Commentary
Battle lines form over social justice: Is it gospel or heresy?
Christians, both as people of faith and citizens of this country, have pondered what to do in this current social climate.
We Need Servants of Peace, Not Soldiers of Fear
A broadened sense of fear can promote the tribal instinct to band together against a dangerous ‘Other.’
Difficult Conversations: Pregnancy, Childbirth Complications
Black mothers are three to four times more likely to die than white mothers in pregnancy and childbirth. The disparity has existed for decades. Women of varying ages open up about their experiences to address how the disparity has affected generations of black women — and even women in the same families.
A Giving Father
A personal tribute from a daughter about her selfless father, a man of unwavering faith who cared deeply for his family and ingrained a ministry of caring for others in his children.
Dangerous stereotypes stalk black college athletes
Brains vs. brawn: Does big-time college sports value black student-athletes?
PODCAST SHORT: Christians in SC can be a model for us
Dr. Melvin E. Banks has a biblically based, two-minute podcast short on how bitterness can rob us of peace.
LeBron James, Welfare King
With the I Promise School, LeBron James embodies the principle of engaging the welfare of a people.
Women athletes honor God with their bodies
For young women, a focus on physical discipline can be great practice for developing their spiritual discipline. A meditation on female athletes, the Olympic spirit, and our bodies as reflections of God’s glory.
From Fatherless to ‘Abba Father’
A son’s reflections on fatherhood, abandonment, and forgiveness.
The surprisingly beautiful Africa the media never shows you
When Motebang Moeketsi looks at his country, he sees the majesty of its mountains, the stillness of its rivers and the joy of its people. Moeketsi lives in Lesotho, a country that sits between the Drakensberg and Maloti mountain ranges and is surrounded by South...
Podcast Shorts: How Do People of Faith Address Violence?
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, the founder of UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.), has biblically based, two-minute podcast shorts that cover injustice, gang violence, drug dealers, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
What Pastors Can Learn from Barbershops and Salons
Barbershops and salons are not just about style, but about creating sacred spaces that allow people to be themselves. Find out what pastors can learn from these spaces.
Millennials, Faith, and the Black Church
UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.) and Urban Faith led an open dialogue with millennial influencers on Millennials, Faith, and the Future of the Black Church at the 104th Hampton Minister’s Conference.
#HarveyTaughtMe Part 1: Storms and Skeptics
I have been working in the city of Houston since 2012 and in my five years of living in the state of Texas I never experienced a “real” hurricane making landfall—until Harvey. What our city experienced was something much more than any of us could have imagined, as so...
How to Avoid the Box of Limitation
We have been privileged to live in a generation that has mastered the art of multitasking, being able to do multiple things at the same time and excelling. You really have to, otherwise, life will pass you by. Sometimes the news changes so fast that if you wait too...
Generosity: Going beyond the tithe
I’d garner a wage that if you’ve ever stepped into a church, you’re familiar with the “Offering” moment. It’s generally a time in the service where someone will get up and give a brief message about the importance of tithing. It is almost comical how quickly the...
What’s Really Going On in Syria?
As an American, it is very difficult for me to understand the conflict in Syria; the depth of which encompasses hundreds of years of political and religious battle lines. Modern technology brings international attention to the plight of the citizens there. Images...
The Me I See: My Race, My Faith, My Identity
“Are you brown all over?” The innocence of the question did nothing to prevent me from being flabbergasted. As I stared into the almost cartoon-sized blue eyes of this 4-year-old boy, compassion filled my heart. I simply smiled and replied, “Why yes, of course!” He...