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Fall-Winter 2009-10 Newsletter

Philippians 3:10

Were U looking to find out what happened with YUBM Ministries during the spring & summer of 2009?  Click here.

This is rough...

PRAYER PRE-VIEW

CENTER for URBAN THEOLOGICAL STUDIES - this winter (and spring) I'm teaching "Introduction to Philosophy" PHI 101C and "The Gospel / The Street: Bridging the Gap between the Church and Hip Hop Culture" HUM 304C3 (weekend intensive: 5 Saturdays [January, February (2x), March and April 2010]) and "Survey of American History" HIS 150C - each a 3 credit course at the undergraduate level) - Philadelphia, PA.

EASTERN UNIVERSITY - teaching "Apologetics for the Urban Youth Context" (a hybrid online / residency 3 credit capstone course for the Master of Arts in Urban Studies degree [with a concentration in Youth Leadership]) - Philadelphia, PA.  I'm also scheduled to teach a 6-week course on the Bible for one of Eastern's undergraduate nursing programs (mid-Spring).

A BLACK MAN

Do not look into my face 
        and see the color of my skin,
        and not see the content of my character.
Do not look into my history
        and see the darkness of my past,
        and not see the brightness of my future.
Do not look at the losses of my mistakes
        and not see the profits of my achievements.
Do not look at the distance I have yet to travel
        and not see the origin from which I have come.
Do not look at the foolishness of my youth
        and not see the wisdom of my older age.
Do not look at the poverty of my family
        and not see the riches of its love.
Do not look at the child I once was
        and not see the Black Man I have become!

Michael E. McKinzy, Sr. © 1993

Nataka nimjue Kristo na nguvu ya ufufuo wake na nishi riki mateso yake,
niwe kama yeye katika kifo chake;
na hivyo, kama ikiwezekana,
niufikie ufufuo kutoka kwa wafu.
Philippians 3:10-11 (Kiswahili)

All eyez on Him: Get to know the One Who watches over the 'hood, the 'burbs, the fields, the forests 'n the seas ...

Winslow Homer's "The Gulf Stream" (1899).  Looking around, it's not good.  Looking to Christ, there's deliverance.

When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?
Psalm 11:3 ESV

The LORD is exalted, for he dwells on high;
he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness,
and he will be the stability of your times,
abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge;
the fear of the LORD is Zion's treasure.

Behold, their heroes cry in the streets; 
the envoys of peace weep bitterly.
The highways lie waste;
the traveler ceases.
Covenants are broken;
cities are despised;
there is no regard for man.
The land mourns and languishes...
Isaiah 33:5-9a ESV

PEOPLE to PRAY for:

 Regardless of how you feel about war, please join them in prayer . . .
Photo by Romeo Gacad / AFP

CENTER for URBAN THEOLOGICAL STUDIES - finished up teaching "Biblical Theology" BIB 325C, "Foundations of Christian Thought" BIB 300C (Fall 2009 semester), and "The Gospel / The Street: Bridging the Gap between the Church and Hip Hop Culture" HUM 304C (each for 3 credits at the undergraduate level) - Philadelphia, PA.  Two particularly memorable students: two Koreans (89 and 69 years old) who commuted from Queens, NY (taking the train and several buses) for a full day of classes at CUTS on Tuesdays.  The astounding thing is that the 89-year-old plans to be a missionary to Africa in a couple of years!  What incredible passion, perseverance and energy! 

MANNA BIBLE INSTITUTE RETREAT - National Christian Conference Center in Valley Forge, PA - October 30 - November 1, 2009.  Again, what a wonderful time with the M.B.I. saints.  Thank you, Sis. Cleonia Walker, Sis. Winni Mercer, Evangelist Cheryl A. Johnson, Rev. Nate and Elsie Adams, Sis. Mary Green, et al, for putting me in the "ministry mix" and for your ministry to me during a painful time of of family sorrow.

Chuck Hepburn surrounded by his family — our last full family get-together with him

DAD'S PASSING - Our beloved father / grandfather, Charles B. Hepburn, left this life on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 around 1:50 pm at the Attleboro Nursing Home in Langhorne, PA.  My sister Deb and I were able to be at his side.  He was 81 years young.  Our entire extended family — Deb, Ed and I (the surviving 3 of his 5 children), Charlie and Jim (sons-in-law), Nicole (daughter-in-law), Melissa, Sarah, Carolyn, Chelsea, Spencer, Jordan (Spencer's fiancée), Emily and Isabel (grandchildren), Frank and Gus (2 "grand-dogs" — Dad's "grand-cat", JaMaine, didn't make the cut, but nobody seemed to mind) — gathered from CA, FL, NC, VA, NJ and PA to spend the weekend of October 17-18 with him.  It was only a week before that a few of us were able to celebrate a care conference goal he had achieved with a blueberry pancake breakfast for the staff and him at Attleboro (October 10).  The next day we were in the emergency room after a choking incident (he ingested a piece of one of his dentures) and things went downhill from there.  He spent 6 days in the hospital undergoing tests and procedures and was then released to hospice care.  Thank you all for continuing to pray for us.  Indeed, there's a huge hole in our hearts that, really, only the Lord Jesus can fill...

My sister Deb, brother Ed and I traveled up to New York's North Country October 31-November 1 to bury my Dad and Mom (Dorothy K.) in the Hepburn family's plot in Hermon Cemetery.  [ Our Mom passed away in March of 2004 and was temporarily interred in NJ so my Dad could visit her grave.]  We (their 3 surviving children) were very appreciative for and deeply moved by the 2-man Navy detail who traveled some 2 1/2 hours from Glens Falls, NY to play taps, fold the U.S. flag that covered Dad's coffin and present it to his children.  Wow, what a powerful lesson in steadfast faithfulness!  Dad served onboard a Navy minesweeper in the Pacific theater from 1943-44 and they saw to it that he be buried with full military honors.  As we closed the simple graveside ceremony, 3 deer made their way across a nearby field and a small swarm of little red ladybugs came through for a visit — both "reminders" setting off a wave of memories of happier days in our family's past.  After that Deb, Ed and I went through Dad's hometown of Russell: his childhood house, the Grass River where his Dad had a sawmill, Bert's Falls, the United Methodist church where his Mom once played the organ, the town hall, the little bandstand, etc.  All in all it was a very sad but very rich journey for each of us...

Juan James with his brother Vincent and his son Juan Jr.
photo taken in 1999

JUAN "ENOCK" JAMES - One of the founding members of the Philadelphia-based Christian rap group, the Cross Movement, passed away while at his job in Houston, Texas from what is believed to have been a heart attack on Saturday, October 17, 2009.  He was 35.

NEIGHBORHOOD IN MOURNING - Deeply saddened to learn of the sudden, unexpected passing of my next-door neighbor Theresa S. on September 4th.  She was the Block Captain for a number of years and was always watching out for us all.  We are all really going to miss her greatly.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to her sons, Brandt and Bryan.

BROTHER CERRONE BROWN - What the Philippians were to Paul's heart is sort of like what Cerrone is to mine (and to many others, I'm sure).  Blessed, overjoyed and roundly encouraged to get a phone call from him and hear the excitement in his voice about his teaching ministry at a South Philly church (leading the adult Sunday School every other Sunday through Tim Keller's book, The Reason for God).  He also enjoys doing the training sessions on his manager's job at Shop-Rite.  The Lord willing, might start teaching at the Center for Urban Theological Studies in 2010.  I remember having him as a student in a Gospel of Luke class at CUTS years ago (when he was 18 years old), and am grateful to the Lord Jesus for His seeing him through CUTS and then Westminster (while raising a family) and now for his desire to go back to school for a Ph.D.  Wow!  Looking forward to getting together with him soon for lunch and maybe even go sailing. 

. . . and pray for those facing this prospect on the home front

BROTHER "X": "I'M THINKIN' 'BOUT PACKIN'" - Life is rough (and getting rougher) everywhere you look.  While it's true we've each got our cross to bear in these trying times, it's a bit unsettling when you realize some kind of threshold's been crossed and you're left wondering if there will be any going back.  In talking with a young man I was grieved (can't think of a better word) to hear he was seriously considering getting a gun for his own self-protection.  He's been threatened by a crew that lives and hangs around his neighborhood, and they've been threatening him with guns themselves.  This can't end well no matter how you look at it,  The thing is, dude is one of the most peace-able, peace-makin' cats I know, but the situation has him fearing for his life.  It's become uncomfortably clear we've crossed a threshold, and it's lookin' more 'n more like there's no turning back.  Deuteronomy's devastation descriptors — Divine curses for disobeying the voice of the LORD and not doing His commandments (28:15ff) — making their presence known in our day.  I'm thinkin' 'bout packin', too: packin' meanin' you're thinkin' 'bout goin' somewhere: in this scenario, it's either the emergency room, the big house or 6 feet under.  How long, O LORD?  How long?

BRADY G. JR. - Blessed to have a leisurely convo with Brady G. Jr. to catch up on what he's been involved with: working at Olney High School (one of Philly's largest), finishing up school himself, and almost done writing the book he's been working on.  An excellent teacher and effective communicator, he's in the process of developing a hip-hop-oriented youth ministry-at-large.

PRESENT PURSUITS and PAST PERAMBULATIONS
( listed in reverse chronological order )

LDWR 2009: Pastor Benson (front row, orange shirt), Zeffro Gaskin (front row, plaid shirt) and Donna (3rd row up, far right)

STREAMSIDE ANNUAL LABOR DAY WEEKEND RETREAT - September 4-7, 2009.  After a 3-year hiatus, this signature retreat kicked back in with the theme, "You're In the Army Now" and featured Pastor Tony Benson, Sr. as the speaker and Bro. Zeffro Gaskin for the special music (I had the honor of leading the worship and praise).  It was good for all of us to see folks we hadn't seen for years, and especially to see Ed and Ellen Carwheel, the couple who started this annual event years ago.  It was also great to see members of the Streamside staff that I hadn't seen in years.  Thanks, Donna (Streamside program director), for your efforts and perseverance in jumpstarting this event, and may the Lord bless it to continue again next year.  And thank you, Pastor Benson, for your picturesque description of what a worship and praise leader is: "a chauffeur who leads the people of God into the presence with God."  Nice. 

Ed & Ellen Carwheel got the Streamside Labor Day Weekend Retreat started years ago, building it into an awesome ministry

Eggemoggin Reach: serenely-still summer sunrise, seen from the shore of Little Deer Isle, August 17, 2009

MAINE COAST VACATION 2009 - It was touch-and-go for a while there (economically and schedule-wise), but I was able to get up to Little Deer Isle, Deer Isle and Mount Desert Island for a week-long vacation with my sailboat, Hummer.  Two of my goals in life were realized over the past couple of years: 1) build a boat, and then 2) learn how to sail it.  Both were fully accomplished back in 2006-07 and since then I've been chompin' at the bit to get back up "Downeast" to continue with my sailing education.  Able to do so in grand fashion with some wonderful new friends and amazing weather (for Maine!).  

Struck up friendships with the new Southwest Harbor Harbormaster, Dennis Dever, a couple of Southwest Harbor lobstermen (Shawn Clements [we had several extended conversations] and Gene Thurston) and a couple of artisan boat builders (master craftsmen Richard Stanley and Tim Goodwin).  I was given the generous opportunity to take an extended look around inside the iconic Ralph W. Stanley's Wooden Boats Shop in Southwest Harbor, during which time I saw the last boat they would work on in that shop's particular location, the Freedom Sloop, West Wind.  Also met Rob and Linda (a couple who sailed up from Virginia), who graciously responded to my request for help in learning how to sail.  Thanks, R. 'n L. — I am indebted to you both!  Shout-outs also to my neighbor, Bryan Smedley (for helping me get Hummer car-topped for the trip to Maine) Linda (the Little Deer Isle postmaster who caught me up on the helicopter crash in Swain's Cove a few weeks before), the woman working at the Little Deer Isle Information booth [sorry I didn't get your name], college professor and Scenic Flights of Acadia pilot, R.W. Estela (indeed, flying is a lot like sailing), Sue McIsaac at Quietside Campground, Shane (Mount Desert Island High School senior — for helping me get Hummer off the car and into the water, then helping rig her the next day), Jake (for your help in getting Hummer out of the water and onto the car in Manset, 2 anonymous Stonington lobstermen (for your help in getting Hummer out of the water and onto the car after my run up Deer Isle's west coast), Bob (for helping me rig Hummer and your advice), David Gardner (the moose antler seller who taught me a lot about moose antler-tology), Frances and the fantastic crew at Quietside Cafe in SWH (always a pleasure and delight!), Anne Tergesen (the Wall Street Journal reporter who patiently answered not a few questions [what a neat job where they'll let you get away from NYC to Southwest Harbor, Maine to write an article]) and Philly neighbors, Jose and Antonio for helping me get Hummer off the car and into my backyard.  

Photos are posted here, here, here and here (Hummer 2009).  Videos are also posted at www.youtube.com/mainemanayuh  When I get some time, I'll update my blog with all that happened.  Had a fantastic, rejuvenating and joyous time in the Lord and am struck with the similarities and parallels between the environs, economics and rural village social dynamics of the Maine coast and those surrounding the Sea of Galilee (a marine environment surrounded by hill country, a Woodworker, fishermen, boats, etc.   

Pastor Nat Obey, oldest daughter Nicole and wife Regina after service at Touch Point Church Ministries at W.B.C.

TOUCH POINT CHURCH MINISTRIES in GREENBELT, MD - What a blessing to reconnect with Pastor Nat Obey, Jr. and his wife, Regina, who invited me in a couple of times to help lead in the worship and praise at this church plant which meets on the campus of Washington Bible College (July 12 and August 9, 2009).  Wonderful to see what the Lord Jesus is doing in the lives of the saints here.  My first time there Pastor Obey had also invited guest preacher, Pastor James Marshall (from Zion Baptist Church), who brought a great message from John 12:42-43.  Nicole now works at the Pentagon and is looking forward to becoming a first-time homebuyer.  The church's Website is www.touchpointcm.org 

THREE of HEP's URBAN MISSION JOURNAL ARTICLES NOW ONLINE - Although they may be a bit dated (they were written in 1989 and 1992) they still got 'feet' regarding the street — enough so that Efrem Smith and Phil Jackson saw fit to quote from them in their 2005 book, The Hip-Hop Church: Connecting with the Movement Shaping Our Culture (InterVarsity Press).

"Penetrating an Urban People Group."  Bob Hepburn, Urban Mission, Mar 01, 1989, Volume 6:04, pp. 33-42.  http://www.strategicnetwork.org/index.php?loc=kb&view=v&id=15652 

"Rap Music: A Window into a Culture."  Bob Hepburn, Urban Mission, May 01, 1992, Volume 9:05, pp. 6-19.  http://www.strategicnetwork.org/index.php?loc=kb&view=v&id=15780

"Rap Music: Give Me My Respect, Man!" Bob Hepburn, Urban Mission, Sep 01, 1992, Volume 10:01, pp. 16-28.  http://www.strategicnetwork.org/index.php?loc=kb&view=v&id=15789 

Thank you for your faithful love, prayers, patience and support,

His ‘n yours, with much love ‘n respect,

HEP

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