Kanye West and his 135-member Sunday Service Choir on Sunday performed during two sessions at the Birmingham-based Scott Dawson Evangelistic Association’s “Strength to Stand Conference.”
Dawson, a well-known Alabama evangelist, finished third in the Yellowhammer State’s 2018 Republican gubernatorial primary.
West has made waves internationally for his turn to religion, seemingly trading in a life often in public turmoil for one of public testimony. Beginning in January of last year, the West-led Sunday Service Choir has performed every Sunday, as well as Friday, September 27, when his album “Jesus Is King” was announced for release.
Their appearance this Sunday at Strength to Stand also featured West’s pastor, Adam Tyson. A second session was added after the first one sold out.
West during the sessions performed “Jesus Walks” from 2004, which brought his performance full circle to identify with his relationship with Christ. The talented choir led the audience in a moving version of “How Great Thou Art,” and “Closed on Sunday” was also reportedly a crowd favorite.
In a statement, Dawson said, “We were so thankful that Kanye West and his team were willing to come to Strength to Stand this year.”
The Strength to Stand conference is an annual event that has taken place in Pigeon Forge, TN, since 1994. The conference has served over 250,000 students since then, including 17,000 taking part this Sunday.
“It was an honor to have Kanye and the Sunday Service Choir along with Kanye’s pastor, Adam Tyson, join us for the conference to tell the world about Jesus!” he added.
Dawson recently interviewed on Yellowhammer Podcast Network’s “Living Life on Purpose” podcast with host Matt Wilson. Read more about that interview, in which Dawson spoke about West’s turn to God, and listen here.
Highlights of West’s Sunday performances can be viewed below or here:
Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
