Earl Simmons, also known as DMX, is a hip hop recording artist and actor from Yonkers, New York. In 1999, DMX released his best-selling album ...And Then There Was X, which included the hit single "Party Up (Up in Here)" Now, Simmons has decided has decided to become a pastor.

Despite DMX's multiple arrests which included resisting arrest, animal cruelty reckless driving, unlicensed driving, drug possession, and identity falsification, the rapper believes that God has turned his life around. Now, he is reading his Bible every day. While in prison, DMX stated that he had a purpose for being there: "I came here to meet somebody...Don't know who it was, but I'll know when I see him. And I came here to give him a message. And that message is Jesus loves them."

DMX is currently a transitional deacon in the Christian Church and aspires to become ordained as a pastor, stating that he received this call in 2012.

"That's where I can't give you an answer-will I have more influence as a pastor or a rap artist?" DMX previously said in a radio interview. "But I do believe that God allowed my music career to create the platform to lay the foundation to gain the ear, to gain the credibility, so that way when I do become a pastor, I don't think I'm going to lose fans, I think I'm going to gain more."



That was just over month ago. Now he's preaching.



"I say miracles only happen on the platform of tragedy. If there's not a difficult situation, if there's not a situation where you can't see you possibly getting through on your own then where's the potential for the miracle?

"If it wasn't that difficult than it would be just another situation that you got through with a little bit of time, but because it was something bigger than you, something that you know took more than you to get you through; It's not that God made these things happen but what I'm saying is that He allowed those things to happen, just so you know what He's willing to do for you."

Tags : DMX DMX NEWS DMX PREACHER DMX pastor earl simmons