He recently received a Doctor of Divinity degree; a 2002 GRAMMY® Nomination for “The Commissioned Reunion Live;“ 1999 Dove and Stellar Award nominations, as well as 1998 GRAMMY® and Soul Train Award nominations for
“Grace & Mercy;” a 1998 Dove and Stellar Award nomination for “Marvin Sapp;” 1994 and 1992 GRAMMY® Award nominations for “Contemporary Gospel Artist of the Year” (with Commissioned); a 1998 Gold Certification Award for “WOW Gospel 98” achieving RIAA Gold sales status, which included the song “Not the Time, Not the Place;” a 1999 Giants Award, from the city of Grand Rapids, Michigan for his contributions to the community; and a 1999 Frederick Douglas Award, 
bestowed by the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club, Inc. for his philanthropic involvement. And if those accolades were not enough, He and his wife MaLinda have recently purchased and renovated a 5,000 square foot building in Grand Rapids, Michigan, earmarking the structure as the headquarters for their neighborhood outreach, Praise Place Ministries. So when Paul Christensen and his wife Donna Christensen were asked to produce Marvin Sapp’s next long form video, they jumped at the chance.
The signing of Marvin Sapp to Verity Records last year set the stage for something new and exciting in Gospel music. Dr. Sapp, one of Gospel’s most talented vocalists, is poised to 
release a new live CD and Video with this project. Having a solid fan base, from his days with Commissioned as well as from his four previous releases, Sapp continues to garner support and earn accolades. He is a seasoned veteran who is considered by many to be a “singer’s singer and a preacher’s preacher.” Introduced to the Gospel community by music great Fred Hammond, Sapp spent six years with the multi award-winning group Commissioned. He has since established
himself as a contemporary Gospel workhorse in his own right. “I am not a singer who happens to preach,” he said. “I am a preacher – called by God – who happens to sing.” The talented vocalist and song writer recently performed an historic concert at the Grand Rapids based DeVos Center for Arts and Worship… and Omega Productions’ award winning team was on hand to capture all the action. Performing before a crowd of more than 1,200 in the state of the art venue, Sapp was backed by
a 30 person choir and ensemble, as well as a hand picked group of musicians fronted by well-known record producer, Kevin Bond. The evening’s high energy performances were accented by solid, uplifting numbers… well-crafted songs composed and delivered by Sapp and those who joined him on stage. It was a memorable evening as praise was offered up among vibrant splashes of color delivered by a magnificent state-of-the-art computerized lighting system designed by Grand Rapids based Odyssey Lighting.
Verity Record’s Chief of A & R, Joseph Burney, served as Executive Producer. Kevin Bond, Bonded Music, and Sapp produced the live recording and CD. The fabulous look of the stage and resulting video was created by the talented Lighting Designer, Miyagi with Odyssey Lighting. MaLinda Sapp served as Assistant Producer for the project as part of the Sapp Management Team.
Omega’s Ruthel Flunder assisted the Christensens with talent and logistics. Don Moore, who has directed many of Omega’s award winning videos, served as Director. Sel Warren, Omega’s Project Video
Engineer, provided the final color palette and look of the show as he applied his magic to the shots. Rounding out Omega’s talented crew were Mike Filippi on Hand Held Camera, Don Warren on Jimmy Jib and Steve Cobb and local shooter Mike Mishler on fixed camera. Diane Lobbestael, Director of the DeVos Center for Arts and Worship assisted with scores of details, as did DeVos Center Technical Director, Christopher Cook, both efforts insuring the 
success of the project. In addition, a number of Grand Rapids Christian School students assisted with the production in the areas of Assistant Camera, Tape, Lighting and Assistant Director. A big thanks goes out to Mark Haines, John O’Brock, Rob Lantz, and Nate Barands, who all served in critical positions during the shoot. In addition, Gordon DekoekKoek, who teaches shop and theater set construction at Grand Rapids Christian School was also responsible for the construction of jib and camera platforms, which were critical to the success of the outing.
Mobile Production Services (MPS), Cleveland, Ohio provided Unit 2, a 52 foot remote
video facility to originate the video, with the assistance of EIC Robert Smith. Remote Recording Facilities were provided by Chicago based Metro Mobile. Metro Mobile’s Timothy Powell engineered the live CD and soundtrack, assisted by Michael Ways. Corporate Sound, Inc., Grand Rapids served as Sound Reinforcement vendor, with Michael Faber handling Monitor Engineer duties. Michael Williams, Heavenly Beats Productions, Detroit, mixed the concert sound at the Front of House position. Other local companies which assisted as vendors were Cummins Bridgeway LLC, providing generators, Digital Video Services providing video tape and Eastern Floral and Gift providing greenery for the stage. Bexel, Dallas, provided wide angle lenses.
Having the opportunity to produce this project at the DeVos Center was a great blessing. Diane Lobbestael, Director of the DeVos Center, Technical Director, Christopher Cook and Gordon DekoekKoek, Shop and Theater Set Construction Instructor provided the leadership and assistance so vital to the success of the shoot.
The Long Form Video will be edited by Nashville based, Perry Trest, POST DIGITAL, Inc., in Trest’s AVID post suite . The Long Form Video, DVD and Live CD are slated for a summer 2003 release.
