Spring-Summer 2011 Newsletter

BIBLICAL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY -  Taught two ESLPlus classes at Biblical during the Spring and Summer 2011 semesters:  "Introduction to Worldview and Philosophy" and "American History and Culture."  

CENTER for URBAN THEOLOGICAL STUDIES - The Spring 2011 semester finished out with teaching "Introduction to Philosophy" and "The Gospel / The Street: Bridging the Gap between the Church and Hip-Hop Culture." Had a rally great semester!

EASTERN UNIVERSITY - I taught a hybrid online / residency course, "Apologetics for the Urban Youth Context" (a Master of Arts in Urban Studies course) during the spring semester, a full semester on-site class, "Urban Youth Culture" (for the Urban Youth Workers Certificate program), and during the summer I covered "Christ and the City" (for another professor) for the Master of Arts in Urban Studies. 

WESTMINSTER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY - Still pressing on at W.T.S. on my D, Min..in Urban Mission -- really enjoyed getting back into the classroom (re-engaging my passion in ministry: enabling the church to effectively evangelize and disciple a relatively hard-to-reach people group: the street-oriented young urban Black male.  Time is runnin' thin.  "Occupy till I come."  Luke 19:13

A BLACK MAN

Do not look into my face 
        and see the color of my skin,
        and not see the content of my character.
Do not look into my history
        and see the darkness of my past,
        and not see the brightness of my future.
Do not look at the losses of my mistakes
        and not see the profits of my achievements.
Do not look at the distance I have yet to travel
        and not see the origin from which I have come.
Do not look at the foolishness of my youth
        and not see the wisdom of my older age.
Do not look at the poverty of my family
        and not see the riches of its love.
Do not look at the child I once was
        and not see the Black Man I have become!

Michael E. McKinzy, Sr. © 1993

Nataka nimjue Kristo na nguvu ya ufufuo wake na nishi riki mateso yake,
niwe kama yeye katika kifo chake;
na hivyo, kama ikiwezekana,
niufikie ufufuo kutoka kwa wafu.
Philippians 3:10-11 (Kiswahili)

All eyez on Him: Get to know the One Who watches over the 'hood, the 'burbs, the fields, the forests 'n the seas ...

Winslow Homer's "The Gulf Stream" (1899).  Looking around, it's not good.  Looking to Christ, there's deliverance.

When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?
Psalm 11:3 ESV

The LORD is exalted, for he dwells on high;
he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness,
and he will be the stability of your times,
abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge;
the fear of the LORD is Zion's treasure.

Behold, their heroes cry in the streets; 
the envoys of peace weep bitterly.
The highways lie waste;
the traveler ceases.
Covenants are broken;
cities are despised;
there is no regard for man.
The land mourns and languishes...
Isaiah 33:5-9a ESV

SEA CHANGE
(Don't ya know!)

PEOPLE to PRAY for:

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

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.)  

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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