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By Peter Biggs
FRESH I.E., the first Canadian hip-hop artist to be nominated for a Grammy for Rock Gospel, is often portrayed by the secular media as a 'gangsta gone good'. But the 35-year-old Fresh -- whose real name is Rob Wilson -- is motivated by more than just a desire for personal transformation.
Fresh has a heart for Christian ministry to Aboriginal youth -- and one key reason for this is that his wife Sheila is Cree, from Oxford House in northern Manitoba.
"I grew up in Winnipeg's rough North End, around a lot of Aboriginal youth," he tells CC.com, and he says he feels a deep sense of prophetic calling to Aboriginal people. Last year he released an album, The Warren Project, to address the high rate of suicide among Aboriginal young people.
Over the past five years, Fresh has gone to more than 200 reserves across Canada. When visiting a reserve, he usually stays for at least two days, along with a team of young disciples. He first meets with the chiefs and then goes into local high schools. "We have never been refused access to schools," he says.
In the evening of the first night, he holds a concert and commonly sees between 200 and 300 people of all ages attend. Using recorded backing tracks, he weaves his tunes with testimony -- and ends with an altar call. "In 2007, we saw nearly 2,500 people make decisions," he says.
Burnell Stevenson, a leader on the Peguis First Nations reserve -- the largest in Manitoba, situated two hours north of Winnipeg -- says Fresh I.E. has been there three or four times. "No matter how rough it looks, how messed up things seem, he always 'speaks life' into situations," says Stevenson. "He's got a 'nothing's too hard' attitude, and really inspires people who've never been in church before. Even drug users have been very affected."
Although greatly gifted, and acclaimed by the music industry, Fresh is not merely a performer. "The music is a tool," he says. "I mean, I'm thankful for all the nominations and accolades; but I know that God's calling on my life is bigger than entertainment and all that. I never want to forget my calling, as an example of God's grace in a life."
After the main concert, Fresh lingers in the community, sometimes organizing a hockey tournament for the youth. He says he simply wants to spend time with the people, and is almost always honoured by them. "The community often has a big feast for us, and we're given gifts," he says, adding: "I've got quite a lot of native art in my home!"
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Asked what has touched his heart most by this remarkable ministry, he responds with a story.
"In Burns Lake last year, I was warned about a 19-year-old who had murdered someone at age 12," says Fresh. "He has mental problems and is very violent. Well I met him -- and felt this great love. In the concert, he was in the front row -- and by the end, he was weeping. He even came up and sang with me!
"The greatest thing is to see the kids happy in a community where, for instance, the majority of young girls have been raped or abused. To see them smile and jump and have a good time is a miracle."
Fresh also talks about an experience he had in Regina.
"Last summer we went right into the 'hood,' where gangs hang out," he recalls. "Well the Spirit started to move and I began to speak: 'You weren't born to deal drugs! You weren't born to be gang members!' I didn't know that 80 percent of the people there were gang members!
"A guy comes up to me and says, 'Someone wants to meet you - outside.' It turned out to be one of the city's major drug dealers. Talking about my talk, he told me: 'I've never seen anything like what you were preaching to them about gang life; and also, you know, your [black and white] clothing is the rival gang's colours!' They all listened, and some made decisions that night!"
With so many people making decisions to follow Christ, Fresh is concerned about follow-up in some places where there may not be a strong church. "We are working on an interactive website that can act as a kind of virtual church if there is none in their community," he says.
The rapper and his wife attend Waves of Glory Full Gospel Chapel, where Fresh serves as youth pastor.
"Rob is very down to earth and grounded," says Marshall Zacharias, who produces Fresh's albums through Avante Records. "He has his own studio in the church and uses it to mentor 12- to 17-year-old kids in his youth group. He also teaches the 50 or so kids in the church every week."
Asked a few years ago why he stays in Winnipeg, when he could move to Los Angeles for success, Fresh responded: "It's beyond fame and fortune. I can easily go to LA; but I know I am meant to be in Winnipeg to help my community. I have a strong desire to help those in the struggle. Success for me is to have my family happy -- and those around me, too."
Fresh I.E. is scheduled to release a new CD, Lockjaw, February 18.
January 31/2008
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Please let Fresh know he is needed at least for a visit to Miami (South Beach area).
Pastor Clay and Ty Shiver are
working to reach the people there.
tyshiver@gmail.com
Donna Coleman
donna.coleman@verizon.net
Bless you,
Donna
Palau
Great to see you are still on the Way of Holiness. We met in winnipeg when you were starting to write. I helped you with formatting and printing cards and flyers for your gigs. I never did record anything out of your basement studio then. I met your wife first, sorry
I forgot her name. I met her before I met you. She had the store in St. Boniface then. How are the kids?
Sharon
Wounded Warriors
Brokenness and a place of "Humbleness" Jesus keep us there