives believers a place they can feel at home.
"It allows people to come in and celebrate with us as they are," he said.
Now five years in, Hip-Hop Sunday shows the staying power that comes when faith, belief and music come together.
"Austin is a city that is built on music, it's built totally on music, and we should have a presence. Christians and the Christian community should have a presence," performer Victorious said.
Some of the artists from yesterday's service will also perform at South by Southwest.