Rev. Run brings 'good word' to Atlanta

Joseph Simmons, the ground-breaking rapper whose revival of the song "Walk this Way" gave it a second life on the hit charts, is preaching the same message in a new form.

He is telling people walk this way, a good way, a better way.

Simmons, better known as the lead personality Rev. Run on MTV's reality show "Run's House," and better known to the parents of MTV's target audience as one of the founding members of 1980s rap group Run-D.M.C., will be in Atlanta Aug. 21 to help the nonprofit KaBoom kick off a project to build four Atlanta playgrounds in three days.

"Take Back Your Family: A Challenge to America's Parents," co-authored with his wife Justine Simmons, is a gathering of lessons learned in blending three kids from a previous marriage, two children with Justine and their newly adopted daughter, Mylie, Simmons told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The book's kitchen-conversation style of advice also plays out weekly on Run's good-natured and family-friendly TV show.

We spoke with the Rev., as he likes to be called, about his book, his show and his move from rapper to reverend.

Q: People know you as the rapper, how did you become a reverend?

A: [Faith] has always been part of my life.

[But he ran into rocky times in the early 1990s, including the breakup of a first marriage, which rekindled his interest in church.]

"I received my ministry license ... through my church [Zoe Ministries in New York]. I got my collar through going to church and being in church and doing what I was supposed to do. But at the end of the day, I wasn't supposed to open a church. That just wasn't my calling.

I looked at my strengths. This is what I see and what I know [music and show business]. This is the way God wants me to minister, not standing in a pulpit with a Bible, but affecting people in a different way. Being a fisher of men in a different way. My church ended up being the MTV pulpit on Wednesday nights.

Q: What happens on your show?

A: I am not pushing principles down your throat but more telling you that as you look at my life you should become inspired by it."

Q: How so?

A: I believe that the family that plays together stays together.

[Many ambitious people put tremendous energy into becoming successful] but they don't put that same energy into their family. I tell that to...people I know. You are extremely ambitious. If you would put that energy into your family, you would knock it out.

This is just in me, God gave me the ministry of family ministry. I am a guy that loves his family.

Q: How does that play out in the book and on the show?

A: In being with my kids and having fun with my kids and enjoying your wife and children.

I talk about principles about how you achieve that. Me and my wife, our union has to be strong...we make our union strong, and after that we will make our family union strong. ...We are just showing a family in action, family unity, family responsibility. It is just something that is very valuable.

GOOD WORKS

What: Rev. Run, aka Joseph Simmons, helping kick off an effort to build four playgrounds in Atlanta in three days.

Where: Edgewood Court Apartments, 1572 Hardee St. in Atlanta

When: 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21

Public is invited.

Click here for more details about Rev. Run's 'Playground Crusade'.