Rapper and producer Kanye West visited America’s largest church on Sunday to talk about his newfound calling: serving as an evangelist for Christ.
West spoke with televangelist Joel Osteen at Houston’s Lakewood Church during a morning service, giving the 16,000 attendees a glimpse of his spiritual awakening ― and his signature swagger.
Advertisement
“Jesus has won the victory because now ― I told you about my arrogance and cockiness already ― now, the greatest artist that God has ever created is now working for him,” West said.
West’s 20-minute talk was followed by another appearance at Lakewood’s evening service, where West and his Sunday Service choir performed songs from his new album “Jesus is King.” The concert also featured songs from West’s previous albums, such as “Jesus Walks,” as well as covers of Stevie Wonder’s “Overjoyed,” and Destiny’s Child’s “Say My Name,” according to the Houston Chronicle.
West apparently cast himself as a supporting player for much of the concert ― appearing an hour into the gospel performance and standing at a microphone near the back of the stage with North West.
Advertisement
He reportedly altered his 2016 song “Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1” with a reference to Texas death row inmate Rodney Reed. Reed, who has received support from several celebrities, including West and Kardashian, was granted an execution stay on Friday. Kardashian West visited Reed in prison on Friday.
Tickets to the free concert were gone in minutes online, and attendees packed Lakewood Church’s main hall. The church building is the former Compaq Center, once home to the Houston Rockets.
“We come from different backgrounds. Styles are different. But we’re still brothers in Christ. We’re all on the same team,” Osteen told reporters on Sunday.
Advertisement
West’s music has often included references to his Christian beliefs, but “Jesus is King” is the artist’s first album to focus exclusively on religious themes.
West, during his Sunday conversation with Osteen, revealed that he believes God has been calling him for a long time, while the devil has been trying to distract him from his purpose. In 2016, when he was hospitalized for mental health treatment, God “was there with me, sending me visions and inspiring me,” he said. West has spoken about his struggle with bipolar disorder in the past.
He told Osteen that during the 2016 hospitalization, he drew a picture of a church and wrote about wanting to start a church in Calabasas, near his home in California.
West started hosting Sunday Service concerts on his property in January. Since then, the pop-up religious events have been held at various churches around the country and at the Coachella festival. Kardashian has described these services as West’s “musical ministry.”
At Lakewood, Osteen played a clip of “God Is,” a song on West’s new album, and called it “very, very powerful,” according to the Houston Chronicle.
Advertisement
“You said more in 60 seconds than I say in my 30-minute message,” Osteen told West.
Some Christians have also beenwary about West’s foray into the Christian music scene ― especially after the artist’s suggestion that slavery was a choice, and his support for President Donald Trump.
West said Sunday that he is “in service to God.”
“All of that arrogance and confidence and cockiness that y’all seen me use before, God is now using for him,” he said. “Because every time I stand up, I feel that I’m standing up and drawing a line in the sand and saying, ‘I’m here in service to God, and no weapon formed against me shall prosper.’”
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.