
Chicago welcomed
hometown favorite, Kanye West, with open arms for his Sunday
Service Experience this past weekend. Following a rousing performance
on Chicago’s Northerly Island with an estimated 10,000
attendees, thousands of church goers packed into the historic Fellowship
Missionary Baptist Church (led by senior pastor and gospel music
sensation, Charles Jenkins) for Sunday Service: Part Two.
When asked how this came about, Jenkins shared, “About 6 months ago I was
talking to Kanye and he was saying how so many people are in so much pain
and in need of hope. He said to me that he wanted to use his approach
to music to bring hope to people and lift them up. So, when I heard
that they were coming to Chicago, I
called my friend Jason White (The Sunday Service Choral
Director) to invite Kanye and The Sunday Service Collective to
Fellowship and they came 200 strong! They sang about Jesus and His
word for more than an hour and all of the feedback from people who were
present has been deeply moving.”

“It was epic, it was everything! You could feel the power of
God coming through their voices.” said Rita Lee, a Chicago native and Hip-Hop music
executive. Aneisha Titsworth said, “The world needs this. I came
looking for Kanye and found God.” Singers from The Sunday
Service Collective were spread throughout the south-side sanctuary and
began singing spontaneously, flash-mob style. People danced, smiled, and
cried as gospel music classics and soulful remakes rang throughout the
church.
In a powerful homecoming moment, Kanye West, remarked with authority,
“This is The Chi” evoking even more passion and volume from his collective
of singers as the crowd cheered him on. After more than an hour of
singing, the room exploded to new levels of euphoria when West
performed his Grammy winning mega hit, “Jesus Walks.” “He’s one of ours,”
said one proud attendee, referring to West’s Chicago upbringing. Reverend Jesse Jackson,
who was also in attendance said, “It was so good to fellowship with
Kanye today. He is a special and unique talent.” Inviting Kanye West to
Fellowship is another example of Jenkins’ #PositiveAir philosophy of
spreading inspiration wherever he can, and it also reflects the
spirit of his current Billboard Top 25 Gospel Airplay radio smash, “Keep
the Faith.”