There is always a back story. Many times the story goes untold or is perhaps misunderstood. Hope Today magazine had the incredible privilege of sitting down with Dr. Marvin Sapp. Most of us know him as an emerging gospel music legend. But who is Dr. Sapp really? Is he a mirror of his music or are there multiple dimensions? You be the judge, I must warn you, Hope Today can not be held liable for the amount of laughter caused and insight given by Marvin Sapp. Clearly there is much more than meets the eye.
HTM: Your latest project “Thirsty” has obviously resonated with so many different kinds of people from all walks of life. Why do you think this has taken place?
Marvin Sapp: I think this has taken place because a lot of us have been in the position where our passions, desires and/or thirsts have been for things that could maybe not be of God. We many times lose the real reason of why we work in ministry. The whole “Thirsty” project unfolded during a time that I found myself doing so much in ministry with respect to the work of ministry that I lost sight of the God in the work. With that in mind, I had to regain focus. I wasn’t sinning or doing anything that was contradictory to the Word of God, but I had to refocus on the things that were most important in my life; loving and worshipping God with everything within me and then allowing everything else to find its proper place.
HTM: That reminds me of the Mary, Martha syndrome……… We are so service oriented. You are Pastor, Priest, and Gospel music Artist, so getting caught up in the work of ministry and then not losing relationship but you saw some things slipping……..?
Marvin Sapp: Yeah it’s really being a Martha in a Mary world. That’s the best way to put it. Martha is walking around picking up and straightening up and then while she is doing all of these things, she snaps on Jesus and tells Jesus “Why don’t you tell her to get up and handle some of these responsibilities.” Jesus said to her “No…..you are the one doing the wrong thing. She is in line and you are out of line. She is sitting at my feet while you are running around trying to make sure that everything is correct.” The truth of the matter is that when Jesus shows up everything should stop and our focus should be on him. That’s where I had gotten, and where many believers have gotten. We are so focused on the work that we miss the importance of the God of the work.
HTM: Now on this project, while the entire ministry is a blessing to the body of Christ…….You know where I am going with this!!! (Laughter) There is one song that has had impact across genre lines (“I Never Would Have Made It”). Has that particular song’s impact surprised you at all?
Marvin Sapp: It has been extremely surprising to me. I wondered how something so small and so short could impact so many. He began to reveal to me that people from all walks of life, whether in church or outside of church, have stories and situations they have gone through, where they realize the only reason they made it was that God was always there. We all have stories where we realize that while we have to go through what we have to go through, we are stronger, wiser, and better. When God gave me the song in 2006, there was no way possible I thought that it would have had the impact on the lives of people that it has had. God gave me this song the Sunday after I eulogized my natural father……I came in church and was preparing to close the Praise and Worship portion of the service as I always do. I stood up there crying and balling, telling God “I never would have made it; I never would have made it without you. I would have lost my mind but now I see how you have been there for me and because of this I’m stronger, I’m wiser, and I’m better.” So it just happened…….and the people of God just gravitated toward it at my local assembly and now it has become a mainstay for several months in the gospel music arena…….
HTM: What’s incredible sir is that this particular song is making even the person like me who can’t sing….SING!!!! (Both Laugh) It reaches a place in me assures me it come out of that place in you. It is such a humbling song, because the truth is; we never would have made it without HIM. No matter what walk of life, we really never would have made it……..It had to take you in a place inside yourself because that is what it has done for the body of Christ.
To contact Dr. Marvin Sapp, please visit www.marvinsapp.com or www.lighthouseflc.com or www.myspace.com/officialmarvinsapppage
To read more about this article, purchase the May and june 2008 Issue.
