Book Review: The Gospel Remix: Reaching the Hip Hop
Generation
Watkins, Ralph C., and Jason A. Barr. 2007. The Gospel Remix: Reaching the Hip Hop
Generation. Valley Forge, Pa: Judson Press.
Chapter 1
This chapter explores what is hip hop and how do Christians
reach the hip hop generation without conforming to the world. We must look at the culture and embrace
and love this generation like we would any other.
Chapter 2
This chapter looks at who the hip hop generation is and what
has shaped their identity and self-worth or lack of self-worth so that we may
understand them. They are deeply rooted in the African American cultural
heritage. Hip hop language can be
very offensive to the traditional church but we must try to understand that
they use language or specific words to help them understand, redefine, and
shape their world (26).
Chapter 3
Children of the hip hop generation are more removed from the
church than their parents are.
Watkins uses the term hip-hop squared for these children. There is a
divide that is developing within the African American community that is rooted
in class and is happening inside and outside the church. This shift must be addressed in the
church today.
Chapter 4
The church must be willing to embrace this change in order
to reach the hip hop generation. Churches must consider how they define
evangelism, effective evangelism, how is our church being effective, how much
of our resources are going to evangelism?
Chapter 5
The church is called to pastor and disciple the hip hop
generation. This chapter explores
what that looks like.
Chapter 6
This chapter gives an account from Jason A Barr of the
Macedonia Baptist Church of Pittsburg with ministry and preaching that has been
effective with the hip hop generation as well as the challenges.
Chapter 7, 8, 9
Jamal-Harrison Bryant, William H Curtis, and Ottis Moss III share
their experiences and challenges of ministry with the hip hop generation.
