Overview
Marvin Sapp
Video Highlight
Hear Marvin Sapp speak about Martin Luther King Jr. and other influences on his life.
Asked to describe his ministry and career in gospel, Marvin Sapp will simply tell you, "I am a preacher - called by God - who happens to sing." Sapp was first introduced to the gospel community by Fred Hammond as a six-year member of the vocal group Commissioned. He later received a Doctor of Divinity Degree from Aenon Bible College and a Doctor of Ministry Degree from Friends International Christian University.
When he isn’t spreading the word of God through over two hundred preaching and speaking engagements a year, Sapp ministers at The Lighthouse Full Life Center Church in Grand Rapids, where he is senior pastor. By 2012, his goal is to have a 1,500-seat sanctuary connecting to FLC. Sapp’s ultimate goal is to encourage believers to elevate their level of worship and praise.
As a family man, Sapp believes praise and worship starts in the home he shares with his wife of 18 years, MaLinda and their three children Marvin II, Mikaila and Madisson.
Musing on his smash gospel hit from the Thirsty release, Never Would Have Made It, Sapp says, "The mind blowing thing about Thirsty is that I put it out without expectation. There was no way to predict that Never Would Have Made It would have the impact that it had."
Debuting at #2, Sapp’s newest record, Here I Am, is the highest debuting gospel release ever on Billboard’s Top 200 chart. The album also debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Gospel chart, R&B chart, Top Christian/Gospel chart and on the Christian/Gospel Digital Albums chart.
"With Here I Am, I’m just trying to keep the message as clear and concise as possible. Honestly, I was a little worried about how it would be received…but I did my very best. After that, you let God do the rest."
