Kanye West finally releases gospel album 'Jesus is King'

Kanye West has been focused on his Sunday Services project for much of 2019 (Photo: YouTube/Kanye West Specials)

Kanye West has finally released his long-awaited gospel album, Jesus is King with a companion 35-minute documentary by the same name rolling out to IMAX cinemas.

West, who has spent much of 2019 focusing on Christian projects, thanked his fans for being "loyal and patient" on Twitter. 

The album had been expected much sooner after his wife Kim Kardashian teased an apparent track list to her Instagram with the date September 27. 

When that date came and went, the album's release was anticipated again at the end of October but instead, there was only a listening party for close friends and industry insiders.

West said the delays were because he and his team were "specifically fixing mixes" on three tracks, "Everything We Need", "Follow God" and "Water".

"We not going to sleep until this album is out!" he wrote. 

Jesus is King is West's ninth studio album. The tracks have Christian themes and one, "Closed on Sunday", is a homage to Chick-fil-A, a Christian-owned fast food chain that does not open on Sundays in order to give staff time to rest and spend with their families. 

In that particular track, West praises the chain for its stand: 

Closed on Sunday, you my Chick-fil-A Hold the selfies, put the 'Gram away Get your family, y'all hold hands and pray When you got daughters, always keep 'em safe Watch out for vipers, don't let them indoctrinate Closed on Sunday, you my Chick-fil-A

The release of his gospel album follows the launch of his Sunday Services earlier this year, initially a music project focused on worship and praise that has gradually evolved to include preaching and sermons

West himself has sometimes preached to the congregation. 

At a free open air service in Salt Lake City earlier this month, West told the thousands who gathered to flee the devil. 

"Tell the devil your time is up!" he said. 

News
Wildwood Kin’s Meg Loney on how a 24/7 prayer meeting brought her back from the brink 
Wildwood Kin’s Meg Loney on how a 24/7 prayer meeting brought her back from the brink 

Meg Loney went from the depths of drug addiction to being a follower of Christ bringing hope and healing to others with her music.

How going to prison for a crime I didn’t commit changed my life – for the better
How going to prison for a crime I didn’t commit changed my life – for the better

In 2008, Wilson Femayi was wrongly convicted and sent to prison for a crime he didn’t commit. He had just graduated from Bible college. His arrest — the result of a personal vendetta — was a devastating moment. But even in that dark place, God was at work. Today, Wilson is the Executive Director of Prison Fellowship Zimbabwe, leading programmes that are restoring prisoners and reuniting families across the country.

Christians in Africa face worsening violence, report finds
Christians in Africa face worsening violence, report finds

A new report from International Christian Concern (ICC) has revealed a disturbing rise in violence against Christians across parts of Africa, with Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Kenya experiencing a surge in attacks, abductions, massacres and forced displacements.

Nicaragua crackdown on Christianity deepens amid political power grab
Nicaragua crackdown on Christianity deepens amid political power grab

A new policy brief released by Open Doors has exposed as a systematic campaign of repression against Christian communities in Nicaragua.