Just a month and a day after the memorial service of his wife MaLinda Sapp, Grand Rapids Pastor and gospel music artist Marvin Sapp was back in the pulpit Sunday, addressing his congregation at Lighthouse Full Life Center Church on Burton Avenue SE.
“I’m not saying it’s been easy. … It’s been very difficult for me and for my family as a whole,” Sapp, 43, told more than 250 worshipers at the church’s 11 a.m. service.
“But I do realize the Bible is right: keep holding us up in prayer.”
MaLinda Prince Sapp died Sept. 9 following an 18-month struggle with cancer, leaving Sapp and their three children, Marvin II, 16; Milaila, 13; and Madisson, 11.
She had been a counselor and college instructor, and was serving as administrative pastor at the church, as well as manager of her husband’s successful gospel music career.
Nevertheless, Sapp said MaLinda had prepared well for the transition, and her legacy and their shared vision will continue.
“Her mentality was to ‘keep it moving,'” recalled Sapp of a phrase often spoken at her memorial service last month.
“She brought our whole leadership team to the house when she was (bedridden), and poured into them things they needed to know to keep things moving,” said Sapp, 43, during a post-worship interview.
“We have a well-trained staff and leaders and are confident in their abilities.”
MaLinda’s church responsibilities have been delegated among current staff.
“She took care of things to make sure the transition would be smooth – there have been no major hiccups,” said the pastor.
David Foster, 40, is a deacon at the Lighthouse Church. He said MaLinda had been close to so many church members, the loss felt like losing a family member.
“I remember when she said once that whatever she poured into us, we have to take that and use it – the ministry has to go on,” he said.
“That’s why she always said to keep it moving. And we realize that as church members we have to step up.”
MaLinda Sapp had been an advocate of the developing Grand Rapids Ellington Academy of Arts & Technology (GREAAT), an inner-city arts academy which already began as an after-school program but is envisioned as a day school.
Memorial gifts following her death were dedicated to the nonprofit organization, which is separate from the church.
“We will be announcing soon a capital campaign to build a performing arts-education center,” said Marvin Sapp, who mentioned there are some partnerships at the table “that shall remain nameless right now.”
Sapp said the performing arts portion of the facility, currently in concept drawings, will be named in MaLinda’s honor.
Meanwhile, Sapp has resumed some of the musical commitments he had put on hold after his wife’s death. He has rejoined the nationwide “How Sweet the Sound” gospel choir competition, for which he is a performing judge. He also is doing more than a dozen church-based dates for the American Heart Association promoting stroke-awareness and prevention in the African-American Community.
But Sapp added he will be spending more time on the home front, despite his award-winning recording-performing career. His last two albums have each generated top gospel hits and have sold a million copies between them.
“Formerly, I was gone 20 days a month, but in 2011 it will be more like 10,” said Sapp, as he puts more focus on family and in working toward the academy project.
“Without question she is missed, and I can say honestly say there are times I am very lonely. But I have my kids who keep me laughing, and there have been tens of thousands of people who have Facebooked or Twittered with words of support that have been an unbelievable blessing.”
source: The Belle Report – Sheila Belle
