Pastor Cynthia Forde hadn’t given any thought to using rap as a means of reaching people. However, one day the idea took root and resulted in her creating a rap Christian song.
“I was listening to my son-in-law, Lo-Boy and my nephew, Fatty Dukes rapping. I saw how they rapped and I told them that I could do that if they were to ask me a question. I said the Lord would give me the words and it would be a hit,” Pastor Forde said.
It didn’t happen right away, but Pastor Forde didn’t abandon the idea. Then one day her son-in-law said he would do it. On March 27th, the two got together and the song, “Thank You” was born.
“I got on the microphone and just started talking. It took 5 minutes to do.”
They finished the tape and released the song on itunes. Pastor Forde said it started at 370 on the hip-hop charts and went on to become #18 on the gospel charts. Now, the song is getting airtime all over the world.
Pastor Forde then completed the video and her fan base began to grow rapidly. She went to Los Angeles to film part of the video. Tampa was also one of the locations where the filming took place.
She credits Tampa native Jet Set Hudson with directing her to a man to complete the video.
“God took a song and changed things right before Easter. I’m just amazed. The song tells about who Jesus is and it gave a brand new meaning to his life. He (Jesus) took a whipping for us.”
Pastor Forde said she hopes to go on tour and attend the BET and Hip Hop Awards shows next year.
A Tampa native, Pastor Forde became a minister in 1995. Formerly of Zion Church of Holiness, she graduated from Plant High School. Pastor Forde is the daughter of the late Tommie and Mable Ball, and is a product of Central Park Village.
She is married to Elmore Forde, the mother of 4 children and the grandmother of 14.
Pastor Forde said her role is to let people see Jesus as a way of life. She describes herself as a walking, talking, breathing church. “My whole purpose is helping people and letting them know they can get a new life and only God can do it. There is nothing done God can’t fix and nothing He can’t change.”
City Editor Iris B. Holton can be contacted at (813) 248-1921; or emailed at iholton@flsentinel.com.
