After accepting the Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award, Gospel singer Kirk Franklin shared his faith before hundreds of Hollywood celebrities music artists gathered at the 2016 BET Awards Sunday night.
Flanked by his wife of 20 years, Tammy, Franklin took to the stage to accept his award, beating out Erica Campbell, Lecrae, Tasha Cobbs, Anthony Brown & Group Therapy, and Tamela Mann.
"I know these are very, very difficult days and we've had a lot of loss and a lot of hurt - and I want you to know that even when you feel like you've hit rock bottom, often you find that God is the rock at the bottom," he told the audience, according to The Christian Post. " ... I'm going to keep telling the world that I believe that Jesus is still the light of the world."
Following his big win, the entertainer took to Facebook to thank fans for their support of his "ministry" throughout his lengthy career.
He said in a video message: "I realize that, you know what I haven't done in a while? I haven't told the people that support my music - that support the ministry - I haven't told y'all 'thank you' in a long time. Right? This music would be nothing without you."
"I'm very grateful for the award tonight. I'm very proud of my brothers and sisters that were in the categories. Y'all put out great bodies of music. Support the music, right? Because it's good music."
Franklin added, "We want y'all to know we love y'all. Thank you for supporting us."
The Gospel legend released his 12th studio album, "Losing My Religion," after a nearly five-year hiatus. The album debuted at number 10 on the Billboard 200 and includes the chart-topping single, "Wanna Be Happy," which earned the singer his latest Grammy nomination for Best Gospel Song / Performance.
During a recent interview with The Gospel Herald, Franklin revealed that his latest album is a call to Christians to look beyond the doctrines of religion and focus on a deep and meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ.
"I believe that one of the reasons there is a decline in churches and why Millennials are no longer professing faith is because the doctrine and the dogma that we place on people when they come to faith is getting in the way of us pursuing a relationship with Jesus Christ," he said.
"Instead of allowing the love of God to compel people, we place too much emphasis on trying to control thinking and actions and developing discipline," he continued. "When people fall in love with Jesus and realize how much He is in love with them, that affects how we live and what we do and how we think. So, we begin to read the Word, not as a manual on how to be better, but as a book of love letters. In the spirit of that love, we become transformed...My hope for this album is simply that it inspires people to lose their religion and really pursue a relationship with Jesus Christ that can truly transform us from the outside in."
