Trailblazin Ministries

An Un.orthodox Approach to Ministry

Written by LaRosa Johnson
Friday, 08 June 2007

As a man of God, a lover of hip-hop, and one who has a heart for the urban culture, I see how many traditional churches refuse to embrace hip-hop, and as a result they are losing an entire generation to the enemy. They have their objections because of what they see being broadcast under the name of "hip-hop" in mainstream media, and they think that this is what the youth and urban culture are all about, failing to see that there is another level that they are completely blinded to. Then there are those who feel it is their mission to brandish any form of hip-hop or urban culture as evil and of the devil. On top of that, throw on the fact that there is now a post-modern generation where everyone believes that they can have their own truth and path to God, or have no need for God altogether. Put this together, and you wind up with a group of people that is difficult for the church to reach out to, especially when they are trying to reach them with methods that just aren't working anymore.

This is the problem that today's church is facing, and if they do not address this situation, then we are going to wind up with a generation that does not know God. Kymo Dockett addresses this very fact in his book titled The Lost Generation (WTWmagazine.com), and it is a reality that is staring us in the face. What makes this problem much more difficult to deal with is the fact that most of our churches are so far removed from their days of youth that they are unable to understand the hip-hop phenomenon; therefore, instead of trying to meet these people where they are at, they are trying to bring them into churches with stained glass windows and have them convert to their culture and way of life, one that is completely foreign and irrelevant to them. What is the church today? This is a question being faced by churches all across the nation, especially those who are trying to reach those who are in the inner-city, the ones affected most by the prevalent hip-hop culture.

The solution is a simple one, but it requires an unorthodx approach to ministry, an approach that too many churches are simply unwilling to take a look at. The solution to the problem is taking Christ to the hip-hop culture and making it relevant to the people you are trying to reach. This is what Christian hip-hop is all about, and it is this kind of unique approach that has put hip-hoper and pastor Tommy Kyllonen in the spot light with his ministry at Crossover Church in Tampa, FL. It is his vision and purpose to take Christ to those who the current church is unable and unwilling to reach: the urban community.

How did he do this? If you want to find that out, you need to check out his book, CD, and DVD titled Un.orthodox to get the complete story. Starting out as an intern, and eventual youth minister, there were a few things that Tommy noticed worked in drawing inner-city kids to the gospel: 1) finding a common ground and meeting their needs, 2) using what they loved as a means for sharing the gospel, and 3) just being authentic and genuine, both in persona and word. Basketball tournaments and leagues quickly turned into kids coming for midweek Bible studies, which began to incorporate hip-hop as a part of the service. All of that eventually blossomed into his career as a hip-hop artist and pastor of a church whose focus is on reaching the urban hip-hop culture. What's most important in all of the growth and relative fame, Tommy has kept the focus on Jesus Christ and preaching the gospel, through his music and lifestyle.

There is a lot that can be learned from Urban D's experience with Crossover Church, and it is something that should be looked at closely if you even have the smallest desire to reach your urban community. All of this can be found in his Un.orthodox book and album, so much so that anyone can be equipped and prepared to start their own urban ministry after reading his book. It is this example, the one set at Crossover, that we need to take a look at if we are going to reach the lost and make disciples for Christ. If it sounds like I'm passionate, it's because I am and I share the same heart for ministry that Tommy Kyllonen and the rest of Crossover has for reaching the urban community. The church needs to be ready to take an unorthodox approach to ministry, and reaching them with their own culture is where it's at.

We have to remind today's church that they weren't always Christian and that much of their favorite music was inspired by a secular community, but it was transformed to reach them where they were. This is the gospel of Christian hip-hop; we are striving to be a voice in hip-hop both in our lifestyle and the words that we speak. It is important to remember that the biblical definition of "church" is not the building, but the people: we are the church, those who are focused on their evangelistic mission. Look at the example of Jesus and the early apostles, as well as their adversaries (the religious folk), and you will get a very clear picture and understanding for what reaching urban culture is all about. Jesus Christ and the early church went out of their way to meet people where they were at and in a context that they could understand. The parables that Jesus taught were relevant and spoken in a manner that was able to be understood by the people who lived during that time. What was the purpose of them? To teach them about the Kingdom of God, enlightening them to the proper understanding of the Biblical texts. They also didn't set themselves apart; they didn't look, dress, or speak any differently than the people they were trying to reach; instead, the only thing that was different was their lifestyle. This is what Christian hip-hop and urban missionaries are doing in their mission field. They are dressing and talking like the ones they are trying to reach, and then giving them the gospel message and biblical teaching in a manner that is able to be understood by its hearers.

With all of that being said, I want to implore you to check out our reviews of Urban D's latest project Un.orthodox. Check out the kind of biblical content that you can find in the CD and the type of testimony that you'll find in the DVD documentary, as well as the meat and insight found in his book. I sincerely urge you to pick up the entire package because this is truly a timely message for those who have a heart for urban missions and engaging the hip-hop culture with a message of Christ. This is about more than just music, it's about saving souls and doing it in a way that shows people they can be in the culture but not of it.

Personally, I was influenced a great deal by this project. The material as a whole is bangin' and presents a serious challenge to anyone who chooses to partake of the material. You are challenged to be unorthodox, by being yourself (for me, it's hip-hop) and not conforming into something you are not (traditional), and then taking that to fulfill the Great Commission. It has challenged me in a way that I never imagined it would. I now feel a great desire to start a local ministry that reflects what Crossover is doing in Tampa, and that desire is going to keep burning deeply until I put my foot on the pedal and start making it happen. I already know I have the spiritual gifts necessary, so it's a matter of doing. Maybe the same will happen for you, maybe not; but you will be changed and have a greater respect for hip-hop culture and those who are reaching it after getting your hands on these materials. Thank you, Pastor Tommy for putting out such a great work for the culture to learn and grow from!

Click on the images below to read the reviews!