Online student and Columbus Ohio-based rapper shares testimony through music

He looked down at the message on his phone as it vibrated. “The Lord said choose this day whom you will serve.” As he slowly read these words he was instantly gripped by the realization that the Creator of the universe desired his heart. There would be no going back to his life of substance abuse and gang association.

Gabriel Day grew up in Rome, N.Y. Despite having parents who were heavily involved in ministry, the easily influenced 15-year-old was swept away by the area’s prevalent gang population when he was a sophomore in high school.

The young teenager was exposed to drug addiction and gang-related deaths while roaming the streets of central New York.

“I was hanging out with convicted felons,” Day said. “Drug dealers and killers were my friends. I was struggling with addiction to alcohol, smoking weed every day, and even dealing drugs myself.”

Day quickly began to succeed in the eyes of his peers and his gang responsibilities were evidence of that. As the years began to pass, he became significantly depressed while his drug dealing income increased.

“I was making six figures a year selling drugs, but I was really suffering from heavy depression,” Day said. “I was in a very dark place.”

That was when he received the message of hope from his former pastor’s daughter reminding him to choose that very day who he was going to serve. Day went to his pastor’s home early the next morning and decided that he wanted Jesus to be the Lord of his life. He describes his conversion as being similar to Apostle Paul’s. After accepting Christ, the former drug dealer’s desire to honor the Lord transformed his heart and behavior in a radical way.

“When I became saved I had two immediate burdens,” Day said. “One was to make music and the other was to go to Bible college.”

A year and a half following his conversion, Day moved to Columbus, Ohio, and began intentionally pursuing both of his convictions. Four months into his new life with Christ, Day decided to begin researching online colleges so he could work toward obtaining a bachelor’s degree in biblical and theological studies. He chose Liberty University Online Programs.

“Liberty University Online has been one of the greatest components of my spiritual growth and maturing in the faith,” Day said. “It has provided a tremendous amount of context to Scripture that has helped me build as a believer.”

Day also began writing music while working to make a living any way he could. His latest album titled ‘church’ debuted on seven billboard charts and was on the first ballot for the 2020 Grammys. The New York native received two kingdom Image Awards as well as a community service recognition award this year.

Currently, the Christian rapper and ordained minister is employed at a warehouse while planning for tours to share the Gospel through his music. Day is additionally preparing to take on a more significant role with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

As Day prepares to graduate from Liberty Online this year, he will do so while attempting to juggle planning for his wedding and touring from April through the end of the summer.

Day gives a large amount of his time to serving in the community and tries to use his own music company, Last Trump LLC, to bring well-known recording artists to Columbus to perform alongside local artists.

“My life has really been centered around serving in the Columbus, Ohio, area,” Day said.

The New York native is thankful to Liberty University for assisting him as he pursues his dream of obtaining a college degree.