A near-capacity crowd heard compelling stories and testimonies yesterday from contemporary, rap/hip-hop and Southern gospel artists during an event sponsored by the Gospel Music Association (GMA).

Hosted by wise-cracking Mark Schultz. the Heart of the Artist Luncheon featured performances by contemporary musicians Audrey Assad, Sanctus Real and Matthew West as well as Candy Christmas and rapper Willie "P-Dub" Moore.

West shared about how he spent two months in a Tennessee cabin reading thousands of letters and e-mails sent by fans and strangers, which led him to write songs for his latest album, The Story of Your Life, to be released Oct. 5 by Sparrow Records.

"God opened my eyes to see the world outside my door," he said. "There were times before I would go on stage and I would hear a voice that said, ‘You're just preaching to the choir.' ... After reading stories of broken hearts, I began to see people in a different way. ... This experience changed me."

Then in a lively segment in which Moore, who referred to himself as P-Dub, started by asking the crowd to stand and sing a rap version of Rich Mullins' "Awesome God," shared how he had a rap album with Universal Records in Los Angeles, but then God "called" him to an evangelistic, hip-hop ministry. He also encouraged retailers to support his first Christian rap album, The Turning Point, to be released in September by EMI Gospel.

"We're definitely going to loosen up here in the Lord," exclaimed P-Dub, a native of St. Louis who wore a St. Louis Cardinals cap and a tight black T-shirt that said, "You're Young, Fry and Saved." He then again asked the crowd to stand as he sang a rap song, while performing some dance moves on stage. "If you're 150 and younger, you're young, fry and saved," P-Dub said.

Barb Eaton, assistant manager of Trinity Christian Gifts & Books in Richmond, Ind., said the rapper was "amazing." "I was blown away by his passion for Christ, and his message of being who Christ called me to be," said Eaton, a first-time ICRS attendee who came with the store's owner, Marcie Chamness. "I will enjoy his CD. His performance has my eyes to this sound."

Kymburly Odell, gift buyer of The Master's-A Parable Christian Store in Clovis, N.M., said she was grateful to CBA and GMA "for giving us a glimpse of what it takes (for artists) to write songs." Odell added that she appreciated West "for being so transparent and allowing God to use him."

Tina Beyer, co-owner of Skia Christian store in Bentonville, Ark., said hearing the artists' stories "got me excited to get their albums." Her husband, Bill Beyer, added: "Anytime we can tell the story behind the album, they sell better. We feel more connected to it."

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