Fall-Winter 2006 Newsletter

Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Bob H.
Bob H. who?

Exactly.

M.A. in URBAN STUDIES / YOUTH LEADERSHIP - Are you a professional serving the needs of youth? The urban site of Eastern University will begin offering an awesome Master of Arts degree in Urban Studies with a concentration in Youth Leadership beginning in the fall of 2006. It is designed to accommodate the schedules of working adults. It is an excellent opportunity to advance your career and your life. 

Location: Eastern University; 990 Spring Garden Street, 6th floor, Philadelphia, PA 19123

Visit www.eastern.edu/urbanma for more info, or call 1-800-732-7669, ext. 5039, or e-mail kdavis3@eastern.edu. to Indicate that you are interested in the MA in Urban Studies (Youth Leadership) program. 

Were U looking to find out what happened with YUBM Ministries during the spring-summer of 2006?  Click here.

"The Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have begun thinking less of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. Aim at heaven and you get earth thrown in; aim at earth and you get neither."   C. S. Lewis

PRESENT PURSUITS and PAST PERAMBULATIONS
( listed in reverse chronological order )

 Regardless of how U feel about the war, please join them in prayer . . .
Photo by Romeo Gacad / AFP

. . . and do pray for the soldiers on the frontlines on the streets here in America—e.g., Ack Davis . . .

. . . and his brother Tim, here with Eric (Epistle), listening to some new music.  Other soldiers > >

NEW LIFE BIBLE INSTITUTE ANNUAL RETREAT - Word of Life, Schroon Lake, NY - March 16-18, 2007 - brochure.  Once again again great retreat put together by Sis. Joyce Burton and Sis. Bettye Geiger with Pastor Victor O. Kirk, Sr. (Sharon Baptist Fellowship of Lanham, MD) as the retreat speaker and yours truly as the worship and praise leader.  A great time as usual with about 100 saints.  Big shout-outs to Evangelist Cheryl Johnson and Sis. Luff for their excellent work with the choir (it's amazing how the Lord puts the group together each year), to the members of the choir, to all the saints who exuberantly and energetically joined in with the worship and praise during each session, and last but not least encouragers NLBI Dean Willie Blassingame and Bro. Larry Johnson.

ELMWOOD COMMUNITY METHODIST CHURCH YOUTH MINISTRY CONSULTATION - Philadelphia, PA - March 10, 2007.  Wonderful to meet with Pastor Antoine Walker and four of the youth ministry staff at this church in West Philadelphia (thanks Sis. V. and Sis. Archelle R. [former student in my youth ministry class at CUTS years ago] for getting us together.  Highlight of the meeting for me?  Pastor Walker's comment: "You sound just like Harvie Conn." (the late WTS professor who was one of the reasons I wanted to attend there during my first tour there years ago).  What a compliment!

MONTCO BIBLE FELLOWSHIP MEN'S BREAKFAST - Lansdale, PA - March 3, 2007.  Had a great time sharing with the men of Montco some stuff about the ministry I've been entrusted with.  Thank you, brothers, esp. Pastors Tony Hart, Fred Garnes and Deacon Phil Jeffries for your receptivity, encouragement and support.  

EASTERN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL for SOCIAL CHANGE - Philadelphia, PA - taught the "Urban Youth Culture" class for the Spring 2007 Residency M.A. Urban Studies (Youth Leadership Concentration), February 21-23, 2007.  Small in number but big in heart, the class was made up of young adults already engaged in youth ministry here in Philadelphia.  We looked primarily at street and hip-hop culture, and were also blessed with several guest presenters: Curtis Ghee (from the Philadelphia Police Department), Sam Cornet (pictured below) and LaVette Tomoney who gave us their perspectives on what teenagers are facing today, April Saul (Pulitzer Prize-winning staff photographer from the Philadelphia Inquirer) who narrated a slides series she did for the Inquirer last year entitled, "Kids, Guns and a Deadly Toll."  Kudos again to Dr. K-lee Johnson for putting this unique Masters program together and for inviting us to be part of the mix. 

Steppers step it up Saturday night at the 2007 J.A.M. Youth Retreat at Skycroft.  More photos here

J.A.M. YOUTH RETREAT - Skycroft Conference Center- Mitchellville, MD - with First Baptist Church of Highland Park of Landover, MD and Emmanuel Baptist Church of Washington, D.C. - February 9-11, 2007.  Aah-iii-yeah... another well-crafted youth retreat that keeps on goin' 'n' goin' well through the years.  I've been privileged to be invited for the past 13 or 14 years as the event's worship and praise leader and every year (indeed) am always blessed by the caliber of this program.  There were 100 young people and 40 leaders (how's that for an impressive ministry ratio?), and it's fantastic to see young people who've come up through the program returning as young adults to take up leadership roles.  Big ups to F.B.C.H.P. youth minister Rev. Joel Washington, youth leaders Janice Edwards and Deacon Ed Harrison and all the many adults who continue to make this retreat the quality event that it is. More photos here.

Epiphany Fellowship morning worship, Philadelphia, PA, February 4, 2007

Pastor Duce preaches on John 6:60-71 in the series, "Jesus Christ Unplugged" at Epiphany Fellowship

Sam C., seen here after the service at Epiphany, is planning to go to Israel for 2 weeks on February
27th as part of his IJS studies at Philadelphia Biblical University.  He has to raise $2500 for the trip. Want to encourage him with your support?  Contact him at samcornet@netzero.com.  Thank you.

Mural art's big in Philly, but this piece is sobering & sad : the names of all 406 homicide victims in 2006
click for a larger legible version (4.3 MB)

My City of Ruins
Album: The Rising
Artist: Bruce Springsteen

There is a blood red circle
On the cold dark ground
And the rain is falling down
The church door's thrown open
I can hear the organ's song
But the congregation's gone
My city of ruins
My city of ruins

Now the sweet bells of mercy
Drift through the evening trees
Young men on the corner
Like scattered leaves,
The boarded up windows,
The empty streets
While my brother's down on his knees
My city of ruins
My city of ruins

Come on, rise up!  Come on, rise up!
Come on, rise up!  Come on, rise up!
Come on, rise up!  Come on, rise up!

Now's there's tears on the pillow
Darlin' where we slept
And you took my heart when you left
Without your sweet kiss
My soul is lost, my friend
Tell me how do I begin again?
My city's in ruins
My city's in ruins

Now with these hands,
With these hands,
With these hands,
I pray Lord
With these hands, 
With these hands,
I pray for the strength, Lord
With these hands,
With these hands,
I pray for the faith, Lord
We pray for your love, Lord
We pray for the lost, Lord
We pray for this world, Lord
We pray for the strength, Lord
We pray for the strength, Lord

Come on
Come on
Come on, rise up
Come on, rise up
Come on, rise up
Come on, rise up
Come on, rise up
Come on, rise up
Come on, rise up
Come on, rise up
Come on, rise up

Copyright © 2005 Bruce Springsteen (ASCAP)

Anthony, Dana, CJ, Sis. Diane & Pastor Calvin Kelly, Sr. / Cosmopolitan Mission Service Baptist Church

COSMOPOLITAN MISSION SERVICE BAPTIST CHURCH - given the opportunity to take a sabbatical from Greta Commission Church to do some school-related stuff, I returned to Cosmopolitan again to visit and worship with the saints there (Calvin Kelly, Sr. is the Pastor).  Talked for a while with his son, good friend CJ about music ministry matters (related to the course described below).  Drummer Anthony P. did a shout out from the back of the sanctuary during the visitors welcome ("white chocolate!") that brought a few laughs.  Can't thank the Lord Jesus enough for what He's doing in this ministry-minded fellowship at 10th and Westmoreland.  On the way home I searched and found the corner of E. Thayer and H Streets where 18-year-old David Williams was gunned down on January 26, 2006 (his family-n-friends-tagged memorial wall is pictured below).  While in the area I also happened to see a rather troubling fashion statement: 2 guys wearing hoodies that were each decorated with skeletal bone appliqués (front, back and arms).  The hood portion was done up like the back of a skull.  'T'was an eerie scene near Erie Street, where death feels comfortable enough to wear and looks good struttin' through North Philly's streets.  Hopeful (?) trend-setting youth sport the latest killer fashion—OK with wearing death on their sleeves and torsos. 

18-year-old Dave Williams' candle memorial and tagged wall near the corner of E. Thayer & H Streets.
Something of a ministerial Rorschach test : to some, a photo that justifies avoidance—to others, a call.
Defeat, deface, default da boy?  Deceive, degrade and destroy?  Deeply significant 'n' sadly troubling.

BACK to SCHOOL - teaching, that is.  The Spring 2007 semester is underway at the Center for Urban Theological Studies where we're journeying through 2 courses: "Contemporary Adolescent Culture" and "Ethics."  Great to catch up with Sean R. (18-year-old Dobbins H.S. senior and nephew of Terry and Connie R.) after a C.A.C. class in late January.  Son landed an apprenticeship opportunity with one of the master chef's at the Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, NJ.  Proud'a you, Sean!

MUSIC and the CHANGING CHURCH - this Westminster Theological Seminary class with visiting professor / recording artist James Ward (from New City Fellowship in Chattanooga, TN) ran from January 8th to the 12th.  It was quite helpful.  Although I've taken my music a bit further towards the "streetier" side, I have a deep appreciation for the music James has done in helping me explore how to develop musically in a cross-cultural manner.  Found it interesting to hear his experiences and perspectives on some of the behind-the-scenes goings-on of the Christian music industry, especially during those early years in ministry when I struggled to find culturally relevant music for the various groups I played for.  Bless the Lord for the patience of the saints!

Part of the Great Commission Church Choir, singing at the Christmas Eve service, December 24, 2006.
This was our last service at Roslyn Presbyterian Church before moving to Independent Bible Church.
Good possibility we'll have a children's choir singing regularly and maybe (someday) a youth choir.
Photo by Juan Ellison

MORMON MOMENTS - Usually it's hard to initiate and sustain a genuine conversation with Jehovah's Witnesses or Mormons who come to the door, but this time it was different.  The 2 elders (evidently in their 20s) seemed open and we ended up talked for a while, going back and forth on our differing positions.  I shared that while I really admired their earnest missionary efforts, I could not agree in any way with the content of their message.  I had recently viewed "God's Army" and "States of Grace" — two "edgy" films about Mormon missionaries made by Richard Dutcher, a former Mormon missionary himself, which explore faith issues in a way that has made Latter Day Saints leadership somewhat uncomfortable.  [I was stunned by "States of Grace" which portrays 2 LDS missionaries who wind up in the middle of a gang shooting, which in turn was based on an experience Dutcher had when he worked the field in Mexico.]  The 2 elders at the door refused the offer to borrow the DVD, saying they couldn't watch it while they were "on the field."  I asked them what they thought about the Qu'ran — how it was given by the angel Gabriel to Muhammad: "Is it God's Word?"  "I'm not sure," said the younger elder.  "Well, how is that any different from another angel ("Moroni?") giving Joseph Smith the book of Mormon?"  Hmmm.  It was a great convo, and we exchanged information and I hope to see them again.  One thing that pained my heart was the resigned look that swept their faces when I said they probably get doors slammed in their face quite often.  "Yeah."  We prayed (yep, they let me pray) and then they left.  Even so now, Lord Jesus, I ask You to continue to lead these 2 young men out of error into Your truth.

Shelton Mercer speaks to urban youth workers as UYWI president Larry Acosta looks on : Olney H.S.

URBAN YOUTH WORKERS INSTITUTE - UYWI president and founder Larry Acosta came to town in mid-December for a couple of meetings with urban youth workers to begin setting up a UYWI affiliate.  Good to re-connect with some youth workers I haven't seen for a while (Shelton Mercer, Alonzo Johnson, Kenny Davis) and to meet some new ones and hear what God's doing in the city.  One surprise for me was to meet Shontae G. who, as it turns out, remembered me from Camp Streamside when he was a camper there way back.  What an encouragement to hear about the vital young adults life-skills training ministry he's carrying out in his work with PhilAbundance.  Praise the Lord!

Shontae G., his son Kei-shon and UYWI's Stephanie after the meeting outside Olney High School

SCHOOL LIFE - If you're wondering (like me) why I'm not writing all that much these days, it's because I've been pressed into writing (and reading) so many other things for school.  I ain't gonna lie: academic life right now is a bear.  Not without value or relevance, but it still is ... (no joke) a BEAR!  There.  Having said that, let me balance the "bear-dens" of education with the flipside that there's more than a boatload of benefits.  One of them is having students (I speak now as an educator) who do some amazing stuff.  One student brought in his god-brother, Travis, and the two of them acted out a street corner convo / apologetic (a la Broad 'n Olney) between a Christian and a Black Hebrew Israelite variant faith system.  An amazing presentation.  (Travis and Rahman are both members of the rap group 39 Lashes.)  Sam H. is really enjoying his studies at PBU and is doing really well with a really great GPA.  Praise the Lord!  But he too feels the same tug that most college/seminary students have who've been actively involved in ministry but now have to spend the semester sequestered to tackle academics.  It's tough.  So also 18-year-old Sam C. who is in the same program as Sam H. at PBU.  Sam never fails to refresh my heart when we talk.  He's working as a carpenter in North Philadelphia as he gets ready for next semester.  I also have the good opportunity to see Cerrone B. on a somewhat regular basis at Westminster Theological Seminary.  He's really loving it, balancing school with time for his young family (his wife Yvonne recently gave birth to a son—a brother to their young daughter) and his responsibilities as a supermarket manager.  Whew!

Pat Little and members of the CLF Youth Crew

CHRIST LIBERATION FELLOWSHIP YOUTH GROUP - November 17, 2006.  Sometimes you get your stuff ready to present, then you wonder if it's what the Lord Jesus really wants you to talk about.  That's what it was this particular night.  What with life bein' a non-stop blur these days, it seems like lately I've been movin' from place to place without being able to locate any real sense of rest, refreshment or liberty.  Turns out others in the CLF group were in the same boat.  So while things have ostensibly been kind of dusty and desert dry, it's good to know that the Lord won't let the drought go on forever.  He's just switchin' saints' root systems over to "search"  mode so we'll seek the Source of our living water source more earnestly.  Interestingly enough, I had entitled my presentation, "Lookin' for a Breakthrough" (dealing with Jesus' parable of the sower, the seed and the 4 soils: each instance requires a breakthrough of some kind).  Don't know 'bout anyone else, but the parable is still unpacking itself in my own life.  Thank you, Pat 'n crew, for all y'all's patience and transparency as we pursued the matter, and for the ways you continually refresh and encourage my heart.

MANNA BIBLE INSTITUTE RETREAT - Black Rock Retreat in Quarryville, PA - October 27-29, 2006.  Guess it's me who's feelin' that some retreats aren't really "retreats" for me personally, but are more likely to be working whirlwind-style weekends.  Doesn't mean this wasn't a great retreat with the saints (it was!), but the "retreat" highlight for me over this weekend was the "road trip" I took on Saturday afternoon.  Headed out into Amish country, hoping to visit the site where those 5 young Amish girls were killed in that tragic schoolhouse shooting that happened earlier in the month.  I stopped to ask directions from a young Amish farmer named David who was playing with his 4 young children, pulling them in a small wagon along the side of the road.  After inviting me to pull the car into the driveway of his farm we introduced ourselves and talked for a bit.  I tried to express my gratitude for the Amish community's powerful witness for Christ following the shooting and the remark seemed to embarrass brother David—he turned his face slightly away and looked downward.  Whoa.  I felt embarrassed for mentioning it.  I then asked if he had seen the rainbow that appeared in the sky earlier in the afternoon ("Yes"), to which he quickly asked if I had seen the unusual sunrise yesterday morning ("No, I missed it").  He then described how the sun appeared briefly on the horizon, beneath an incoming cloud deck, highlighting its underside before disappearing for the day.  "Hmm, nice."  We talked a little while longer and then he directed me to the site not too far away.  I backed out of the driveway, rebuked, humbled and instructed by his life and witness.  Thank You, Lord Jesus, for the encounter.

Anthony P., Dana P. and her fiancé, Calvin K. and Hep at Montco Bible Fellowship's
Evening of Worship & Praise with Total Praise Band, Sunday, October 1, 2006

OCTOBER 1st PERAMBULATIONS - Church leadership meeting, morning worship, a truncated choir rehearsal then off to True Light Fellowship for the inauguration service for CUTS' third president, Dr. Frank Anderson.  Wonderful to cross paths again with Dr. John Perkins who was the preacher for the occasion, catch up with some former and current students and meet with a few new friends.  Couldn't stay long at the reception because of a prior commitment at Montco Bible Fellowship's "Evening of Worship and Praise" up in Lansdale.  It was an interesting evening with music from a number of cultures represented by a variety of musicians: singers, a rapper (Jamil Strickland) instrumentalists and worship and praise dancers.

COUPLE of MILESTONES - the YUBM Ministries Website turned 750,000 on Friday, September 22, 2006 and the Great Commission Choir debuted at Great Commission Church during the worship service on Sunday, September 24th.  Praise the Lord! 

Tim H. instructing evacuees at Centre Square in Center City, Philadelphia
Screen grab courtesy of WPVI, Philadelphia

The SIX O'CLOCK NEWS - September 21, 2006.  When I get the opportunity to watch the news I often find it hard to watch, especially with Philadelphia's homicide rate being what it is (we were ranked America's most dangerous large city for violent crime in 2005, and young people have fatalistically renamed the city "Killadelphia, Pistolvania").  [ How many of the brothers bearing the Divine image bulleted-pointed into eternity via America's preferred power-point presentation: the gun (see item below). ]  WPVI's news anchor Jim Gardner intoned his signature "...but the big story tonight is ..." which turned out to be an underground explosion and fire near Tim H.'s security job in Center City.  They rolled the videotape and after the reporter introduced the segment, yo, there was Tim giving instructions on a megaphone to the throngs of evacuees from area buildings.  Most probably paid him their obligatory auditory attention.  Turns out he did not care one bit for the TV cameras that swarmed him, which just goes to show you something of his humble street-style-shepherd heart.  Tim's passion for ministry centers on bringing the Lord to people in street contexts, preparing them for the emergency yet-to-come: facing the return of a holy God with a totally inadequate, self-constructed, sin-encrusted welcome gift.  Tim is the younger brother of Ack Davis.

Epiphany Fellowship launched on September 17, 2006  More photos >
photo by Grant Hopkins

EPIPHANY FELLOWSHIP LAUNCH - September 17, 2006.  Pastor Hal Hopkins, Sr. (one of the Pastors at Great Commission Church) called Sunday morning to ask if I was going to Epiphany Fellowship for their church launch.  Could his 15-year-old son Grant go with me?  [Scroll down the page for his picture.]  After mentioning that his request was an answer to prayer, I said, "Sure, and tell him to be ready to handle a camera and/or video recorder."  ("Would Hal, Jr. be going too?"  "Naw, he stepped out somewhere.")  We headed down Broad Street to Diamond then to 17th in North Philly.  The church is about 4 blocks west of Temple University's campus.  Parked the car, rounded the corner and heard the sounds of worship and praise emanating from the 2nd floor of the building.  On up the stairs where we were warmly greeted by Mama Du ("I knew you were going to be here.") and headed into the sanctuary.  Nice.  [ The leadership team's bulletin had time allotments for each segment of the service, striving to be truly "on time" with the chronos (the clock) as well as with the kairos (cultural relevancy).  Whoa.  But lest you think this a rigid formal affair, it most certainly is not.  There's something of a Biblical postmodern Gen Y & Z feel to what's going on here: a very relaxed, laid-back feel to the venue — living room-style incandescent lamps, a few couches and an easy chair or two around the perimeter.  The worship was wonderful ... it had a nice "early-church" feel with content-driven songs.  We sang, finding ourselves at a church launch celebration being launched into unfettered worship. Pastors Eric Mason and William Branch (Duce) welcomed everyone and introduced the concept that is Epiphany, giving a brief history and overview, followed by a brief hip-hop-enhanced PowerPoint presentation about E.F..  A few more worship songs followed, after which Emanuel Lambert (da T.R.U.T.H.) did "The Portrait," a rap selection accompanied by a synchronized video.  An audio-visual apologetic response to "The DaVinci Code," it was a very powerful, timely and professionally done presentation that hits U in the gut.  Nice!   Lead Teaching Pastor E-Mase then came to the mic and brought the Word from John 1:1-5.  It was a very deep (and I do mean deep!) exegetical exploration couched in startling relevant language, weaving the original Greek in with vivid illustrations from the street (e.g., "cipherism"), illustrations from a movie or two, African-American slave history (person vs. property), etc.  As he preached / taught, he occasionally found himself drawn to the traditional church's instantly-recognized idiosyncratic cultural "mannerisms / mechanisms," pointing them out while being caught up in them.  Interesting.  The main service was followed by an invitation (several hands were raised and acknowledged), followed by Epiphany Fellowship's 1st communion service (to which Teaching Pastor Duce brought a refreshing perspective).  Along the way an offering was received, prefaced with the statement it was to be without compunction for those visiting.  The service closed with a welcome to all those who had come through.  Kavon Bailey (who had traveled 2 1/2 hours to attend the launch) was given a flat-screen TV/DVD player that was being given away from the block outreach on the previous weekend (September 9th: see below).  Grant's assessment of the service: "It was ar-ight (he liked it)."  He estimates there were about 150 in attendance with the average age being between 20 and 30.  [ The place was pretty well packed out by the end of the service and a children's church program was conducted simultaneously on the 3rd floor of the building.]  No doubt this fellowship is hitting a demographic largely absent from many churches.  A show of hands revealed about 6 or so people were from the immediate neighborhood, to which Pastor Duce responded with gratitude for letting E.F. be a part of the community.  There were folks who drove down from Boston and New York as well as up from Maryland.  "Showing Off the Glory of Christ in Every Area of Life."  Real nice to see what the Lord Jesus is doing in this part of the vineyard, and I'd be remiss not to mention Pastor Anderson (at Great Commission Church) giving me permission to "play hooky" from GCC so I could witness and record the Epiphany launch.  Photos >

The Cross Movement at 17th & Diamond Streets in North Philly — September 9th - more photos >

From the CONCERT to the CLASSROOM to the CORNER STREET OUTREACH EVENT - (sponsored by Epiphany Fellowship- the church plant in the neighborhood which sponsored the event)) - Philadelphia, PA - September 9 - Got to 17th and Diamond Streets around 3:30 so I had missed some of the earlier goings on (Trip Lee, Everyday Process, Redeemed Thought), but was able to hear Shai Linne, J.R. Flame, Da' T.R.U.T.H. and the Cross Movement.  Free fried fish, basketball, face-painting, a moon bounce 'n other stuff "wuz goin' on," but the real reason for the event were the convos goin' on all up and down the block with all the folks comin' through.  Here's a partial list of the extended Christian hip-hop community I talked with or saw after my late arrival: Rasool Berry, Alonzo Johnson, (GCA youth minister), Pat Little and Wayne (CLF youth ministers) and 4 of the young people from her group, Mac 'n Al (Everyday Process), Ron Tinsley, K.K., Cleve Foat (CMR), Pastors Eric Mason & Duce (Epiphany Fellowship), Cruz Cordero, DJ Essence and DJ Official, Da T.R.U.T.H., J.R., Flame, Timothy Brindle, the Phanatic, John Wells (the Tonic), Tru-L.I.F.E. and his young family, Conchita Bradley (a former student of mine at CUTS), Gueshill, Nate Brand, Hal Sr., Jr. and Pam Hopkins and Sam Cornet.  Also seen in the place: Aaron Lyner, Corey Red, Malcolm 'n Tiffanie Walls, Joyce, Eric (CMR) and Doug Palmer.  Pastor Mason estimated there were about 2000 people who came through that Saturday afternoon and that there were a number of decisions made for Christ through the convos that took place throughout the day.  Photos have been posted here.

photo courtesy www.newsradio88.com

GUN PULLED at the BARBERSHOP - Philadelphia, PA - September 8 - Biked over to the shop to get a haircut and sensed it was gonna be a rough go as I heard far more than the usual amount of cussin' after walking in.  This was not the spot's normal atmosphere—something had the place agitated.  Came my turn for the cut and as I went to the chair I noticed on the counter a newspaper clipping somebody had brought in.  The article named the victims in a brazen rush hour shooting that took place at the SEPTA Broad + Olney station a couple of weeks before—turns out one of the young men shot to death there lived right across the street from the barbershop.  Well, ya know we got to choppin' it up about drugs, crime and violence in the surrounding neighborhood.  "All the 'good' people are leaving the city—moving out to the 'better and safer' suburbs—while the city itself is going to hell."  Turns out the individual who said this was planning to head for the exit himself.  That led to an astoundingly heartfelt dialogue, and we realized we were getting at some really deep, personal foundational issues.  [That's what you gotta like about barbershop convos.]  

As the conversation got more and more animated, a 64-year-old dude suddenly reached around his back and whipped out a handgun from his waistband to make a "point" (pun intended) about his readiness to deal with "whatever, whomever, whenever, wherever," etc."  [It was a black Beretta-type weapon with a 6 bullet clip.]  [Sidebar: found it interesting that this individual's greater concern was actually having to pay the lawyers who'd have to handle his manslaughter case after the shooting.]  Now the conversation got dialed up to "maximum real" (on all sides), and (as much as I hate guns and "how they do") I found myself actually grateful that this particular cat felt "safe" enough to reveal the fact he was carryin'.  I offered the statement that he was holding the very thing that most Americans probably respect and fear more than even God Himself (which, by default makes the gun America's "god"—to which he agreed).  I then moved on to the point that "unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain" (Psalm 127:1b).  A bit thrown by that, dude suddenly asked me my name and what it is that I do.  After answering his questions I continued dealing with the twin issues of fear and death.  "As I bike back home from here, I don't know if I'll get taken out by that garbage truck over there, or by a bullet, or by a heart attack, or by a tree branch or whatever.  But I am assured of this: the place I'll be goin' to is gonna be far better than even the suburbs, and it'll only be by His grace that I'll be allowed to go there."  From my viewpoint, the Lord Jesus was in on our convo from the git-go, and even more so as it rolled out to the "ya feel me" level, and now it became obvious that the cat with the gun was starting to see the Lord in it as well.  I invited him to imagine the Lord standing there next to us as we continued talking, and as we both got ready to go, I asked him to take all of his "stuff"—in the same f'real, f'real way that he had said it to me—to the Lord Jesus Himself.  He saw that and it was a sobering and powerful moment.  Continue to pray that he'd see Him!

Grant H. guides Hummer down the Delaware near the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge — September 3

The entire M.A. in Urban Studies Residency 2006 class
Photo courtesy of Eastern University

CAMPOLO COLLEGE, SCHOOL for SOCIAL CHANGE of EASTERN UNIVERSITY - Philadelphia, PA - taught one of the M.A. in Urban Studies Residency 2006 courses ("Christ and the City") August 30 through September 1, 2006.  Blessed to have the opportunity to interact with 11 students from around the United States, each one involved in urban ministry.  Also blessed to have a few special presenters come in: Sandra Rivera (a former student of mine at CUTS, who is a trial coordinator for the FMV [Families of Murder Victims] program here in Philadelphia), started off by playing a 911 homicide-related call and stepped us all the way through the trial process.  It was rough and shook us up a bit.  The next morning, Duce (The Ambassador from the Cross Movement) came in and did an overview of hip-hop culture with a missiotlogical emphasis.  He was followed by M. S. (another former CUTS student) who did a presentation on the mind of a Muslim.  Overall, it was a rather intense 3 or so days (there's a lot of reading and writing that has to be done before, during and after the course), and I am truly grateful for each one in the class who has committed him or herself to the serving the Lord Jesus in the city.  And again, my thanks and all our kudos to Dr. K-lee Johnson who coordinates the program and this 1st residency.  I'd be remiss not to mention the powerful presentation that Salt Works did on the first night of the Residency.  Directed by Philip Black, this Christian guerilla theater troupe went at some hardcore urban issues with several short dramas, soliloquies, lyrical spills, songs and tap dance.  Their preferred venue? tough urban neighborhoods where they swoop in, do their street-wise multimedia evangelism unannounced (to the neighborhood's great surprise) and then talk to folk afterwards.  People come to know the Lord Jesus through their innovative Isaiah / Ezekiel-like ministry.  Great stuff!

GREAT COMMISSION CHURCH - Roslyn, PA - We're gearing up for the launch of Great Commission Institute on October 15, 2006, focusing in on equipping the saints in both the church and beyond for the work of the ministry.  We've also started rehearsing the church's adult choir after a brief summer hiatus.  Click here to go to the great Commission Church Website.

CENTER for URBAN THEOLOGICAL STUDIES - Philadelphia, PA - Summer Session III - finished up teaching the three-week intensive "Postmodern Urban Culture" (HUM 212C).

PRAYER PRE-VIEW

Thank you for your faithful love, prayers, patience and support,

His ‘n yours, with much love ‘n respect,

HEP