Purpose
Will you recognize Him when you see Him?
On a day when I felt every right to be lost in my own weariness, a hungry stranger offered my sons and me the chance to feed Jesus.
Two-Minute Parenting Podcast Shorts
A compilation of two-minute parenting podcast shorts by Dr. Melvin E. Banks, founder of UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.).
Honoring James Cone, founder of Black Theology
We would like to hear how Dr. James Cone influenced you. We invite you to share 200- to 250-word tributes on UrbanFaith.com. Send your tribute with your first and last names, city, state, and church affiliation (if desired) to [email protected]
Loving Past Segregation in America’s Churches
It’s no secret that Sunday morning is often referred to as the most segregated day of the week, when Christians of all races come together to worship among their ethnic peers. However, do most Christians prefer to fellowship this way, even in the most segregated areas...
How to avoid the mundane and dream with purpose
The alarm goes off. Your eyelids crack open as your brain starts to register the piercing foreign and unwelcome sound chosen out of a list of stock options that came with the device. In that moment, you choose. You can attempt to acknowledge that another day has...
Author Shares Journey on Beating the Odds in ‘Moments of Surrender’
Moments of Surrender: Revealing the Missing Pieces is a realistic walk through the growing pains of surrendering your life to God. The book is written by Author, Life Empowerment Coach, and Speaker Charlene Bolden who uses her journey from being a child in the foster...
Check Out These 5 Podcasts For Black Christian Millennials
In case you’ve been hiding under a rock, podcasts have become all the rage in recent years. If you are a Christian there are a lot of dope podcasts out there. And, if you are a Christian millennial then you are really in luck, because there are podcasts out there just...
After two drown in Tanzania, Christians re-examine safety of river baptisms
(RNS) — It’s a rite that dates to the time of Jesus, who was dunked in the River Jordan by John the Baptist. But Christians in East Africa are now taking stock of their faith’s central rite after one such ritual turned tragic in northern Tanzania. Two Christian...
Will your gift really make room for you?
I am firm believer that we serve a just God. His love for us extends far beyond what we could ever imagine, and as a result of His grace, we are blessed with gifts and the opportunity to reach our full potential regardless of who we are and where we come from....
What to do when Jesus sleeps while the boat is rocking
Matthew 8:23-27 KJV 23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. 24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. 25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him,...
7 Ways to Survive Seminary for Students of Color
The other day I got an email from a friend on how he was getting frustrated and tired of reading books and hearing lectures on Eurocentric theology and church history. He wanted to have some color injected into his Bible college and seminary education. It’s a story...
Are you unsure about your life’s purpose?
Purpose is a word that is on the minds of many millennials, however, for many it seems to be that piece of the puzzle that is hidden; That needle in the haystack that you are searching for. The frustration of figuring out what one is supposed to do is what seems to...
Why we need the Africa Study Bible
The internet is saturated with tons of information for all facets of life, including spiritual resources. In fact, if you do an Amazon search for something like study Bible results will include a wide variety of options. While scrolling down the list, you will find...
Women bloggers spawn an evangelical ‘crisis of authority’
(RNS) When Sarah Bessey started blogging in 2005, she saw it as a way to keep in touch with friends and family. And that was in the early days of the Christian blogosphere, which she remembers as an “oasis of community” — strangers sharing everything from parenting...
Crown of Thorns: One Woman’s Journey From Foster Care To Success
Shalita O’Neale is not your average survivor. The 34-year-old is a foster care graduate who took her experiences and used them as inspiration to create the Fostering Change Network, a nonprofit that creates avenues to a successful life while eliminating the stigma of...
Hospitality: What the First Century Church Teaches Us About Welcoming the Stranger
“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13:2, NIV). Have you ever known someone who never meets a stranger? Folks who live their lives in such a way that nearly everyone they meet...
It’s Lent, Shhh…Don’t Tell Anyone
It’s time to stop talking about what we are giving up for Lent–or judging those who do–and start pressing into Lent quietly and in expectation of God’s reward.
Kenyan pastors offer young people a token of love
NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) On Valentine’s Day, some Kenyan pastors handed out red roses as a sign of love to HIV-positive youth suffering stigma and discrimination. The gesture was meant as a way to reach out to youth, many of whom feel rejected by the churches. “We came to...