Nakia Merrill, founder of We Make Jesus Famous, felt called to create a social platform for people to show their talents.
What started as the Instagram account @wemakejesusfamous has evolved into a full-blown talent show at Kennesaw State. Merrill did not know that her project would grow as much as it did and that so many hands would want to join when she felt led to showcase these individuals.
In October 2017, Merrill began reaching out to fellow gifted performers, enlisting them to help “make Jesus famous” with their talents. Efforts became easy as more volunteers began lending a hand, and her dream began to manifest.
Merrill said everything came with ease because people were simply “called to help.”
“Once started, the ball just kept on rolling and nothing could stop it,” Merril said.
At 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 19 in the university rooms on the Kennesaw campus, Merrill’s dream will come to fruition. The Make Jesus Famous talent show will have singing, spoken word, rap, dancing, poetry and other acts from 12 different performers.
Merrill has also partnered with representatives of Worship With Wonders Church, The Living Room and the Bridge Kickback to speak to students in attendance.
Merrill and Jaye Newton will be hosting the show, and its objective is to demonstrate the authenticity of a relationship with Christ and teach performers that they do not have to dilute themselves or undermine their talent to have a relationship with him.
Upon speaking to some of the performers of the talent show, their purpose for performing became just as apparent.
Shakira Bell, a dancer, said, “my dance is about my own struggle in my relationship with Jesus.”
Olivia Raines, a speaker, wants people to walk in one way and leave another while embracing their own struggles.
“This is not like an average church service. This show is interactive. You will have an experience. You can get the hype,” Raines said.
Teddy the Poet said he was excited to share his work at the talent show. Although he has performed before, and all his work references God in some capacity, he recognizes that this performance is for the fame of Jesus rather than his own poetry.
Merrill, alongside 12 gifted performers, hope the show coveys that making Jesus famous does not have to be a mystical experience — it can resonate with everything that you do.
