“Real people live with, you know, being Christians with cancer, Christians with AIDS, and Christians coming back home with limbs missing from war, and Christians being evicted, and Christians losing their homes. And if you don't paint that picture, too, then I think that you are misrepresenting what the faith really can look like.”

American gospel singer and record producer

Kirk Dewayne Franklin is an American gospel singer, rapper, songwriter, composer, record producer, and choir director. He is known for helping shape contemporary urban gospel and for leading groups such as the Family, God’s Property, and One Nation Crew (1NC) early in his career. Franklin has won 20 Grammy Awards, and Variety has described him as the “Reigning King of Urban Gospel.” He is also one of the inaugural inductees into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame. His work spans performance, writing, production, and choir leadership.