Psalmist Cypher Podcast
Psalmist Cypher is where Christian hip-hop meets urban ministry—a podcast built to speak truth, inspire purpose, and represent Christ boldly in every area of life. Hosted by David Santiago Jr., this show dives deep into real conversations about faith, music, entrepreneurship, culture, and calling—all from a raw, street-level perspective.
We talk about new Christian hip-hop releases, spotlight songs that carry weight, and discuss how the music is impacting the culture. But this isn’t just about music. It’s about ministry in motion—inspiring conversations, biblical truth, motivational moments, and real-life stories from guests across different walks of life.
Whether it’s a word of encouragement, a scripture breakdown, or an interview with a fellow believer chasing purpose, Psalmist Cypher is here to remind you that you still matter, you still have purpose, and God’s not done with you.
Catch the full visual experience on YouTube, and join the ongoing movement on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
Psalmist Cypher Podcast
Old School Meets New Wave: Pastor Lauzon on Embracing Christian Hip-Hop
Are you ready for an eye-opening conversation that bridges the old school with the new? Join us as Pastor Lauzon, who’s been in ministry for almost five decades, shares his journey from being skeptical of Christian hip-hop to seeing its powerful impact in church services. We’ll explore how this new wave of music is breaking down barriers and delivering timeless spiritual truths in a way that hits home with today’s audience.
From tent revivals in the '40s to the hip-hop beats of today, Pastor Lauzon has seen it all. He takes us through the history of church music, reflecting on the soul-stirring hymns of the past and the fiery praise of the charismatic movements. Now, he’s opening up about the challenges of reaching a younger generation and why message-driven music might be the key to bridging the generational gap.
But we’re not stopping there. We’ll dive deep into the art Christian Hip-Hop and how it can touch hearts in a way traditional preaching sometimes can’t. Pastor Lauzon shares his thoughts on staying authentic in ministry, evolving preaching styles to be more compassionate, and the legacy of trailblazers like Carmen.
And wait until you hear about his ideas for Friday night gatherings! We’re talking innovative ways to keep the faith alive through digital content and community outreach. If you’re curious about how to keep your ministry fresh and impactful, this is one episode you won’t want to miss.
Pastor Lauzon's List ( Picked by "Prophecy"
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6EdUc5h3eHauX43iprhgOt?si=MiJpGEMFTiiNkYjkZMpbXw
All The Spots You Can Link With Me At!
https://dot.cards/psalmistcypher
This is Psalm Escipher. I'm here with Pastor Luzon, 47 years pastoring at the church, and we're going to be talking about Christian hip-hop. Pastor, this is going to be a tough question. How do you feel about what other churches might think of us making a push for Christian hip-hop at our church? I mean, I know you don't care about other churches or what they're doing and stuff like that, and they shouldn't care about what we're doing. But there are people that might come visit our church, that might not, I don't know, like what we're doing, and then the word will get around once we start building a crowd or people coming in and stuff like that. And how do you feel about that?
Speaker 2:I'll tell you what Jesus said. His disciples one day were concerned about other people that weren't in their flock, so to speak, preaching the word and praying for people, and they wanted Jesus to stop. And he said if they're not against us, they're for us. So if other people come in and it would be other ministers that know me, they would just know how I am anyway. But other people come in, if that bothers them, then their heart isn't right, and if it's not their cup of tea, so to speak, then they need to go where it works for them. But if it works for us, we're going to do. Whatever God opens up for us to do. We're going to do.
Speaker 2:I never preach a message, I never do anything just because other people are doing it. We always do what God wants us to do in our church. I don't know that we've done anything that has ever offended anybody, because everything we've ever done here has always been a blessing to people. But if that's not their cup of tea, maybe their eyes haven't been opened yet, because mine wasn't. Yes, until you actually did it, and I would have never. I would have never thought in a million years that I would have been open to hip hop Because it made no sense to me from what I've heard.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:But a week or so ago, when I asked everybody how many in here listen to hip-hop, they raised their hand.
Speaker 1:I was floored I couldn't, you know what. I didn't look back. How many people did raise their hand I don't know.
Speaker 2:There's probably 20, some people really oh yeah, there was you know what.
Speaker 1:I was a little intimidated by looking back. I just stayed looking at you.
Speaker 2:I was like man, both sides of the aisle, you know what? They weren't intimidated or afraid to do it, they just stuck, stuck their hand up. I was just shocked. I really was. I didn't count, but I seen them both sides.
Speaker 1:That's great, I was pretty excited about that. That's great which?
Speaker 2:means that there are people that listen to that type of music, but the message, it's all about the message. You know. Whether it's a country western song, I agree, you know. But it has the right message. If it's hip-hop, if it's rock, when they talk about Christian rock, I always had a problem with that because I'm from old school, I know what rock and roll is, but my rock and roll is different than the rock and roll today. I'm like Beach Boys rock and roll different than the rock and roll today.
Speaker 1:You know, I'm like beach boys rock, yes, yes, kind of stuff.
Speaker 2:But you know I was never black sabbath or you know, was it pink floyd and yes and kiss. I was never into any of that stuff. So when I hear christian rock that's what I relate to I think like that, how in the world could they call it christian rock and actually minister? But these kids, this younger generation, they go to a different beat.
Speaker 2:It's totally different, you're right and if we're going to win them, we have to adjust our sails. We're on the same ocean, of course. We just adjust our sails because if you try to run your boat against the wind, it'll push you back. Yes, you adjust your sails and the wind will take you where you need to go. So that's how I would look at it.
Speaker 1:One thing I learned from you is that you know the enemy will use anything to try to bring you down right. But I also have to look at the cup half empty, cup half full. The other side of the coin, right, we can use anything to try to bring or deliver the message. So God can you know we'll plant the seed and he waters it right.
Speaker 1:So, rap being what everybody knows, rap to be right, very vulgar, everybody knows rap to be right, very, very vulgar, the wrong messages, talking about drugs and money, and you know everything else in between. I don't need to point it out because I'm sure everybody knows. But then you have these Christian rappers that are really, like, very talented. I've been listening to hip hop for a long, long time, the majority part of my life, and I was what they call a hip-hop head. That you know. I'm looking for the people who are putting the words together really nice and going to the beat and different types of styles and stuff. So I can tell a very good rapper from an okay one or a bad one I can do that right from an okay one or a bad one. I can do that right. Some of these Christian rappers that aren't being compensated and if they are very little compared to somebody who's cussing and is mainstream. If they was just to add cussing to their raps, they would be millionaires.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah.
Speaker 1:You know what I mean. But they're using it for god and they make it very known in their music. That is not about the money, it's about the message. You know right, and it is a form, a different form of, of worship music. But if it could happen with rap, I think and this is just me saying I think it could happen with rock and roll. It could happen with rap. I think, and this is just me saying I think it could happen with rock and roll.
Speaker 1:It could happen with whatever because you know, rap being what it was, and then you have and Christian hip hop is having a huge upscale. Now it's starting to go catch a lot of people. There's a lot of actors or sports people like athletes and and all types of people that are converting into christianity. And just the other day, at the, at the moment of filming this video or this podcast, however, you're listening uh, there is a a uh major hip-hop artist. His name is kendrick lamar, and he was mentioning about how he, how he needs to change his life, possibly pointing towards christianity, because he spoke of two very popular christian, uh, hip-hop artists that he looks up to.
Speaker 1:Now this guy, kendrick lamar, is one of the the juggernauts in mainstream hip-hop right now, at this point. So to hear him say that and and speak about wanting to change his life or trying to portray the message, however, at the time he is feeling right now or whatever, it's really big in the hip-hop community. So just having this as a way to reach a new set of people or invite a new set of people or even keep some of the people from leaving, because now we're, we're teaching, we're, we're using something different to, to, to touch a different, different spot in their soul or in their hearts. Um, how do you feel about all that?
Speaker 2:Well, I was thinking while you were talking about that, the church, the body of Christ not any particular denomination, but the church Jesus said he would build goes through different seasons. I was thinking about the forties and the fifties goes through different seasons. I was thinking about the 40s and the 50s. A lot of the churches mainstream churches come from the southern part of the country and they did a lot of southern music, a lot of guitar. There wasn't drums, there wasn't horns, we were just kind of strumming a guitar and they would sing that type of stuff.
Speaker 2:But the 40s and 50s was big for tent revivals and that's how the church began to flow. And then, after the tent revivals kind of faded out during the 60s, starting into the 70s was the charismatic movement and there was a lot of change in the churches. A lot of celebrities started jumping in because it was kind of a popular thing at the time. But the church itself, the body of Christ, goes through different seasons, different things, and I think now we're in a season where God is opening the door to reach out to anyone and everyone, no matter what. Now, 40 years ago, this would have never been accepted.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:Even though it was around.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:Not popular, not accepted. It had been condemned, looked down on and because of the lyrics and because of the message, it's bad Talking about suicide and drugs and sex and all of that which is absolutely opposite of what the Bible teaches, obviously. And so I think we as the ministry, I think we may have missed it, we should have adjusted and been able to reach out to help. But again, there are seasons in the church, just like seasons in your life, the times it just wasn't the right time. I believe now this is the right time, even at my age. I believe the church has the opportunity now and our church is small as far as physical, so we can't offer a venue to bring in three to five, 700 people. We can't do that.
Speaker 1:Yet.
Speaker 2:Yet Right. Yet we can't do that at this point. That could come down the road. It could be a venue that we can open and find a building somewhere and put something on. I'd love to do that. It's going to take a lot of work. It's going to take more than me talking about it and you willing to do it. We're going to have to get a crew together.
Speaker 2:That is as we talked in our men's Bible study commitment people that are locked into it, no matter what, we're together on this If there's 10 of us. This is what we're going to do and I believe God will honor that and bless that and we can get it done. Now we may not see the results of those people that would come to that venue. We may not see them in our church, we may not see them steadfast in our church, but if we can reach them for Christ because the younger generation are facing things that my generation never had to face. They have no hope. Their hope is just gone Because there's nothing in our government that's telling them you can do that We've got you and they think that's normal Because they don't know that there's no hope.
Speaker 1:They're just living life because that's how they just think it is Exactly. They're just living life because that's how they just think it is Exactly.
Speaker 2:You know, 50 years ago, 60 years ago, it was unprecedented for someone in the church to be divorced. And then when that happened, you know they're like shunned kind of. But today churches are filled with people that have been divorced, sometimes over and over, and all kinds of things. So things change. Not that that's a good thing, but I think in a sense we're open to allow people to come in with all of their baggage and if it brings this kind of music in and again, my generation is not going to be as comfortable with it as you, but I'm open to it. As I said, I'll have to listen to it a couple of times to catch the whole message, because I don't want to just feel the beat. I want to find out exactly what you're saying and from that I can figure out how to help you from that point.
Speaker 1:Yes, so for this, speaking on that, that was going to be my next question the few songs I did send you, I believe I sent something from Kingdom Music, brian Trejo, and just for the video and the podcast. I'm not compensated by them at all. I'll put their songs in the show notes just for people to check them out to their own websites or YouTube channels, but we're not compensated by them at all. We're just speaking on their music. But I sent you music by one called Brian Trejo, kingdom Music, and a couple of other ones, but I stuck to that because I really, I really like his message. I, I, I try to look for the ones that are giving out the right message, because there are a few in there that can get a little sketchy. Um, uh, one of the brothers, edwin, had had, uh, brung up a few to my attention. That wasn't really rapping a good message, and I'm not going to speak on that rapper's name because we don't want to put nobody down here or nothing like that.
Speaker 1:So I sent you the ones that I thought was great, what I would consider playing at the church with, of course, with your approval, and stuff like that. How do you feel about the songs that I did send you? When you got to listen to them, how would you feel about them being played at the church?
Speaker 2:the ones that I can recall that I listened to and it's been a week or so before I listen to any of them. I thought the message was good and again I'm looking at the younger generation, let's say 35 and under. That generation will pick it up and they'll catch it quick. Those that are above 35 to say 50, are kind of probably iffy a little bit. Those at my age. You know, I'm in my 70s, so at my age it's going to be difficult for us to grasp everything. I think we'd have to listen to it. But again, as I said, I want to hear the message. I want to know exactly where you're coming from, because if I can figure out where you're coming from, I can figure out a way to help you Other than just saying you know, be blessed in the name of the Lord.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:More than that, as far as at the church, I don't have a problem with some of them. You know I'd want to listen to them again intently, and of course you know my daughter, I always go with her let her look through them things. She keeps tabs on that.
Speaker 1:But you know, as many grandkids that I had, I didn't have no idea they listened to rap. Yes, just just never thought of it, I guess. So I think the a great idea you came up with was, you know, having a Friday night service, right, because then you know, we can go ahead and dip our toes in the pool to almost test the waters and see how people react to it, and not really, we're not trying to keep any everything separated.
Speaker 1:Okay, you guys are going to be just separated from these guys but we don't want to throw everybody in the same pool all together also at the same time, all of a sudden, because it's going to be a culture shock for everybody, I would think how do you? You know?
Speaker 2:Here's the one thing when you talk about Christian rap or hip hop and then you put that word worship in for me, it's hard for me at this point until I've been in one of those things. It's hard for me because you know my way of worship is, you know, before the Lord I'm just worshiping and you know, or singing a song that is accustomed to me and your hip hop is, you know, boom, boom, boom, boom.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's like that. It's a little different. And so for me to watch, say, 25 kids up there and they're all doing the move, it would be different. For me to try to get used to that. I don't know if I can do that. Yes, but I might, because I kind of flow pretty good with stuff.
Speaker 1:Yes, but I don't know, you know I've seen you get some moves in man, so I don't think you're gonna have a problem there but you know, here's here's the thing.
Speaker 2:I often wonder why? Why do they when they rap, why do they do this and this and this? Is that just because of the beat, or is that actually trying to make an impression on them and emphasize a certain word? You know, when I'm preaching, sometimes I'll go to say a word and I'll wait a few seconds and then say a word and it's emphasized that word.
Speaker 1:Of course I get exactly. I know exactly what you're speaking about, and I think my best way to answer that is a little bit of both.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:It's swaying to the music and also emphasizing on words is both of them. It's how it's affecting you at the time. And to touch on the beat part, yes, yes, there is. Hip-hop does have a little bit of a quicker beat, but there are songs that are. I've heard quite a few of them and, as a matter of fact, I'll send you a few of them this week that are more without a beat, and they have. They have rapped to a percussion, just like a piano, only a guitar, only they're rapping, or doing their poems like I would do, but just with a very soft setting, and it's still the. It is a beautiful mixture of both of them. I can't wait to share that with you this week.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'm excited about hearing that, because that would probably be a little more gentler maybe yes to break into, to get into that.
Speaker 1:But I, you know, I don't see myself it would almost be like my best way to explain. That would be like today we had service today, um, your daughter missy. She started off with a very strong song that everybody likes, right, everybody knows the words, everybody sings to it. When your grandson is playing the drums, everybody gets to it, yeah, vibes to it, and then she tapered off to like a slower song and calmed everybody down just before you went to go speak. It's almost the same thing but the hip hop.
Speaker 2:There'll be a strong song and then a nice softer one, and that's a question I'd like to ask you. And again, because what I have up here, that I get some of the raps or the hip hop, maybe in the world maybe not in the Christian realm, but in the world my feeling is they're doing that to hype kids up, to keep them all jacked up, and so it's hard for me to distinguish between that and getting them to worship, because when I see that that's hyping them up, just like at some wild concert out there, everybody's all cranked up, whether it's rock and roll or southern gospel or not gospel but southern music, and they get the people all cranked up. But they're doing it for this, not for that. And so to have the hip-hop people, the rap, to get them to understand that, get into that vibe, so to speak, then bring glory to Him and praise to Him. I'd have to see how that works. I can't comprehend that yet.
Speaker 1:I believe it's there there, but I'd have to experience it of course, yes, um, and I I could see exactly where you're coming from. It's definitely there, um, the people who do listen to hip-hop. Like I was telling you before, I like to pick the words apart, almost like we pick words apart in our Bible when we're doing Bible study and we're trying to break down the verses and stuff like that. Rap is huge on that, very huge, because you would be surprised how much people who listen to rap know the lyrics and are really like, oh, you put this together, you talk about this and this is how he said it or this is how she said it.
Speaker 1:If it's a female rapper, this that, whatever, they know these songs and they're constantly singing them, and then it becomes, I mean, they get warped by it, because now you have this person with status, right, they're popular, they're pretty or handsome and they have nice cars and these you know they have. However, they look like at the time and stuff like that. So they're looking at that and it's almost like they're worshiping that, right.
Speaker 2:Exactly.
Speaker 1:And they're doing what the person is telling them to do, because it becomes an influence. Yes, the christian rappers are not speaking on stuff that they would want the kids to do to hype them up, to make them feel something. They are speaking the word of god. They are speaking verses. They are speaking the messages they God. They are speaking verses. They are speaking the messages.
Speaker 1:They will touch on situations they went through like I touch in my poems and stuff like that, but they put it together with verses from the Bible and the good message, and always putting glory to God first, but using the instrument or the vehicle that is hip-hop, right and and their rap, uh style, or how they deliver their, their, their lyrics, um, as the the vehicle to these kids right, or to whoever's listening to, because a lot of them in kids, I'm I'm not a kid, I'm 44. I shouldn't have said that, but still, you know I mean, but well, I'm 74, yeah, well, you got me beat by a little bit there, but um 30 years, 30 years, 30 good years, you still still strong, still got moves and everything. But yeah, they have it's different, I get it. It's different, but what they're doing is different because it's not a selfish thing, it's not about uplifting them, it's about delivering the word and exalting god's name when you did that for pastor's appreciation for us.
Speaker 2:yes, I didn't sense anything other than your heart speaking to us, how you portray us, how you picture us, and so I can, I can. I guess I can see where, when, when they do one of them songs, I call it songs, you call it a poem, a rap. I can see where the kids can get locked into that. When the scripture comes out, it relates to them. I can see at the end of that where they could lift their hands and bless the Lord. I can see that, but I really want to experience that.
Speaker 2:I really do and whatever we do, we do it for the glory of God, to reach people. Do we do it for the glory of God to reach people? I don't want to do this under the guise of let's get all these young people coming so we can build our church so everybody sees this and we advertise.
Speaker 2:Listen, we got hip hop here. I don't care anything about that. I'm never concerned about outside promotion. Some people are all about promotion. I'm never about promotion. That's just me personally. It's okay. If you do that, that's for you, but not for me. My goal in this whole thing, with you or whoever else is involved in this, is to reach a generation that nobody else wants to reach.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:Because there's a generation that's lost out there, that nobody wants to reach. They want them to change, to come in, but we don't want to allow them to come in like they are. Because probably in the last 25 years I've changed a lot of things in my preaching. Teaching Never changed the word. Message is always the same. It's how it's delivered. I preach more grace now than I've ever preached in my life because I see more grace people need. People are hurting. I'm talking about inside. They're hurting inside. They've lost hope. They have no direction. Our government doesn't do anything to give them direction. There are some churches out there that do a lot of things, that attract a lot of people.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:And not because we're smaller do I say that, but I want to reach the heart of people. As you know, we have a mixed crowd in our church everything. In my family we've got everything except Asian at this point and you keep saying we're hopeful.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we're hopeful.
Speaker 2:But it doesn't really matter to me what culture you are, where you you come from. I just want to know your heart and I want to be able to pour into you whatever I can. If hip hop's your thing, that's great. As long as the message is right, I'm okay with that. And I'll tell you honestly once we really get this thing where we can control it a little bit, you know, and keep tabs on it, I'm going to have you break it out on a sunday morning sometime. Surprise the whole congregation.
Speaker 2:I'm gonna have you do that oh man oh yeah oh man, that's and we're not gonna advertise it. Just gonna say hey brother, come on up here, I want you to share something and I want you to hit it. I want to see where it goes.
Speaker 1:I'm gonna watch the people okay, I'm excited about watching like hit it, what Like just start the music like that, or what do you envision you want?
Speaker 2:to do your whole thing, whatever rap you got.
Speaker 1:Oh, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:All right yeah.
Speaker 1:We'll do it.
Speaker 2:Maybe you can work to Missy or Nathan. They can put a little beat in there. You know, we'll work on that. We'll the people we will but I guarantee you that I'd say 99 percent of our people will say that's great.
Speaker 1:There may be one percent said well, I don't know yeah but I think I think we'll win them over I think 99.
Speaker 2:I think they'll be open to it if they hear it the way you're talking about it. But just to hear you know, because I've made fun of rap ever since it's been around yes there's a boom, boom all that because that's really all you hear.
Speaker 2:Of course I get it my age. Yes, young people pick up on the message. It's quick, but because they can relate to what they're saying. But they're talking about all the hardships and how bad it is. But the other thing is they talk about how bad the hardships are. You know the drugs, the suicide, the sex and the life's so rough and you got to do this.
Speaker 2:And then they're looking at these people and they're driving these fancy cars. You know, laid out escalades, they got gold everywhere, money, so they're not really relating. I think what they're telling them. If you do all of this, you can be like this.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:And that's really the wrong message.
Speaker 1:Message that is the wrong message. That is the wrong message. But yeah, I'm very, very excited for everything we have going on, and I've seen you have your tablet with some questions. Yeah, you want to go ahead and shoot me some? And yeah, some, we've already covered but um, I was asked.
Speaker 2:One of the questions was what's the difference between rap and hip-hop?
Speaker 1:There is no difference. It's actually the same thing.
Speaker 2:Just called different.
Speaker 1:Yes, I think the whole rap and hip-hop thing. One of the first songs that came out rap or hip-hop was back in the day was called Rapper's Delight. I think it came out in like 1978. It's almost, I think, the credited first rap song, and one of the chorus, or one of the rappers in there started his verse saying the hip hop a hippity, hippity, hip hop, hip hop a rocket. You don't stop. A rocket to the bang bang, boogie up jumps the boogie to the rhythm of the boogie be so it had hip hop in there. I mean, I'm a hip hop head, I told you. So that's like history behind it. So yeah, I do that I think. I think that hip-hop is more of the rugged. When they talk about hip-hop, it's more the rugged underground stuff and rappers. It's just all of it together.
Speaker 2:Well, I told you I don't know if you did this or not but there was a Christian man named Carmen. He's passed away now from cancer, but he was probably one of the best ever to reach young people and older people, his style. He was not married and he had a group of people singers with him and they did the dance, they did the rap, they did the whole thing, but the message was so great. When you go to one of his concerts and I did, I mean every age was there. They loved this this guy.
Speaker 2:He was just amazing. So I would encourage you to kind of look him up and check some of his stuff out. He really, but there was nobody else that picked up on that. That I'm aware of. You know they tried a little bit, but he just had, as we talked today in our Bible study the gift he had, the gift he could do that. It's just a shame that he didn't pass away. Let me ask you this when people are rapping or doing hip-hop, I often wonder does this just come to them as it rolls out of their mouth, or do they practice this over and over like we would practice a new song?
Speaker 1:So there is something called freestyle rap, battling or freestyle rapping. There is something called freestyle rap, battling or freestyle rapping. It is. You have to be very skilled and rhyming, because that right there is improvising it. They put on a beat, you don't have nothing written down and usually it could be me and you and you're rhyming a rap off the top of your head. You've never recited this before. You're coming up with it right there on the spot and then, when you're done, I'm going right after you and we'll go back and forth and see who ends up winning.
Speaker 2:So things like that happen so they do do that, wow.
Speaker 1:But most of the time the stuff that you hear that sounds really good, or that's recorded, or this and that time the stuff that you hear that sounds really good, or that's recorded, or this and that them are things that were written, rehearsed, okay, you know, fixed and changed and stuff like that.
Speaker 2:Okay, yep so what results are you looking for when you do your thing, so to speak?
Speaker 1:uh, the poems or what. What's happening here? All right, so with the, with the poems, I am somebody. The way I get inspired with me is I listen to Christian hip hop, right, and I get more inspired by the ones that make an emotional connection to me. So since that's what I enjoy getting, I want to portray that out. I want I, I enjoy being emotionally connected to a song somehow, with whatever story. That is so when I write my poetry or rap and I don't know if I should call it at one time was like I don't want to call it rap because what I do doesn't really sit to a beat. Some of it does and some of it doesn't. But then what I also do doesn't really be considered poetry because it doesn't really sit there. So it's something in the middle, it's whatever I came up with, whatever God gave me. That's what it is. We'll call it poetry if you want.
Speaker 1:I don't know, it's something in the middle, but I want to touch someone's emotional spot. I want somebody to be connected there, even if it's it's probably not everybody. Not everybody's gonna listen, hear something I wrote and connect to it, but somebody's really gonna get like I've been through that and, yes, yes, you know I can relate to that. And if he was able to get through that with that verse or maybe I should look this verse up I want them to be on a journey to try to look for whatever verse or whatever word that's in there that helped me get through that. And maybe if I could just get that one person inside that book looking one time, maybe that's in there that helped me get through that and maybe if I could just get that one person inside that book looking one time very good, maybe that's all it takes.
Speaker 2:Very good and it's worth it at that point yeah, absolutely well, as I do when I preach and teach. If everybody gets something out of it, but one person really connects, it's worth it all yes, it really is. So where do you, where do you see yourself five years from now? Have you thought that far ahead? Where?
Speaker 1:I, I've, I haven't thought or projected anything, but I've, I've tried to imagine where this could go. So here up north in cle, this doesn't really exist, right? I mean, there's Christian hip-hop, people listen to it, but nobody's really uh dipping in, uh adding this to to their churches or as a form of ministry or worship or whatever we're going to call it, whatever it is ministry ministry huh, is that the word?
Speaker 1:all right. So ministry, um, but it's bigger down south, and so I look at some of the hip-hop artists that are doing it down south, some of which that they are ministers or pastors themselves. They're just also rappers, and I see how they're moving, uh, as far as what they're putting on their, their youtube channels, their social medias and everything, and how they're helping their community. And one thing that resonates with me a lot is that the crowd that they have and that is attending church and getting to God, and you see them worshiping and their hands up and they're carrying their Bibles and they're all praying on each other is usually the people that I've seen while I grew up in the neighborhoods, and you know doing what I did when I wasn't living a godly life, and I see how this can affect that crowd of people.
Speaker 1:And when I look at our, our crowd, even though we're diverse, I see that that crowd of people is still somewhat missing there, and what you have taught me, pastor, is that everybody has favor, the same, or I mean faith, the same measure of faith, and you know we was just talking about there's people that are lost out there, that you know that if they was invited to our church and they come to our church and even though I love, everything that's happening in our church has kept me there um, they might not feel like to come a second time because maybe they didn't connect with it so much or whatever, and this and that, and that's okay. You know, sometimes you know you might not belong here, you might belong somewhere else. But what about if they can't find nowhere that they belong exactly you see what I'm saying.
Speaker 1:I want to try to offer something or be a part of something that all of us can try to help each other, to use this Christian hip-hop or this type of ministry to reach those people.
Speaker 2:That's good. I like that. That's why I keep thinking about the Friday night, because it's not a traditional.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:You know the world looks like Saturday nights are party night yeah, friday also yeah, right, but then sunday morning is church for most people.
Speaker 2:that's how the thinking is. I thought, well, friday night would just be a different night and, just like today, the bible study. Those were here, were committed. Some stayed home because of game, but we're committed to learning about the things of God and our character and whatnot. And those that would come on Friday night, they would be hungry for that, they would want that and I think once they find out there is a venue, there's an opportunity. I think they'll bring more. You see people here. They're just bringing people everywhere and people have baggage, they have all kinds of stuff, but I think our church is mature enough that we can understand that. We don't judge that. We want to help change that, but we want to get you to have a relationship with Christ and let Him do the change.
Speaker 1:This is.
Speaker 2:I said this morning, the more of the spirit that you have, the more changes he wants to make. Some people have a lot of junk in their house, spiritual house, and if you invite him in, you're giving him the okay to throw out what doesn't need to be there. It's not church doctrine, it's not church of God doctrine, it's not Pastor Luzon's doctrine, it's not church doctrine, it's not church of God doctrine, it's not Pastor Luzon's doctrine. It's what the Holy Spirit does. So if it takes this style, I'm all for it. Yes, I'm ready for it, I really am.
Speaker 1:Yes, I'm excited.
Speaker 2:I want to see this thing get going, because without you, or Edwin, or whoever else is going to be, I can't do this.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:It's not my call.
Speaker 1:It. Yes, it's not my call, it's your call. Well, I want you to know that without you I can't do this, because I never thought I would be standing in front of there reciting poetry. So you have helped me mature a lot with God and, you know, find my way with this and find my way with this, and I want to thank you for that, first and foremost, and also that I consider you a mentor, not only a brother of mine, but a mentor. And, yes, if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have been able to find if this is a gift or a calling or whatever it is, but we're going with it all the way to see where.
Speaker 2:God takes us. It is a gift, and I believe the calling is for such a time as this. I believe the coming of the Lord is very imminent, very close, and to reach the people that we need to reach, whatever it is. And I can tell you this if we do a Friday night, I won't be coming in a suit, I'll be coming just dressed like everybody else, of course, but my goal would be, when everything is done, said and done. You, edwin, a few other people, I want to train you how to pray with people and the whole goal of getting people into the church, however it is music or whatever preaching it's, to get them to an altar so we can pray for them yes, amen because there's no sense in get giving them this to connect, to preach and connect if we don't pray with them of course
Speaker 1:just and all glory going to God.
Speaker 2:Yeah, exactly, Exactly Well, I appreciate this interview. I appreciate it.
Speaker 1:Pastor and for more episodes. If you guys are enjoying this type of content or whatever, subscribe, hit all the buttons that YouTube have, because they have like a million of them, so you go ahead and tap that. Or, if you're on podcast, check out the show notes. I have a few songs down there. Or if you're on podcast, check out the show notes I have a few songs down there and you'll find everything you need to. As far as the social media platforms that we'll be on and we'll catch you on the next one. Thank you.
Speaker 2:Praise the Lord.
Speaker 1:Praise the Lord.