*“My wife and I played a major role in our community…on the board of different organizations,” said 24-time Stellar Award winner Marvin Sapp (“Never Would Have Made It”) about his late wife, Dr. MaLinda Prince-Sapp, who recently had a street named in her honor. “They asked…would I be interested. I went, ‘This is huge!’ So, they went before the City Council…and it was voted in.”
The street, part of Madison Avenue, that is named after Dr. MaLinda P. Sapp, is on the corner of the church she founded with Marvin Sapp 22 years ago in Grand Rapids – Lighthouse Full Life Center. That portion of Madison Avenue was dedicated and renamed Dr. MaLinda P. Sapp Way. It has been 15 years since she passed away.
Since then, Sapp has gone from being a pastor to being an ordained Bishop. He was ordained as a bishop in 2015 in Florida by the Global United Fellowship. Bishop Marvin Sapp currently leads The Chosen Vessel Cathedral, which he founded six years ago in Ft Worth, Texas. He has also grown in fame since MaLinda was with us. Sapp’s The Chosen Vessel Cathedral is recognized as the first African-American Apostolic Church in Fort Worth.
“Our grands…were there. They are her (MaLinda) namesakes. My granddaughter is 10 months old. She is MaLinda, and my grandson is named Prince (MaLinda’s maiden name),” Marvin said.
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Dr. MaLinda was a professor in psychology at Grand Rapids Community College and the founding principal of Grand Rapids Ellington for the Arts and Technology. Another hat that she wore was that of Administrative Pastor of Lighthouse Full Life Center. The church remains an important part of the local community, led by Pastor RJ Marshall and his wife, First Lady Kristan Marshall. The Dr. MaLinda P. Sapp Legacy Award was established to honor individuals and organizations for their achievements in promoting diversity, and the award is presented at the Grand Rapids Symphony Celebration of Soul event, where she served as co-chair.
“I’ve been extremely blessed. My name is across genres…but she worked just as hard,” the three-time Dove Award winner continued about his late wife. “It’s (his fame) an amazing thing…I am so very appreciative.”
Marvin Sapp recently performed at the One Music Festival in Atlanta, alongside a lineup that included Ludacris, Doechii, The Roots, and Mary J. Blige.
“I was the only Gospel artist at that event,” Sapp, a two-time BET Award winner, told me when I talked about him being in the lineup with R&B and Hip-Hop artists. “The audience was out there singing my music!”
“The reason why my music works outside of the church is because I keep it churchy and funky all at the same time. I’m about conviction,” Marvin continued.
“I want to be convincing…have a strong conviction in the Gospel. It’s more than a song to me,” said the two-time Soul Train Award winner as I continued to question him about his vocal style.
Bishop Marvin Sapp Didn’t Come To Houston, TX To Play With Us! Most Def Left No Crumbs On Stage. You Are God Alone! SING!!! ???♂️??♂️??♂️♥️♥️♥️?? pic.twitter.com/Qygx7ryqQX
— Brandon J (@BrandonJSings) November 18, 2025
I asked him why he is releasing a new album, and he said, “It’s always time for great music. I felt it was the perfect time to record. I start writing when I’m motivated. I then get with the producer.”
“It’s an outreach effort (the new album release event). We want to make an impact on 1,000 children (for the holiday). The music (on the album) is hot,” Marvin Sapp said when we talked about his album’s November 13, 2025 release event held at his church in Fort Worth to celebrate the new project titled “Right at His Feet.”
Marvin Sapp said to get into the event, you had to bring toys for children.
“I do the best I can,” he said sincerely as we ended our talk. www.MarvinSapp.com www.TheChosenVessel.org www.LightHouseGR.org
SYNDICATED COLUMN: Dr. Eunice Moseley has an estimated weekly readership of over one million with The Pulse of Entertainment. She is also a Business Management/Public Relations Strategist and Consultant at Freelance Associates and is Promotions Director (at-large) for The Baltimore Times. www.ThePulseofEntertainment.com. EVENTS: “Uplifting Minds II” Entertainment Conference (ULMII), founded by Eunice in 1999, is in its 26th year. Next events are coming to Baltimore via Zoom Saturday April 19, 2025, presented by Security Square Mall and The Baltimore Times, and Los Angeles via Zoom Saturday, November 8, 2025. The ULMII event is a free entertainment conference offering a Professional Panel Q&A Session, a Professional Talent Showcase and National Talent Competition (vocal, songwriting, dance and acting) where aspiring artists have a chance to receive over $20,000 valued in prizes/product/services. Log onto www.UpliftingMinds2.com RSVP for Zoom Access at EventBrite.com or email [email protected].
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