Are Christian celebrities helping or hurting the Church? What are the dangers of platform, influence, and celebrity culture for pastors, Christian influencers, artists, and everyday believers?

In this episode of The Stoop Sessions, Joel Kurz, Stephanie Greer, and William "Duce" Branch (founding member of Cross Movement) tackle one of the most important conversations facing the church today: Christian celebrity culture.

Why do Christians gravitate toward celebrity pastors and influencers? How do public platforms shape our hearts? Can artists, content creators, and Christian leaders build influence without making themselves the center of attention? And what role should the local church play in keeping gifted believers grounded?

Drawing from decades of ministry and leadership in Christian hip-hop, Duce shares how the movement developed, why many prominent Christian artists and influencers have drifted from Christ-centered ministry, and what the church can learn from that history.

Together, the conversation explores the difference between ministry and industry, the temptation to build a personal brand, the importance of church membership and discipleship, and why the greatest platform any Christian can have is one that points people to Jesus—not themselves.

Whether you're a pastor, worship leader, Christian artist, influencer, content creator, or simply a believer trying to faithfully follow Christ in a platform-driven world, this conversation will challenge you to examine your heart, treasure the local church, and pursue a ministry that exalts Christ above self.

In this episode:

What defines Christian celebrity?

Why many Christian influencers and artists drift from the faith The rise of Christian hip-hop and what it teaches the church

Ministry vs. industry

The dangers of platform-building and personal branding Why the local church is God's plan for spiritual formation

How to use influence without becoming the message Making disciples instead of building followers

Featuring:

William "Duce" Branch — Pastor, speaker, and founding member of Cross Movement.

Joel Kurz — Lead Pastor of The Garden Church and Director of ONE HOPE.

Stephanie Greer — Staff Member at The Garden Church

🌱 Learn more about ONE HOPE: https://onehope.gives

🏡 Learn more about The Garden Church: https://thegardenbaltimore.com

❤️ Support the mission: https://onehope.gives/donate

If this conversation encouraged you, be sure to like, subscribe, and share with someone who is seeking to faithfully follow Jesus in a culture obsessed with platform and influence.

Christian Celebrity with William "Duce" Branch

ONE HOPE

Welcome back to The Stoop Sessions—where we gather for honest, down-to-earth conversations about ministry and the life of the church, straight from a Baltimore stoop.

In this episode, Joel Kurz sits down with Duce (William "Duce" Branch), founding member of the legendary Christian hip-hop group Cross Movement, to trace the remarkable story of how God used hip-hop to shape one of the most influential gospel ministries of the last three decades.

Duce shares his testimony of growing up under the faithful evangelistic ministry of his father, wrestling with the pull of hip-hop culture, running from home, and eventually being drawn back to Christ through the gospel. Along the way, he reflects on the rise of hip-hop in New York City, the influence of Black evangelical leaders, and how God used Bible college to deepen his theological convictions and prepare him for ministry.

Together, Joel and Duce explore the origins of Cross Movement—not simply as a rap group, but as an evangelistic ministry committed to proclaiming the gospel with theological depth. They discuss the unique challenges of engaging culture without compromising biblical truth, the tension between artistry and ministry, and why distinctly Christian hip-hop became a bridge between generations, introducing countless young people to sound doctrine and the beauty of the gospel.

Whether you grew up listening to Cross Movement or are simply interested in the intersection of theology, culture, and urban ministry, this conversation offers an encouraging look at God's providence in raising up faithful gospel witnesses in unexpected places.

Joel Kurz is the Lead Pastor at The Garden Church and Director of ONE HOPE.

William "Duce" Branch is a founding member of Cross Movement, a Bible teacher, speaker, and one of the pioneers of distinctly Christian hip-hop.

🌱 Learn more about ONE HOPE: onehope.gives

❤️ Support the show: onehope.gives/donate

CROSS Movement and Christian Hip Hop with William Duce Branch

ONE HOPE