By Nancy Flory Published on November 12, 2019
Hip-hop star Kanye West’s Jesus Is King has made history. According to Billboard, the album not only opened at number 1 on the secular Billboard 200 chart, it’s also the Top Christian Album, Top Gospel Album, Top Rap Album, and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Album. This is the first time ever one album has been number one on all five charts.
Released October 25, West’s album is his first since becoming a born-again Christian.
It’s not just the album. All ten slots on the Christian and Gospel Top Ten singles belong to cuts from Jesus is King. That has never happened before.
“Number one in the country right now, number one in the world right now, Jesus is King,” West said at his Baton Rouge Sunday Service concert on Friday at Bethany Church. “Who’s number one? Jesus is number one!” West told the audience as a choir sang.
Not Just Album Sales But Saved Souls
A pastor from Lafayette, Louisiana, attended the Sunday Service and said he saw over 1,000 people give their lives to Christ. Curvine Brewington posted on Instagram:
Tonight, @candacebrewington & I got to experience Kanye West’s Sunday Service at @bethany_church in Baton Rouge. If you’ve ever doubted the legitimacy or spiritual impact of this #sundayservice project, simply look at this incredible shot taken by @the.smitan during the altar call. YES, I said ALTAR CALL. Tonight, worship was lifted, the name of Christ was exalted, the Word of God was preached, a multitude prayed together, the Gospel was clearly proclaimed, and an opportunity to respond was given. In a crowd of 6,000 people from all walks of life, all ages, and all races, i witnessed over 1,000 people respond to The Gospel by raising their hands to accept Jesus as their Lord & Savior! Say what you want, & think what you want…. But trust me when I tell you – The Spirit of the Living God was indeed present. I danced, wept, stood in awe of God’s redemptive work, & can honestly say that tonight I witnessed a new wave of REVIVAL first hand. #Jesusisking
In an article titled “Kanye West … and the Next Great Awakening?” Stream contributor Bruce Dunn noted the historic similarity between the fervor surrounding Kanye and previous awakenings and revival movements of the past. And, of course, God’s habit of using unlikely people to carry out His will.
Whether that happens now, we can only pray it is so. Meanwhile, music fans can also look forward to a holiday present from Kanye come Christmas Day. He’s releasing a Christmas album called Jesus Is Born.
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Nancy Flory is an associate editor at The Stream. You can follow her @NancyFlory3, and follow The Stream @Streamdotorg.
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