Kanye West Brings Sunday Service to Atlanta
Kanye West wore gray sweat pants with a white T-shirt. He could be seen often swaying to the music, or walking from the front of the stage to confer with several along the back. It was during a rendition of "Power Belongs To God" by Hezekiah Walker, that West sung a few verses with the choir. After which, he began chanting lyrics from the song saying over and over, "Nothing's too hard for God. Power Belongs to God. You are the only Power. He is the only Jesus". West then paused, as to explain to the audience, "let's be specific, let's be specific, so we don't get it confused with 'Oh I'm just a good person'. Because the road to Hell", West went on to say, "can be paved with 'I'm just a good person'".
West thanked God for bringing him "to the home where I was born, where my mother met my daddy". West was born in Atlanta. "Thank You for saving me, for replenishing me, for delivering me." The crowd cheered at every mention by the artist of being grateful for his "deliverance".
Antoine Gibson of Atlanta called it "impactful" and "very powerful". Gibson felt that the music from the service, secular with a gospel flair, "has the same impact. It touches people who aren't exposed to the Gospel everyday." Gabe Levine was in Atlanta from Miami to attend the Music Midtown concert event, when he and 3 friends decided to attend New Birth on Sunday. "When the pastor said that Kanye West was coming in we were all freaking out." He called his time in Atlanta "a priceless experience. One that I probably will never have again." Nyah James, a 22 year member of NBMBC said "it's typical New Birth". She said that everyone who comes to Atlanta comes through her church. "I was just happy", she said, "that our church was being spotlighted for the work it's doing in the community. It's being passed down from our late Apostle Bishop Eddie L. Long, and now it's flowing through Pastor Jamal Bryant." Stacy Townsend, a 24 year member of the church, feels strongly that West is "going to be okay." She told me "Kanye professed God. He made it clear he professed Jesus Christ. He thanked God for a sound-mind and there's nothing more attractive than a man who loves the Lord."
