MACON, Ga. — A church on Houston Avenue is opening its doors this weekend for people to gather for an afternoon of music.
At the end of their "Bless the City 2" concert, they're hoping people leave feeling inspired. The gym at Heritage at Houston Church hosts events all the time, but organizers say this weekend's will be special.
"I grew up in the streets, and God saved me in my Ford Explorer," Choson Taylor said.
It was that moment that Taylor knew he had a calling.
"I was just trying to be Lil Wayne. And I was stressing. So, I began to write my thoughts on pen and pad. Long story short, God took that and gave me a genuine message of my lifestyle, and here I am today," Taylor said.
Now, he performs gospel rap, hoping to bring a message of love and unity to his audiences. He's one of several performers set to take the stage Saturday at the church.
"It's wholesome, it's good. It's lively, it's jumping. It's spot-on. It's everything that you can imagine that needs to happen with that kind of music," Ray Rover with the church's outreach ministry Street to Success said.
He says it's one of many events they host throughout the year to give young people in Macon positive options and strong role models.
"We do amateur boxing events. We have concerts here. We have sip and paints. We have all kinds of different activities for the kids," Rover said.
With this event, they're just hoping to give people an escape for the afternoon.
"It's going to be a time of refreshing also. Because they do slow it down. And they do have not just gospel rap that can reach a younger generation, but they do have gospel singers as well," Dexter Maxwell, Sr., the church's pastor, said.
They'll also have a family event before the concert, complete with a bounce house for children. Maxwell says anyone can come out to the free events, whether they're involved in the church or not.
The church, through Street to Success, also offers after-school programs, tutoring and a clothing store. Every Sunday morning, they offer free breakfast to anyone who needs a hot meal.