When I woke up this morning I didnt feel a particular way, I was alright. And while driving to work I was listenin to one of my favorite artists as I rawked through the streets. But while waiting for a park I went through my ipod and saw a song I hadnt played in a while..."JESUS (THE OMG Song)".
The great thing about gospel music is that you can play it anytime--sad , mad, happy, confused, overjoyed, whatever and it will always bring your spirit just that much higher. As a person raised in the church and a lover of the arts, Ive always dug great gospel music. As an eclectic outcast sort Ive been particularly fond of artists that go outside the box, and there are a couple of gospel artists I adore for their progressive praise offerings. SOOOOOOOOOO I decided that today would be the day The Soulcialista would debut The Praise Cafe, a special monthly feature of gospel artists that feed the SOUL and that our crew truly enjoys!
This month's Praise Cafe feature is YPJ & FVC! They have released their 2nd album Popular Jesus which features "JESUS (THE OMG Song)", "Whutchutawkinbouw?!?!", "We War", "I Am Not Ashamed" and more!
Check out "JESUS (THE OMG Song)"
Listen to more music & PURCHASE music HERE
Who is YPJ and FVC?
YPJ is the youth pastor and music director for Faith Apostolic Ministries, a mega ministry in northern Indiana. His desire is to see the lives of young people enhanced through music ministry and a clear delivery of the word of God. YPJ travels the country spreading the message of God's undying love to thousands. "It's all about Jesus until they tag my T-O-E," he declares.
At the age of 11 YPJ began playing the piano at his fathers's church in South Bend, IN. His style of music was always considered weird and unorthadox to his peers. This was at times very discouraging, but consistant reminders from his mother of how his unique play was from God kept him focused. From the ages of 15-18 YPJ continued playing for his church and many local groups. His desire was to go into full time road travel with his music as a gig musiscian. However, the Lord revealed his call to ministry in 1997. Though quite reluctant, YPJ excepted the call and stayed in South Bend assisting his parents. He noticed that his parents church was becoming one of the largest churches in their region, but they had very few youth.
In 1998 YPJ founded the Faith & Virtue Connection, a youth group devoted to drawing young men and women closer to Christ. Within two years FVC had grown from 12 young people to over 200. YPJ quickley took advantage of the opportunity to incorporate his music background with his outreach methods. Thus he convinced his church family to invest in a state of the art music and video studio to better help bring forth many of the youth's talents. One group created through the investment was the Faith and Virtue Chorale, an ensemble of some of FVC's finest singers, and musicians. Under the direction of YPJ, FVC began to travel abroad sharing the message of God's undying love with thousands. Their stage performance has been called wild, humorous, exciting, and anointed.
There church family has branded them the "Clowns of Gospel Music". YPJ's desire is to bring laughter and joy back to a very serious and at times cold "churched" generation. "Laughter is like a medicine," he says, "So we want people that see us perform to overdose, but at the same time leave uplifted through the message of Jesus. We're not trying to be the best vocally, nor are we trying to be anything that we're not. We just want people to know that there are still some youth out here that will never compromise the gospel." YPJ's unique style of playing and writing was soon titled "Dream Music" by his friends because he always said he would dream about songs before he wrote them. Plus, his unusual chord structures, drum beats and bass lines are said to be out there.
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