From Rocketown to the Museum of Christian & Gospel Music: A Week of Faith, Fellowship, and Divine Timing, Nashville, Tennessee
Article by Dr. Robert “Battle Ax” Ornelas, Staff Journalist, IPA Magazine Travel
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE — The first week of October 2025 was filled with faith, music, and divine encounters. On Friday, October 3, I stepped off the stage at Rocketown after sharing my bilingual hip-hop and worship set, West Coast Latin Worship, for the opening night of The Objective 2025 — a gathering of artists, ministers, and creative leaders from around the world united through purpose and praise.
The atmosphere was filled with genuine worship and connection. It felt less like a concert and more like a gathering of hearts — people from every background joining together to lift one sound of hope and unity from California to the heart of Tennessee.
Backstage that night, I received a message from one of our editors at IPA Magazine Travel inviting me to visit the newly opened Museum of Christian & Gospel Music. The museum had just celebrated its grand opening a few days earlier, introduced by Amy Grant, whose grace and legacy in Christian music made the moment historic. Though I missed the opening ceremony, I felt led to experience it before leaving Nashville.
On Monday, October 6, only hours before flying to the United Kingdom for The Objective UK, I made my way to the museum — not realizing how meaningful that visit would become. Inside, every wall told a story of how faith shaped music and how music, in turn, shaped faith.
The first display I saw, honored the Fisk Jubilee Singers, whose 1871 spirituals opened the world’s ears to gospel. From there, the journey moved through Thomas A. Dorsey, Mahalia Jackson, and the touring quartets who carried their message from one revival tent to another. Each exhibit felt alive, echoing the same heartbeat I had felt days earlier at Rocketown — worship uniting generations.
Panels highlighted the evolution of gospel and contemporary Christian music: from BeBe & CeCe Winans, Donnie McClurkin, and Mary Mary to modern worship leaders like Maverick City Music and Elevation Worship. In another corner, the CCM Hits Its Stride exhibit featured artists who brought faith into arenas — dc Talk, Steven Curtis Chapman, Stryper, and Skillet — each proving that the gospel could move just as powerfully through amplifiers as through choirs.
Vintage vinyl records and posters lined the walls — Amy Grant’s Heart in Motion, Al Green’s Precious Lord, The Nelon Singers, and Commissioned. The displays connected past and present, reminding me that faith and creativity have always walked hand in hand.
I stopped at a section titled One World, One God featuring a One Fest ’97 poster with Grits, Kingdom Boyz, and I.D.O.L. King — a powerful moment for me personally. Seeing the roots of Christian hip-hop represented in the same museum as Mahalia Jackson and Thomas Dorsey reminded me that gospel has no boundaries. As frontman of The S.O.G. Crew, I felt the weight of that legacy — a testimony of how our bilingual hip-hop ministry continues the same mission in a modern rhythm.
From the powerful voices of CeCe Winans and Shirley Caesar to the country-gospel intersection of Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, and Elvis Presley, the museum celebrates how faith transcends style. Each display, from gospel choirs to rock bands, stood as proof that God’s message moves through every sound.
As we neared the end of our visit, in a moment of divine timing, we met Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife inside the museum. We had just come from The Objective Nashville, where artists from around the world gathered to worship and build community through music. Meeting Steven felt like a continuation of that same spirit of unity. We exchanged greetings and shared about The S.O.G. Crew, our ministry, and the purpose behind our travels. His kindness and encouragement were a reminder that ministry truly never ends — it simply moves from one encounter to the next.
From the energy of worship at Rocketown to the peace and reflection of the museum, that week in Nashville reminded me that music is more than performance — it’s testimony. It’s the sound of faith echoing through generations.
As I boarded my flight to Manchester later that evening, I carried with me the rhythm of Nashville — the unity of believers, the legacy of gospel music, and the quiet assurance that God’s timing is always perfect.
About Dr. Robert “Battle Ax” Ornelas
Dr. Robert “Battle Ax” Ornelas is an artist, community leader, and staff journalist for IPA Magazine Travel. As frontman of The S.O.G. Crew (Sons of God Movement) under Thump Records / Universal Music Group, he bridges faith and culture through bilingual hip-hop and urban worship.
He also serves as an Ambassador and administrator for the Texas Band of Yaqui Indians, working with leaders across North America and the United Nations to promote Indigenous rights, cultural diplomacy, and environmental awareness.
A lifelong advocate for youth, recovery, and unity, Dr. Ornelas continues to use his music and message to bring hope and healing to communities around the world.