Joel Osteen Appears in Controversial Rapper Slim Thug's 'Chuuch'

Slim Thug, a controversial Houston-based rapper who has collaborated with multi-platinum artists such as Beyoncé and Pharrell, includes pastor Joel Osteen in his latest album Hogg Life Volume 2: Still Surviving.

The song, "Chuuch," credits the megachurch pastor as a featured artist, and begins with Osteen preaching about the company we keep.

"I want to talk to you today about the right people," says Osteen in the beginning of the song. "Who you spend your time with will have a great impact on what kind of life you live. There are people God has already ordained to come across our path to help us fulfill our destiny. People that inspire us, challenge us make us better."

The soundbite lasts for around a minute before Slim Thug begins rapping. Other parts of the sermon are sprinkled throughout the rest of the song.

Slim Thug rose to fame in the hip-hop world in 2005 with his debut album Already Platinum, which was produced by Pharrell's The Neptunes. The rapper also appeared on Beyonce's 2005 hit "Check on It," which was featured on Destiny's Child's greatest hits album #1s.

Rappers often sample speeches for their songs, sometimes controversially.

Atlanta rapper Young Jeezy used excerpts from a T.D. Jakes sermon for his song "Holy Ghost Remix" last year.  Jakes did not approve the use without proper consent and took legal action against the song.

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Susan Boyle's First Solo Performance in US to be at Joel Osteen's Church

Susan Boyle, the U.K. singer who in wowed judges on "Britain's Got Talent" and eventually the world with her powerful rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream," is set to put on her biggest U.S. performance yet with a show this month at Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas.

"Victoria and I, like all of America, fell in love with Susan Boyle the first time we saw her," Pastor Osteen said, according to Broadwayworld.com. "We are delighted and honored that she chose Lakewood Church for her first solo performance in this country."

Boyle, who will be singing tracks from her new holiday-themed album, Home for Christmas, said she was looking forward to performing at Lakewood Church.

One of the singles Boyle will perform is her newly-released cover of the Christmas classic "O Come, All Ye Faithful," as a duet with the late Elvis Presley. Boyle, an ambassador for the charity Save The Children, has said proceeds from sales of the holiday single will benefit the U.K. organization.

Lakewood is reportedly Boyle's first stop on her U.S. tour, a promotional effort for Home for Christmas, her fifth studio album. The former church worker will also be making her film debut in "The Christmas Candle" motion picture, based on author Max Lucado's book of the same name.

It was her rendition of the Les Misérables track "I Dreamed a Dream" on "Britain's Got Talent" four years ago that catapulted Boyle onto the world stage. That same year, in November, Boyle released her debut album, titled I Dreamed a Dream, which topped charts all over the world

Ja Rule, Adrienne Bailon, Stephen Baldwin and TobyMac Star in New Christian Movie

'I’m In Love With a Church Girl' will open domestically on October 18, 2013 with an international release to follow.

Based on a true story, the film stars 'Ja Rule' who, as a successful entrepreneur haunted by a criminal past and surrounded by old friends still “in the life,” finds faith, redemption and inspiration when God puts a woman of faith (Adrienne Bailon) in his life. Rounding out the cast are Stephen Baldwin, Vincent Pastore, Michael Madsen, T-Bone, Martin Kove and TobyMac.

“We are extremely pleased to have been able to put together such a world-class team for our very first film,” said Galley Molina, CEO of Reverence Gospel Media.

Molina wrote 'I’m In Love With a Church Girl' and has produced the film alongside Christian music superstar and RGM vice president Israel Houghton, who also contributed to the “Church Girl” soundtrack.

Houghton, who also shares screenplay credit on Reverence Gospel Media’s next two films, is a multiple Grammy, Stellar and Dove Award winner, and was honored most recently at the 2013 Grammys with the award for Best Christian Music Song. Israel is also a Worship Leader at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas – the largest congregation in the United States, where he serves alongside “America’s Pastor” Joel Osteen.

“We feel extraordinarily blessed to have been able to make this movie and can’t wait to see the impact it has on people’s lives,” said Houghton. “This is completely unlike any ‘faith-based’ movie anyone has ever seen. The characters face believable situations with real faith in a real God.”

“I’ve seen this movie, and am both moved and inspired by the story, the characters, and the quality of both movie and music,” said Donnie McClurkin, Grammy Award-winning Gospel artist and Senior Pastor of the Perfecting Faith Church in Freeport, NY. “This is not what people have come to expect from Christian films, and I know it will resonate deeply with viewers – even those who would never have gone anywhere near a movie that touches on the subject of faith.

Cee Lo's 'Mary Did You Know' Unlike Any Other Christmas Video You'll See This Season

The video for Cee Lo Green's version of the Christmas standard "Mary Did You Know" uses clips from the upcoming series, "The Bible"and brings to life scenes from Christ's birth to His resurrection.

The video has at least one prominent fan in Pastor Joel Osteen who wrote on his official Facebook page: "At least a few of his more than 2,641,000 million followers must have checked out the video, which has been viewed nearly 300,000 times on YouTube.