Spring-Summer 2010 Newsletter

PEOPLE from the PAST - Great to hear from Nathaniel Brand, who is now practicing law in Paterson, NJ.  It's been years since we've talked.  J. Kelvin Jackson is soldiering on in Grand Rapids, MI; developing leaders.  (He reminded me that we've yet to make that promised road trip out to see the Grand Canyon.)  Arturo P. Lewis and his wife Debra up in Ridgewood, NJ.  Their son, Demetrius, is entering his senior year at Princeton University.  My how time flies!  Darryl Redmond is now the Pastor at Faith Chapel Reformed Church in Paterson, NJ.  Look at what the Lord done did!  Great to re-connect with all the saints at Third Eternal Baptist Church for their annual Dorothy Ballard Memorial Scholarship Fund Hymn Sing on July 25th.  The saints from Cosmopolitan Missionary Baptist Church were also in attendance, so it was like a big family reunion.  Sam Harris is enjoying married life with wife Natalie, living in Camden, NJ.  He went through a particularly difficult circumstance a little while back that involved a mugging, so please keep in in prayer.  His brother Tim is holdin' his own, working 2 jobs and waiting for something better.  My nephew Spencer got married in June to Jordan (nee Hough), and honeymooned in the Dominican Republic.   As for me, I am still a recovering seminarian — slowly making my way back to finishing up my D.Min., but still wondering where to finish it up at. 

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

BIBLICAL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY - I taught an ESL class on "American Culture and History" for 12 Korean Bible University students at Biblical Theological Seminary in Hatfield, PA during the month of July.  Thank you, Dr. Oh, for inviting me in to work with this eager set of students.  The highlights for me were learning more about Korean culture from the students (we quickly found some common ground in rap music), and a class trip to Independence Mall on July 23rd. 

CENTER for URBAN THEOLOGICAL STUDIES - During the spring I taught "Introduction to Philosophy" PHI 101C and "The Gospel / The Street: Bridging the Gap between the Church and Hip Hop Culture" HUM 304C3 and "Survey of American History" HIS 150C - each a 3 credit course at the undergraduate level - Philadelphia, PA.  

During the summer, I taught "Contemporary Apologetics" during the months of May and June, and "The Gospel / The Street" class from May through early August. 

EASTERN UNIVERSITY - taught "Apologetics for the Urban Youth Context" (a hybrid online / residency 3 credit capstone course for the Master of Arts in Urban Studies degree [with a concentration in Youth Leadership]) - Philadelphia, PA.  I also taught a 6-week course, "Biblical Literature in Contemporary Context" AIT 314, for the Campolo College for Graduate and Professional Studies at Eastern (April-May 2010).

NEW LIFE BIBLE INSTITUTE RETREAT - Word of Life Conference Center - Schroon Lake, NY - March 25-28, 2009.  Once again, yet another wonderful retreat with the saints from this church-based Bible institute ministry begun by Pastor Timothy Ruffin over a quarter of a century ago.  Back again was Pastor William Smith, Sr. who spoke on the theme of "Fit for the Master's Use" (2 Timothy 2:21, et al).  And again, I was privileged to lead the 68 or so attendees in worship and praise and to work with retreat director Evangelist Cheryl A. Johnson in putting together a choir of about 20 volunteers who faithfully (once again) went above and beyond the call of duty in rehearsing and singing during the Sunday morning service.  Thank you, encouragers Sis. Betty Ruffin, John Ruffin, Larry Johnson and the rest of the NLBI saints for putting me in the mix one more time, and thank you for your continued ministry to me through all these years.

THREE of HEP's URBAN MISSION JOURNAL ARTICLES NOW ONLINE - Although they may be a bit dated (they were written in 1989 and 1992) they still got 'feet' regarding the street — enough so that Efrem Smith and Phil Jackson saw fit to quote from them in their 2005 book, The Hip-Hop Church: Connecting with the Movement Shaping Our Culture (InterVarsity Press).

"Penetrating an Urban People Group."  Bob Hepburn, Urban Mission, Mar 01, 1989, Volume 6:04, pp. 33-42.  http://www.strategicnetwork.org/index.php?loc=kb&view=v&id=15652 

"Rap Music: A Window into a Culture."  Bob Hepburn, Urban Mission, May 01, 1992, Volume 9:05, pp. 6-19.  http://www.strategicnetwork.org/index.php?loc=kb&view=v&id=15780

"Rap Music: Give Me My Respect, Man!" Bob Hepburn, Urban Mission, Sep 01, 1992, Volume 10:01, pp. 16-28.  http://www.strategicnetwork.org/index.php?loc=kb&view=v&id=15789 

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

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

HEP

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