No. 1: Christ reigns in hearts and charts: Kanye West’s ‘Jesus Is King’ album tops Billboard
EEW Magazine Music News // Album Releases // Gospel
Kanye’s first ever gospel album, Jesus Is King, shows that Christ reigns in hearts and charts.
The musical work that enthrones the Messiah above the ubiquitous and larger-than-life personality that is the Chicago rapper, topped the Billboard albums chart, opening at No. 1 — West’s ninth consecutive time in the peak position.
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Jesus Is King, released by Def Jam, had the equivalent of 264,000 sales in the US, including 197 million streams and 109,000 copies sold as a full album, according to Nielsen.
The album also topped Billboard’s Christian albums and gospel albums charts, making it West’s first appearances on those rankings.
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West’s album title is more than that. It is his belief, his personal declaration, and it is reflective of what the 42-year-old describes as being “radically saved”—something he is unashamed to tell the world.
According to a Fox News report, a Louisiana pastor said "over 1,000" people raised their hands to commit their lives to Christ Friday during one of music’s biggest-selling artist’s impromptu Sunday Services. West’s ministry is being called a "new wave of revival."
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Curvine Brewington, a pastor at Crossroads Church in Lafayette, went to Friday's outdoor service with his wife at a field provided by Bethany Church in Baton Rouge, but was not affiliated with the church, said the report.
"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," Brewington said. "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!"
