September 19, 2007
Page A6
Holy
Hip
Hop
continued
fro m F ro n t
and their mates are pioneers in a newer
breed of hip hop. Rapping about how nice
your skills are or what kind of eash flow
you eloek takes a far backseat to the un­
adulterated message of a personal rela­
tionship with God and personal spiritual
growth.
It’s not what most people would expect
to hear in someone’s car as they cruise by
with bass slapping in their trunk. To some
it would be the last thing they would
expect to hear in church, but that’s what
happening with the groups on the Cross
Movement label.
Hip hop has been a distinctive voice
since it’s induction into pop culture in the
early ‘80s. It was the voice of the unheard,
of the young and, more often than not, the
voice for black Americans.
But with time, rap music underwent
change, and today it’s one of the largest
vehicles utilized by corporate America.
The once neglected community from which
hip hop sprung is now showcased in me­
dia with a certain consumer spin. It rules
the Top 40 of popular music and has gone
mainstream on TV sitcoms.
Cross Movement artists contradict and
confront almost every message publicized
in commercial rap today. They have also
stirred up controversy from certain indi­
viduals in the community of churches.
Some religious camps consider hip hop
at it roots lawless and rebellious and there­
fore unfit to carry the Gospel of Jesus
Christ. Many churches and churchgoers
feel that hip hop has become a weapon
against younger generations by invoking
ideas of self-seeking fantasies where
money, even by illegal means, is the truest
form of success, or where sexual allure is
apower worth exploiting for personal gain.
But others like using hip hop to carry a
message of salvation and see the new hip
hop ministry as a blessing from God.
Iz Real, of the Philadelphia group Ev­
eryday Process and a newer member of the
Cross Movement family, said the empha­
sis is on using hip hop to build a ministry
that’s about reaching the individual within
their culture.
“When we step on the stage we want to
make sure that Christ’s name is spread and
is glorified,” he said. “It ain't about us.”
‘Flame,' also known as Marcus T. Williams-Gray, a St. Louis, Mo.-based hip-hopster, performs in Portland as part of anew breed of rap that speaks to a
relationship with God and spiritual growth on a personal level.
North Portland Bible College
4905 N. Vancouver Ave., Portland, OR 97217
503-288-2919
www.northportlandbiblecollege.org
Fall Term Schedule
September 24 - December 6.2007
Classes to enhance m inistry, f o r anyone, a n y m o rn in g o r night
MONDAY MORNING (9:00 -1 2 noon)
0T203 * Book of Deuteronomy
Alan Cushway, ThM.M.Div.
The Book of Obedience, quoted the most by Jesus
MONDAY
0TS101 * Old Testament Survey, I
Jim Sellers, M.Div.
Genesis through II Samuel
CH202 ’ Church History
David Brown, M.Div.
Apostolic Church to the Reformation
TUESDAY
B F 101 ’ Inductive Bible Study
Alan Cushway,ThM.M.Div.
Develop skill for independent Bible study and teaching
photos by J ason F loyd /
T he P ortland O bserver
Emanuel Lee Lambert
Jr., also known as Da
Truth,' makes Gospel
the message and hip-
hop the vehicle to
deliver the word of God
to a large crowd
gathered for at a
Maranatha Church
concert in northeast
Portland.
No Celebrity Breaks for Simpson
continued
fro m F ro n t
yer who represented O. J . S i mpson
in the early 1990s in business and
real estate m atters, said the pub­
lic and law enforcement “are look­
ing for some sort of conviction
for those who want justice for
Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman.
Everyone wants to be the one
that gets him ."
Experts also raised questions
about the decision to release a
man who police said carried a gun
in the alleged holdup o f two c o l­
lectors at a Palace Station casino
hotel room.
W alter Alexander. 46, of Mesa,
O.J. Simpson’s booking photo
from his arrest on Sunday.
Ariz., was released w ithout bail, will also be determ ining who
despite facing charges alm ost owned the m em orabilia— every­
identical to Sim pson’s. Legal ex ­ thing from cleats worn by form er
perts said that may indicate his San Francisco 49ers quarterback
testim ony could be key to con­ Joe M ontana, to au tographed
baseballs, and Sim pson’s Hall of
victing Simpson.
An apparent audiotape o f O.J. Fame certificate.
Bruce From ong, one o f the
Sim pson’s standoff with men he
accused o f stealing his m em ora­ sports m em orabilia dealers who
bilia begins with the form er NFL said he was robbed, told A B C ’s
star dem anding, “ D on’t let no­ “G ood M orning A m erica” on
Monday that the item s did not
body out o f here.”
“Think you can steal my s— belong to Simpson.
“ If you’reask in g d id they once
and sell it?” the voice identified
as Sim pson’s said, in a recording belong to him, yes, they did,”
released by celebrity news Web Fromong said. “ But these were
things that belonged to him a
site T M Z .com .
A big hurdle for prosecutors long time ago.”
WM 205 ’ Introduction to the Religions of the World Geoff Hartt, M.Div.
Major religions, their teachings and daily life practices
WEDNESDAY
NT 101 ’ NewTestament Survey I
Rob Robinson, D.M.
Matthew through John
GE 111 * Basic English
Connie Stanton, B.A.
Paragraph structure, outlining, essays, formal
correspondence, book reviews, etc.
(Students are required to take PCC Placement test unless their transcripts Indicate no need)
THURSDAY MORNING (9:00 -1 2 noon)
NT 209 ’ The Kingdom of God in the Teachings of Jesus
Beth Nance, M.Ed M. Div. Explore whether the Kingdom of God is present or future
THURSDAY
UM 209 ’ Ministries to Urban Families
Linda Thompson, MSW
Learn strategies to assist inner-city families with special needs.
SATURDAY MORNING (9:00 -1 2 noon)
NT 209 Greek Grammar
Daniel Willard, BANT
Fundamentals Greek grammar and vocabulary
memorization. Greek/BibleTH.
MU 080 Basic Piano(Individual/Group lessons)
Zetta Burton, B.A.
Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday (by appointment only,
call 503 709-2905)
All evening classes are from 6:30-9:30pm . ’ Tuition: $120 percourse
’ Required for the ACM degree in Christian Ministry.
503-288-0033
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