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Gospel rapper T-Bone has long said that his music is not meant to entertain or to sell records but to win souls for God. After over 12 years and five albums, the self-professed "street preacha" is expanding his pulpit to include feature films.

T-Bone, who is Christian rap's top-selling solo artist, says he saw God's hand lead him to a role in the new Paramount/MTV Films production The Fighting Temptations so he could minister to the film's cast.

The movie, which opens in theaters on September 19, follows an ad executive, Cuba Gooding, Jr., who inherits a fortune but has to build a successful gospel choir in order to claim it. The cast includes Destiny's Child singer Beyoncé Knowles, Rue McClanahan (of Golden Girls sitcom fame), and secular rapper Lil' Zane.

T-Bone's role in the film, as a prisoner who joins the singing group, was written for mainstream rap star Nelly, who passed on the film because of scheduling conflicts. The part was then offered to several other rappers with acting credentials, including LL Cool J and Busta Rhymes.

Rhymes tried to audition for the part, T-Bone says, but was refused entry to the film lot for two hours because he wasn't carrying any ID. Eventually, Rhymes got fed up and flew home to New York without auditioning. "That is all God," T-Bone says. "I feel like God was saying, 'You can't have this part. This is for T-Bone.'"

T-Bone was suggested for the part by two producers he met when recording a duet with Grammy-winning gospel singer Yolanda Adams for her 2001 album, Believe. When T-Bone auditioned, one of the casting directors turned out to be a fan of the duet and of T-Bone's popular TBN music show, Real Videos. Less than a week later, he was hired.

"It's totally been God and he gets all the glory," T-Bone says. "I'll tell you why God gave me this part: He knows I don't get impressed by celebrities or get star-struck. God knew that I don't care who you are; I'm going to tell you about the gospel. I was there for ministry."

T-Bone said that for the three months he was on the Fighting Temptations set, the cast grew into a family and he saw God work among them. "I was able to pray with Cuba Gooding almost every day. I was able to pray with Beyoncé Knowles and Rue McClanahan," he says. "I was able to lead Lil' Zane to the Lord. It's incredible to see what God has done and will do through this movie."

A Christian Reader original article. Todd Hertz is online assistant editor of Christianity Today.

Copyright © 2003 by the author or Christianity Today International/Today's Christian magazine (formerly Christian Reader).
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