Hip-hop church appeals to Tha Remix attendees

4/15/2006
BY DAVID YONKE
BLADE RELIGION EDITOR
  • Hip-hop-church-appeals-to-Tha-Remix-attendees

    Souljaz 4 Christ perform in front of an energetic crowd at the Genesis Dreamplex.

    • Souljaz 4 Christ perform in front of an energetic crowd at the Genesis Dreamplex.
    Souljaz 4 Christ perform in front of an energetic crowd at the Genesis Dreamplex.

    It looks as if Toledo is ready for a hip-hop church, according to Bishop Stephen Ward, associate pastor of Northgate Community Church.

    Last weekend, more than 400 people attended Tha Remix, a cutting-edge cross between a church service and a nightclub event held in the Genesis Dreamplex.

    Bishop Ward, 29, preached between performances by gospel hip-hop artists including Mizz Reality, Souljaz 4 Christ, and the Mad Prophets, plus a set of Christian rock by Rossford band Pawn.

    Bishop Stephen Ward
    Bishop Stephen Ward

    I asked the question to the hundreds of youth in attendance, Do you want Tha Remix to become a church? And the crowd erupted in cheers, shouting, Yes, yes, yes! Bishop Ward said.

    He said that a large number of youths made spiritual commitments at the event.

    At the end of the night, I did an altar call in which 63 kids gave their lives to Christ, Bishop Ward said, including a gang member who said he was going to quit the gang.