Rapid Fire
Clinton, Arkansas, United States
Music
Press
Rapid Fire Ministries with Rocky & Mandy Thomas
There is much to say about Rapid Fire Ministries. It’s really hard to know exactly where to begin and where to end but it all started in 1989 in Conway, Arkansas, when Rocky Thomas teamed up with two others to form a Christian music group. They would take popular songs and change the words to Christian songs. This group grew in to Freedom Force. Freedom Force went to over 80 schools and provided a drug free program. The first of these schools was in Leslie, Arkansas. This is where Rocky met Mandy Collins, who had a beautiful voice, and joined Freedom Force. Later on Freedom Force split up but Rocky and Mandy wanted to continue with ministry.
In 2000 Rapid Fire Ministries was formed and that same year Rocky and Mandy were married. It is said to be one of the most innovative and rounded ministries of today. Innovative in that it reaches the youth culture outside the walls of the church with their performance and message grounded in Jesus Christ.
Rocky, also known as T-Rock, is a Youth Pastor and Associate Pastor at Botkinburg Four Square Church and a Christian Rapper, and known to be on the cutting edge of a high energy ministry focused on the hip hop generation. He currently wrote a children’s book that include five short stories that were inspired by he and Mandy’s two year old son Blaze. He is also interpreting and recording the Hip Hop Bible. This audio version is being done with the books of the Bible set to music and the words in rap. Rocky says this version will reach kids that might not read the Word. Thomas Nelson Publishers is currently looking at this project.
Mandy has an amazing voice and sings country gospel and contemporary Christian music in her part of the ministry. She recently recorded a song in Nashville, Tennessee - ‘Oasis,’ which is scheduled to be released very soon. She and Rocky recorded their song ‘Country and Rap’ that combined the two styles of music. Mandy is very involved in the ministry and has a very important role. They are very proud of their son. According to Rocky, he is a miracle child. He survived some pretty serious health problems early on and is very healthy now. This little guy raps with dad, dances and is apparently going to have the talents of his parents. He already likes playing the drums, and has the rhythm for it. They say faith has been the key for them.
They have just released a new CD which is Rapid Fire: Tried By Fire: The Compilation. A copy of the CD may be purchased at The Good Book, in Clinton, Arkansas. They also performed at the Holy Hip Hop awards in Atlanta, Georgia. They have seen over 4,000 salvations in 4 years through their ministry!
Rapid Fire combines gospel rap, Holy Hip Hop, martial arts, drama and the Word of God, in order to reach this generation for Christ. Rocky says there are four facets of Rapid Fire Ministries (1) high energy concerts, (2) children’s crusades and events, (3) teach hip hop dance workshops to kids who want to go out and do their own ministry and (4) the drug free program. The drug free programs will be back in the schools this fall. Elementary, middle and junior high school will be the focus.
A group of five to seven members of a martial arts team do demonstrations, led by Rocky. They combine fighting, board breaking, and weapons in their presentation and share their message. For information about the demonstration or to have them perform contact Ayers Taekwondo at (501)745-8531 or Rocky Thomas at (501)745-3891.
For booking information or more information about Rapid Fire Ministries go to www.rapidfireministries.com.
- Alice Chambers
Discography
Rapid Fire:Unseen Force (Oct. 2008)
T-Rock "Rapid Fire"
Rapid Fire "Tried by Fire" The Compilation
Mandy Thomas "Cast Away"
G-Dub "This is how we roll"
Photos
Bio
Latest news: Rocky's Children's book is now available for purchase at http://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-60696-003-5 Rapid Fire song "Battlezone" featuring Flud Cavion has been picked by online voters to be on Holy Hip Hop: Taking the Gospel to the Streets: Vol. 5 distribute worlwide by EMI Gospel. Also, Mandy's song "Oasis" is at radio stations nation-wide right now. Also, look for Rapid Fire in July issue of CCM Magazine.
Biography
Rapid Fire Ministries is one of the most innovative & grounded ministries of today. Innovative in that it's platform and deliverance of the gospel message reaches beyond the walls of the church and into the youth culture as a whole. And grounded deeply in the gospel (Good News) message of the Love of God through Jesus Christ.
T-Rock, better known as Rocky Thomas-Youth Pastor, founder of Rapid Fire Ministries and Christian Rapper extraordinaire, is on the cutting edge, high energy ministry toward this hip-hop generation.
Mandy has the attention of the masses. As her beautiful voice sings chords of melody to the ears and the hearts of God's creation, it carries the SOLID ROCK message of the Cross and of our Savior.
T-Rock, with his talents as a 3rd Degree Black-Belt in Taekwondo, along with his wife Mandy, are making a real impact in youth ministry through their unique brand of performance ministry.
T-Rock and Mandy cover a wide variety of musical styles including hip-hop, southern gospel and contemporary. Rapid Fire Ministries implements a combination of martial arts, drama, hip-hop dance, rap, singing and preaching in presenting the Gospel message to youth and adults across the nation. Through the ministry of Rapid Fire T-Rock & Mandy tackle many of the tough issues that plague our nation's youth such as racism, drug abuse, peer rejection, premarital sex, STD's and more during their high-energy school programs.
T-Rock & Mandy's ministry of Rapid Fire reaches youth of all ages. For young children Rapid Fire conducts Children's Crusades which offers a puppet ministry which addresses moral issues & spiritual truths that are essential for proper decision making for young children. In grabbing the attention of older youth and teens, T-Rock, who also is a choreographer, facilitates "Hip-Hop Dance Camps" all over the nation where kids have received instruction not only in dance, but in street and peer ministering.
Available for your church, school, festival or any event T-Rock and Mandy look forward to working with you sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to your community.
Rapid Fire Achievements
• Performed with Christian/Drug-Free group "Freedom Force" 9yrs.
• Opened for Contemporary Christian artist Jaci Velasquez, Code of Ethics, Bleach, Supertones, Audio Adrenaline and Reality Check.
• Performed at State and National Pride Convention 2 yrs. in a row.
• Performed at Red Ribbon Week Kickoff in Little Rock, AR 4yrs. in a row for over 7,000 kids.
• Performed in over 80 schools with drug-free program
• Performed at "FUSION" statewide youth rally 2 yrs. in a row for over 4,000 youth.
• T-Rock made it to the final cut as a dancer for Carman's World Tour; auditions were held in LA, New York, Nashville and Branson.
• They have written 300+ songs and currently have a song on the Missionhouse Music Group compilation. Also, "Christmas Time" written by Rapid Fire and performed by Jim Murphy of Mission House Music and Rocky Thomas of Rapid Fire is in rotation at radio stations all over the country. See www.jimmurphyonline.com for more details.
Also, Rocky Thomas of Rapid Fire writes Children's Books as well as other projects sure to be valuable to ministry soon.
They have seen over 4,000 salvations in 4 years through their ministry.
For over 30 songs from Rapid Fire copy and paste this link:
http://www.soundclick.com/rapidfireministries
TO VIEW OUR VIDEO OF RAPID FIRE LIVE AT HOLY HIP HOP AWARDS IN ATLANTA, GA VISIT THE FOLLOWING SITE:
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=748789733&n=2
Thanks for visiting and God bless!!!
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