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Winter 1998-99 Newsletter

Philippians 3:10

MATURE • MENTOR • MINISTER • MAINTAIN • INVESTING IN BLACK FUTURES THRU STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

Wuzzup, Hep!

Ministry Web Site: http://www.yubm.org - Email Address: hep@yubm.org

AIM International - YUBM Ministries

MINISTRY WEB SITE LAUNCHED I've been blessed to finally get YUBM Ministries out there in cyberspace. A great big "thank you" to my brother Ed (who's been developing web sites for big companies for some time now) and June (a friend of the Cross Movement). Prayerfully it will encourage and enable believers to reach out into hip-hop culture as well as challenge those in the culture to consider the critical claims of Christ. The Internet provides a unique venue for ministry, and in spite of its drawbacks, it really does afford creative and innovative opportunities for outreach. I've posted some full color pictures at the site of the Cross Movement (more about them below) and a couple of graffiti pieces. There's even a street-oriented Gospel witness page-geared to reaching those in hip-hop culture. Peep the site it when ya get the opportunity.

CUTS I am really enjoying the challenge of teaching at the Center for Urban Theological Studies. After finishing up "The Minor Prophets" last December, we are now about halfway through the semester in two classes: "Foundations of Christian Thought" and "Postmodern Urban Culture." I used to think that teaching a few college classes must be quite a relaxed life, but now I definitely know differently. Coming up right after this semester is a 3 week intensive (June 8-24) and then a tightly focused weekend seminar (August 13^th- 14^th). I am also scheduled to teach a couple of classes in the fall semester. It's a lot of fun, it has afforded me the opportunity to continue my own education (by preparing these courses), and I am immensely encouraged by the response of the students. CUTS is such a "fly" experience. You got a whole lot of saints comin' in from different theological traditions and we all come to the Scriptures with all these different perspectives.

Attended the Kingdomworks '99 conference here in Philly February 26^th-28^th. About 1250 urban youth workers from across the U.S. were in attendance.

REVIVAL-READIED? Had a fantastic, spiritually bombastic weekend at First Baptist Church of Highland Park's Youth Retreat at Skycroft near Middletown, MD. Two other churches' youth groups were there as well: First Baptist Church on Minnesota Avenue and Emmanuel Baptist Church (all 3 churches are in the Landover MD area). Nat and Regina Obey and their crew put together one of the best youth retreats I've ever been on. Reggie Dabbs (an evangelist from Florida) and Audrey Hosley were the two main speakers and the kids were very responsive from the first night. Drew Baynard and I handled the music and we each did a little speaking. I must say all 170 of us had an absolutely incredulous time! One 17-year-old named Darrin, whom I had the privilege of striking up a conversation with after the powerful Saturday evening session (which elicited an incredible response from most of the young people), was really adamant on why he wanted to stay with what the drug game offered instead of going with Christ. We sat at the top of a stairwell for a good long while, goin' back 'n forth, givin' 'n takin' in a cosmic ideological wrestling match of values, time and eternity. It was a great heart to heart. Just before we parted to head back to our rooms I challenged this dear brother to call out to the Lord to ask Him (if He really is real) to reveal Himself to him. The look on this young Black man's face let me know that our conversation was not just an exchange of views, but just might have provided something worth lookin' into. The next morning, he greeted me with a big smile on his face and later on, in the morning session, he came forward at the invitation with tears in his eyes. Needless to say I was full up as I was playing the keyboards. As it turned out, God had been dealing with a small band of street-referencing brothers that very evening, who decided it was time to get serious about the things of the Lord. Darrin was in with that particular set. A very, very powerful weekend - of revival-like dimensions. Maybe the seed-bed for God doing a new work in the Landover, MD area beginning among its young people? Nothing's impossible when you put your trust in God!

YO!!! Lest anyone think things are getting better racially, they certainly are not. There was a cross-burning less than half a mile from my house (February 15^th). Legally blind, a 40-year-old Black man named, Walter W. Johnson, Jr., only learned of it when the police knocked on his door. What is even more disturbing is the fact that this part of the city (the Olney section) is one of the most ethnically and racially diverse parts of Philadelphia. Walter told a newspaper reporter, "It's a shame that from Philadelphia to Texas we still have this problem." Last October he found a racial epithet sprayed-painted in red on his garage. The newspaper account characterized him "a devout Christian...[who] structures his life around serving others."

Spoke and did the music at a combined Young Life Meeting at Woodland Presbyterian Church on February 11^th. Two clubs came together for the first time: the set from West Philadelphia and the set from the Happy Hollow Playground area in Germantown (in North Philly). We had a great time with a great group of teenagers and their leaders, Pat Little, Cynthia Haynes, Bryan Robinson (whom I met out in Grand Rapids, MI at the C.C.D.A. Youth Conference in August 1997) and Coury Deeb. Bryan and his wife Brenda and their two young sons moved here from Pasadena, CA where they worked with John Perkins' ministry for a number of years They're getting themselves firmly established in the community and the ministry.

SILVER 'n GOLD I have been bountifully blessed to hear from brothers I haven't heard from in a long time: I had lost track of David Paul Brooks, a Christian rapper originally from Nyack, NY who has since moved to Maryland with his wife Stephanie and 2 young sons. He is now part of a "rapusical" ministry called D.O.C. (Disciples of Christ) at a church in Baltimore. He was up here all day (midnight to midnight) on February 4^th. Jermaine Floyd called. He's pressing on in his ministry of music at Faith Chapel in Paterson, NJ (where Rev. Ray Timms is the pastor). I am greatly encouraged, bro, by your life, your faith and your perseverance. Keep on keeping on! Also blessed to hear from another brother, Mike McCleary, a former Streamsider who's still here in Philadelphia. Hope to be able to catch up with him soon. Please, also pray for Carl Tinsley.

Had a gracious 3-hour lunch with Dr. Elijah Anderson, Charles and William L. Day Professor of Social Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania (February 3^rd). I have the utmost respect for Eli in the important work he's done in the fields of street research and writing about street culture and the complex dynamics that drive it. He is a superb ethnographer - and his latest book (to be released in August) is, Code of the Street: Decency, Violence, and the Moral Life of the Inner City.

Did a worship and praise service at Christian Mission Fellowship Baptist Church in West Philadelphia (January 31^st).

MUSICAL INTERLUDE The Youth Choirs at Third Eternal Baptist Church 'n Germantown Christian Assembly (where the group is known as the "Heavenly Voices") continue to be a real joy, blessing, challenge and encouragement. Third Eternal recently went through a very painful church split and the youth choir lost a few members. We need your prayers for us as a church. The Calvary Baptist Church Ensemble (adults) is doing well, although we have a hard time getting everybody together for enough rehearsal. The Lord still blesses our time of ministry. Pastor Sean Wise is doing a great job at Calvary.

THE CROSS MOVEMENT Christian ministers of rap, recently released their 2nd album, House of Representatives. The Lord Jesus opened a door for them to not only get it into the rotation on a secular radio station in the Philly area (WPHL -103.9 fm), but were even able to represent the Lord Jesus live (on the air) on a secular rap format radio program. Pray for a DJ named Zulu, who hosts the program they were on. I am especially blessed to be able to spend a lot of time with several members of the group, and been privileged to be with the group in the studio, backstage, and even out on the street on occasion. Their witness is bold and they have an incredible way of assessing, accessing, addressing and aggressing the hip-hop set with a powerful skillfully-constructed street-oriented apologetic. I really enjoyed being with them at Christ Tabernacle's Youth Explosion in N.Y.C., November 27^th (a big shoutout to Youth Pastor, Adam Durso). They had 1500 young people at that event and the ministry of rapping and testimonies from young people at that church was powerful. I'm beginning to sense the Lord Jesus is preparing a lot of young people for something - saw it at the Skycroft retreat and at Christ Tabernacle. Also had the wonderful opportunity to be with the CM as they were working on their album in the recording studio. Again, please pray for Duce, Brady, Enock, Life, Wells, Cruz, and Cleve (members of the group).

Having the good opportunity to fellowship and minister at the Montco Bible Fellowship in Lansdale, PA once a month. Pastor Tony Hart, Rev. Sam Butler and Drew Baynard have instituted a diversified praise and worship program series.

PEOPLE HERE 'n THERE I was very encouraged to be invited to hear 19-year-old Carl Lashley Jr.'s Trial Sermon at People's Community Church in Silver Spring, MD on January 17^th (my 9-year-old godson, Jon Adams, Jr. came along also). Not until after the service did I realize that former Streamside camper Jonathan D. Davis was the accompanist leading the excellent choir that sang at the service. It was also great to catch up again with several other folks I'd met at retreats from long ago. Came across Bruce Brown's path (another former Streamside counselor) - he's now a student at Philadelphia College of Bible. Heard from J. Kelvin Jackson (Grand Rapids, MI) who recently hurt his back while sledding. He told me that his brother Paul is now in seminary. Caught up with David Ellison (spent a day with him at Simon Gratz H.S. 2 yrs. ago) He's doing well at a computer-related business in Center City, plus taking classes at the Community College of Philadelphia. His life really impresses me (he's challenged the cynical views of God stated by one of his professors at CCP. Also, please do remember a street-oriented friend of mine, Walter Stewart (from Paterson, NJ) whom I've lost contact with, as well as Darnell Walker (the 23-year-old handicapped brother I wrote you about last year). The Lord Jesus keeps putting new people in my life regularly (Tyree Lytes, Tre Williams, Dedot Bell) - drummers, keyboard players, rappers, people with the gift of pastor, youth leaders and even pastors - and yet my heart still continues to remember those from "way back." Some of the more recent "set" have asked me either directly or indirectly to pastor them, and as I count that a real honor, I also realize that it's not something not to be entered into lightly. I've recently experienced a surge of shepherding relationships in the past several months, hooking up with a whole lot of people with similar gift mixes and encouraging, nurturing, exhorting, admonishing, empowering them in their Christian lives and ministries. Thank You Lord Jesus for this awesome privilege!

Spoke at the Annual Missions Conference of the Philadelphia College of Bible January 13^th-14^th, presenting the following workshops: "Preparing to Invade, Survive and Enjoy Street Culture Ministry," "Jesus and Urban Youth: How They Got It Goin' On," and "What Are Young People Lookin' So Hard For?" Students and presenter were both challenged!

WAIT! Although sometimes it may seem like everything's always on the up-and-up in everything I'm privileged to be a part of here in the city - I can heartily assure you that: IT AIN'T LIKE THAT! We've been saddened, grieved and sobered by a number of deep and heavy things that have gone on here in the city and in the life of the church and in people's lives, which I will leave as unspoken prayer requests. Jesus knows. He is our Portion. He is sufficient and that is our comfort.

The University of Pennsylvania hosted a symposium November 17^th-19^th on faith-based initiatives entitled "Beyond Ideology: Discovering Hope for America's Cities." Among the speakers were John DiIlulio, Rev. Eugene Rivers, Rev. Eugene Williams, Dr. Elijah Anderson, Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendall, Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke and New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial. I was greatly encouraged by a great deal of what I heard - even my own mayor made me misty eyed with his impassioned plea regarding those left out of the current economic "boom". [Think about that word!] What made this symposium so exciting is the fact that it was hosted at the University of Pennsylvania! Why? Prior to the 19^th century, every college started in this country was a Christian college committed to revealed truth -- with the exception of the University of Pennsylvania. D. Kyle Canty also attended and really enjoyed it, very encouraged by the stuff that was presented.

Been helping out with the music occasionally at the Bible Club overnights run by Lorraine Stirneman and Christine Wigdin.

MY ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS Would ya like to know who they are? Closest at hand is Pastor Hal Hopkins of the Black Church Extension Program of the Southern Baptist Convention, Pastor George Moore (spoke at the Labor Day Weekend Retreat last year [from Altadena, CA]) and Pastor Chris Bell of the Christian Stronghold Baptist Church here in Philadelphia. They each have a copy of my objectives, goals and standards for the year and are free to call me on any one of them to see how I'm doing with 'em. I thank the Lord Jesus for these men and I ask you to please pray for them and for me.

HOW'S MY FAM? Thanks for asking! We're doing OK, although we're each usually in hyper-overdrive most of the time. My Mom gets up to visit Charlie and his daughters on a fairly regular basis, helping out in different ways. The youngest 2 (Sarah and Carolyn) are busy with high school life and sports activities, and the oldest (Melissa) is continuing her studies in Boston. Thank you again for praying for our family after Janet's passing last August. His grace is sufficient.

His and yours, much love,

HEP