SOAR Teen & Young Adult Christian Magazine

SOAR: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and where you’re from.

Samuel (God’s Prodigy): I would describe myself as a humble down to earth type of guy. I am outgoing and like to have fun. This year I am entering into the ninth grade. Where I grew up wasn’t the best city to grow up in, which was Montgomery, Alabama it had quite a bit of crime and I would have to say some of the friends I had there weren’t the best and did not have the greatest influences on my life.

SOAR: When did you begin getting passionate about God, and how has that journey been?

GP: I would have to say around the end of my seventh grade year when I was transferred to Christian Fellowship Academy. Since then my journey has been quite hard. For instance people who I thought were good friends have now turned their back on me. They expected me to be the same person I was before and to do the same things. I have to resist the temptations of turning to the ways of the world again and participate in the things my peers are often doing.

SOAR: When did you begin rapping and why did you decide to use your passion for God?

GP: I began in the 3rd or 4th grade. It was at the end of my seventh grade year, I decided rapping for God would be a way to glorify him. It would also allow me to reach out and interact with the youth, and show them that rap does not have to always be about sex, gangs, drugs, violence and degrading females. I have always been passionate about rapping and music in general and I knew that God would be pleased because I was uplifting Him and not me.

SOAR: What are some of the things you see urban youth facing today, or you yourself have faced? What type of message do you want to bring to the youth of today?

GP: I see a lot of people dealing with lust, anger, depression and heartache, because if you look at the latest research conducted, it shows that teen pregnancy is on the rise again, the use of drugs, as well as teenage suicides. It is because of this my message to the youth is basically to just come to God and let Him solve all of your problems of depression and anger. Let Him cast the lustful spirits out of you, because there is nothing too big for God to handle, and that we should not let the devil take this nation to hell in a hand basket.

SOAR: You said before it’s not about being cool because your friends aren’t your judge. Tell us a little bit about that motto, how have you faced peer pressure?

GP: The way that motto came about was because people started trying to pick on me and call me a church boy and telling me I need to start back doing my old things. So I had to resist the temptation by remembering that they don’t have a heaven or hell to put me in. That motto has helped me face peer pressure because it has allowed me to remember that I can’t let my friends dictate my decisions. The things they define as cool are the same things that kept me in trouble. Things I knew GOD was not pleased with.

SOAR: Tell us a little about your CD? How did that come about? Do you write your own material, and how do you come up with it?

GP: I currently have 2 CD’s out by the independent label ASP Records. The first one is titled “Take the Church Home With You” and when I say that I simply mean that you have to take the teachings from church home with you, what the pastor is saying you have to go home and live it out . The second and newly released CD is entitled “Push The Devil Back” which simply means we have to push the temptations the devil brings back. I do write my own material and I come up with it by praying and asking God what problems are coming about in this generation and what needs to be said. My producer A-Stot, plays a major role in my music.

SOAR: I saw the video for “Push the Devil Back.” What inspired you to create it?

GP: My inspiration to create that was that I felt that the entire world needed to get an understanding of the fact that the devil is trying to rise up and take this generation and to show people that it is possible to be changed and be delivered from the sin that some people are trapped in. With the help of my producer Aristotle Abraham, and the creative ideas of the videographers Dewayane Mallory and DeAndre Gibson, we were able to put together a video that used real situations that teens face every day and something people could really relate to.

SOAR: Were those some of your classmates in the video? How did the video shoot go, and how did people respond to it afterwards?

GP: Those were my classmates from Christian Fellowship Academy. With the help of my friends and their encouragement the video went fairly well and it allowed us to have fun while doing something that would glorify the Lord. People responded well and I was actually surprised because at times people seemed like they didn’t want to be there but we all endured and pulled through.

SOAR: How do you think the media affects young kids?

GP: I think the media doesn’t have a good effect on young kids today. Kids would love to have stardom and fame that they see in the media daily. Unfortunately the people and the lives of the people we see in the media who have these things are often negative. The images of the people we often see are not positive role models for kids, but it is what the kids are looking for and what they want. Kids need to stop looking for the stardom and fame they see and learn of the riches in following God.

SOAR: In school and with your peers, do you share your faith, and how is that experience? Have other young people ever asked you about God?

GP: I share my faith because the Bible says if you deny God in front of man He will deny you in front of His Fathers face so I feel obligated to tell everybody about my faith and to let my light shine in front of man. Many people don’t really ask me about God and when they do, they ask questions such as, “How do I become saved.”

SOAR: I saw that you also bring messages and speak to people at churches. How does it feel like to talk about the Gospel in front people older then you? Do you ever get nervous? What inspired you to get started in this?

GP: It feels so good to speak in front of people and I feel blessed to be able to posses the anointing that God as given me to be able to bring the word, but sometimes I must admit it can be sort of frightening because I know that there are people who are looking up to me so I have to really let God use me. What inspired me was when we had to start writing our first spoken words for school and my teachers helped me realize that I actually had an anointing on my life.

SOAR: What has the response been after you’ve brought those messages to churches?

GP: Most recently the responses have been good I have led about forty people to Christ which I must say is an awesome feeling to know that you are saving souls.

SOAR: Do you do anything to prepare to speak or perform?

GP: I actually have a time right before I minister or perform I get in a mode where I just completely get quiet and shutdown and take the time to hear what God is trying to say to me.

SOAR: Do you speak to youth at other types of community events?

GP: Yes, I do speak at community events such as Feed Community Center Outreach Ministry and an event called S.T.A.R.Z (Successful Teens Achieving Right Solutions).

SOAR: Do you have a particular platform that is your passion, something you love to speak on?

GP: The way that I feel is that no matter where you are as long as the Word is delivered then everything is okay. My favorite thing to speak on from the spoken words I have made so far was “Facing Your Goliath.”

SOAR: What are some of your favorite scriptures that motivate you and why?

GP: Philippians 4:13 which says “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me” because it lets me know that no matter what anyone tells me I can’t do my God has already told me I can.

My other is John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have ever lasting life.” I love that one because it lets me know how much God cared about me and still does.

SOAR: Who are your influences, mentors and others who have inspired you?

GP: I love the rapper Lecrae, he is like the best! Lecrae and Trip Lee are my favorite artists. My mentors I would have to say are my parents, my pastor Bishop Harvey B. Bee, Dr. Brown, Brother T.B, my sister and Bishop Eddie Long.

SOAR: What other things do you like to do? What are your favorite hobbies and things to do for fun?

GP: I love to do many things such as playing basketball whether it is on the outside courts or for the recreation department. I also like to play football and rap during free time.

SOAR: What do you hope to do when you get older? Any more passions and goals besides doing music?

GP: My dream has always been to be a lawyer but the way I see it if it is the Lord’s will for me to bring forth the Word then I will do so, because I love doing that as well.

SOAR: What advice would you give to parents or older people on how they can help younger people of today?

GP: I think that Christ is the way to go with all things and I think that if they have a reverence for God that they would change their ways and actions.

SOAR: What advice would you give to young people on living for God, and facing obstacles in life?

GP: Well I would start by telling them that it will be some hard times in life but with the help and guidance of God you can endure so just stay focused on God because if you don’t you may be like Simon Peter and fall.

SOAR: Thanks so much Samuel! We love what you are doing to inspire youth, and may God continue to bless and guide you!