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Street
Evangelism
(C) 2001 Bert Barrett
for 2-BZ Media
Some
of you have realized that Hip Hop is an excellent tool by which we can
connect with our "seeds" (ebonics word for "kids"). I wish to offer
up some suggestions if this is something you feel led to get involved with.
Bear in mind that I am not claiming to be an expert, but that I draw upon
years of involvement with youth and inner city culture. I draw from
when I lived the culture myself as a teenager, to when I spent time teaching
math in the inner city, to now…as I organize youth talent shows in Atlanta.
The common theme that runs through the following points is that if you’re
going to minister to the culture, you have to respect it. The following
is NOT claiming that this is the only way that will work when ministering
to the youth. However, there will be 411 here that will almost certainly
help you in some way to be effective in this particular approach to inner
city youth ministry.
-
If
you’re going to speak "Hip Hop" then keep it real. The seeds will
know if you fakin’ the funk in a heart beat. You should know
everything you can about the latest news in the industry. This is
necessary because this is what is in the hearts of the seeds-they relate
to the soap opera of Hip Hop culture. Some will be able to tell you
EXACTLY who is serving time and for what charges, who was shot recently,
etc. If you’ve ever wondered about the one line answers you get from
them when you try to talk to them…it’s an indication that they can’t feel
you.
-
Always
offer up positive words of encouragement. Use the strategy of positively
reinforcing things you see that are right, while not acknowledging the
negative stuff. Turning attention to the negative stuff, if that
is your strategy, can be a difficult approach. However, if your trust
level has been established, this is much easier to achieve.
-
Knowing
the playas in the Hip Hop game and what experiences they go through can
help you to teach contextually. What I mean here is that you will
find examples from the lives of rappers whether they be positive or negative
things, that you can use to teach. In several cases, because the
seeds are there already, it just makes it easier to leverage these war
stories, to get your point(s) across.
-
They
must know what you’re about and must be able to look at you, your family,
and your life without seeing ANY obvious contradictions. The seeds
can spot a hypocrite a mile away. Hypocrites are not conducive to
effective street ministry.
There
are more bullets to come…
Peace,
tOObiz
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