The Hip-Hop Church - by Efrem Smith & Phil Jackson (Paperback)

About the Book

Pastors Smith and Jackson invite readers to the hip-hop church, which, like the culture from which it rises, speaks to the heart. Here, they show the urgency of connecting hip-hop culture and church to reach a generation with the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Church Life)

Book Synopsis

Hip-hop is here.The beats ring out in our cities. Hip-hop culture is all around us: in the clothes youth wear, in the music they listen to, in the ways they express themselves. It is the language they speak, the rhythm they move to. It is a culture familiar with the hard realities of our broken world; the generation raised with rap knows about the pain. They need to know about the hope.Enter the hip-hop church.Like the culture it rises from, the hip-hop church is relevant and bold. And it speaks to the heart. In this book, pastors Efrem Smith and Phil Jackson show the urgency of connecting hip-hop culture and church to reach a generation with the gospel of Jesus Christ. They give practical ideas from their urban churches and other hip-hop churches about how to engage and incorporate rap, break dancing, poetry and deejays to worship Jesus and preach his Word.Hip-hop culture is shaping the next generation. Ignoring it will not reduce its influence; it will only separate us from the youth moving to its rhythm. How will they hear Christ's message of truth and hope if we don't speak their language? And how can we speak their language if we don't understand and embrace their culture?Hear the beat. Join the beat. Become the beat that brings truth and hope to a hungry, hurting generation.

Review Quotes

"The Hip-Hop Church implores church leaders to engage the hip-hop culture rather than protest it. . . . Gives readers new insights into a culture influencing most youth in America, regardless of their race or social status. The critique of current traditions is likely to raise objections from some, but it's just as likely to change the way you do ministry."

--YouthWorker Journal, May/June 2006

"Smith and Jackson are to be commended for their thoughtfulness, insight, and commitment to educate the church on this most crucial segment of society, the hip-hop culture."

--Robert W. Strong, Great Commission Research Journal, Winter 2010

"Smith and Jackson provide a valuable starting point for further research on hip-hop's impact on Christian churches around the globe."

--Religious Studies Review, January 2007

"Smith and Jackson undertake the challenge of reconciling the church to hip-hop culture, marrying the two seemingly disparate entities, and offering new hope through this integration."

--CCM, April 2006

"The hip-hop culture has penetrated, infiltrated and influenced greatly the young American culture. Hip-hop is no longer an African American phenomenon but now has greatly impacted the White and Latino culture as well. It is extremely important for us as Christians to understand the art of hip-hop and how we can use this medium to reach young Americans with the good news of Jesus Christ. Phil Jackson and Efrem Smith's new book, The Hip-Hop Church, is the best resource I've seen in helping us bridge this gap. For anyone working with youth today, The Hip-Hop Church is a 'have to' read."

--Wayne "Coach" Gordon, president, Christian Community Development Association, and founding pastor, Lawndale Community Church

About the Author

Efrem Smith is senior pastor of The Sanctuary Covenant Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He has also served as executive director of The Park Avenue Foundation (Minneapolis) and urban ministry director of Minnesota Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Smith is a member of the CORE seminar training team of Youth Specialties and a speaker with Kingdom Building Ministries. He is also the author of Raising Up Young Heroes.

Phil Jackson is associate pastor of Lawndale Community Church and pastor of The House Covenant Church, an all youth and young adult hip-hop church in Chicago. Phil also trains and consults youth leaders in urban communities across the country through Bringn' dafunk Communications, Inc., a ministry he founded to change the way the gospel is communicated to youth. Phil and his bride, Kim, have three fantastic teenage children.