Just before the Thanksgiving holiday, DJ Evon—an active DJ in the Christian Hip Hop (CHH) community—was caught live on video in a sting operation conducted by PigeonVizion on their Kick livestream. PigeonVizion, known for setting up fake meetups with underage individuals in a manner reminiscent of the 2004 reality show To Catch a Predator, was operating out of Fort Worth, Texas, during this particular investigation. Among several individuals apprehended was DJ Evon, a revelation that deeply shook the CHH community.

While several media outlets including our friends at Rapzilla who reported on the incident almost immediately as we were also encouraged to do by the CHH community, our team at ArtSoul Radio paused and took time to reflect on the situation and the community responses. We felt compelled to go beyond the surface details to explore the broader implications for the Christian community—what this incident reveals about us as believers and as a faith-based community as a whole while navigating issues of accountability and grace.

To provide a thoughtful and compassionate perspective, we invited one of our newest Contributing Writers, Robert Marshall, to share his insights. Robert is a pastor, trauma coach, and the founder of Survivor Circle and I Am Man, organizations dedicated to healing and empowerment. His experience uniquely equips him to address this sensitive topic with both truth and grace.

As you read this piece, we encourage you to approach the story with an open heart and mind, reflecting on the sacred yet often messy reality of grace, accountability, and the relentless, scandalous love of God that defines the Christian faith.

Thank you for trusting us as a source of thoughtful and honest reporting within the Christian community. — The ArtSoul Radio Team

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Yo, family, this situation with DJ Evon is heavy. Hearing that someone who’s been repping the culture and faith got caught in a PigeonVizion sting in 4K  trying to meet up with an underage girl? It’s wild! That’s not just a bad look—it’s a gut check for all of us. It’s messy, it’s hurtful, and it’s got the Christian hip-hop community, and the universal Body of Christ, asking some big questions about leadership, integrity, and how we respond when one of our own falls.

But let me be clear: this moment isn’t just about DJ Evon’s actions. It’s about all of us. How do we protect the vulnerable while extending grace? How do we confront sin without canceling people? And most importantly, how do we let the Holy Spirit use moments like this to check our own hearts?

This screen shot was taken from the live footage released on PigeonVizion’s team video sting operation where they catch men in action who are seeking out underage girls – featued on their Kick livestream.

Paul gives us clear guidance in Galatians 6:1-2 (NIV): “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

So, what does it really mean to “carry each other’s burdens” when someone falls? Does it mean pointing fingers and gossiping about their mistakes? Nah, that’s not it. Does it mean ignoring the sin and acting like it didn’t happen? Or even holding them hostage to what happened after they’ve committed to a process of restoration? Definitely not.

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It means getting in the mess with them. It means showing up—not to excuse their actions, but to help them get back on track. It’s saying, “I see where you fell, and I’m here to help you stand again.” That’s not easy work, but it’s kingdom work. And let’s be real—aren’t you glad someone carried your burdens when you were the one who fell?

Restoration isn’t about dodging accountability—it’s about stepping right into the mess with love, humility, and a heart to bring someone closer to God. It’s not about letting them off the hook, but it’s also not about holding them hostage to their mistakes. When someone has gone through the process of restoration, we’ve got to let them stand in the freedom Christ already gave them. We can’t keep locking people into what they did and making it hard for them to step into who Christ is calling them to be.

Galatians 5:1 says, ‘It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.’ Restoration means standing firm in that freedom—not just for ourselves, but for those we’re walking with. That’s what real restoration looks like. That’s what the law of Christ is all about.

Do We Really Believe? 

What would have happened to the people in Scripture—those who were clearly broken, jacked up, and flawed—if they weren’t able to embrace their new identities in Christ? What if their pasts were constantly held against them, locking them in shame and making it impossible for them to step into who God called them to be?

Take Saul to Paul as an example (Acts 9:1-22). Saul persecuted Christians, dragging them to prison and even approving of their deaths. What if the early church refused to accept him because of his history? What if they said, “Nah, we’re not messing with him; he’s done too much damage”? We might not have most of the New Testament, and the gospel might never have reached the Gentiles. But God didn’t define Paul by his past. He transformed him and used him to change the world.

Look at Peter (Matthew 26:69-75, John 21:15-19). This man denied Jesus three times when it mattered most. What if he had stayed stuck in guilt and shame, never stepping into the calling Jesus had for him? Instead, Jesus restored him with love, saying, “Feed my sheep.” Peter went on to preach at Pentecost and lead thousands to salvation.

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Think about the Woman at the Well (John 4:1-42). She had a reputation—five husbands and living with a man who wasn’t her husband. What if her village refused to listen to her testimony because of her past? Instead, she embraced her encounter with Jesus, shared it boldly, and became one of the first evangelists, leading her entire community to Christ.

And what about Mary Magdalene (Luke 8:1-2, John 20:11-18)? Delivered from seven demons, she could have been written off as “damaged goods.” But instead, she became one of Jesus’ most faithful disciples, chosen to be the first to witness and proclaim His resurrection.

Their lives  remind us of the importance of restoration—not just for the person being restored, but for the countless others who will be impacted by their transformation. If Saul had remained defined by his persecution, if Peter had been stuck in his denial, or if the woman at the well or Mary Magdalene had been forever labeled by their pasts, the story of God’s redemption would have been incomplete.

The Bible reminds us to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), showing mercy to others as we have received mercy from God (Luke 6:36). Speaking truth isn’t about condemning; it’s about pointing people back to Christ with compassion and humility. Truth without love becomes harsh and judgmental, but love without truth avoids accountability and leaves people unchanged. Mercy is the bridge that allows grace to flow, enabling restoration and healing to take place.

This is why restoration matters. It’s about giving people the space to step into the freedom Christ has already given them. When someone has been through the process of healing and repentance, we need to resist the urge to keep them locked in who they were, and instead, help them embrace who Christ is calling them to be. Their story isn’t just about their past—it’s about the lives God will touch through their future.

Accountability: Love That Tells the Truth

Let’s start here: holding someone accountable isn’t hating on them or canceling them—it’s love in action. Real talk, love isn’t soft. It doesn’t let stuff slide just because someone’s talented or has a big platform. Love confronts. Love speaks truth, even when it’s hard. As Lecrae said in his book Unashamed, “Christianity isn’t about acting perfect; it’s about confessing your mess and letting God fix it.”

If DJ Evon is serious about repentance, it starts with transparency. He’s gotta own what he did, face the legal and spiritual consequences, and do the hard work of rebuilding trust. But the accountability doesn’t stop with him. The Body of Christ has to take a good, hard look at how we handle these situations. Are we protecting the vulnerable or protecting platforms? Are we calling out sin or staying quiet because we don’t want the drama? Accountability is love, and we’ve gotta practice it across the board.

Victims and Perpetrators: Two Sides of Brokenness

Here’s the truth: situations like this are messy because both the victims and the perpetrators are often broken in different ways. The victims—whether it’s the young girl DJ Evon allegedly targeted or anyone who’s survived abuse—deserve our full support. They need to know we’ve got their backs. That we see them. That we’ll fight for their healing and restoration.

But as hard as it is to admit, the perpetrators are broken too. Most of the time, people who harm others are carrying their own unhealed trauma. That doesn’t excuse what they’ve done, but it does mean they need healing too. I know that’s hard to hear, but it’s real. Healing isn’t just for the innocent—it’s for anyone who’s willing to do the work. And as Paul reminds us, healing is the children’s bread (Matthew 15:26). Every child of God—victim or perpetrator—should have access to the healing and restoration that only Jesus provides.

Pause for Self-Reflection: Search Your Heart

Before we get too quick to judge or cancel, let’s pause. Moments like this should make all of us take a step back and ask, What’s in my heart? Are there broken, hidden places in me that could cause harm if I don’t deal with them?

I’m a big believer in this: the same grace I’d want for myself if I got exposed is the grace I have to extend to others. None of us are perfect. None of us are above falling. It’s easy to point fingers at someone else’s mess, but the real work starts when you let the Holy Spirit shine a light on your own. Take a moment to pray, to reflect, and to ask God to heal any parts of you that might hurt others if left unchecked. Grace isn’t a pass to avoid accountability—it’s the fuel we need to transform.

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Protecting the Vulnerable: No More Silence

Integrity starts at home. What you’re doing in private matters just as much as what you’re doing on the stage. That’s why we need real accountability structures—background checks, abuse prevention training, and a culture where speaking up is encouraged. Protecting people, especially the vulnerable, has to come first. Like Lecrae said in his book Unashamed, “It’s messy, but grace was made for the mess”.

Grace for the Mess

Like Lecrae said in his book Unashamed, “It’s messy, but grace was made for the mess”.

Grace isn’t about letting people off the hook. It’s about creating a space where people can face the truth, repent, and be restored. And that grace doesn’t just apply to DJ Evon or those directly involved—it’s for all of us.

It’s true that events like this expose the brokenness and fragility of humanity and the need for a real savior who not only saves us from sin but delivers and heals us from our own iniquity and self sabotage. Yo, it’s messy fam, it’s heartbreaking, and it’s heavy. But it’s also an opportunity for the Body of Christ—especially young believers and the Christian community—to step up and show what grace, accountability, and real love look like when we feel like others don’t deserve it, but Jesus does. 

Protect the Vulnerable

First things first: we have to protect the victims. They need to know they’re not alone, that their voices matter, and that the community is circling around them. Silence and avoidance aren’t options anymore. When we see harm, we’ve got to speak up—no matter who’s involved.

This means creating safeguards in our communities. It means holding leaders accountable and making sure our spaces are safe for everyone—especially the most vulnerable. Jesus always prioritized the brokenhearted, and we’ve got to do the same.

As my secret mentor (because he doesn’t know he is that to me yet) Steve Harvey would say: “You don’t let stuff like this slide. You don’t make excuses. You stand up and protect the people who need it most, because that’s what being real looks like.”

Restore the Fallen

Now, let’s talk about grace. Real grace doesn’t look away from the mess. It doesn’t excuse the wrong or avoid accountability. Grace confronts sin head-on and says, “You’ve got to face this, but I’m still here praying for you and walking alongside you while we all grow and heal.” That’s the kind of grace DJ Evon needs right now.

Please hear me accountability isn’t canceling someone; it’s loving them enough to push them toward repentance. It’s saying, ‘I’m not gonna let you stay in this mess because I believe God has more for you.’

Restoration starts with repentance, and that’s a journey only DJ Evon can choose to take. But as a community, we’re called to believe that God’s grace can transform even the biggest failures. If we’re serious about the gospel, we’ve got to hold space for both accountability and redemption.

Heal Ourselves

Here’s where it gets personal. Before we start pointing fingers or throwing stones, we’ve got to check ourselves also. What’s in your heart? Are there places in you that need healing before they cause harm to yourself or someone else? Before it’s caught out in the open by the public? Jesus already knows our truth. We have to face it in order to heal it.

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The hardest work you’ll ever do is on yourself. But that’s where real transformation begins. The Holy Spirit is using this moment to remind us to reflect, to search our hearts, and to deal with our own brokenness. Because let’s be honest—if your own mess got exposed, how would you want people to treat you?

Healing isn’t just for DJ Evon or the victims—it’s for all of us. Let’s ask God to reveal what’s broken in us and start the work of letting Him put us back together.

The Gospel in Real Time

Let’s be honest—this is messy. It’s uncomfortable. But the gospel wasn’t designed for perfect people or clean situations. It was made for moments like this—for the broken, the hurting, and the ones caught in the middle of their mess. Grace doesn’t turn a blind eye to sin; it steps into the chaos, confronts it with truth, protects the vulnerable, extends mercy, and holds on to the hope of redemption. But let’s keep it real—mercy without accountability is hollow, and accountability without mercy is harsh. The gospel demands that we live out both.

Restoration isn’t about letting people off the hook; it’s about walking with them as they step into the freedom Christ already offers while calling them higher. And here’s the deal—it’s our responsibility to partner with God to create spaces and communities where people feel safe enough to talk through their traumas, pain, and weaknesses, get strengthened through discipleship, and empowered by God’s word. Our brother James said it like this, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed” (James 5:16). Healing starts when honesty meets grace, when confession is met with love, and when prayer becomes the foundation of restoration.

This work isn’t passive. It’s active. Like Billy Graham said, “It’s the Holy Spirit’s job to convict, God’s job to judge, and my job to love.” That means we’re not here to judge people or cancel them. Our job is to create the kind of environment where they can heal, grow, and let God transform their lives. Transformation isn’t our responsibility—that’s God’s—but creating a safe and loving space? That’s on us.

And let’s not forget Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s words: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” None of us are truly free until we’re all free—free from shame, sin, and the weight of a past that tries to define us. That freedom isn’t just for the few; it’s for the victims, the fallen, and even for us. True freedom in Christ means leaving room for grace, accountability, and redemption for everyone.

This is messy, but God works in the mess. Let’s be the kind of community that protects, restores, and heals while trusting God to do what only He can. This is the gospel in real time. Let’s live it for real and out loud.✊🏾

The social media world is bracing for significant changes as TikTok faces a potential ban in the U.S. unless its parent company, ByteDance, sells the platform to a non-Chinese entity. This decision follows a recent federal appeals court ruling, upholding legislation centered on national security concerns.

Why Is TikTok Being Banned?

The U.S. government has raised serious concerns about data privacy, alleging that TikTok could allow the Chinese government access to personal information of American users. Despite TikTok’s claims of protecting user data through enhanced security measures, lawmakers believe the app poses a risk that justifies strict action.

If ByteDance fails to comply, the ban will take effect after January 19, 2025, effectively cutting off U.S. users from the app.

What This Means for Creators

For content creators, especially influencers who have built their careers on TikTok, the ban could have far-reaching effects:

1. Income Disruption

Creators reliant on TikTok for brand deals, sponsorships, and in-app monetization will face an uncertain future. Many small businesses, including Black-owned brands that gained visibility through TikTok’s algorithm, could experience financial hardship.

2. Platform Migration

Creators are encouraged to diversify their content across multiple platforms such as Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and emerging social media apps. Expanding their digital presence now can help safeguard against future disruptions.

3. Brand Identity at Risk

Content creators will need to strengthen their personal brands outside of TikTok. Establishing a strong online presence through websites, newsletters, and other platforms can provide stability in an ever-changing digital landscape.

What Happens Next?

While the ban isn’t immediate, creators should begin making contingency plans. The possibility of a change in policy remains, especially with a new U.S. presidential administration in 2025. In the meantime, staying informed and proactive will be critical.

ArtSoulRadio.com will continue monitoring this developing story, offering tips and resources to help creators navigate the evolving social media landscape. Stay connected with us for updates and expert insights on maximizing your creative potential in the digital age.

Grammy award winning artist, author and long time activist Common teamed up with Grammy award winning artist Jonathan McReynolds for a special performance at the 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago in support of Kamala Harris.

The two artists sang a song made custom for the occasion! Jonathan McReynolds sang a portion of his song “God Is Good” blended with exerpts of Common’s song “Fortunate”.

These two artists have seen many victories in their careers since their beginning origins from the south side of Chicago. Michelle Obama has a similar story hailing from the same part of the city. It was a special night to see Jonathan and Common open up the night as Michelle Obama closed it out with her speech just before introducing her Husband, our former President Barak Obama. Having each of these powerful artists, speakers and leaders present in Chicago for one cause was a special moment for many that will now forever be etched in history.