RELEVANT - Issue 86 - March/April 2017

86 2017 NEW MUSIC GUIDE N.T. WRIGHT | PHANTOGRAM EMPIRE STATE OF CHANGE | PAUL RUST F A I T H , C U LT U R E & I N T E N T I O N A L L I V I N G

KIRK FR ANKLIN IS REVIVING HIP-HOP

Martin Scorsese The faith (and doubt) that compels Hollywood’s most iconic filmmaker

MAR-APR 2017 // $4.95 US

MARCH-APRIL

02

2017

real, honest, heartfelt expressions of worship includes the single “All That I’m Made For”

DEBUT ALBUM 01

dhp.org

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

MARCH-APRIL

02

2017

2

H E A V E N

C O M E

S E P T E M B E R M I C R OS O F T

C O N F E R E N C E 2 1 - 2 3

T H E AT E R

2 01 7

LOS

O

A N G E L E S

BRIAN & JENN JOHNSON, CARL LENTZ, ROBERT MADU, BILL JOHNSON AND WITH BROOKE LIGERTWOOD AND THE BETHEL MUSIC COLLECTIVE

1

B E T H E L M U S I C .CO M / H E AV E N CO M E 03

MORE .

7 RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

DON’T GO TO SAVE THE WORLD— GO BECAUSE YOU WANT TO LEARN TO LOVE IT. — Amy Peterson, Dangerous Territory — “Peterson is a thoughtful writer whose honest prose will appeal to any readers wanting to align themselves with God’s will, whether in a foreign land or at home.” � PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, STARRED REVIEW

NOW AVAILABLE dhp.org

MARCH-APRIL

wherever books are sold

04

2017

05

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

“WHERE DO I GO TO FIND THE MEANING OF EXISTENCE AND THE MEANING OF LIFE? FOR ME, IT’S CHRISTIANITY.” – MARTIN SCORSESE

A CONVERSATION ON

FAITH AND FILM MARCH-APRIL

06

2017

At an exclusive screening of his new film Silence, Academy Award winning director Martin Scorsese reflected with Fuller Seminary’s Mako Fujimura and Kutter Callaway on faith, film, and suffering.

WATCH THE FULL CONVERSATION AT FULLER.EDU/SCORSESE 07

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

CONTENTS

T H E M A G A Z I N E O N FA I T H , C U LT U R E & INTENTIONAL LIVING

MARCH-APRIL 2017 // ISSUE 86

March-April 2017, Issue 86 You talkin’ to me?

Publisher & CEO | CAMERON STRANG Editorial Director | AARON CLINE HANBURY Executive Editor & Director of Digital Media | JESSE CAREY Managing Editor | REBECCA MARIE-JO FLORES Copy Editor | KATHY PIERRE Content Producer | CHELSEA STEELE Content Coordinator | JESSICA COLLINS Contributing Writers: Craig Groeschel, Tyler Huckabee, Eric VanValin, Kathryn Watson, Micah Yost, Kim Hunt, Justin Sarachik, Eugene Cho, C. Christopher Smith

54

Director of Business Development | AME LYNN FUHLBRUCK Senior Account Manager | RACHEL DOUGLASS Advertising & Distribution Coordinator | CAROLINE COLE

Features

Senior Art Director | JOHN DAVID HARRIS Designer | LAUREN HARVILL Designer | ALEXA MENDEZ Development Director | BRAD TAYLOR

Martin Scorsese

Audio Producer | CHANDLER STRANG Contributing Photographers: Darren Lau, Wolf James, Yasi, Juliana Bernstein, Brantley Guiterrez, Centricity Music, Andy Barron, Wesley Mann

p.54 At the center of the Hollywood legend’s career is a tension that weaves through his most powerful films—and culminates in his latest.

Operations & Project Manager | NIKKI GRAHAM Finance Manager | MERCEDES LANGDON Operations Support Coordinator | JENNA RICCI Systems Administrator | JOSH STROHM

4 4 // FOUR LIFE-CHANGING DECISIONS

70

What you decide today can change everything about your tomorrow.

4 6 // PHANTOGR AM

7 0 // 2017 NE W MUSIC GUIDE

The duo’s Three comes from a place neither member expected—or ever wanted.

Our annual look at the artists, trends and albums sure to define the year.

5 0 // WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT ?

7 6 // WHO CARES

We unpack millennial marriage rates, singleness and Paul Rust’s hit Netflix series.

Worthy justice issues are everywhere.

Here’s how to avoid cause fatigue.

6 2 // EMPIRE S TATE OF CHANGE

8 0 // KIRK FR ANKLIN REVIVES HIP-HOP

Christianity is exploding in New York City.

Go inside the movement.

The gospel legend is at the center of pop culture’s most unexpected trend.

6 8 // TES T YOUR EQ

8 4 // THIS CHANGES E VERY THING

If you don’t know what emotional intelligence is, you need to read this.

Are Christians getting the Easter story wrong? N.T. Wright makes you wonder.

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: www.RELEVANTmagazine.com/advertise

RELEVANT TABLET EDITION Print subscriptions include access to our interactive edition, available for iOS and Android tablets.

Download the RELEVANT app from the iTunes App Store or Google Play Store and connect your subscription using your account information.

RELEVANT MEDIA GROUP 900 N. Orange Ave. Winter Park, FL 32789 RELEVANTmediagroup.com TO SUBSCRIBE relevantmagazine.com/subscribe Rates: 1 year (6 issues) U.S. $21.99, Canada $31.99, International $37.99 SUBSCRIBER SERVICES WEB: RELEVANTmagazine.com/subservices Phone: 866-402-4746 EMAIL: support@relevantmagazine.com BULK DISCOUNTS: 866-402-4746 RETAIL DISTRIBUTION Michael Vitetta, Curtis Circulation Company mvitetta@curtiscirc.com

1 0 // FIRS T WORD

8 8 // RELE VANT RECOMMENDS The latest books, music and movies that you should know about. Because how else will you

1 2 // CURRENT

know what to read/listen to/watch?

TV’s new obsession with religion, the $411 billion price tag of losing sleep, Mark Zuckerberg: world-changer, how to become an

9 6 // L AS T WORD

audiophile, ‘The Shack’ is back, Chance the

Pastor Eugene Cho knows how to unite our

Rapper, women’s rights, IG tips and more.

fractured country.

MARCH-APRIL

08

Issue #86 March/April 2017 (ISSN: 1543-317X). RELEVANT is published 6 times a year in January, March, May, July, September and November for $21.99 per year by RELEVANT Media Group, Inc., 900 N. Orange Ave., Winter Park, FL 32789.

Periodicals postage paid at Orlando, FL, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to RELEVANT Magazine, P.O. Box 531147, Orlando, FL 32853.

2017

09

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

FIRST WORD a letter from the editor

design work for clients on the side to pay the bills. Well, that and all the crippling debt.

Looking back at that first issue, we were a bunch of kids who had no real idea what we were doing. But we hustled. We believed in what we were doing.

Welcome to the Next Era

And we learned as we went. We made mistakes (like that time I put “Black Eyes Peas” on a cover), which is how we learned to get better (don’t type “Black Eyes Peas” on a cover, and get a copy editor).

We kept hustling. We continually evolved our design, partially because we were young

After 14 years, we’re—once again—blowing everything up.

and didn’t know any better—the magazine’s first designer was a talented, self-taught 21-year-old—but also because we had a goal of making a groundbreaking, modern magazine that could truly impact culture,

T

his issue represents a milestone for RELEVANT. Not only does it reveal our completely new look (more on that in a minute), but it also marks the magazine’s 14th anniversary

in print. Back when we were just starting out, we had a feeling there were a lot of people, like us, who were passionate about God, culture and changing the world, but

and we just kept tinkering until hopefully we could figure out how to do that.

And that’s how it kept going. We got better over the years and started to figure things out. But just when we would settle into a groove, I’d get bored with that groove and want to blow it all up again.

That startup hustle has never stopped.

Media is always changing, this generation is always changing, and we keep wanting to do new things. We started and folded countless

were also asking those big life questions.

other projects over the years. We’re always reinventing things And 14 years later, you’re holding this

BY CAMERON STRANG

No media existed that gave voice to what

magazine in your hands. That blows my

God was uniquely doing in this generation.

mind. Looking back at all that time, there are

So, in that void we were dumb enough to

a million things I’d change, obviously, but I

take a stab at it.

can tell you this: We pour our heart and soul

In 2001, we published a few books, and then in 2002 we launched

I’ve personally looked at every letter of

RELEVANTmagazine.com, hoping to find that

every word and every millimeter of every

audience. RELEVANT had been a dream of

design we’ve ever published. (To the chagrin

mine since college, and by the spring of 2003

of our talented designers and editors, I’ve

we had built up just enough of a readership

probably tinkered with most of them.)

to take the leap with the actual magazine.

Fourteen years in, I still find myself up

For someone whose personality wants

at 3 in the morning the day before we go to

to chase big dreams but see them happen

print obsessing over the flow of an article’s

tomorrow, it was the culmination of an

intro and just how much padding we put

excruciatingly slow crawl/walk/run process

around the Marky Mark cutout in the

that took eight years.

Current section. The reality is, big dreams

We printed 20,000 copies of that first issue

MARCH-APRIL

into every page of every issue.

actually happen in the minute details.

(and gave away most of them). The magazine

That’s where passion and purpose turn into

obviously couldn’t support itself, so we did

something tangible.

010

2017

As I mentioned in our last issue, we’ve just

THE MORE THINGS CHANGE An overview of the different eras of RELEVANT:

to talk about a life lived with intentionality,

RELEVANTmagazine.com is new from the

purpose and selflessness.

ground up. Around the same time we started that project last year, I started challenging

IS SUE 1

March 2003

The issue had a cool white border.

Well, it would have been cool except the printer made it crooked.

ANDY HUNTER | BJORK | CHRIS TOMLIN | TAKING BACK SUNDAY | TALIB KWELI | MUTE MATH C

C

WWW.RELEVANTMAG

INE.COM

M. NIGHT

I S S UE 11

November 2004

One of our first big mainstream artist photoshoots.

After this one, we really thought we’d arrived.

SHYAMALAN

SCOTT STAPP COMES CLEAN HOW TO START YOUR

OWN BUSINESS

2004 IN REVIEW PLUS:

PREPARING FOR BABY JIMMY EAT WORLD CAEDMON’S CALL TO INDIA EAT HEALTHY FOR CHEAP FAITH & COFFEE $3.98 US/$5.98 CAN ISSUE #11 | NOV_DEC 2004

cover2.indd 2

EISLEY’S HARD ROAD BACK | LUPE FIASCO | THE WORLD RACE | KYE KYE | WHAT IS WORSHIP?

REL EVANTMAGAZINE.COM

OUR SUMMER MOVIE PICKS IS ROB BELL A

UNIVERSALIST? SOME STRAIGHT ANSWERS ON HIS VIEWS OF HELL

11 THINGS TO KNOW AT 25(ISH)

PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER

HOW TO MAKE YOUR QUARTER-LIFE CRISIS REALLY COUNT

06

7

25274 63696

9

ISSUE 51 / MAY_JUNE 2011 / $4.95

STEP OUT FROM

BEHIND THE MYSTERY

I S S U E 51

May 2011

We were big fans of The Kills, but learned not every artist has an interest in talking about deeper things with us.

look like for the print magazine, too.

of unnecessary branding and hype and

Our magazine is unique. As an indie publisher, carving out an audience niche

JOSH GARRELS | N.T. WRIGHT | ACTIVE CHILD | RUSSELL BRAND | KOPECKY | SEINABO SEY | THE HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN RAP FAITH, CULTURE & INTENTIONAL LIVING

R E L E VA N T M A G A Z I N E . C O M

WHAT TO DO ABOUT ISIS

the media industry. But even still, I couldn’t

wrestling with faith and the profane.

shake the feeling the magazine still wasn’t I’ve poured my life into RELEVANT. It

INSIDE THE STAGGERING HUMANITARIAN CRISIS

ALABAMA SHAKES

THE AVETT BROTHERS THE TRAGEDY THAT CHANGED THEIR MUSIC

J O Y

W I L L I A M S H OW S H E P U T T H E C I V I L WA R S BEHIN D HER AND IS E M B R AC I N G A NE W SE ASON

ISSUE 76 | JULY_AUG 2015 | $4.95

RLV_76_Cover.indd 1

We want you to rethink the Easter narrative by listening to insight from

career. Every year has been different from

N.T. Wright. And we want you to listen to

the next, and I’ve been blown away by what

Phantogram’s new album more closely,

doors God has opened over the years online,

knowing what happened while they were

with podcasting, video, everything.

recording it.

86 2017 NEW MUSIC GUIDE N.T. WRIGHT | PHANTOGRAM EMPIRE STATE OF CHANGE | PAUL RUST F A I T H , C U LT U R E & I N T E N T I O N A L L I V I N G

KIRK FR ANKLIN IS REVIVING HIP-HOP

you see to be thoughtful, intentional and

biggest thing we do—not by a long shot—but

challenging. That’s not just in our words, but

if you added up the hours we put into it,

in our design as well.

it’s our most valuable by far. The content is

A redesign says a lot about a publication—

debated, refined, elevated (or scrapped). The

what it is, and where it’s going. As we move

designs are envisioned, created, evolved and

into a vastly digital-first world, we wanted

created again.

to create an analog print experience that

Surveys tell us 80 percent of our readers

carries equal purposefulness in its content and design.

Thank you for getting our magazine and supporting it over these years. It’s

keep copies of RELEVANT long-term. The

our greatest joy and challenge making

magazine isn’t disposable to them, it’s

RELEVANT the best it can be every issue (and

something they want to share or keep on

yes, I know sometimes we miss the mark),

their coffee tables because something about

but that’s the beauty of making a magazine.

the content and worldview connected with who they are. That’s why we do this.

In that vein, this redesign is an important

There’s always the next one. And hopefully, one day we’ll figure out what we’re doing.

first step in a new era for RELEVANT. We won’t stop initiating a unique conversation at the intersection of faith and culture. We aren’t changing our voice—we still don’t take most things too seriously

I S S U E 86

(which you might be able to tell on page 32).

March 2017

We aren’t changing our pursuit of God,

The new era begins.

We want RELEVANT to be a magazine that

a special role in this whole thing. It’s not the

send it to the printer.

5/29/15 5:33 PM

East right now.

it’s been the sole focus of my professional

March 2013

An updated logo and simpler cover approach. The first of many recent covers that had light grey backgrounds.

We want you to know about what’s happening to Christian history in the Middle

was a dream God gave me in college, and

cream hopefully rises to the top, and then we

I S S U E 76

We want you to entertain a conversation with visionaries like Martin Scorsese on

I S S U E 62

July 2015

clutter. We want the message to be clear.

has helped us weather a lot of changes in

We stay up late. We push each other. The

Donald Miller interviewed Tony Hale for our 10year cover story, sitting in a closet so he could grab a neighbor’s Wi-Fi.

There’s less noise. There’s more focus on the content that matters. There’s a removal

But this magazine, for some reason, holds

9/27/04 6:01:34 PM

So, what’s new about the redesign?

the team to be dreaming up what that would

fulfilling its potential.

GOD. LIFE. PROGRESSIVE CULTURE.

And we aren’t changing our commitment

completely blown up our digital presence.

C A MER ON S T R A NG Publisher & CEO

growing in our faith and talking about what God is doing and saying today. We aren’t

Martin Scorsese The faith (and doubt)

losing our passion for justice and aiming to

that compels Hollywood’s most iconic filmmaker

be the hands and feet of Christ in the world

MAR-APR 2017 // $4.95 US

around us.

011

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

CURRENT A B I M O N T H LY L O O K A T F A I T H , L I F E A N D C U LT U R E

MUST-SEE

TV

THE PATH Network: Hulu Season 2 Debut: January 25

THE ARRANGEMENT Network: E! Debut: March 5

THE LEFTOVERS Network: HBO Season 3 Debut: April 16

THE GOOD PLACE Network: NBC Season 2 Debut: Fall 2017

Faith, in the Golden Era of TV This season, religion is prestige TV’s newest obsession.

AN

INTERESTING TREND HAS EMERGED during the current

drama about a mysterious religious cult, said, “I’ve always been

golden era of prestige television. Shows about religion

fascinated with just religion in general. It creates answers to heavy

and faith have suddenly become a staple.

questions to provide hope and guidance, which a lot of people need.”

This trend isn’t lost on the people actually

The show’s second season recently premiered.

contributing to it: During a panel at a recent Television Critics Association press event, Aaron Paul, star of The Path, Hulu’s suspense

MARCH-APRIL

HOLY SH*T Network: ABC Debut: TBA

Paul isn’t alone in wanting to explore religion through TV. The Path’s showrunner, Jessica Goldberg, told The Hollywood Reporter

012

2017

Surfrider Foundation volunteers cleaning up your trash

there’s a reason faith is having a moment on TV. “It’s certainly thematically, in the whole world right now, a very pressing subject, so writers are always going to be drawn to what’s happening in the world,” she said.

The Path joins a 2017 TV lineup filled with shows that explore the world of church, religious groups and supernatural happenings based on religious teachings. The OWN drama Greenleaf (whose second season premieres March 15) explores the scandalous culture of a Memphis megachurch. E!’s creepy-looking The Arrangement is about a self-help organization called “Institute of the Higher Mind.”

HBO will conclude its supernatural series The Leftovers with a third season that debuts April 16. The show follows a group of people left behind following a mysterious rapture as they try to find God and meaning in the event’s aftermath.

Comedian Nick Thune is developing a sitcom pilot for ABC about a church that

SPIRITUALITY AND ORGANIZED RELIGION SET THE STAGE FOR SOME INTERESTING TELEVISION.

The Hands-On Donation Generation Millennials want to be more involved in making an impact than just writing checks.

THE WAYS THIS GENERATION

hires a hip, young pastor to reach a younger generation. Irreverent hilarity ensues.

On the non-scripted side, Leah Remini’s Scientology and the Aftermath took a startling insider’s look at the real-life world of the controversial cult of Scientology.

It turns out the topics of spirituality and organized religion set the stage for some very interesting television.

“To take this thing that’s supposed to be spiritual, internal, that’s probably supposed to be between you and this Maker, and then the need to monetize it, to give it structure, to give it community—I just find that endlessly fascinating,” Goldberg told THR. “And just watching religions in the world and how they’ve sought to do that, it makes for great drama.”

give and “give back” are merging— and that’s forcing changes for nonprofits. Take, for example, the Surfrider Foundation. The nonprofit focuses on clean oceans and connects donation efforts with volunteer and community efforts.

People who want to get involved can join a group of neighbors cleaning up a local beach, give money or any combination. Sounds pretty simple, right?

Actually, it’s a game-changer: A five-year study into the beliefs and attitudes of more than 75,000 millennials by research agency Achieve, along with The Case Foundation, found that to be

013

successful, newer nonprofits will have to show that what they are doing makes a real difference.

It’s not that millennials aren’t giving. In fact, of millennial-age employees surveyed by Achieve in 2015, 72 percent volunteered in the past year and 84 percent gave to a nonprofit. Unlike previous generations, millennials want to be hands-on with their causes.

Similarly, millennials don’t separate the personal from the professional when it comes to causes they support.

More than half of millennials surveyed said a company’s nonprofit work was a factor in their decision to take a job there.

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

03/18

CURRENT

MISC.

A Tale of Two Countries Recently, 42.5 percent of the residents of Norwich, England, reported having 5. SPRINGFIELD, MO

“no religion.” That

3. SALT LAKE CITY, UT

makes Norwich

3. CINCINNATI, OH

the world’s most

2. ST LOUIS, MO

godless city.

1. CHATTANOOGA, TN 5. AUGUSTA, GA 1. LAS VEGAS, NV

New York’s first 4. ORLANDO, FL 2. BATON ROUGE, LA

women-only co-working space is here.

The Wing in

4. BIRMINGHAM, AL

Manhattan opened the shared workspace and

MOST SINFUL CITIES

MOST CHURCHED CITIES

social club in early October.

A look at America’s most sinful cities in proximity to the most churched.

IF YOU DIDN’T KNOW, let us

avarice, lust, vanity and

break it to you: America is a

laziness. Certain cities scored

note is the location of the

sinful place—but some places

higher than others in some

most sinful cities (red, above)

definitely more than others.

categories, showing not all

in relation to the country’s

vices are distributed equally.

most Christian. The blue dots

fancy “Reserve”

above show the areas where

roasteries across

Data crunchers at Wallethub recently ranked

One interesting thing to

Las Vegas is the No. 1 most

the country’s most sinful

sinful, and, OK, that’s not all

the concentration of churches

cities by looking at 27

that surprising. But other

and religious participation

key indicators of “evil

cities in the top 10—Orlando?

are highest.

deeds”—including anger,

Springfield?—might be a little

hatred, jealousy, excesses,

less obvious.

MARCH-APRIL

Hmm, makes you wonder what’s going on in Louisiana.

014

Starbucks is set to open 30

the globe. Because the coffee giant wants to push the artisanal shops out of your neighborhood, too.

2017

Strengthen your commitment to your life’s calling with an advanced degree from Southeastern University.

BUSINESS

Master of Business Administration Executive, Global, Missional Leadership, and Sport Management concentrations EDUCATION

Doctor of Education MEd in Arts & Academic Interdisciplinary Education MEd in Educational Leadership MEd in Elementary Education MEd in Exceptional Student Education MEd in Exceptional Student Education/Educational Therapy MEd in Reading Education MEd in TESOL BEHAVIORAL & SOCIAL SCIENCES

Master of Social Work MS in Professional Counseling MS in School Counseling MS in Marriage & Family Therapy MA in Human Services MA in International Community Development CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES & RELIGION

Doctor of Ministry Master of Divinity MA in Ministerial Leadership MA in Theological Studies

015

Follow us @seuniversity RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

04/18

CURRENT

“I now regret watching ‘one more’ episode of The Crown.”

The Cost of Losing Sleep? $411 Billion Not sleeping doesn’t just negatively affect your health. It’s actually hurting your wallet.

BASICALLY NO ONE GETS ENOUGH SLEEP, we all know

that. But some new research shows the effects of sleeplessness cost a lot more than lethargy and dark circles around your eyes. A recent study that looked at five global countries (the U.S., U.K., Canada, Japan and Germany) found lack of sleep exacts an economic toll of more than half a trillion dollars per year. Trillion.

In the U.S. economy alone, lack of sleep causes a $411 billion dip per year. You read that correctly, America— hours of laying in bed switching Candy Crush candies costs a collective $411 billion.

These costs are primarily the result of productivity losses. According to further reporting by The Washington Post, it all adds up to 1.23 million missed work days per

LACK OF SLEEP CONTRIBUTES

year within the U.S. workforce. A lack of proper sleep

TO 1.23 MILLION MISSED

can weaken the immune system, increase the risk for

WORK DAYS ANNUALLY.

infectious illness and cause fatigue and depression—all of which can lead to preventable absenteeism.

Research has shown simple changes to sleep duration can make a big difference.

Experts suggest if Americans who sleep less than six hours a night just increase their nightly sleep to between six and seven hours, it could add $226.4 billion back to the U.S. economy.

Marky Mark Credits Faith for Making It (Not the Funky Bunch)

IF YOU KNOW of Mark

Wahlberg, you know he grew up in Boston.

Around the time of Boston’s race riots, the 16-year-old was in a dark, troubled place. He was arrested for several violent crimes, but recently told People

what got him on a better path: “I’ve been able to turn my life around and become a better person through focusing on my faith.” And what about today? “Being a Christian is the most important aspect of my life.”

MISC.

MARCH-APRIL

Zach Braff is finally returning to

When SCOTUS Justice Clarence

Patrick Stewart will boldly go where

TV after a seven-year hiatus. ABC

Thomas swore in Vice President Mike

no Shakespearean actor has gone

recently picked up the pilot for Start

Pence earlier this year, he became the

before. The classically trained star has

Up, a series based on a podcast of

first black person in U.S. history to

officially been cast as the prestigious

the same name.

preside over the inaugural ceremony.

‘Poo’ role in The Emoji Movie.

016

2017

APRIL ‘17

MAY ‘17

First release on vinyl, including a hand-written lyrics book by Fleurie.

10 yr anniversary limited edition release-- remastered for vinyl.

EXCLUSIVE RECORD OF THE MONTH CLUB, FOR VINYL ENTHUSIASTS Experience music as the artists intended.

Find your new favorite albums and artists.

Create a unique collection.

There is more to vinyl than superior audio-qual-

We send you great albums that you can’t get

As music freaks, and vinyl lovers, we’re very

ity; it is an extension of the musician’s artistic

in your local record store. Each album we press

particular about the music we distribute. As

intent. In an age of digital music, listening to an

is a one-time run, and many of the albums

Christians and artists, we value artistic integ-

album on vinyl is about interaction. Its physical-

have never previously been released on vinyl.

rity, and we’re passionate about supporting

ity encourages listeners to purposefully engage

We want to help other vinyl lovers create a

musicians that create thoughtful art, regardless

with an album, rather than just let it stream as

collection worthy of the precious space on

of what genre it fits into. We’ll introduce you to

background noise. We partner with each artist to

their shelves, filling it with timeless vinyl to be

artists who create with purpose, and music that

create lasting pieces of art in a throwaway world.

enjoyed again and again.

resonates with your soul.

1 0 % O F F @ P R I VAT E P R E S S .C LU B / R E L E VA N T 017

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

05/18

CURRENT

3 Foods You Can’t Eat Without Contributing to Slavery The disturbing truth behind some of America’s favorite foods.

THIS GENERATION IS CHANGING THE FOOD GAME. Not only

are millennials purchasing organic groceries and ethically sourced food more than previous generations (by at least 35 percent), but they are also spending almost half of their food budgets dining out—which is raising an unintended problem. Unethical food sources are ubiquitous in the United States and not always easy to detect, especially when eating out and not sure of the restaurant’s suppliers. If

A Christian Is Martyred Every Six Minutes LAST YEAR, ALMOST

90,000 Christians died for their faith, according to an Italian research group. That means in 2016, one Christian was martyred every six minutes. The staggering number makes Christians the most persecuted religious group in the world. Around 70 percent resulted from “tribal conflicts” in Africa, often because Christians refused to take part in violence.

you’re really wanting to eat and shop more ethically, here are three types of food you’ll want to avoid:

CITRUS Instances of forced labor have been found in the citrus groves of Florida and the Carolinas. And because these foods find their way across the country, it’s one of the hardest to avoid. The easiest solution? Only buy Fair Trade Certified citrus.

SHRIMP This step is easy (but sorry shellfish lovers).

Data overwhelming suggests that unless you live in a coastal area where you can purchase fresh shrimp locally, the shrimp in your grocery store was bought and processed using slave labor.

CHOCOLATE A lot of people don’t realize many aspects of the production of chocolate use slave labor and other unethical working conditions.

Groups like Stop the Traffik and Food Is Power have created apps that can help you purchase ethically sourced chocolate.

MARCH-APRIL

018

The AllTerrain Wheelchair That’s Changing Lives A DESIGNER HAS created

the world’s first allterrain wheelchair built for people in developing countries—and he’s giving it away for free.

Called SafariSeat, the designs will be released as a free open-source toolkit, and the chair itself can easily be constructed from bicycle parts. The first 50 wheelchairs are in production at a local workshop in Kenya.

2017

ARE YOU PREPARED TO

LEAD IN A

MULTICULTURAL

WORLD?

GAIN THE SKILLS YOU’LL NEED THROUGH LIBERT Y ’S GLOBAL STUDIES PROGRAMS.

• Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies (on campus)

• Master of Arts in Global Studies (online and on campus)

• Undergraduate Global Studies Certificate (online)

• Graduate Global Studies Certificate (online)

Learn more at LIBERTY.EDU/GLOBALSTUDIES.019

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM Training Champions for Christ since 1971

06/18

CURRENT

MISC.

Maybe Mark Zuckerberg Should Just Be President

For the Zuck, every day is casual Friday.

In an interview with Cosmo South Africa, Ciara encouraged

The millennial billionaire wants to change the world.

unmarried fans to remain abstinent, explaining, “You shouldn’t feel like you have to give your body away

A LOT HAS BEEN SAID about Mark

to get someone to

Zuckerberg. But whatever you think

like you.”

of the notoriously private tech entrepreneur, there’s no denying his defining creation, Facebook, has changed the world. Now, the 32-year-old is working to make an even bigger mark for the greater good. Here are just a few of the charitable things he’s up to:

HE WANTS TO GIVE FREE INTERNET TO IMPOVERISHED NATIONS Zuckerberg recently announced a bold, long-term goal to connect the whole world—including developing countries with limited or no access—via a mobile web. Oh, and he wants to make it free.

HE WANTS TO CURE ALL DISEASES BY THE END OF THIS CENTURY

Augmented Reality Is About to Make Sure You’re Always Connected.

Always.

MARCH-APRIL

This one is especially lofty: Along with his wife, Zuckerberg donated $3 billion to medical research with the goal of helping scientists and engineers put an end to diseases around the world. He not only thinks it’s possible, he wants to see it done in his daughter’s lifetime.

HE FUNDED A (FREE) PRIVATE SCHOOL That’s right. In East Palo Alto, a lower-income city in California, Zuckerberg’s The Primary

School opened its doors this year to 51 preschool students.

The school’s curriculum is specifically tailored to address health and, obviously, educational needs. And he’s offering it for free, too.

Architect and inventor of “Cardborigami,” Tina Hovsepian is

HE IS GIVING AWAY HIS FORTUNE Zuckerberg announced in late 2015 that he and his wife plan to give away 99 percent of the money they’ve earned from Facebook—a mind-boggling $45 billion. That’s real news.

using her design knowledge to create durable, temporary housing for homeless people by using cardboard.

FOR THOSE who thought virtual

reality would be the Next Big Thing, take note. Given the disappointing holiday sales (only 4 million units of a projected 6.1 million) and the general inconvenience of the product, experts like Apple CEO Tim Cook think the future is less virtual and more augmented. Unlike virtual reality, augmented reality lets you see the physical environment around

Eight individuals OGD’s R-7 Smartglasses

you, but with used for AR added computergenerated sounds and visuals (like ads?), fundamentally changing your perception of reality. In this augmented future, everything and everyone will always be connected. All the time. Wait, have we really thought about this?

020

now have as much wealth as half of the world’s entire population. But several—including Bill Gates and Warren Buffett— have pledged to give away their fortunes.

2017

We believe in intelligent design.

Introducing the all new RELEVANTmagazine.com

07/18

CURRENT

STEP 1 TURN THE TABLE

We’d get a used turntable to start.

But if you insist on new, Audio Technica, Fluance and Pro-Ject have great midrange options.

STEP 4 GET GOOD SPEAKERS

Music won’t sound great if the speakers aren’t quality. Buy used and get a highend pair for a fraction of the price. You can hear the difference.

STEP 2

So, You Want to Be an Audiophile Be warned, it’s not cheap to upgrade from

UPGRADE YOUR CARTRIDGE THIS GENERATION is rejecting

disposable consumerism for quality that lasts, so it’s no surprise that last year LPs outsold digital downloads in the U.K. for the first time. The vinyl revolution is here to stay and now you want to join in. The problem is, knowing

expensive. Getting one of those cheap all-in-one vintage-looking players from Urban Outfitters might be tempting, but we wouldn’t recommend it. They sound terrible and can actually damage

all-in-one

build a decent system? Thankfully, analog audio doesn’t get outdated, so you don’t have to buy new. With

STEP 3

vinyl, it’s better to buy quality used

AMPLIFY IT

components on Craigslist than cheap

Affordable amps (to power the sound signal) are plentiful, but make sure it has a Phono input. If not, you’ll need a separate $50 preamp.

new equipment. Piece your dream system together over time.

MARCH-APRIL

When scouring the used LP bins, look for 180 gram pressings.

Get a record cleaner brush. And join a curated LP club like Vinyl Me, Please.

system can be daunting—not to mention

records. So, how can you cost-effectively

022

STEP 5 NOW CRATE DIG

how to put together a decent turntable

those novelty turntables.

If you get a used or entry-level turntable, swap out the needle.

Pearl, Ortofon and Shure have great cartridges under $100.

2017

023

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

08/18

CURRENT

MISC. A view of heavily polluted Shanghai, China.

Air quality index levels were classed as “Beyond Index”

D

ESPITE SEEMINGLY GLOBAL consensus,

Pope Francis speaking out and nearly 50 years

of activism, creation care remains a low priority for the vast majority of evangelicals surveyed.

A recent study by Barna Group found that only 19 percent of evangelical Christians believe humans “absolutely caused climate change and/or global warming.”

That’s less than half the national average (42 percent).

The abortion rate in America is at its lowest point in more than 40 years. From 2011-2014 alone, the number of abortions dropped more than 12 percent and now stands at the fewest annually since Roe v. Wade.

Back in 1970, environmental concerns first appeared on the agenda of the National Association of Evangelicals. Twenty years later, the Evangelical Environmental Network was established to encourage Christians’ social consciousness toward creation care.

These efforts, at least based on

Christians vs.

Climate Change Only 19 percent of Christians believe climate change is caused by humans.

surveys like the one from Barna, appear to have had little effect. In fact, what appears to be a larger deciding factor is political affiliation.

The difference between the way those who vote liberally versus conservatively perceive the role of humans in climate change is 69 percent to 20 percent.

A genius restaurateur in New York City has opened a specialized cafe that only serves cookie dough.

Everything made at DŌ—from “sandwiches” to milkshakes—is comprised of raw cookie dough.

MILLENNIALS AREN’T SAVING (LIKE, AT ALL) Dennis Quaid

A STUDY FROM investing app Acorns found that 41 percent of

is slated to star

1,900 millennials surveyed spent more money on coffee last year than they set aside in savings. What’s more, the same study found the same percentage (41) don’t think they’ll be financially secure enough to retire by retirement age.

With a national median income level of $35,000, and 47 percent of millennials spending at least half of their paychecks relieving debt (credit card, mortgage, student loan, etc.), when you add in all those Starbucks runs, there’s just not a lot left over.

MARCH-APRIL

in I Can Only Imagine, which is based on the multi-platinum, top-selling MercyMe song.

Because … well, we don’t really know.

024

2017

025

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

09/18

CURRENT

Christian History Is Almost Extinct in the Middle East Some of the oldest Christian communities in the world, dating back to biblical times, are in the crosshairs of mass violence from ISIS.

ANY WAY YOU CUT IT, Christianity

is a Middle Eastern religion. Far before that part of the world became a hotbed for controversy, it was the home of the very first churches. Read the New Testament, and just about every location is exactly where today’s most war-torn and violent countries sit. If the Apostle Paul were writing today, we’d consider him a Middle Eastern correspondent from the front lines.

But now, ancient Christian cities are under threat of being wiped out. Iraq’s once sizable Christian population has dropped by half since Saddam Hussein was ousted in 2003, to roughly half a million people today.

When the Islamic State seized swaths of Iraqi territory in 2014, more than 150,000 Christians fled their homes.

The world’s oldest Christian communities are facing extinction.

Here are some you need to know:

MARCH-APRIL

026

2017

Where ISIS Is Erasing Christian History

1. ALEPPO

250,000 Christians lived here before the Syrian civil war.

Only 100,000 are left.

2. BOSRA

Once an ancient Christian site, the city is now mostly ruined.

3. DAMASCUS

Built above a cave Elijah hid in, the Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue was pretty much destroyed in March 2013.

4. DURA-EUROPOS 6

1

7 8

4

5

This city once held the world’s oldest Christian church. It fell in April 2014.

3

5. MAR BEHNAM

2

MONASTERY

This holy site was kept by Catholic monks until it was destroyed in March 2015.

6. NIMRUD

The excavated parts of the original Assyrian capital were bulldozed in March 2015.

7. NINEVEH

In July 2014, ISIS destroyed what was once the world’s largest city.

8. PALMYRA The Saint Elias

ISIS bombs destroyed the Temple of Baal in August 2015.

Cathedral in Aleppo’s Old City district

027

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

11/18

CURRENT

Don’t judge Chris Pratt because his stylist put too much makeup on him.

That’s not Christ-like.

How Chris Pratt Became Hollywood’s Favorite Christian AT SOME POINT WHEN you weren’t looking, Chris Pratt

COMING TO FAITH

became the world’s biggest “Christian celebrity.” We all

After a stranger invited and took him to church 15 years ago, he “surprised [his] friends by declaring that [he] was going to change [his] life.”

watched the 37-year-old become one of Hollywood’s most unlikely leading men when he transformed from the lovable goofball Andy Dwyer on Parks and Rec into chiseled action hero in movies like Jurassic World, Guardians of the Galaxy

PRAYING FOR FANS ON TWITTER “Lord I pray for Sam. May you put your healing hand on him father.

May his family find grace in this difficult time.”

and The Magnificent Seven. But one thing has remained constant through it all: his down-to-earth approach to faith.

Christianity has never been a part of Pratt’s public brand—it’s just who he is. Like he told American Way about his ideal life: “The big picture is my wife, son and I living somewhere other than L.A., just being able to be a Boy Scout leader, drink beer on Saturday, go to church on Sunday.”

And he also keeps doing stuff like this:

ERECTING A LITERAL CROSS THIS PAST SPRING

BUILDING A CENTER FOR TEENS

“That’s what Jesus was doing 2,000-something years before on a Saturday before Easter ... carrying a cross up a hill.”

And then he told fans to “be the instrument God uses to bless your community.” Preach, Chris Pratt. Preach.

OH MY ALLEGORY! THERE’S ANOTHER ‘SHACK’ CONTROVERSY

The divine Octavia Spencer

MARCH-APRIL

IN THE UPCOMING film adaptation of The Shack, William P. Young’s wildly popular (and now infamous) book about a father’s path to renewed faith and healing after his young daughter’s murder, the character of God the Father is played by Oscarwinner Octavia Spencer (The Help, Hidden Figures). Unsurprisingly, this has caused some blowback from some theologically conservative crowds. But Spencer herself doesn’t see the problem. She told USA Today that the film’s depiction of God isn’t meant to be literal: “It’s like ‘Oh, my God! Someone is playing God.’ But people have to remember it’s a manifestation of God. How [the film subject] sees God. Not necessarily how or who or what God is.”

028

2017

029

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

12/18

CURRENT

The Unfiltered Faith of Chance the Rapper

O

NE OF THE BRIGHT

spots of the past year has been the rise of Chance the Rapper

from up-and-coming hip-hop artist to full-blown star. His gospel-tinged, yet explicit mixtape Coloring Book became the first streaming-only album to receive a Grammy nomination—and he got seven of them. But Chance is bringing more to the pop-culture table than just music. He’s injecting a raw faith conversation into the mainstream.

Here are just a few examples:

“It’s just music from me as a Christian man because before I think I was making music as a Christian child. In both I have imperfections, but there was a declaration that can be made out of going through all the [stuff] I’ve been through the last few years.”

—To Zane Lowe on Beats 1, about the gospel content on Coloring Book

“Happy birthday Jesus ...

I like when you say His name on network TV.” —Performing on Saturday Night Live before Christmas

“Today’s the last day (sic) my old life, last day smoking cigs. Headed to church for help. All things are possible thru Christ who strengthens me.”

—Twitter, January 2016

“I think there’s a lot of taboos in hip-hop that people try and stay away from. I think a big one is people are afraid to speak about God to a certain extent and I think if you’re not free to speak about God then you’re not free.”

Chance the Rapper has become the poster child of the explicit faith/ explicit content trend in hip-hop

—Good Morning America, August 2016

MARCH-APRIL

030

2017

BUY A BOOK. GIVE A BOOK.

FOR EVERY PRE-ORDER OF LOVE LIVES HERE , WE’RE GIVING A LIBRARY BOOK TO KIDS IN GULU, UGANDA. Love Lives Here is about finding the things that matter.

Things that don't just work, but last. Join Maria Goff as she shares a collection of stories on living with intentionality, dealing with loss, and loving others like Jesus does.

LoveLivesHereBook.com

031

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

13/18

CURRENT

8 Pieces of Jesus Junk You Can Actually Find on Amazon Right Now Preach the Gospel at all times.

When necessary, use household items.

AMAZON’S ECHO is one of the internet’s latest success

stories. Among other things, it allows users to simply speak the name of a product and have it automatically purchased and delivered by Amazon. Thankfully, that means you no longer have to go all the way to your local Christian bookstore to buy amazing Jesus junk. Like these:

1.

2.

Make yourself a miraculous treat. $39.95

Lettuce pray. It’s hard to put a price on a pun this tasty, but Amazon did: $19.99

3.

4.

Because every hour I need thee.

Jesus, please take the wheel.

$28.99

$8.99

5.

6.

GRILLED CHEESUS SANDWICH PRESS 2

4

3

5

GLOW IN THE DARK JESUS CLOCK

6

THE KEYS TO YOUR

7

HEART (AND CAR) JESUS

8

MARCH-APRIL

DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL

JESUS FISH LAMP

He is the light. Literally.

This little light of mine?

I’m gonna let it shine.

$9.99

$48.44

7.

8.

People at the water park won’t think there’s anything weird about this.

Now you don’t have to wait until Christmas for the Breath of Heaven.

$8.99

$6.99

AN ENTIRE CHAPTER OF PSALMS HAND TOWEL

032

‘WANNA TACO ABOUT JESUS?’ SHIRT

LAST SUPPER JESUS MINTS

2017

033

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

14/18

CURRENT

THE HOT LIST Bimonthly Culture Power Rankings

Church Attendance Leads to Lower Divorce Rates Couples who pray together, stay together, amiright?

that marriage is something sacred. Religious teachings also censure divorce and discourage adultery, one of the strongest predictors of divorce. And of course many churches now offer various types of family support.

Previous studies also from Harvard suggest church attendance is linked to happiness and lower risks of depression, which would also play into the divorce data.

AS YOU IF NEEDED ANOTHER REASON to head

to church this Sunday (seriously, you don’t), a F E ST I VA LS

recent study from a professor at Harvard School

[Hottest]

of Public Health found that married couples

Mud. Music. Looking super cool on Instagram.

What’s not to love?

who regularly attend religious services together are 47 percent more likely to not get divorced than couples who don’t go to church.

The study’s lead researcher thinks that

LENT

attending religious services reinforces the idea

[Hotter]

47

PERCENT: HOW MUCH MORE LIKELY COUPLES WHO GO TO CHURCH ARE TO AVOID DIVORCE VERSUS THOSE WHO DON’T

Giving stuff up for Lent is really popular, if people bragging on Facebook is any indication.

M U S I CA LS

Technically, fried potatoes are vegetables.

[Hot]

Hamilton and La La Land made randomly bursting into song cool again.

REMAKES [Cold]

“Cool! A new Baywatch, The Mummy and Power Rangers,” said no one.

VR [Colder]

Strapping a huge computer to your face isn’t much fun after all.

DA B B I N G [Coldest]

Paul Ryan’s infamous lame-dad dab has made it the Phil Dunphy of dance moves.

MARCH-APRIL

Fast Food Really Wants Millennials Back.

FAST FOOD is making bank marketing nostalgia to millennials. Burger King brought back chicken fries. Coke brought back Surge and Crystal Pepsi saw shelves again for the first time in 20

034

years. There’s also the nostalgic cereal cafe in London just in case the bowl of Cookie Crisps in front of your couch doesn’t do the trick. Apparently, millennials want to eat food that reminds them of the

days they didn’t care whether ketchup was supposed to be red or green. And why is this so important to marketers? Oh, you know, because millennials happen to make up 25 percent of the consumer market.

2017

INVESTMENTS M A D E

E A S Y.

MINISTRY

M A D E

P O S S I B L E .

C E P N E T. C O M / P O S S I B L E

035 This is not an offer to sell our securities to you and we are not soliciting you to buy our securities. We will offer and sell our securities only in states where authorized. The offering is made solely by our OFFERING CIRCULAR. CEP is a nationwide financial ministry serving the churches and individuals of the Assemblies of God since 1950. It is independently owned and operated by 59 member districts of the Fellowship. Š 2016 Church Extension Plan.

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

CURRENT

15/18

[ T H E N U M B E R S]

Women’s Rights: This Is What Progress Looks Like THE WOMEN’S MARCH on January 21st

brought the myriad of issues facing

125 COUNTRIES have passed laws to prohibit sexual harassment

women in America to the national forefront once again—including wage inequality, sexual assault, misogyny,

119 COUNTRIES have passed laws on domestic violence

just to name a few. Actress Emma Watson has been an outspoken advocate for women’s quality, recently saying, “I think it is very important if

132 COUNTRIES have equalized the minimum age of marriage

you know what you want, understand where you are heading, to try your best to get it. It is only when we use our hearts to do it, and fall in love with

143 COUNTRIES guarantee gender equality in their constitutions

what we are doing, then can we really get real determination.”

Thankfully, progress is being made.

Here’s a look at a few milestones in women’s rights worth celebrating:

2005-2017

36

2.6 MILLION

56

SINCE 1976, THE NUMBER OF WOMEN IN THE LABOR FORCE HAS GROWN FROM 36% TO 56%

81

WOMEN ACROSS THE WORLD PARTICIPATED IN THE WOMEN’S MARCH ON JANUARY 21

10

104

WOMEN IN CONGRESS

27 FEMALE CEO s

Emma Watson is one of several celebrities speaking out about

[2016]

women’s rights.

A major party

[1978]

Pregnancy [1973] [1920]

Women are permitted

Women gain the

to serve in juries

[1993]

Marital rape is criminalized in all 50 states

Discrimination Act

[2009]

A federal statute passes

nominates a woman for U.S. President

to guarantee equal pay

passes

right to vote

1900

MARCH-APRIL

2017

036

2017

037

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

16/18

CURRENT

Passion Attendees Raised $3M for Children COLLEGE STUDENTS AT

the Passion Conference in January set a huge record for giving: 7,000 of the conference’s attendees (14 percent) pledged $38 per month to help children around the world. It’s the largest sponsorship in Compassion International’s history.

The Definitive Guide to Making Your Friends Jealous on Instagram Because that’s why you post, right?

IT’D BE A SHAME for all of your spring travels and outdoor adventures to go completely

unappreciated by your social media followers. Here are a few tips to make sure this spring

Netflix Is Driving Porn Out of Hotels

your Instagram feed not only makes everyone jealous of your fashionable wanderlusty

THE DAYS OF VIDEO

excursions, but also, makes them realize you are more spiritual than them, too.

-ON-DEMAND pornography in hotels could be coming to an end.

Research from the group Enseov has found that Netflix is much more popular than porn in hotels. Just one percent of hotel rooms order VOD content, but 90 percent of the profits from the rooms come from porn videos. But in hotels that replaced paid VOD offerings with in-room Netflix, the percentage of rooms that used streaming services spiked to 40 percent. They’re now encouraging hotels to drop the porn altogether.

1.

3.

Stand at the edge of a dock/cliff/bridge/ mountainside.

2.

Remember to turn your back to

Take an overhead shot of some exotic meal that probably looks better than it tastes.

the camera so it’s obvious you’re pondering creation. Caption: Mad-lib this sentence: Finding ____ in _____.

(Beauty/chaos, Whispers/the darkness, Hope/the noise.) You get the idea.

What tastes better than farm-to-table, organically sourced pan-seared brussel sprouts served in a mason jar? The validation of strangers on the internet.

Caption: Yum! #thankful #chopped

Laugh at something with your head turned.

What’s so funny? Who cares! You’re probably just overjoyed by finding a cool old barn to stand in front of during your travels. Pro Tip: Let a few strands of hair blow carefree in your face.

Caption: Any sequence of the following emojis: Praying hands, worship hands, heart, airplane.

MARCH-APRIL

4.

Dangle your feet off of something.

It’s the perfect way to show off those new cool boots while you ponder the durability of this old Brooklyn fire escape you are trespassing on.

Caption: Just a bunch of vaguely spiritual hashtags like #blessed #gratitude #His #loved #deeplyrooted #calledtocreate #lifeontheedge

038

2017

AMY WHEELER SENIOR BIOLOGY MAJOR MISSION TRIP TO KENYA, AFRICA

MAKE A DIFFERENCE At Northwest Nazarene University, opportunities beyond the classroom—like internships, study abroad and cross-cultural experiences— help make our students highly-sought employees and responsible citizens of the world.

FIND A COLLEGE YOU TRULY LOVE 039

nnu.edu/relevant • 877-NNU-4YOU RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

CURRENT

17/18

[ T H E C H E AT S H E E T ]

How to Embrace Minimalist Living This Spring Living simply isn’t just about getting rid of stuff. It’s about more margin and less consumption. How to get started:

IT’S THE TIME OF YEAR for spring cleaning, and

as you’re wiping down the shelves in your closet you notice something: You have too much stuff.

This is a real problem, both because clutter and disorganization increase stress and because, for Christians, consumerism often conflicts with our ideal values of generosity and simplicity.

So, it’s time to reboot by cutting back. Here are six ways you can embrace intentional living:

1

GO ALL KONMARI ON YOUR CLOSET

2

Here’s the deal: Take every piece of clothing you own out of your closet or drawers and only put back those items that, as the Konmari system puts it “bring you joy.” Define “joy” here however you want.

3

4

ONLY BUY THINGS YOU NEED

Now you’ve gotten rid of all of your unnecessary belongings, you need to ensure you’re not going to repeat your old patterns and end up with a dragon-worthy pile of stuff.

RECREATE YOUR WORKSPACE

Take a look at your desk or workspace and get rid of anything that distracts you from working—or items you simply don’t need lying around your desk anymore.

DECLUTTER YOUR DESKTOP

Just as physical minimalism provides a nicer, cleaner space to live, a cleaner computer desktop offers a better place to work and play.

5

EMBRACE THE DIGITAL WORLD

It’s 2017; we’ve talked about this. Do you really need hard copies of photos from your 17th birthday party and Thanksgiving 1989? Really?

6

MARCH-APRIL

040

BORROW MORE

Libraries are still a thing.

Instead of buying a physical book, you can actually take one out on loan from the library. If you liked it, consider buying it as an eBook.

2017

HUNGRY . . .

THIRSTY . . .

A STRANGER . . .

and you

.”

—Jesus

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” —Matthew 25:40 (NIV)

WHAT IS YOUR CHURCH’S MATTHEW 25 LEGACY? See how you can develop more engaged disciples, inspiring families in your church to live out Matthew 25 in real, practical ways.

Learn more at

worldvision.org/church World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. Motivated by our faith in Jesus Christ, we serve alongside the poor and oppressed as a demonstration of God’s unconditional love for all people.

041

CHA9852_0117 © 2017 World Vision, Inc. RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

CURRENT

18/18

[T H E Q U E S T IO N]

What Do You Wish You’d Known When You Began?

W

e get it; you want to do it on your own. But the older you get, the more you realize just how much learning goes into launching that startup, nonprofit or creative project of your dreams. One of the smartest things you can do is glean

wisdom from those a little further down the road than you. So, we asked three of our favorite visionaries what they wish they’d known when they were just starting out. Take notes.

Caitlin Crosby

Hannah Song

Propaganda

She’s the founder of fashion brand

She’s the president of Liberty

He’s a Los Angeles-based poet,

The Giving Keys, which helps pull

in North Korea, which fights for

entrepreneur and rapper on

people out of homelessness.

human rights in North Korea.

Humblebeast Records.

BE AN OPTIMISTIC REALIST.

DON’T BE AFRAID to ask questions and favors of people that have access. As an L.A. native, I never wanted to come across as “thirsty” or a wannabe. So, often I would be in situations where I’m around people who could have really helped fast-track my professional growth as an artist and all-around human being. If I could, I would tell myself to speak up. People are much more willing to help than you think.

I WISH I WOULD HAVE listened to my gut more. Especially about a certain early employee. I had a pit in my stomach about him and felt like I couldn’t trust him, but kept working with him out of sheer convenience. He ended up hacking into our funds and stealing thousands of dollars so, in hindsight, I wish I had trusted my intuition.

MARCH-APRIL

Reimagine the way something should be (the North Korean people will achieve their liberty in our lifetime!), have hope that it is possible and confidence that it will indeed happen, but be realistic about the pathway to get there. Focus on the things you can control versus the things you cannot, be flexible to change and always evolve.

042

2017

043

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

BY

CRAIG GROESCHEL

4 Decisions That Will Change Your Life

Many of our daily choices happen invisibly, almost by default—like what we eat for breakfast, the friends we hang out with or the way we hop onto social media every time we have a spare moment.

But if we could take a step back and look at our lives, we’d see that every decision we make matters—even the seemingly small ones.

Those little decisions have big consequences.

Every day, all day, we make one small choice after another. And these choices just keep accumulating, each one woven into the rest, forming the tapestry that evolves into our life’s story.

If you want to create the story you want to tell, you have to make small, life-changing choices and then actually act on them daily. The best decision you can make is

The choices you make today will be the stories you tell about your life tomorrow.

always the next one.

When you start by making one divine decision after another, you’ll see your story emerge, the story that God wants to tell through you. And with His help, you’ll use the powerful freedom He’s given you to transform your life in divine ways.

Here are four keys to making deliberate, godly decisions will lead you through a life full of joy and purpose.

MARCH-APRIL

044

2017

1.

START SOMETHING THAT CHANGES YOUR STORY

ing overwhelmed or facing a high-stakes dilemma is sim-

Behind every great story there’s always anoth-

ply to stop. Sleep on it. Think it over. Get some godly wis-

er one. Successful people often joke that they

dom from people you trust.

spent years becoming an overnight success. What many

mundane things well, to develop productive habits and to

3.

remain faithful that eventually leads to success.

ier to go another way?” Maybe a better question to ask is

don’t realize is that it’s the choices no one sees that result in the things everyone wants. It’s the faithfulness to do

Old Testament prophet Daniel is a great example of

STAY WHERE GOD PLANTED YOU

You’ll find yourself at a point where you ask, “Should I stay the course when it would be eas-

“What does God want me to want?”

this. Whether you know a lot or a little about Daniel,

One of my favorite stories about staying comes from

when you hear his name, you probably think, “Oh, yeah,

one of my best friends, Bobby Gruenewald. Bobby started

Daniel in the lions’ den.”

and sold two technology companies before he ever gradu-

But people overlook the part about Daniel consistently

ated from college. He started volunteering for our church

serving the king with an excellent spirit. That caused him

in his mid-20s, and we eventually hired him. Although his

to stand out among all the other leaders. Eventually, the

contribution to Life.Church was extraordinary, he didn’t

king decided to place Daniel in charge of the entire king-

feel like he was making a difference, so he considered

dom. Why was Daniel successful? Why was he favored

quitting and going back into business.

above others? Why did the king respect him so much?

Why did God close the mouths of the meat-eating lions?

Truthfully, it would have been easier for him. As a pastor, he still had a lot to learn. Business is second nature

We find our answers in a part of Daniel’s story that

to him. But by the grace of God, he decided to stay. And

many people skim over. His divine favor was the result

among his many important contributions as a leader for

of the decision he made at some point in his life to serve

Life.Church, Bobby came up with the YouVersion Bible

faithfully. We don’t know when Daniel made this decision

App, an idea that has done more for Bible distribution

or why. All we know is that Daniel made one decision,

than any idea since the printing press. If you are tempted

starting one habit that changed his story.

to walk away, seek God because you don’t know what He

2.

can do if you have the courage to stay.

STOP LETTING THINGS GET IN YOUR WAY

times we are already headed in a direction we know is the

4.

wrong one. When this happens, we need to pause not only

start asking yourself questions. “God, I’m afraid. I need

to consider the consequences but also to stop traveling in

details! What you’re asking me to do sounds hard.” And

the wrong direction. The word repentance literally means

God may answer: He doesn’t give His children a spirit of

to change course and return to God and His path for us.

fear, so that’s not coming from Him.

Determining whether our choices will take us in the right direction is important. But some-

GO WHERE GOD LEADS

Where is God leading you to go? What is He calling you to do? I know what it feels like to

Moses is a great example of stopping to reconsider a

He may remind you that you don’t need the details—

better course of action. After successfully leading the Is-

you need faith. He may tell you it will be hard because we

raelites out of slavery in Egypt, he became responsible for

aren’t called to easy lives. We’re called to faith-filled ones.

hearing all of the Israelites’ problems and handing down judgments. He did this every day, until he was spent.

If God calls you to go, you have to leave where you are.

You don’t want to miss what He’s doing.

Finally, Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, offered him some

Ultimately, we know that our stories don’t have to end

tough love: “What you are doing is not good. You and

when we leave this life. When we experience the grace of

these people who come to you will only wear yourselves

God through Christ, we can live forever serving and en-

out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it

joying God in heaven. And while I don’t know for sure, I

alone.” (Exodus 18:17–18)

think that’s when the stories our lives tell will be taken to

Can you relate? Are you juggling so many chainsaws

a whole new level.

that it feels impossible to keep going and impossible to

Because our stories are not just our stories. Our stories

stop? What are you doing today that’s not good for your

are part of an even bigger story. When you stand at the

story? Do you have some habit, mindset, addiction, atti-

fork in the road, have the faith and courage to choose the

tude or something in your life that’s hijacking it?

hard path over the easy one when the hard one is right.

Sometimes, the best decision we can make when feel-

The choice is yours. The time is now.

045

CR AIG GROESCHEL is a New York Times best-selling author and the founder and senior pastor of Life.Church.

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

There’s a reason this electronic rock duo’s new record feels so beautifully painful.

Josh Carter

“T

his record is about

carried away / I guess the dark turned off the

ing on your own history of personal struggles

heartbreak,”

light.

while alone in your car.

says

Sarah Barthel, the

“We’ve been through a lot in general, and

If that sounds a little grim, Barthel says

vocal half of Phan-

that is where our dark lyrics and emotional

it’s intentional. “I think a lot of people think

togram,

music comes from,” Barthel says. “But this

this record is a lot darker than our other ones

time around, it was harder to hide what we

because we cut to the chase with the descrip-

were going through.”

tions in the titles,” she says. “Earlier songs like

to

referring

2016’s

Three.

“Finding the beauty in tragedy, and

then rising above it.”

That’s the sort of talk that might cause some to write Three off as another ode to bad

She’s referring to her older sister, Rebecca

‘Mouthful of Diamonds’ are about somebody

Claire Barthel, who tragically took her own

close to you who is a smooth talker, deceitful

life in 2015. Rebecca was also a close friend

and hurtful because of false promises. ‘Fall in

of Josh Carter, the other half of Phantogram.

Love’ is disappointing yourself by intention-

breakups, but one listen is proof the heart-

Her death cast a long shadow over Three’s

break in question runs a lot deeper than a

recording process, and it shows. The duo cut

nominal case of the sads.

their teeth on Brooklyn trip-hop, crafting

“But [on Three], ‘Cruel World’ is just about

dark, danceable bloodrushes that got you

how cruel the world is. I guess we wanted to

moving like you were in a trance.

be more obvious with titles is what I’m try-

Three is a roiling, moody storm of fraught emotions and melodies that seem to be making their final whirlpool swirl before being pulled beneath the waves.

But on Three, that idiosyncrasy takes a backseat to moody, dub-stricken pop that is

ally hurting someone who unconditionally loves you.

ing to say. I think we were more willing to be open about what the songs mean to us.”

I tried, I tried to save so many lives, sings

just as likely to get the fists pumping at Sas-

Their newfound openness is a progression

Barthel on “Destroyer.” I guess my heart got

quatch and Firefly as it is to get you reflect-

from a time when Phantogram’s songs didn’t

MARCH-APRIL

046

2017

BY TYLER HUCKABEE

Sarah Barthel

really seem to mean much beyond a good

our music to,” Barthel says. “Luckily now,

time. But this band has been around for a

we have a major label to help us get it out to

while now. Evolution was inevitable.

more ears.”

That major label is Republic, one of the

IT WAS DEFINITELY A DIFFERENT WAY

ONE

most successful record companies in the

OF WORKING. WE

Phantogram got their start in Saratoga

world. With a roster that includes the likes

Springs, New York. They’ve been friends

of Taylor Swift, Drake, Ariana Grande and

LEARNED A LOT

since high school, and after spending a few

The Weeknd, Phantogram is an odd fit. Not

years tooling around with other projects (Bar-

because of their popularity—the duo’s hit

WE HAD NEVER

thel was pursuing a visual arts degree, Carter

“When I’m Small,” is one of the most recog-

was trying his hand at experimental music in

nizable beats of the decade—but because of

COLLABORATED IN

New York City), they finally started making

their sound.

music together.

FROM BIG BOI.

THIS WAY BEFORE.

While other acts in Phantogram’s strato-

They called themselves “Charlie Every-

sphere are pop stars, the duo is more difficult

where” at first, but switched the name to

to define. They’re in the rave crowd that gave

“Phantogram” after getting signed to the big

us Flume and Dead Can Dance, but not of it.

leagues in 2009. It would be their first major

They’ve also dipped their toes into more ac-

evolution, but far from their last.

cessible pop arenas and found a knack for

“The goal was to have our music be in-

collaboration. Phantogram has partnered

fluential to as many people as we could get

with everyone from Miley Cyrus to Skrillex

047

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

I THINK AS ARTISTS, IT’S NORMAL TO ALWAYS MOVE FORWARD AND WANT TO EVOLVE YOUR ART IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

THREE

guitar, other times we started with produc-

Phantogram’s

tion and a beat that Josh made, but it always

The sad death of Barthel’s sister came

latest album

came together at the same time,” Barthel

mid-recording, and a few of the tracks were

says. “We produced and wrote. That kind of

in the can before the news came and the two

means we’re writing while we’re producing.”

took a break to grieve. Nevertheless, an air of

reflects the grief the artists experienced while recording.

But when it came to Big Grams, Barthel and Carter found themselves in new territory.

Trainor and Jason Derulo.

angry melancholy resides over the album.

That’s not necessarily new—Phantogram

“It was definitely a different way of work-

fans are used to the sense of something just

ing. We learned a lot from Big Boi,” Barthel

slightly sinister creeping at the edges of their

says. “We had never collaborated in this way

melodies—but it’s more palpable and tangi-

to their most noteworthy team-up: one that

before. It was always just the two of us in a

ble on Three.

catapulted them from indie-scene it kids to

space and nobody was allowed to hear our

Particularly on the first single, “You Don’t

major players in the music sphere.

music until it was done. Then we started col-

Get Me High Anymore”—a raucous, scorching

laborating with Big Boi, and it got us ready

banger that buzzes in the back of your teeth

TWO

to open up with Phantogram—and it was the

while Barthel’s airy yelps pierce even the

“How crazy is it to say that Big Boi from Out-

best decision we could have ever made.”

loudest riff. It might be the best song Phantogram’s ever made. “Music is our therapy,”

kast was our first collaboration?” Barthel asks, laughing.

THREE

Barthel says, and it’s clear that it’s working.

It’s a rhetorical question, but it’s very cra-

“Three is a natural progression for us,” Bar-

Some songs like “You Don’t Get Me High

zy. Outkast is quite possibly the most influ-

thel says. “I think as artists, it’s normal to al-

Anymore” showcase the struggle to stay

ential hip-hop duo of all time. After Big Boi

ways move forward and want to evolve your

afloat: “Do you feel like letting go / I wonder

recruited Phantogram to help him cut a few

art in one way or another. Three sounds like

how far down it is.” But others, like the lovely,

songs from his 2012 album Vicious Lies and

us just with more honed-in sounds and song-

muted “Answer,” cling to hope by musing: All

Dangerous Rumors, all three of them joined

writing. We are very proud of this record.”

my heroes are gone, babe, but I know they’re

forces in 2015 for Big Grams, a collaborative

As well they should be. Three is a deep dive

EP that also featured the likes of Skrillex and

into the two things that makes Phantogram

Run the Jewels—arguably two of the hottest

tick: artful beats and smart teamwork.

acts from Phantogram’s and Big Boi’s respec-

The-Dream and Tricky Stewart, two R&B

tive genres—and it also stretched Phanto-

wonderworkers, get nods in the credits. So

gram to different ways of creating.

does Ricky Reed, the man who orchestrated

“Sometimes we just started with piano and

MARCH-APRIL

the sounds of pop sensations like Meghan

048

out there.

And when you listen to Phantogram sing it, you can almost believe it.

T YLER HUCK A BEE is a writer living in Nashville, Tennessee.

2017

The new era of RELEVANT is here.

Don’t miss an issue.

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

RELEVANTmagazine.com/subscribe

MARCH-APRIL

050

2017

BY A A RO N C LI N E H A N B U RY

25 percent of millennials will never get married. We talked to three (very) different experts to find out why.

Gus and Bertie’s date serves

assumption is that, sure, this gen-

as a microcosm for the series—

eration might not be as interested

which itself represents a micro-

in the institution of marriage, per

cosm of modern dating, romance

se, but functional marriage—a

and, yes, love. The show dwells

committed, sexual, live-in rela-

on the awkward and difficult

tionship between two people—is

aspects of relationships—which

taking the place of vow-exchang-

may have less to do with enter-

ing, “legal” marriage.

tainment and more to do with a

G

shared generational experience. us and Bertie set

But this assumption doesn’t quite hold up. Millennials

ex-

press as much interest in mar-

off on a semi-oblig-

riage as any previous generation,

atory first date in a

Despite a propensity to binge-

they just increasingly avoid tak-

well-dented Toyota

watch shows like Love, 25 per-

ing the plunge. Their problem is

Prius. They’re both “nice” peo-

cent of the show’s target au-

not with marriage. It’s with find-

ple who agreed to go out based

dience will actually never get

ing love.

on a mutual friend’s suggestion

married.

because of mutual “niceness.”

And this forms the baseline of

Consider this: A large-scale

Love: Why are people otherwise

A car ride later, the two meet

2014 study by Pew Research

interested in a loving relation-

in Santa Monica’s low-lit Buffalo

shows that in 1960, about 12 per-

ship pushing it off?

Club Restaurant, a spot pointed-

cent of adults ages 25 to 34 never

ly more middle-aged than they.

married. By 1980, when the same

Their conversation attempts cen-

group was in its mid-40s to -50s,

“The general feeling of, ‘Oh, I’m

ter around the other guests, pas-

only 5 percent still were single

starting to realize I like this per-

sively cynical takes on whatev-

(and not married in between).

son and I hope they like me back’

er—but the awkward, prolonged

Research says those numbers are

is as old as time itself—that’s the

moments of head-nodding si-

the historical pattern.

thing that we always have on our

lence communicate far more than their words.

But that all changed with this generation.

By the end, they each spend

man in Love. “The gist of the

more time staring at iPhone

since 1960 steadily increased in

show is two people are trying to

screens than at each other, tac-

its share of never-marrieds. Re-

make it work because they like

tics ostensibly to avoid awkward-

searchers project that by 2030,

each other.”

ness, which inevitably feed it.

the percentage of those never

Love’s premise is classic: Mick-

Bertie just doesn’t want to be

married in this cohort (ages 25

ey is the untamable, attractive

there at all and Gus wants to be

to 34 in 2010) will be 25 percent.

there with their mutual friend

More recent research from Pew’s

who set up the date, Mickey.

Stateline project in 2016 con-

research

firms the trend.

continue for nearly the entire fifth episode of the acclaimed

new

Rust, the co-creator and leading group

These cringe-worthy moments

Each

side with the show,” says Paul

Millennials will be history’s most never-married generation.

Netflix series Love.

Looking at this data, an easy

“IN THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY, WE’RE FINDING A LOT OF MILLENNIALS ARE WANTING TO FIND LOVE. THEY’RE WANTING TO BE IN A STABLE, SERIOUS RELATIONSHIP.”

Paul Rust, the mad genius behind

–CORRIE MANNION

Netflix’s Love.

051

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

“A LOT OF THE TIMES, CONFLICT COMES OUT OF HOW A PERSON GETS IN THE WAY OF THEMSELVES.” – PAUL RUST

wild girl and Gus is the nerdy, lovable guy who’s had his altruistic vision of love broken by a failed

long-term

relationship.

But those tropes don’t stay on their tracks, and Gus and Mickey’s “unlikely” romance doesn’t end up pairing a perfectly complementary couple.

Rust thinks Love honestly depicts 21st century love.

“A lot of times, conflict comes out of how a person gets in the way of themselves,” he says. “All we were trying to do was something that felt truthful, so people having that reaction [that the show’s scenes constantly evoke cringes] it made me think, ‘I guess daily life is just filled with constant awkwardness.’”

1970s, Traister argues, led to

“The pressures are different in

National Campaign to Prevent

Marriage in America’s evolving

more

previously

communities where there’s still

Teen and Unplanned Pregnan-

romantic landscape is also the

barred areas of the workforce

an association between marriage

cy found that 88 percent of the

focus of a new book by Rebec-

and public life. Simply, “there

and socially sanctioned adult life,

general population of unmarried

ca Traister, a writer-at-large for

were other things for women to

especially for women,” Traister

“young adults” (18 to 29 at the

New York Magazine. In All the

do with their lives besides neces-

says. “But that pressure isn’t so

time) have had sex. And 72 per-

Single Ladies: Unmarried Women

sarily attach themselves to a man

great as to overcome very real

cent of millennials responded to

and the Rise of an Independent

at the beginning of adulthood.”

changes in economic expecta-

a Barna survey last year that co-

tions for women and how they

habitation is a “good idea.”

women

in

Nation, Traister looks at Amer-

And even as these movements

ican history and explores how

suggest progress, a persistent

marriage patterns have been key

factor in prolonged singleness is

to “big social movements.”

a regressive economy—even in

Traister thinks the basic rea-

religious circles.

live their adult lives.”

Even with Christians, 41 percent said they see no problem with cohabitation. And sex? The

Traister wants to be clear: She

same study reported that 80 per-

son people push off marriage

For her book, Traister talked

contends the trend toward single

cent of unmarried millennial

is relatively simple: They don’t

with a Christian woman about

adulthood isn’t about rejecting

evangelicals have had sex —this

need it anymore.

the “practical economic consid-

love, as much as marriage itself.

means sexual activity among

“We have to understand that

erations” of marriage and single-

“If we were to assume that 25

for a long time, marriage was

ness. This women was committed

percent of millennials will never

an imperative in one way or an-

to abstinence and struggled with

marry, that’s very different from

other,” she says. “It was how you

being in a romantic relationship.

assuming that they will never

With some 8 million couples cur-

could have a socially sanctioned

Still, her father demanded that

have

partnership,”

rently cohabiting and few, if any,

sex life, it was how you could

she not drop out of college to get

she says. “Most of them probably

cultural reservations about sex,

have a socially sanctioned family

married (like her mother did)

will in one form or another.”

the functional need for marriage

if you wanted to have kids.”

because she needed a degree “to

Then the big social and civil movements of the 1960s and

MARCH-APRIL

preserve [her] economic viabili-

committed

She’s talking, more or less, about sex.

ty” later in life.

A 2009 study conducted by the

052

Christians basically matches that of non-Christians.

So

Traister’s

logic

follows:

is basically non-existent.

But it’s not quite that simple.

A 2016 study comparing Gen

2017

Gus and Mickey, season two of Love’s main characters.

tionships through their lives, but

Mannion says they found millen-

they aren’t experiencing what

nials

they consider “finding love.”

people to hang out with, but true,

lacking

community—not

deep community, which matches the 58 percent of millennials who Corrie and John Mannion are

named “friendship” their No. 1

the authors of a new book called

relationship priority.

But that level of community

Marriages Observed: Millennials

isn’t just found. It takes work.

Remember, Reflect, and Respond,

“Learning how to be honest

which combines interviews and conversations between millenni-

and

als about the marriages they’ve,

that’s so important for our gen-

vulnerable

is

something

well, observed.

eration,” John Mannion agrees.

“In the Christian community,

“Every time we meet people who

we’re finding a lot of millennials

are in relationships or people

are wanting to find love,” Corrie

who are looking to get married,

Mannion says. “They’re wanting

over and over it comes to a point

to be in a stable, serious relationship or to even get married and have a family.

“IF WE WERE TO ASSUME THAT

“I don’t think millennials are really against those traditional

25 PERCENT OF

where it’s like something clicks and they finally realize, ‘Oh, I have to be that honest, I have to be that vulnerable.’

“But millennials have to un-

Xers and millennials surveyed

things. I think because a lot of the

MILLENNIALS WILL

derstand that, because we don’t

more than 12,000 adults across

families we’ve grown up in expe-

NEVER MARRY, THAT’S

typically have those kinds of re-

21 countries. One of the major

rienced broken marriages and dysfunction, we haven’t received

VERY DIFFERENT

lationships in our lives.”

findings is that the two groups differ when it comes to relation-

that foundation people do when

FROM ASSUMING THAT

they grow up in a stable home.”

THEY WILL NEVER

For all the restless selfishness

HAVE COMMITTED

of Mickey and Gus in Love, the

ships: American Gen Xers chose good sex (45 percent) as the most

In

many

respects,

this

important thing in a “good long-

shouldn’t be surprising. Data

term relationship.” But millenni-

suggests more than half of mil-

als chose friendship (58 percent)

lennials grew up in some form of

over romance and sex.

a broken home.

PARTNERSHIP.” — REBECCA TRAISTER

show’s co-creators seem to be faring pretty well in love—Lesley Arfin and Paul Rust got married in late 2015.

Added to millennials’ deprior-

“Our experience itself with ob-

The irony of the creators of a

itization of sex is their activity: A

serving marriages has been a lot

show cynical toward love ulti-

study by San Diego State Univer-

of broken marriages and broken

mately finding it with one anoth-

sity shows millennials actually

homes,” John Mannion says. “So

er isn’t lost on Rust.

take fewer sexual partners than

the ‘lack of commitment’ [a com-

“I’ve certainly had that experi-

Boomers or Gen Xers.

mon accusation against millenni-

ence of getting embittered about

Last year, VICE asked 2,500

al relationships] isn’t coming out

relationships,” he says. “It’s kind

millennials in the U.K.: “What

of necessarily an illogical place.

of fascinating how quickly that

are you most scared of?” A ma-

It’s just the cards we’ve been

can go away, though, if you meet

jority (31 percent) most feared

dealt as a generation.”

somebody who excites you.”

never finding love. The percent-

Still, the Mannions aren’t fa-

age of single people who fear

talistic about love. They think

never finding love jumps to 42.

marriage is the solution to some

have

of the obstacles that stand in

been exposed to countless rela-

its way in the first place. Corrie

Inevitably

millennials

053

A ARON CLINE HA NBURY is the editorial director of RELEVANT. You can follow him on Twitter @achanbury.

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

Martin Scorsese The faith and doubts that have motivated (and haunted) the man behind some of most important films in the past century.

Martin Scorsese

BY E R I C VA N VA L I N

knows a thing or two about film—and office decor.

2017

055

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

M

“Maybe I’m naive,” he says. “All I

know is I reacted that they were still human beings.”

in the work and life of Scorsese,

cency about them.”

Those early years sent Scors-

are inseparable.

ese on a journey, one he’s re-

***

ideas was a biographical picture about friends in a Jesuit Seminary called Jerusalem, Jerusalem,

On the rough streets of Little

mained on for much of his life:

Italy in Manhattan, where Mar-

an exploration of the tension be-

“Where do I go to find the mean-

was “street life intertwined with

tin Scorsese spent his childhood,

tween the profane and the sacred

ing of existence and the meaning

the Scriptures.”

he would watch people who were

as they intersect in humanity.

of life? For me, it’s Christianity,”

Scorsese wrote a 40-page treat-

which, as one biographer put it,

walking contradictions. The men

Martin Scorsese is considered

Scorsese says. “That’s the real

ment that detailed plans to re-en-

in his neighborhood could at one

perhaps the greatest living film-

saving grace of our world, of our

act scenes from the Gospels, in-

moment be cruel and vile, and

maker, with dozens of movies to

species really. Truth is within the

cluding the stations of the Cross,

at the next pious and decent. He

his credit that are legitimate clas-

behavior of the daily life of your-

and set them in modern-day New

would see them commit terrible

sics—think

Raging

self. I know it has to be there.

York City.

acts, and then go to Mass.

Bull, The Departed and The Wolf

That’s where we get to compas-

of Wall Street to name a few.

sion and love.”

But Scorsese, who was an altar

Goodfellas,

Producers ultimately deemed the project too religious, and

boy at St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral

Scorsese is clearly a director

As a teenager in the 1950s,

Scorsese turned his attention to

in New York City’s Fashion Dis-

known for depicting vulgar, vio-

Scorsese was particularly influ-

what would become his first ac-

trict, wasn’t bothered by these

lent characters trapped in their

enced by a young priest, Francis

claimed film: Mean Streets.

contradictions.

own hells. In other words, his

Principe, who introduced him

It’s the story of a young hood-

exploration into the profane isn’t

to novels like Graham Greene’s

lum in spiritual crisis who un-

hard to find.

“I knew some people growing

Power of Glory, instilling an ap-

successfully tries to remain pure

through,” Scorsese says. “I knew

But his Catholic roots remain

preciation for honest, challeng-

and penitent while maintaining a

they did bad things; yet I saw

central to who he is as well, and

ing religious art that contrasted

life of petty crime.

them suffering—a person who

they compel him to explore the

the typically sanguine Christian

chooses a way of life and did

deeper, spiritual parts of human-

pop-art of the time.

some bad things who still has de-

ity. The profane and sacred, both

up, and I knew what they went

MARCH-APRIL

056

One of Scorsese’s earliest film

The success of Mean Streets propelled Scorsese into a group of new Hollywood directors with

2017

the likes of Francis Ford Coppola,

“one crazy night in Soho” come-

Hal Ashby and Brian De Palma.

dy After Hours—both of which

During this era, films like Bonnie

met tepid results.

and Clyde, Easy Rider and The

The next decade found Scors-

Graduate re-wrote the rules of

ese expanding into directing stu-

American filmmaking.

dio remakes (The Color of Money,

And in this new Hollywood,

Cape Fear) along with passion

Scorsese directed some the best

projects (The Last Temptation

films of the 1970s and 1980s, in-

of Christ and Age of Innocence),

cluding Taxi Driver, Raging Bull

while returning to the stories of

and concert documentary The

criminals in the heralded epics of

Last Waltz.

Goodfellas and Casino.

After critical success during

But even as his films went in

the first 15 years of his career,

different directions, at the heart

Scorsese found the industry piv-

of each was a single thread:

oting as tent-pole franchises like

Martin Scorsese was looking for

Indiana Jones and Star Wars set

something.

box-office records and turned

***

Steven Spielberg and George Lucas into household names.

Mean Streets did more than

These films were in stark con-

launch Scorsese’s career: The

trast from Scorsese’s work at the

film solidified his creative vision

time, the character study of a

for turning a camera to stories

live-at-home, celebrity-obsessed

that center around sin and grace.

comedian with delusions of gran-

And when you look at the canon

deur in King of Comedy and the

of his work in this light, you can’t help but see it everywhere.

Just like young Scorsese in the streets of Little Italy, his films don’t lead viewers to judgment or glorification of the imperfect

Director Martin

players on screen. He simply puts

Scorsese and Andrew Garfield on

viewers in their shoes.

the set of Silence.

There were the anguished loners wandering the night in Taxi Driver and Bringing out the Dead, the low-level organized criminals moving toward a violent end in

Truth is within the behavior of the daily life of yourself. ... That’s where we get to compassion and love.

Goodfellas, Casino and The Departed. Even as the bastions of human

achievement

wrestle

with their demons in The Aviator and The Wolf of Wall Street, Scorsese follows characters journeying toward infamy, while seeking to capture their humanity through a depiction of their very ordinary temptations, the betrayal and mistrust in the closest of relationships, their lawless codes of morality and, ultimately, their suffering.

In Taxi Driver, the camera even hangs on the awkward reactions of those around Travis Bickle as

057

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

scene after scene of personal em-

good guys and wise guys. They’re

he explains. “You have that voice-

barrassment leads to him to seek

real people, with real problems,

over narration at the beginning

validation and purpose through

looking for real hope.

of Casino where the narrator ex-

redemptive violence.

and they blew it.

crime for Henry Hill as he’s ush-

The struggle between profane

“The paradise in this case, was

ered past the line into the best

and sacred has never merely

paradise of sin, Las Vegas. They

seat in the house of the Copaca-

been realistic for Scorsese. It is

were cast out. They were cast out

bana nightclub in Goodfellas.

real. While, for decades, he re-

for their behavior or their weak-

In every project, Scorsese uses

mained arguably the most prolif-

nesses, and the beauty of the hu-

his mastery of film to allow view-

ic and highly regarded filmmak-

bris of the characters.”

ers to bear witness intimately

er of his generation, his personal

to the damaged characters on

life suffered.

Then,

Scorsese’s

next

film,

Kundun (a biography of the 14th

screen. Never validating or ren-

The late 1970s were filled with

Dalai Lama), set the stage for the

dering a verdict—yet seeking to

“excessive and over-the-top drug

religious tones of what would be-

provide evidence for an honest

use,” as described by one Scors-

come a passion project for him:

understanding of lives that can

ese biographer, and he would

a film adaptation of Silence, the

lead to unfortunate ends.

have four different marriages

1966 novel by Shusaku Endo.

“You see the tragedy of the peo-

end over the span of 1970 to 1995.

The book tells the story of two

ple destroyed by it all,” he says.

While none of his films from

Portuguese priests who go to Ja-

“People say, ‘Semi-gangsters, who

that time were religious, per se

pan in search of their spiritual

cares?’ Gamblers, hookers … the

(besides the provocative The Last

mentor, who is being held by the

tragedy, the depth of every single

Temptation), Scorsese sees much

Japanese government in an effort

person matters.”

of his work as getting at some-

to eradicate Christianity from the

thing spiritual.

country. The novel is built like a

The characters in his movies aren’t just criminals and cops,

MARCH-APRIL

in Japan.

plains they were given paradise,

***

We see the allure of organized

Scorsese directing Silence on location

“I felt drawn to those stories,”

missionary biography, one with

058

2017

Where do I go to find the meaning of existence and ... life?

For me, it’s Christianity.

ing. The spiritual wanderings of countless characters danced around big questions without asking them directly.

*** A final step toward Silence, as Scorsese sees it, was directing 2012’s documentary on George Harrison, Living in the Material World. The Beatles guitarist who experienced the pinnacle of fame and fortune found the only place left to look was inward.

“If I hadn’t made that picture, I don’t think I could have made Silence,” he says. “Harrison had everything all at once. You have access to anything you want in the world, and he said, ‘I want to go beyond it.’ And yes, there were some drugs involved, but he went beyond that. He went into meditation, concerned with the spiritual life.”

For Scorsese, a defining draw to Silence and Endo’s work was the book’s re-consideration of the role of Judas in the life of Jesus.

In

THE

SPIRIT

OF

SCORSESE

Martin Scorsese’s films are known for exploring the tension between the profane and the sacred.

GOODFELLAS

MEAN STREETS

Based on a 1986 novel, Goodfellas shows us the human aspects of the mob.

This 1973 crime movie was recognized by the Library of Congress for relevance.

L A S T T E M P TAT I O N O F C H R I S T

THE DEPARTED

The Last Temptation of Christ gets away from the Gospels and tells a story of temptation.

This Oscar-winning film follows the infiltration of organized crime rings.

2010,

Scorsese

actually

the at-times brutal feel of a Scors-

penned the foreword to an edi-

ese film.

tion of Endo’s novel in which he

Silence was, for Endo, the jour-

wrote, “Endo looks at the prob-

ney to find his real self. It culmi-

lem of Judas more directly than

nates in a moment of extreme

any other artist I know. He un-

violence and despair. As early as

derstood that, in order for Chris-

1997, it was rumored that Endo’s

tianity to live, to adapt itself to

book would be Scorsese’s next

other cultures and historical mo-

film. But legal battles, rewrites

ments, it needs not just the figure

and actual “next films” kept

of Christ but the figure of Judas

Scorsese’s Silence adaptation in

as well.”

pre-production purgatory.

Silence’s “problem of Judas” is

In the meantime, he directed

explored through the character

Nicholas Cage in Bringing Out the

of Kichijiro, a weak man by his

Dead before finding Leonardo

own admission, who repeated-

DiCaprio, who would become his

ly betrays his fellow Christians

best collaborator since De Niro.

for his own survival, only to beg

Beginning with 2002’s Gangs of

Father Rodrigues for absolution

New York, the Scorsese-DiCaprio

time and time again.

partnership would produce six

Kichijiro’s final act of betray-

films over a 12-year period. The

al leads Rodrigues directly into

stretch garnered Scorsese four

the hands of his persecutors.

Best Director Oscar nominations,

The novel wonders if this act of

including his only win to date for

betrayal was necessary to allow

The Departed.

Rodrigues to fulfill his journey to-

But something was still miss-

059

ward imitating Christ—a theme

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

not new to Scorsese.

“It’s one of the reasons we were attracted to The Last Temptation,” Scorsese says. “Jesus tells Judas that He’s to be crucified. He says, ‘I have to die. I am the lamb.

I have to be sacrificed. And you have to set me up.’”

Scorsese adds, “It’s really interesting to me. I’m obsessed with it, of course ... This whole situation seemed to need to play itself out. And people had to play their parts. It was a complicated thing. So, Judas may have gotten the worst of it in a way, but without him ...?”

Sin and grace. Transgression

[Faith] is not something to dismiss in the secular world, that’s the key.

and forgiveness. Betrayal and sacrifice. These are the themes Scorsese wrestled with throughout his career.

For Scorsese, another key aspect of Christianity found in the relationships of Rodrigues and Kichijiro, and Jesus and Judas, is the idea of being “your brother’s keeper.” It’s a relationship dynamic that Scorsese can now trace back to his own father and younger brother, Uncle Joe, who was the black sheep of the family and in regular need of being looked after by Scorsese’s father.

“How do you deal with the

Nicky in Casino, Jordan and Don-

Father Rodrigues and Father Gar-

the journey through suffering to

situation where you do every-

nie in The Wolf of Wall Street and

rpe (Adam Driver) in 1638 as they

attempt to understand the love of

thing you can to help, and you

it’s what made Father Rodrigues

journey from Portugal to Japan

Christ that sits at the center of the

know the person’s going to do it

and Kichijiro in Silence interest-

to confirm the rumors that es-

Christian faith.

again?” he asks. “Let’s say your

ing to the director. Scorsese hints

teemed missionary Father Ferrei-

In a climactic moment in the

family member is on drugs or al-

it’s a theme that we’ll see play out

ra (Liam Neeson) has committed

film, Japanese Christians hang

cohol—it’s a constant work. You

in his next project, too.

the inconceivable act of publicly

upside down in a pit waiting to

rejecting his faith.

die. Their freedom will be grant-

can’t say, ‘OK they’ve done it.’ It inevitably falls back on you, and

***

how much can you handle, re-

Rodrigues is based on a histor-

ed if the main character, Father

This year, Scorsese finally fin-

ical priest, Giuseppe Chiara, and

Sebastian Rodrigues (played by

ally? Then it becomes enabling,

ished Silence. The film represents

while Silence is a work of fiction,

Andrew Garfield), just places his

and being taken advantage of.

a 27-year filmmaking journey as

the story takes place in an actu-

foot on a stone depiction of the

You don’t know where that [line]

well as a search for the essence

al time when the Japanese gov-

Christ, symbolically rejecting his

is. It’s a lifetime’s work.”

of his own faith.

ernment sought to remove the

savior and his God.

This relationship of broth-

“I wanted to get back to the

ers and friends living on the

basic impulse of Christianity,”

verge of betrayal was first in

Scorsese says. “What’s the value

In Silence, the now 74-year-old

drigues to his eventual betrayal

Mean Streets, between Charlie,

of it? Is it still the guide for our

director again asks viewers to

by fellow Christian, Kichijiro. Ro-

a low-level mobster and Johnny

lives? And if it is, how do we live

witness characters full of convic-

drigues is given to the Christian

Boy. It’s also found in Jake and

that out as a guide?”

tion, but also full of betrayal and

oppressors where he must ulti-

tragic suffering.

mately choose between retaining

Joey in Raging Bull, Henry and

To answer this question, the

Tommy in Goodfellas, Ace and

film follows two Jesuit priests,

MARCH-APRIL

300,000 Christians converts and priests from their country.

060

Yet, at the heart of this story is

It’s a brutal scene. And the story charts a course for Father Ro-

his faith and saving tortured Jap-

2017

anese Christians.

Scorsese directs the pivotal scene of Silence.

In prison, Rodrigues is con-

thing in the world that has been

sacred—serves as metaphor for

living in [his] heart.”

Scorsese’s own faith.

stantly commanded to reject his

The whole journey has led to

“[Faith] is something not to

faith publicly by stepping on

this. In a way, too, so does Scors-

dismiss in the secular world,

what they call the “fumie”—a

ese’s entire calling—one that

that’s the key,” Scorsese says.

stone picture of Christ.

started off in the streets of New

In the midst of all of his char-

York as an altar boy searching for

acters’ flaws, doubts and strug-

his purpose.

gles living in a fallen world,

But

Rodrigues

refuses—re-

nouncing his faith would be worse than death. After all, mar-

Scorsese is looking for truth.

tyrdom was glorious, but to step

***

on this picture of Christ was to

The closing scene of Silence is its

break open, crack the certainty, if

embrace a life of shame.

“I wanted that last image to

lone departure from the book.

you will,” he says. “Don’t discard

The story crescendos when,

The film depicts a moment of ex-

this: There’s something essential,

after the torture and the sense-

cruciating ambiguity regarding

and there’s a kernel of truth. And

less killing of others, Rodrigues

the perseverance of Rodrigues’

maybe there’s the meaning of

reconsiders his position.

faith. Scorsese offers no explana-

what we’re doing here.”

For the tormented priest, it ap-

tion, only speculation.

pears that his entire world hing-

But in a way, the choice to de-

es on this moment. He can pro-

part from the novel and input an

tect innocent people being killed

indefinite final image—one that

and tortured because of him, or

signals ambiguity in the strug-

he can step on “the most precious

gle between the profane and the

061

ERIC VA N VALIN is a writer and filmmaker living in Los Angeles. Find more on his blog, pickingupshells.com.

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

E M PI R E STATE _ OF CHAN G E

MARCH-APRIL

062

2017

In the last 20 years, Christianity has exploded by 300 percent in the world’s most influential city.

W O R D S BY K AT H R Y N WAT S O N P H OTO S BY A N DY B A R R O N

N

ew York City churches

ly different in every neighborhood. A

tread the line between

diverse crowd of young families and

community center and

professionals mill through the Music

place of worship; they

Hall of Williamsburg at C3, waiting for

are a mixture of ESL

the music to begin. In Long Island City,

classes in the basement,

Queens, a worship band sets up sound

bi-vocational pastors, after-school pro-

equipment in a rented elementary

grams and co-op gardens behind proj-

school auditorium while the congre-

ect buildings. They are dinner parties

gation of Trinity Grace Church’s local

on Wednesday nights, and artist collec-

parish files in.

tive meetings in recording studios.

In Union Square, team members

Churches don’t announce their pres-

write “WELCOME HOME” in white

ence with sprawling campuses and

chalk across the steps of the legendary

freshly painted white steeples. Many of

Irving Plaza as the scent of alcohol and

the city’s most prominent and influen-

marijuana wafts through the air from

tial churches don’t even have a perma-

the show the night before; dozens of

nent location—much less a sign tacked

20-somethings line up outside hoping

on the front. Church here is more bare

to get a seat at Hillsong Church.

than gloss.

In the West Brighton section of Stat-

But without these Bible Belt trap-

en Island, small groups of people walk

pings, Christianity is exploding at un-

across the street from the project build-

precedented rates—as in, 300 percent

ings into the parking lot of New Hope

growth in 20 years. You’ve heard of the

Community Church, where they dodge

key players, like Timothy Keller’s Re-

basketballs whizzing by before con-

deemer Presbyterian and Hillsong NYC.

gregating in a beautifully renovated

But the story of New York’s revival isn’t

building that was a staging area for an

all about high-profile churches. Like

underground pit bull fighting ring up

the city itself, the real story includes a

until a few years ago.

persistent, rich diversity.

Sunday mornings here look vast-

And in the Bronx, a bi-vocational pastor and city councilman speaks with

One of C3’s two Brooklyn campuses.

063

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

radical enthusiasm to the faithful of New Life Outreach International. It will only be a few more weeks until their brand-new church building, which will be the newest building in the immediate area and primed with stateof-the-art technology, opens its doors. The triumph of a church making a land purchase in a place where rising real estate continues to push long-time residents out is nothing short of a miracle.

THE SEEDS OF CHANGE

During the 1970s, when the traditional moral underpinnings of the country eroded, New York City was one of the key battlegrounds where secularism prevailed definitively and unquestionably. The New York Times observed in 1975 that the religious leaders of New York City had “radically revised their perceptions of their own roles.” That same story assessed that the leading theology of the already liberal-leaning city was replaced by a reverence for humanism.

And yet: The so-called foolish, brave pastors of the 1980s and ‘90s spent decades doing the hard work of making New York City a place where the seeds of the Gospel could again be planted.

Christianity in New York City looks different than in other places, and urban religion expert (and Queens resident) Tony Carnes would be the first to admit that that makes the movement hard to quantify. To people from other areas of the country, the resurgence of Christianity here takes a shape that’s hard to see. But the lack of real estate, Carnes observes, doesn’t necessarily reflect a lack of social capital. “There’s so much religion here, the air is thick with it,” he says. “It’s a vast effervescence.”

He would know. Heading up Journeys Through

NYC

Religion,

a

non-sectarian,

non-denominational organization with no direct religious affiliation, Carnes has been walking the crevices and alleyways of all five boroughs, street by street collecting data at every religious site that he and his group have come across since 2010. What he’s discovered is astounding: 40 percent of the churches in Manhattan below 125th Street were founded in the last 15 years. Church planting is up 2.1 percent across the outer boroughs. In a city Manhattan Center, where one of Hillsong NYC’s weekly services are held.

MARCH-APRIL

064

of over 8 million people, that’s a movement.

The momentum that churches have gained in New York City is something that was gain-

2017

ing

traction

almost

imperceptibly

before exploding all at once. As the

being planted in the city at a steady rate of 1.8 percent per year.

Church itself shifts toward ministry

The work of making New York City a

that kindles one-on-one relationships,

place where people would be receptive

it converges with a generation unique

to the Gospel was exactly that: work, of

in its desire for connected and multi-di-

the grittiest and sometimes most heart-

mensional community. It’s a critical

breaking kind. Amongst the millions of

moment; one where the rising tide of

individuals coming in and out of New

ideology is greeted by a host of practi-

York City, the population of those who

cal concerns. The result is a dramatic

could be identified as Christian hov-

shift that is recasting the role of Chris-

ered around 5 percent—even in com-

tians in New York City.

parison to other metropolitan areas like Los Angeles and Chicago, 5 percent

ONLY THE STRONG

Joel Houston

was strikingly low.

“I got called to be a pastor the night I

“The contrast between light and dark

became a believer,” Fernando Cabrera

becomes so clear here,” pastor Josh

says, laughing. “I was 17. I told God I’d

Kelsey observes. “Christianity can be

go anywhere except the Bronx.”

more cultural in other places. I’ve been

He was born in the Bronx, before

CO-PASTOR OF HILLSONG NYC

so surprised by how open people are

of sight.

THE CONTRAST BETWEEN LIGHT AND

More new churches started showing up, and it hasn’t slowed down since.

DARK BECOMES SO CLEAR HERE ...

I’VE BEEN SURPRISED BY HOW

A DIFFERENT KIND OF ‘CHURCH’

OPEN PEOPLE ARE TO OUR KIND OF

The church planters of the 1980s and ’90s

CHURCH AND WHAT WE’RE DOING.

certainly played their part, but the faith boom currently being seen in NYC also can be traced to population statistics. Thirty-eight percent of people currently living in New York City were born in another country, according to the city’s own research. That’s

moving to California with his parents,

to our kind of church and what we’re

three million immigrants, conservatively,

and it struck him as the hardest place

doing.” Kelsey has been a pastor at C3,

who find themselves in a unique place where

he could possibly go. But then in 1988,

a church with a campus in downtown

they are searching for roots.

Cabrera founded New Life Internation-

Manhattan, as well as two in Brooklyn,

al Church—in the Bronx.

since 2013.

Stories like Cabrera’s are essential

Socio-economics and politics play a crucial role in the influx of churches anywhere, but

Churches, especially those in the “outer

these

councilman for his district of the Bronx, one

New York City in 2017. New Life Inter-

churches, many small, non-denomi-

of the poorest congressional districts in the

national’s founding turned out to be

national,

storefront

United States. His constituents, like many

part of a banner period of growth in a

places, were mostly unaware of each

New Yorkers, are vastly impacted by gentri-

battleground that many Christians had

other’s progress.

fication and surging housing costs.

given up for lost.

boroughs,”

grew.

mission-minded

Yet

especially here. Cabrera also serves as a city

to understanding what’s happening in

Then, September 11th happened.

“It’s become very expensive to do church

Redeemer Presbyterian, the influ-

Emboldened and galvanized church

in New York City,” Cabrera says. “Many pas-

ential Manhattan church led by Keller,

leaders became a critical part of the

tors find themselves having to become bi-vo-

was founded the very next year, in

city’s grieving process. They turned to

cational. When you’re ministering to people

1989. Determined young church lead-

each other in a time of critical need.

who are in poverty, and 75 percent of them

ers were drawn to New York by the

Church had been so long an after-

dozens, all seemingly compelled by a

thought in New York, a thing presumed

love for a cruel, frozen, frenetic and

to be dead or at least quickly dying, but

But with that challenge comes a creative

creative place. By 1990, churches were

after 9/11 it surged back into direct line

solution. Many churches are addressing the

065

rent when real estate costs are only going up—it’s challenging.”

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

problem of limited real estate by adopting a parish model.

Jon Tyson serves as pastor of Trinity Grace, a multi-parish church with over 3,000 weekly attendees. “New York is one of the most complex and multicultural cities in the world,” he says. “We are planting churches in the poorest and wealthiest neighborhoods at the same time, and learning about what it means to collaborate and humble ourselves.”

Kelsey thinks the unique difficulties of being a New Yorker make it a breeding ground for a more liberated, relational church experience. “The freedom and creative expression of this city have allowed the church to express itself in a new way, with the same timeless message of the Gospel,” he says. “The beauty and the creativity of this message is perfectly fit for people who call New York City home and what they’re looking for.”

In other words, Christians living in New York City exist in an environment less conducive to a faith that lacks substance.

Joel Houston, co-pastor of Hillsong NYC, recognizes this, too. “I realize the perception from afar could be that NYC is this big,

rooms, rented school auditoriums and

bad progressive-liberal, mess of a city

musty basements under restaurants,

that will corrupt all but the strongest,

social media has made the movement

most fortified of righteous spiritual sol-

impossible to keep secret anymore.

diers,” he says. “And it’s funny, because

“I’ve never seen so many pastors

if anything, it’s far easier to be a Chris-

collaborate with each other—they’re

tian in a place like this. It will test your

sharing encouragement, strategy, com-

faith, and that’s a good thing. I think a

munication,” Cabrera says. “Everybody

lot of our church in New York is made

is now realizing that God didn’t assign

up of people who experienced the fire,

one church to reach the whole city.”

and came out with a real faith.”

“New Yorkers are leading the way in

growth? The presence of curious, au-

terms of church unity,” he says. “They

thenticity-starved young people. “It’s

really want to see each other’s minis-

definitely a melting pot of things: a

tries succeed. We actually are for each

God-timing thing, the nature of New

other. If we want to see this city saved,

York City and how many young people

to look like His kingdom ... we would

are moving here,” Kelsey says.

need a hundred Redeemer Presbyteri-

Cabrera feels the same way.

Jon Tyson PASTOR OF TRINITY GRACE CHURCH

MARCH-APRIL

Kelsey echoes Cabrera’s sentiment.

The other big catalyst for church

ans, a hundred Hillsongs.”

“The churches that don’t reach the

Houston sees the relationships and

millennials … those churches will die.

connections forged within the New

But churches that know how to reach

York City Christian community as vi-

this generation are growing so quickly.”

tal to the continuation of it. “Diversity

Tyson believes “because of social

and unity are two beautiful things,” he

media and other platforms, people are

says. “I look at what Hillsong is now,

hearing more about the church and

and I think about what it will become,

what God is doing in the city and are

and there’s no limit, in any direction. I

inspired and curious to check it out.”

don’t think other churches need to do

While the Church’s growth may have

things our way, and I don’t think we do

been incubated for decades in living

things better or worse than anyone else

066

2017

“aggressive,” the amount of media attention on the congregation has shone a spotlight that’s exposed the potential of what can happen here.

Asked whether the Australia-based megachurch was an outlier in terms of showcasing its own specific type of church growth, Carnes had an interesting answer. “Wherever you find a lot of church growth, you’ll find churches like Hillsong. It’s representative of what’s happening here.”

And so much of what happens in the ministry of Hillsong NYC seems to come straight out of a New York City dreamscape: distinct with coincidence and rife with sensory experiences. Joel Houston treasures these moments.

“There was the time we baptized 400 people on the roof

Josh Kelsey

of Hotel Gansevoort on a

Wednesday

night

in

the Meatpacking District.

There aren’t a lot of swim-

IT’S A MELTING POT OF

ming pools in New York,

THINGS: A GOD-TIMING

and the Hudson River

THING, THE NATURE OF [THE]

wouldn’t

have

PASTOR OF C3

worked.

We had no idea how

CITY AND HOW MANY YOUNG

many people were going

PEOPLE ARE MOVING HERE.

to come, and somehow

to see what they’re about.

gra-

The extent of this rapid phase of church

ciously), the Gansevoort

growth—how long it will last, what effect it

allowed us to do it.”

will have on the general population of the

(scandalously

and

“We had a line of peo-

city, and if these churches can endure past

other than when we do things that are

ple with towels and their swimsuits

a single generation—“remains to be seen,”

not ourselves. I don’t think our church,

lined up for three blocks in the midst of

Carnes says.

where it is at right now, is able to meet

all the fancy restaurants and whatnot,

The New York City Leadership Center, a co-

the needs of many who go to Redeemer

waiting for two elevators to get to the

alition of Christian leaders from around the

or any other of the many great church-

roof of this fancy hotel that had a full

city, estimates the number of people identify-

es in and around the city.”

bar open and a party in play. Our team

ing as Christians multiplied by more than 300

baptized people for five hours to the

percent between 1989 and 2014.

ONLY IN NEW YORK

sounds of EDM and hip-hop. By the end,

This still doesn’t mean churches in New

It wouldn’t be possible to write about

the party was in full swing, and I’ll nev-

York have permanent locations. Most remain

the astounding change in the Christian

er forget the collision of it all surround-

signless because New York City churches

landscape without talking about Hill-

ed by all the skyline lights and chaotic

don’t announce their presence with build-

song NYC. With an Irving Plaza, Times

city ambiance. People going from death

ings and permanent signage. And they don’t

Square and Montclair, New Jersey,

to life.”

have to.

“campus,” Hillsong NYC has become

“What are we to make of all that?”

Exhibit A for many looking to examine

Tony Carnes wonders. The success of

evidence of the changing church land-

church plants may be an imperfect

scape in the New York City area.

metric of actual spiritual development,

Frequented by pro athletes and ce-

but it’s part of what we have to go by.

lebrities, and headed up by Carl Lentz,

It’s still difficult to establish what

whose energetic and optimistic love

goes on inside the hearts and minds of

for the city can only be described as

the people walking into these churches

067

The swell of people coming to and growing in faith speaks for itself.

K ATHRY N WATSON is a writer and editor. She is a graduate of the Writer’s Institute at Susquehanna University and lives in New York City with her husband and two children.

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

If you’re not sure what it is, or how you can improve it, you need to read this.

IF

you’ve walked through

that allows someone to appraise, regulate

Review reports that more than 3,000 sci-

the business and self-

and express emotions, including how to

entific articles have been published on

help sections of a book-

leverage feelings to move forward in life.

emotional intelligence, and that doesn’t

store lately, you’ve prob-

If you can understand yourself and

account for the countless books that have

ably noticed they’ve got

your tendencies, as well as the cues and

something in common.

In 1990, researchers Peter Salovey and John Mayer published a research paper

MARCH-APRIL

BY M I C A H YO S T

been written on the topic.

tendencies of others, you can raise your “EQ”—those emotional skills—and im-

FINDING YOUR EQ

prove your life.

Emotions play a role in the lives of hu-

that coined the term “emotional intelli-

Fewer than 30 years after its introduc-

gence.” In it, they refer to a “set of skills”

tion to the world, the Harvard Business

068

mans that often gets discounted as secondary, but EQ says differently.

2017

WHY EQ MAY NOT BE ENOUGH

challenging situations means you have

best-selling author who popularized EQ,

While raising your EQ may be a valu-

to understand how to be emotionally

says it provides strategies to manage feel-

able start, it hardly addresses the whole

healthy—not just emotionally intelligent.

ings and empathize with other people—

person. EQ certainly helps people under-

Spiritually, emotional health requires dis-

and beyond that, EQ helps understand

stand emotions and act on those under-

cipleship and sound theology.

what you and others do and why.

standings. But for Christians, behavior

Daniel Goleman, a psychologist and

His basic premise is that everyone has

“There is a whole frontier of discipleship that is missing in the church and it’s

change is never enough.

called emotional health,” he says.

two minds: One that thinks and one that

Because your responses are influenced

feels. And according to a report by the

by environment, culture and, most im-

Scazzero says developing his emotion-

Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence,

portantly, spiritual health. That’s the per-

al health and enhancing his emotional in-

EQ even affects the creative aspects of a

spective of Peter Scazzero.

telligence isn’t something that happened

person’s life, like the way they express themselves through art.

The author of multiple best-selling

overnight. Growth meant required read-

books, including Emotionally Healthy

ing, discipleship, counseling, prayer, journaling and discipline.

That means once you have and under-

Spirituality and The Emotionally Healthy

stand how to use emotional intelligence,

Church, Scazzero says for all the benefits

you can almost turn off the thinking part

of EQ, the problem is it’s only skin deep.

“It has required going beyond raising my intelligence, to truly building a Chris-

of your brain and use the feeling part to

Dealing with behavior is important,

tian theology around emotions,” Scazzero

relate to and understand other people—

but stopping there—instead of address-

says. “Most Christians are stuck. It’s one

your significant other, co-workers, chil-

ing the deeper development of a person—

thing to understand emotional health, it’s

dren—more effectively.

will not produce lasting emotional health.

another thing to actually do it.”

EQ comes from the thought pro-

WHY YOU NEED IT

Companies—from huge Fortune 500 companies to startup-sized ones— are constantly on the hunt for employees who have an understanding of what it means to be emotionally intelligent and act it out daily.

cess that change works from the out-

In a very real sense, we have two minds: one that thinks and one that feels.

side in. It says that managing emo-

“Emotional health and spiritual health

Emotional health, on the other hand, is

we act our way into change. The act proceeds the virtue, so to speak.

EQ is about understanding the cultural norms, rules and regulations around emotion.

In one of Goleman’s more recent books on the intersection of EQ and lead-

tion is an extrinsic process in which

are inseparable,” Scazzero says. “Many of

a critical piece of our growth and devel-

“EQ defines our capacity for relation-

us don’t have a theology around emotion.

opment. It’s not simply a matter of how

ship. You can look at two people interact-

I realized I was an emotional infant lead-

you act and empathize, it’s a matter with

ing and then see how that cascades into

ing the church.”

spiritual implications.

ership he writes:

teams, groups and whole organizations.”

Earlier in his leadership, Scazzero

Spiritually healthy people can grow

Even the smallest steps toward rais-

found himself stuck at an immature level

during alone time, thrive in communi-

of emotional and spiritual development.

ty, engage diversity, serve others and go

ing your EQ can achieve results that will

deeper in their walk with God.

move your career forward. Having a high

A problem that resulted was his wife

EQ at work makes you more flexible,

deciding to leave the church he was lead-

“We have the Holy Spirit and God has

helps you adjust to large- and small-scale

ing, amongst other things. The pastor

already wired us for growth and change,”

changes more easily and makes it easier

soon discovered that the problem was he

Scazzero says.

to work as a team—something many em-

needed to overcome emotional barriers.

ployers are looking for in a candidate.

Emotions affect your relationships

Determined to more fully understand

with others, God and your own self. Nur-

Even in fields like law and medicine,

the relationship between faith and emo-

turing EQ is an imperative step toward

experts increasingly ask people to have

tions, Scazzero has devoted much of his

functioning with emotional health.

empathy and, essentially, be emotional-

time since to exploring this area.

ly intelligent—because it makes them do their jobs better.

“We are created in the whole image of God,” Scazzero says. “We are intellectu-

Overwhelmingly, companies that pri-

al, social and emotional creatures just as

oritize helping their employees under-

God is.” Emotions, it follows, are not sim-

stand and increase their emotional intel-

ply a matter of controlling behavior, but

ligence are ones that have happier and

they are of spiritual concern.

more productive employees.

The ability to grow in emotionally

069

But it may not get you all the way there.

If Scazzero is right, true emotional health is about something deeper.

MICAH YOST is chief experience officer at Elevate, a digital branding and design company, and co-owner of Aromas Coffee House.

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

G OO D LO R D E THIS WILL The music industry is evolving faster than ever before.

And 2017 offers proof that’s a good thing.

B E A N OT H E R G R E AT YEAR FOR MUSIC

MARCH-APRIL

070

2017

[2 0 17 R E L E V A N T M U S I C G U I D E ]

ast year was all about long-held conventions

Bible as less of a rulebook or religious thing

crumbling—and the music industry was

and more as one of the most famous stories in

no different. From vinyl outselling digital

history. There are universal truths to it, and I

downloads in the U.K., to genre lines getting

think there’s a curiosity among artists there.

blurred beyond recognition, to the most talk-

A N DY: People just have stories they want

ed-about “album” of the

to tell. I think there are less walls and barri-

year being an online-on-

ers to different types of music, so it’s just all

ly mixtape by a 23-year-

bleeding together more. The obvious example

old rapper from Chicago,

from last year was Chance the Rapper having

it was clear that old rules

worship music on his hip-hop album. I re-

no longer applied.

member it was so jarring first listening to it.

This year, we’re going to see more of that

I had context for it, but then you think of the

evolution from artists and the music scene

kid who just picks it up at Urban Outfitters

alike. We recently sat down with some indus-

and didn’t know this stuff was out there. I

try insiders to discuss what trends to look out

think it’s pretty refreshing.

for and who’s going to make the biggest impression in 2017.

M ATT: The larger cultural trend is an in-

THE

PANEL

Our conversation with a few people who know the industry inside and out:

A N D Y BARRON Music Photographer

M AT T C O N N E R Managing Editor, PledgeMusic

F LEURIE Singer and Songwriter

crease in authenticity and transparency. Artists are exposing what’s really going on on the

HIDE IT UNDER A BUSHEL, NO?

inside and being willing to put themselves

2016 saw a ton of faith content hit mainstream

out there in some really compelling ways in-

music—remember when Kanye got “resur-

stead of sticking to cultural norms.

M A R TY MAR Rapper in Social Club Misfits

rected” during his SNL performance? Was that just a fad or is it becoming more acceptable

REDEFINING THE INDUSTRY

for artists to wrestle with faith in their music?

Chance the Rapper drops a mixtape online

F L E U R I E : People are starting to view the

and gets seven Grammy nominations. What things do you see breaking boundaries moving forward that will continue changing the business side of the industry and fan engagement?

A N DY: Music is going to focus on touring and the experience people want to have to see their favorite artists. A lot of kids don’t own physical albums anymore and just want to

T H E Y E A R O F O U R LO R D E

listen to it on their phones, but then it’s about

The mega-talented singer returns and we can’t wait to see what’s next.

coming together to go to shows or festivals— that becomes the main thing. We all want to have this communal experience together.

M A RT Y: You have Spotify and streaming

In 2013, Lorde burst on to the scene as the new kid with her debut album, Pure Heroine. If her ability to scale the top of charts in countries around the world is any indication, the masses got hooked on her haunting talent, earning her cred as an indie fave.

She’s hinted on Twitter that her highly anticipated follow-up album will release this year featuring a more dance-inspired sound. Thank the Lorde.

playlists. If independent artists don’t get on some of those curator playlists, they won’t be successful. There’s always going to be a break-out star like Chance. But it’s one out of a million. It’s hard for an artist right now to be expressive and creative and make the music they want—and get heard.

M ATT: Despite the overwhelming amount of music available these days, we’re seeing that those artists who really dig in at a local level are finding their footing if they can

071

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

[2 0 17 R E L E V A N T M U S I C G U I D E ]

Bon Iver won’t do press, but he’ll sing in front of 50,000 people no

THIS YEAR, GET OUT OF THE HOUSE

problem. (We’re not bitter.)

2017’s festival lineups should give you more than a few reasons.

Music festivals can get a bad rap.

There’s the over-the-top corporate marketing everywhere, $8 water and the fact tickets might just cost you a month of rent. But with the amount of artists you get to see in one place, the cost-tovalue breakdown for a real music fan is pretty unbeatable. And this year, the lineups are pretty great. Here are a few of our favorites:

COACHELLA Indio, California April 14-23

Don’t Miss: Bon Iver (right), Mac Demarco, Kendrick, Banks Vibe: Jorted Urban Outfitters hippies converging in the desert for music and Instagram selfies

PANORAMA New York City, New York July 29-30

Don’t Miss: Frank Ocean, Tame Impala, Solange, alt-J Vibe: Chill New Yorkers, young professionals and music fans who aren’t just there for the cool cred

match great music with a great work ethic.

day and The Grateful Dead.

For artists who just want to sit back and make

F L E U R I E : I am obsessed with stuff from

music, it’s bad news. For artists who got into

the late ’90s lately, and I’m dying to see a re-

music to truly connect with people, the sky is

birth of that time period’s influence. The kind

the limit. Fans are trusting curators. This is

of the songs that just make you feel good like

BONNAROO

important for indie artists to then find those

the songs you would hear in the soundtracks

Manchester, Tennessee

tribes and contribute to them so that they are

of ’90s movies.

June 8-11

then highlighted as a part of them.

Don’t Miss: Chance the Rapper, Lorde, the xx, Glass Animals Vibe: Grungy. If you don’t mind not showering for four days, you’ll be good

LOLLAPALOOZA

A N DY: Give me Third Eye Blind all day long.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

F L E U R I E : Yes! And even some more punk-

What projects and trends are you looking for-

pop. Something Corporate, Taking Back

ward to this year?

Sunday, some of those really pop-punk

M A RT Y: I’m from Miami. You know how we have such a diverse culture, so I love see-

bands. The emo revival, I’m so ready for it.

A N DY: Make America ska again.

Grant Park, Chicago

ing island music mixed with every type of

M ATT: You know these old bands are get-

August 3-6

music. I hope that continues. I love Rihan-

ting back together. Like Story of the Year just

na. I love Drake. I think a lot more artists

reunited and Acceptance.

Don’t Miss: The 1975, Radiohead, Future, HAIM Vibe: Downtown Chicago packed with Midwestern hipsters, young professionals and people who like saying “Palooza”

MARCH-APRIL

will be exploring influences outside of their

M A RT Y: The artist I’m super excited about

own world. We [Social Club Misfits] are 100

right now is Mac Miller. Chance is OK, but

percent hip-hop, but when we’re touring we

Mac is my top guy. Xavier Omar is amaz-

hang out listening to ’70s music. We listened

ing. I really like Anderson .Paak. He’s gonna

to the whole Hall & Oates collection yester-

be great. I think that’s the new trend—that

072

2017

[2 0 17 R E L E V A N T M U S I C G U I D E ]

THAT ’70S SOUND 2017 is going to make Mick Jagger and Elton John very, very proud.

The decade defined by countercultural cool is back—and more earnest than ever. Bands like Foxygen, The Lemon Twigs (above), Melody’s Echo Chamber and Allah-Las are

“THAT WORKS IN OUR bringing back the unmistakably nostalgic sound, updated for today’s youthful disillusionment. While the bands aren’t shying away from sevenminute riffs, listen for deeper lyrics.

The trend is still about big anthems and bigger attitudes, but the poetic, singer-songwriter appeal is defining this new generation.

073

FAVOR AS MUSIC LISTENERS, THAT ARTISTS CAN BLEND WHATEVER GENRES THEY WANT.”

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

[2 0 17 R E L E V A N T M U S I C G U I D E ]

All indications point to a highly anticipated Arcade Fire album hitting soon.

ite track on it has Miley Cyrus on it. I never thought that would happen, but I love that it’s the world we live in now.

Not only is that collaboration possible, but we’re even getting over what’s hip and what’s not hip. So that there’s not looking down some collective hipster nose of like, “Oh, I can’t believe Flaming Lips had Miley Cyrus on the album.” Instead, it’s “Well, of course they would because it’s 2017 and anything goes these days.”

I think in some ways that works in our favor as music listeners, that artists can blend whatever genres they want.

A N DY: Little Dragon is playing Coachella this year, which leads me to believe they’re going to have a new album coming out. They are one of the best live bands I’ve ever seen.

Arcade Fire is supposed to have a new one this spring, and I’m always all-in for anything Arcade Fire. And I mean, Katy Perry is in the studio right now, so I’m just ready for when that comes out. The last one was out 20132014. I love me some pop music.

“I’M EXCITED FOR A NEW ERA OF

“soulection” vibe where it’s all trap and soul and that whole audience. They buy vinyls.

F L E U R I E : I am really excited for Lorde and Paramore’s albums.

A N DY: Ryan Adams’ record. I think I just

PROTEST MUSIC. I

forget how much I love guitars in music. A lot

LIGHTNING ROUND

FEEL LIKE WITH

of stuff lately is all synths and electronic stuff.

What will be the most unexpected collabora-

EVERYTHING THAT’S

Don’t get me wrong, I love all that, but when

tion in 2017?

GOING ON, THERE

I put on Ryan Adams it’s something else.

M A RT Y: Chris Martin and Childish Gam-

There’s supposed to be a new Fleet Foxes

bino and Migos together all in the same song.

WILL BE A LOT OF

record this year. Father John Misty is play-

INCREDIBLE ART THAT

ing Coachella, and I’m excited about his new

COMES OUT OF 2017.”

album. Those three I’m very excited about, but especially Ryan Adams because he’s the

You’re in bed scrolling through Twitter and

greatest ever.

you see an artist just dropped an album, what

M ATT: I’m Andy Barron’s missing broth-

artist are you getting up and out of bed for?

er, and I just didn’t know it because I want a

F L E U R I E : Ellie Goulding

Ryan Adams tattoo across my chest.

A N DY: Sunny Day Real Estate

The new Flaming Lips album dropped in January, and it’s a great album, but my favor-

MARCH-APRIL

F L E U R I E : Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears, the comeback track.

074

M A RT Y: Taylor Swift M ATT: Ryan Adams

2017

[2 0 17 R E L E V A N T M U S I C G U I D E ]

RAIN DROP, DROP TOP ...

YOU KNOW THE REST

AND TO SUM IT UP ...

Southern trap is mainstream, and there’s no going back.

year. You’re going to see really, really talented

F L E U R I E : 2017 is going to be a free-for-all artists—people who go, “OK, I’ve got to be the best of the best and give it everything I have so the world pays attention”—because an

Atlanta trio Migos, known for hits “Versace” and “Hannah Montana,” had their first No. 1 single this year with “Bad and Boujee.” The song inspired thousands of internet memes and catapulted Migos into the forefront of cultural influence like never before, thanks in part to a shout-out from Donald Glover at the Golden Globes. Migos is part of a new wave of southern trap that will dominate hip-hop in 2017. The likes of Rae Sremmurd, Young Thug and Lil Uzi Vert bring an infectious swagger that’s undeniable.

open market is exciting, but it’s super oversaturated. So I think we’re going to see some amazing art rise up out of it.

M ATT: What I’d love to see this year is artists who maybe are known for making safer music choose to forgo that platform and kind of get their hands dirty a bit more to speak on what is true and right and good.

A N DY: I’m excited for a new era of protest music. I feel like with everything that’s going on, there will be a lot of incredible art that comes out of 2017.

075

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

How to Avoid Apathy in a World Overru n

by Causes

MARCH-APRIL

076

2017

BY KIM HUNT

YOU

’re tired. Absolutely and utterly ex-

of us,” says Fileta, the executive director of Mi-

hausted. Slavery. Genocide. Racism.

cah Challenge USA. “Sometimes a particular is-

Climate change. Refugees. Poverty.

sue will come up in very unexpected places. The

Women’s rights. Water. Life and hu-

Spirit puts those things in our path for a reason.”

man dignity. The list of social justice

Fileta thinks it’s physically impossible for peo-

issues you need to know, take a stand about and

ple to exert energy on every single justice issue

thoughtfully engage is seemingly endless.

they come across. Instead, Bessenecker says,

Many of us have been actively fighting injus-

would-be activists should start with the posture

tice issues for years. Socially conscious millen-

Jesus teaches in the parable of the good Samari-

nials have spent much of their lives fighting for

tan (Luke 10:25-37).

“We don’t want to be that person who rushes

what they believe is right.

But now social media has emboldened the

past someone bleeding

unwise and exacerbated the arguments. People

by the side of the road

are able to share their thoughts and purposefully

on our way to a protest

provoke anger in others. Rather than reasoned

rally,” says Bessenecker,

and informed discussions, we’ve devolved into

who

online shouting matches with people we don’t

author

know from the safety of our couches with little

Tables: Freeing Missions

fear of retribution.

From the Christian Indus-

What’s making it even worse is the lack of re-

is an activist and of

Overturning

ACTIVISTS FAIL WHEN THEY BELIEVE THEY ARE GOOD ENOUGH AND STRONG ENOUGH TO DO IT ALONE.

trial Complex. “We must

liable information. Throughout the last election

develop that sensitivity, where an elderly person

cycle, Americans saw fake news sites not only

struggling with their luggage or a marginalized

gain traction, but become viral phenomena.

person being harassed right in front of us enters

People can take strong stands about topics and

our field of concern and moves us to action.”

events that simply aren’t true.

It’s exhausting, and that exhaustion can quick-

JOIN A COMMUNITY OF ACTIVISTS

ly slide into apathy. Cause fatigue. It’s easier to

Central to Fileta and Bessenecker’s advice is find-

just block it all out and enjoy the silence of not

ing a community to walk with during the fight.

engaging at all.

“We fail when we believe we are good enough

With all the causes and need stands to be made

and strong enough to do it alone,” Fileta says.

swirling around us, is it even possible to focus on

Similarly, Bessenecker warns that fighting

worthy causes and avoid turning apathetic?

alone can have dangerous consequences:

START WHERE YOU ARE

difference can do is to develop a messiah com-

Jason Fileta and Scott Bessenecker have both

plex, believing you are the answer to the needs

been working in social justice for years, learning

of the world. Know the one, small part you play.

the keys to inspiring people to take action on is-

If you attempt to do it all, it feeds your ego and

sues of justice the hard way.

robs others of the roles they have to play in the

“The worst thing someone trying to make a

“Pay attention to what God is putting in front

greater effort.”

077

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

All the Rage Everyone seems angry—for

This isn’t new information. Fighting for

good reason. But sometimes it’s hard to be outraged about everything. Look at just some of what’s happened recently:

WOMEN’S MARCH January 2017

SHOOTING OF MICHAEL BROWN August 2014

“Honestly, sometimes I don’t have the

the Bible. Fileta and Bessenecker point to the

strength,” Fileta says. “I fall prey to escapism,

words of King Solomon, who writes in Ecclesi-

fatalism and exhaustion just like most people.”

astes 4:12, “Though one may be overpowered,

But, he goes on: “I find strength from prayer.

two can defend themselves. A cord of three

I know that’s a cheesy textbook answer, but

strands is not quickly broken.” Later, Jesus

when I feel God’s presence, and His Spirit

commands His disciples to share the Gospel by

speaking straight to my soul, I come away ener-

going in pairs.

gized and refreshed.”

From the Bible’s perspective, working for

His point is clear: Don’t let life overwhelm

justice is something done best—if not always—

you so much that you end up ignoring your best

in the context of community.

option for comfort and revitalization.

BALANCE YOUR LIFE

REALIZE YOU WILL FAIL

In the world of activism, there are both un-

From trying to join movements and realizing

healthy and healthy justice workers. Families

that they’re not a good fit, to trying to rally

have been ripped apart because one or more

people around a certain issue and failing mis-

of them is so focused on the justice work they

erably, to simply getting into a Twitter conver-

ignore their loved ones.

sation that turns antagonistic, sometimes ac-

People’s bodies physically rebel from the

tivists and advocates fail. And who among us

amount of stress related to working in the jus-

hasn’t botched a conversation on an issue of

tice realm to the point of sporadic, days-long

justice when you were new to the fight?

paralysis. People have become so burned out they leave the justice realm altogether, no longer fighting for anyone or anything.

“Relax,” Fileta says. “Seriously, remember that we are simply workers alongside an

But there are also people who have spent

all-powerful God. At the end of the day we have to ask ourselves if we trust Him, if we trust

are still going strong. What’s the difference?

what He says about Himself, that He will make

a regular basis produces more than one that is

June 2016

Failure is a fact of life.

nearly their entire lives working for justice and “Remember that a field which lies fallow on

ORLANDO MASSACRE

an ever-running fountain of energy.

justice within community is an idea as old as

harvested year after year,” Bessenecker says.

He means the dangers of burnout are naturally prevented by the rhythms God intends for the Earth: God created Sabbath for a reason.

all things new.

“If we can find ways to embrace that truth and trust in God, we will find the time to rest and return to our work with renewed passion and energy.”

You’re going to fail. But taking a step back, Fileta counsels, re-evaluating your actions and

#PRAYFORPARIS November 2015

PRIORITIZE YOUR FAITH

further relying upon God will only strengthen

In order to give our all, Fileta says, we must be

your abilities and resolve to fight injustice, fend

filling ourselves back up somehow. Christians,

off apathy and move forward—even when you

if you haven’t noticed, don’t miraculously have

get exhausted.

OCCUPY WALL STREET

DAKOTA ACCESS PIPELINE PROTESTS

SAN BERNADINO SHOOTING

DEFUND PLANNED PARENTHOOD

HURRICANE MATTHEW

September 2011

April 2016

December 2015

September 2015

September 2016

#PRAYFORJAPAN

#NOBAN #NOWALL

#BRINGBACKOURGIRLS

FLINT WATER CRISIS

May 2015

January 2017

April 2014

April 2014

DALLAS POLICE SHOOTING July 2016

MARCH-APRIL

078

2017

PREPARE AND TAKE ACTION Here’s the harsh reality: There is no magic formula for fighting injustice—and, yes, sometimes it’s exhausting. Every individual is different. Every justice community is different. But every justice issue requires action.

While saying a few words on social media might be an entry point for you on an issue, ac-

KNOW THE ONE, SMALL PART YOU PLAY. IF YOU ATTEMPT TO DO IT ALL, IT FEEDS YOUR EGO AND ROBS OTHERS OF THE ROLES THEY HAVE ... IN THE GREATER EFFORT.

tual action has to be the next step. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Ideas to Take Real Action: • Animal Rights Volunteer at your local animal shelter or

you. Neither side wants an increase in

animal hospital. Walk the dogs. Clean the

abortions, so how can you work together

kennels. If you are able to, foster an animal

to decrease the number of people seeking

until a permanent home can be found.

them? You won’t agree on everything, but you can learn from a civil conversation.

• Environmental Justice Take part in ride shares to work and the

• Racial Justice

store. Buy used rather than new. Take

Make friends with people of different

public transportation. Plant some trees.

ethnicities and listen to their stories. Call

Connect with groups like the Micah

your state or national representative

Challenge (www.micahchallengeusa.org)

(get the info at senate.gov and house.

to learn the spiritual elements involved in

gov) and ask them to repeal unjust laws

climate justice.

and practices that disproportionately target people of color. Request all law

• Human Trafficking

enforcement personnel wear body cameras

You can only report human trafficking if

for the protection of law enforcement and

you know what to look for. Thankfully

the citizens they are sworn to protect.

many local community programs and organizations can educate you. Visit sites

• Refugees

like www.humantraffickinghotline.org

Contact organizations serving refugees like

to educate yourself on what constitutes

World Vision and World Relief and find

human trafficking in the U.S.

out their needs. Call your representatives to urge fair treatment of refugees. “Adopt”

• Poverty Get to know families in your community

a local refugee family or simply donate needed items like furniture.

who are living on SNAP. Make them real people, not numbers and stats and vague

• Women’s Rights

stories out in the universe. Talk through

The Violence Against Women Act has

their hardships and help them in ways you

lost significant funding under the new

feel God is leading you.

administration, putting women seeking to escape domestic violence situations

• Pro-Life/Pro-Choice

at higher risk due to lack of available

No matter where you stand on abortion,

services. Call your elected representative

find someone who holds the opposite view

and ask them to protect victims of

and is willing to have a conversation with

domestic violence.

079

KIM HUNT is a contributor and co-editor of Live Justly. She currently resides in Portland, Oregon.

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

Kirk Franklin Revives Hip-Hop The legendary gospel artist is finding himself in the middle of an unexpected moment in music.

“I’m trying to keep my faiiith,” sang out the

While The-Dream sang, West laid on the

soulful, whisper-like vocals of The-Dream.

stage with his arms out. Close to the end of

The stage was lit with a fluorescent cocktail

the song, a figure walked toward the rapper

of purple and pink hues, and behind him

from stage left and began to boldly pray:

stood a choir of about 20 people dressed

“Father, this prayer is for everyone that

in white, all with their heads bowed and

feels like giving up. This prayer is for every-

hands out. That’s how Kanye West debuted

one that feels like they are not good enough.

BY

his gospel epic “Ultralight Beam” on Satur-

For everybody that said ‘I’m sorry’ too many

J U STI N SAR ACH I K

day Night Live last year.

times. Jesus, I’m glad that’s why you came to

MARCH-APRIL

080

2017

give us eternal life. I’m

ments, he is a savant of arrangements.

so glad about it (faith).

Like a conductor, Kirk doesn’t just hear the

In this war, we were

music—he sees it. He arranges the choir; he

looking for (more), God

fluctuates through harmonies; he provides

please keep my little

the giddy-up of a hype man to keep tempo.

brother

cause

This flare for gospel music drama is what

down here we’re fight-

has led to double-platinum albums, and mul-

ing this (war).”

tiple Grammy, BET and Dove awards. Not to

(safe),

Kanye rose.

mention, collaborations with musical heavy-

The praying man who

weights such as Bono, R. Kelly and Mary J.

seemingly

resurrected

West from the dead was

Blige—and more recently, the likes of West,

PHARRELL

Pharrell Williams and Chance the Rapper.

x

KIRK

Late last year, a Pharrell Williams

none other than gos-

Now 25 years into his career, Franklin has

pel music legend Kirk

seemingly assumed the role of a sort of a pas-

Franklin. An unexpect-

tor to the current generation of rappers. But

“Hot Gospel Songs” chart. The song’s

ed collaboration to say

he doesn’t look at it like that. It’s not that he

rapid-fire popularity solidified it as the

the least.

doesn’t accept the role, it’s just not what he’s

second biggest jump in position that

“I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing,”

Victory” shot to No. 1 on the Billboard

chart has seen. Around the same time,

trying to be, and he despises those who set

Pharrell interviewed Franklin on his

out to be the “pastor of the stars.”

he says, reflecting back

“I’ve always had a problem when I see peo-

on one of the most talk-

ple try to make it an agenda to be spiritual

ed-about music perfor-

leaders to people who may have a visible plat-

mances of 2016. “I was

form. I think that’s insincerity,” Franklin says.

really thankful for that

“Something about that feels kind of like a

opportunity.”

wolf in sheep’s clothing. When people are in-

And that’s Franklin.

remix of Kirk Franklin’s single “123

Beats 1 show, “OTHERtone,” which led to a vulnerable discussion of faith and Pharrell’s own experiences growing up in the Church.

tentional about ‘I’m going to be a saint to the

hard not to read [criticism], and try to remem-

stars or a pastor to the

ber the main agenda of what’s happening and

popular,’ there’s some-

going on. You try to be a good steward.”

FOR ME, I AM MORE FOCUSED ON THE RELATIONSHIP AND

thing about that that

Being a “good steward” is how the gospel

feels very gross. I never

artist found himself in an unlikely friendship

want to be that guy.”

with the man who calls himself “Yeezus.”

LOSING HIS RELIGION

who is “available” to other artists. To West,

Last

Franklin says he wants to be someone

BEING A LIGHT IN PEOPLE’S LIVES. I BELIEVE IN WHAT GOD IS CALLING ME TO BE.

Franklin

that means being a “big brother” and “com-

dropped an introspec-

panion” who provides comfort, prayer or

tive and personal album,

guidance, whether it be on the stage of 30

Losing My Religion. The

Rockefeller or at the Franklin household for

album title alone stoked

a Thanksgiving dinner (yes, that happened).

year,

flames of speculation.

“He’s a very kind young man, and we talk-

He is a man who, despite

In addition to the SNL appearance, he re-

ed a long time about music and art. He told

his fame, friendships,

corded a similar prayer on the album version

me at that time he really had the heart to

talent and Grammys just

of the song for West’s The Life of Pablo.

have gospel in his music,” Franklin says. “I

Franklin also made a cameo on Chance the

just wanted to try and build a friendship and

Rapper’s Coloring Book on the song “Finish

be a brother he could call on and be there

Line/Drown” and performed a set with him

for him. You know it’s so hard for people to

25 YEARS IN THE MAKING

at Pitchfork Music Festival last year. When

trust nowadays. I wanted him to see that I

Franklin’s music has al-

Big Sean debuted his own faith-inspired song

was someone who is more concerned about

ways been unique in the

“Sunday Morning Jetpack” in January, he

building a friendship than trying to gain any-

gospel scene because, while his content is un-

name-dropped Franklin, bragging that work-

thing else.”

deniably Jesus-focused, there’s always been

ing with him signified God’s blessing.

wants to be a “light” in everyone’s life.

P H O T O C R E D I T: O T H E R T O N E

In late 2015, West contacted Kirk about doing a song for his upcoming album.

an aspect of his production that’s bridged

These moments met praise from the music

with the best mainstream sounds. It’s a blend

world, but drew the ire from some Christians,

“The original song had a sample of a track

that’s made him a mainstay in the music in-

uncomfortable with his collaborations with

I wrote years ago and I thought, ‘You know

dustry for years.

one of hip-hop’s more explicit artists—not to

this is a comfortable way to start,’” he says. “I

mention the whole “losing his religion” thing.

heard it and thought this could be a cool mo-

The magic in Franklin’s music comes in the mastery of his vision. Although he doesn’t re-

Franklin felt the sting during his joy.

ally sing, rap or contribute heavily on instru-

“It definitely hurts,” he says. “I try very

081

ment. I wanted to try and find a way to do it.”

West wanted to work together on “many

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

THERE WAS NO COMPROMISING OF WHO I WAS ... IT’S AMAZING HOW MANY PEOPLE “ULTRALIGHT BEAM” CONNECTED WITH.

other occasions” previously, but Franklin’s response was “No, no, no, no” every time. Admittedly, Franklin wanted to avoid sending mixed messages to his fan base. But this time, he agreed.

“What type of brotherhood and friendship is that?” Franklin asks. “We have to build, and his love language is music. He allowed me to be exactly who I was; there was no compromising who I was. I was able to write for the song and write and produce what the choir

Franklin stands

is doing.

in the studio

“It was amazing how many people [‘Ultra-

producing.

light Beam’] connected with.”

CHANCE THE RAPPER

Picture this: an up-and-coming rapper is

on, he asked Franklin to jump on a track for

renting a house in the Hollywood Hills while

his own upcoming album.

working on his new album. To get inspired,

“Finish Line/Drown” is a two-part gospel

he wakes up every morning at 6 a.m., turns

song. The first half features T-Pain, then mid-

on a gospel record for two hours and puts the

way, the song switches over to “Drown” and

volume on full blast—with all the windows in

piles on the gospel vibes with Franklin.

the house open.

Franklin clearly has no qualms about lay-

Everyone in the neighborhood hears blar-

ing down holy verses on the tracks of confi-

ing gospel music (and knows that this is his

dants, but he is less likely to have these fa-

morning routine). The guy was Chance the

mous friends on one of his records.

Rapper, and the music he was blaring was Kirk Franklin’s.

In an interview with Zane Lowe on Beats 1, the young emcee revealed that Franklin is his

Part of it is the whole fear of sending “mixed messages” thing. But largely it also has to do with his desire for creating and maintaining genuine connection.

CHANCE

x

KIRK

Chance the Rapper has publicly shared his admiration for Kirk Franklin’s work. Not long after,

“biggest inspiration” in making music. And it

“I don’t know if they will be on a record,”

only takes one listen to his breakout mixtape,

he says, speaking of his high-profile friends.

Pitchfork Music Festival. Then

Coloring Book, to hear that influence.

“For me, I am more focused on the relation-

came the collaborations on

Franklin puts it simply: “Chance knows my music more than I do.”

ship and being a light in people’s lives.

“I believe in what God is calling me to be.

When someone told him Chance is a fan,

That’s all I want to be at this time. I don’t want

Franklin wanted to meet up at the Austin,

to try and push it to something more than it

Texas, music festival, SXSW. The meeting nev-

is. I want to be accessible and available.”

er happened, but when Chance headlined the

Franklin isn’t sure if the high profile fea-

Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago that sum-

tures gained him any new converts to his mu-

mer, he personally invited Franklin to come

sic, but that wasn’t the “divine goal.”

out and perform with him.

“Ultralight Beam” and “Finish Line/ Drown.”

“We don’t know what the end of the story

After the two performed West’s “Ultralight

will be,” he says. “The amazing thing about

Beam,” which Chance was also a collaborator

life is that chapter is still being written now.”

MARCH-APRIL

the two performed together at

082

2017

THE STATE OF GOSPEL MUSIC

are saying these days; you don’t know what

Beyond these friendships, Franklin has high

they are thinking because you say it’s ‘wick-

hopes for the current surge in interest in gos-

ed,’” Franklin says. “You are no longer able to

pel music. That, he says, is part of his calling.

preach your gospel in a way that can survive

“People wanted to buy gospel music be-

K ANYE

x

KIRK

Just before Easter 2016, Kanye West released a free, extended version of “Ultralight Beam” on Soundcloud.

in the 21st century.”

cause they wanted to hear it,” he says. “There

This is why the average Joe can grasp the

was a time when what we were saying and

gospel Kanye or Chance preaches, as imper-

doing appeared to be interesting to people.

fect as it is. Coloring Book paints a smattering

Now, you have to beg people to know you’re

of pictures that show someone who loves the

in the room and what you have to say could

Lord, but still falls short and has flaws. “Bless-

be relevant to them.

ings,” “How Great” and “Finish Line/Drown”

Called “Ultralight Prayer,” it featured

“My fear is that we will lose our voice in

could sneak their way into any church ser-

a closing sermon from Kirk Franklin.

the culture. There is still going to be gospel

vice. The praise is genuine and the heart be-

The collaboration between West and

music in the Church, and there will still be

hind them is real.

Franklin incited significant criticism from his gospel fan base. In response, Franklin posted a picture of the duo on Instagram, with this caption:

“Kanye is not me. I am not him. He is my brother I am proud to do life

hymns, but I’m talking about the message’s

Other tracks that talk about drugs, girls and a “worldly lifestyle” is what Christians tend

relevance in society.”

Franklin is straddling a divide that has ex-

to demonize about hip-hop. But being honest

isted for a long time. “Unfortunately, we’ve

about those topics too, Franklin thinks, ulti-

always had this premise in Christian culture

mately makes those artists more accessible

that the world is bad, the world is wicked and

for wider audiences—which exposes the lis-

anything that has to do with the world you

teners to the spiritual moments as well.

stay away from,” Franklin says. “Now that we

The tension is what makes things so hard

are moving into a season of biblical illiteracy,

for Franklin. If he works with a secular art-

Marathons; like most

the world is everything in opposition to God.

ist, his gospel fans tell him he’s wrong. If he

of us are on. ... To a lot

It’s a mindset, it’s a state of being.”

makes a song and doesn’t mention Jesus, he’s

with. No sprints, but

of my Christian family, I’m sorry he’s not good enough, Christian enough, or running at your pace ... and as I read some of your comments, neither am

He thinks people who place themselves in

wrong. If he says a friend knows the Lord,

this “isolated bubble” that shields them from

but that friend is Kanye, he’s wrong. He’s not

the world have trouble connecting with those

“Christian enough” for some believers and

living away from God.

“too Christian” for non-believers.

“You don’t know what the lingo is; you

It is understandably exhausting. And at

don’t know what the new clothing line is;

this moment, Franklin is transparent about

you don’t know what the new sonic sounds

finding himself in a creative drought.

I. That won’t stop me from

in the studio are; you don’t know what the

“I have no idea what I’m doing,” he says,

running. Pray we win.”

new beats are; you don’t know what the kids

a bit meekly. “I am so lost at what I’m doing next. I am so serious. I’m not even trying to figure it out. I’m just letting the Painter paint a picture, and I’m handing Him my crayons.”

It is new territory for Franklin. He has been hustling and grinding nonstop for 25 years and now has seemingly just given it up to God to lead.

“I hope in this season of giving God the crayons, I’ll be able to clearly see what picture I go into next. I’m totally OK with Him telling me the script and where to stand, what

West

scene and what character He wants me to

debuted his

play. I’m cool with that.”

gospelinfused, explicit album The Life of Pablo with a live listening party at Madison Square Garden.

083

JUSTIN SAR ACHIK Justin Sarachik is a freelance music writer and editor based in New York.

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

The Easter story is familiar territory. But N.T. Wright says we may not know Christianity’s holiest day as well as we think.

MARCH-APRIL

084

2017

w

Whether you’ve been around Christianity for

church splits off from the Eastern church.

years or are new to faith, you probably know

The Western church retains the resurrection

the Easter story. It goes something like this:

concept because it’s in the creed, but actually

Humans are sinners; Jesus died as a sacri-

all the iconography and so on is all about “go-

fice, paying for our sins; and then three days

ing to heaven.”

later, Jesus came to life again—the result of

And when you get things like Michelange-

which is that His followers can go to heaven

lo’s Sistine Chapel or Dante’s Inferno and Par-

when they die. But what if we’re getting it

adiso, then it’s clear that what we’re dealing

all wrong?

with is something very different than what

“Many people have grown up assum-

you find in the Bible.

ing that is what the cross is all about,” says

The problem is that the last great scene in

world-renowned theologian and scholar N.T.

the Bible is not about saved souls going up to

Wright. “And the awful thing is that this mes-

heaven as most of the medieval mystery plays

sage about an angry God and an innocent vic-

would have it, but about the new Jerusalem

tim has a lot more in common with ancient

coming down from heaven to earth so that

Pagan thought than with ancient Jewish or

heaven and earth are joined together.

“The Gospels make it clear that He goes into the darkness as our representative and, therefore, as our substitute.”

Christian thought.”

Wright thinks Christians are missing something important about their most holy day.

“When you start thinking about it, you realize that when people talk about the cross,

WHAT’S THE BETTER, BIBLICAL FORMULATION?

I think the critical thing is this: Most Christian theories of atonement have not really taken the four Gospels seriously at all.

usually they start by saying we were given

They’ve tended to go for Paul and Hebrews

this moral examination, and we all flunked it

and have put them into a different scheme

so now we all have to die,” Wright says. “And

because the four Gospels don’t appear to be

fortunately for us, someone else has died in

addressing questions of the meaning of the

our place. It’s better to believe that than to be-

cross in the way we wish they had done.

lieve nothing. But it’s simply not the way that the Bible itself tells the story.”

But what the four Gospels are doing is talking about the coming of God’s Kingdom.

We sat down with Wright to talk about

Jesus says, “The Kingdom of God is at hand.”

what Christians often miss about the resur-

When you look at the crucifixion narratives

rection and why he thinks the real biblical

in all four Gospels, it’s all about Jesus being

picture is so much better.

enthroned as king.

IF CHRISTIANS ARE MISSING THE POINT

different angles on things, but they all con-

OF THE EASTER STORY, WHERE DID THE

verge on this: When Jesus is crucified some-

CONFUSION SET IN?

thing happens, and the result is the powers

It starts quite a way back, but is held in check

that have locked up the world in corruption,

until the Middle Ages when the Western

decay and death are overthrown.

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John have very

BY A A RO N C LI N E H A N B U RY

085

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

Jesus is running the show—even though it doesn’t look like it because we have the wrong idea of what power is and how it works.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT MEANS FOR

the story again and see throughout Matthew,

show—even though it doesn’t look like it be-

CHRISTIANS TODAY?

Mark, Luke and John, Jesus is confronting the

cause we have the wrong idea of what power

Learning to think historically and eschatolog-

powers—the plotting pharisees, the demons

is and how it works.

ically is really difficult for people in our day

shrieking at Him in the synagogues, the puz-

If we take the New Testament seriously,

and age because we tend to think that now

zled disciples.

we ought to see that the crucifixion of Jesus

that we live in the modern world, we’re it.

He’s confronting evil in all its forms, and

is the means by which God’s Kingdom is actu-

But the Bible says, “No, sorry: World histo-

He goes into the darkness in order to take its

ally launched on earth as in heaven—because

ry turned its corner when Jesus died on the

full weight upon Himself.

the powers are defeated, and this new world

cross and then rose again three days later.”

And Jesus is, from now on, running the

comes to birth.

YOU USE THE IMAGERY OF A REVOLUTION.

Every generation has to go on asking itself

This is a very deep mystery, and I suspect we’ll never fully understand it. But the Gos-

the question, “How does that then play out in

pels make it clear that He goes into the dark-

my world in my time?”

ness as our representative and, therefore, as

THAT’S NOT COMMONLY ASSOCIATED WITH

our substitute. Both of those are important.

THE EASTER STORY.

WE’RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LENTEN

This goes back to the ancient Jewish expec-

SEASON. OBVIOUSLY GOOD FRIDAY AND EASTER

YOU PAINT A PICTURE OF THE CHURCH

tation, which is rooted in Daniel and in the

ARE PERTINENT HERE. HOW DO THESE IDEAS

SHAPED BY THE CROSS.

Psalms and Isaiah, that one day God Himself

YOU’VE DEVELOPED SHAPE HOW WE APPROACH

We in the modern West have been conned

would come back and would overthrow the

THIS SEASON?

into believing that Christianity didn’t really

powers that have been running the world.

If Jesus of Nazareth had stayed dead, then no-

make any big changes in the world—nothing

body would have given a second thought to

much seems to have happened.

giving His crucifixion any significance.

Of course Christians have often gotten it

This is the great revolution, which like revolutions of our own day, is all about people who have been chafing under alien rule and

There were lots and lots of failed revolu-

wrong—and had crusades and inquisitions

feel their lives being squashed and crushed

tionaries in Jesus’ day, often ending up on Ro-

and burnt witches and so on—but look at the

when they suddenly find that someone has

man crosses, and Jesus would have been just

thousands and thousands of things they’ve

done something to overthrow the tyrant.

another one in that bunch.

gotten right.

It means that they—we—are now free

The crucifixion means what it means be-

And the reason they’ve gotten those things

to have the new life that they have always

cause Jesus is raised from the dead after three

right is that the Easter events really did hap-

dreamed of.

days, and likewise, the resurrection means

pen and really are being implemented.

That is precisely what happened when Jesus died on the cross. The “revolution” was

what it means because it is the resurrection of the crucified one.

secret for two and half days because it was

This is part of the point of Easter that is

only with Jesus’ resurrection that anyone

very hard for us to think about: Easter com-

could look back at His cross and say, “He’s de-

mands us to think about a non-corruptible

feated sin so the power of sin, the power of

physicality, about a physical world that isn’t

evil, has been overthrown.”

subject to decay and death anymore.

This is a genuinely revolutionary movement that happened.

MARCH-APRIL

The resurrection pushes us back and says it’s all about the Kingdom of God. Go and read

086

N.T. WRIGHT is a world-renowned author and theologian. You can actually study with him online at ntwrightonline.org.

2017

Union Presbyterian Seminary Is Here for the World.

And It’s Here for You. You are exploring options for seminary study. It can be a perplexing time, and it’s good to have someone who can listen to what’s on your mind. Union Presbyterian offers excellence in education and training, but just as importantly, it offers community, a place where you can be yourself…and find yourself.

Call us. There’s so much to talk about.

RICHMOND CAMPUS 3401 Brook Road, Richmond VA 23227 Rev. Mairi Renwick (M.Div. ‘11) 804-291-8314

CHARLOTTE CAMPUS 5141 Sharon Road Charlotte NC 28210 Rev. Lisa McLennan (M.Div. ‘14) 980-636-1662

Explore our website: www.upsem.edu 087

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

R E L E VA N T RECOMMENDS

FILM MUSIC BOOKS

THE RELEASES YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT

PRICELESS BEN SMALLBONE [ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS]

Co-directed by Ben Smallbone and starring Joel Smallbone, Priceless tackles the issue of human trafficking in a twisting thriller through the American southwest.

I SEE YOU THE XX [YOUNG TURKS]

With their latest release, the English band continues their ascension from indie darlings to chart-topping stars. Abstract lyrics make this album more of an introspective

Social Club Misfits

experience than usual.

The Miami hip-hop duo with a cult following

“

T

he whole theme of the album is life gives you detours,” says Marty Santiago, one half of the hip-hop duo Social Club Misfits. “Life gives you moments where you don’t expect anything to

happen.” The Misadventures of Fern and Marty, the label debut from the Miami rappers, explores ideas like hardships, honest

THE EVANGELICALS

faith and, of course, life’s detours over top of trap-inspired

FRANCES FITZGERALD

beats. But, at its core, the duo’s lyrics are filled with wisdom

THE MISADVENTURES

gleaned over years of, well, misadventures.

OF FERN AND MARTY

“Life is not Point A to Point B, but as long as we trust Him in

[CAPITOL RECORDS]

the process, He probably wants our dream to happen more than

The duo’s label debut

we want our dreams to happen,” Santiago says. “He’s the one

features unreal beats

that gave them to us. One thing’s for sure—we’ll be seeing more

and thought-provoking

of their own dreams come true.”

MARCH-APRIL

rhymes.

088

[SIMON & SCHUSTER]

Distinguished historian Frances FitzGerald explores how evangelicalism went from being a stream within Christianity to being a cultural force in America.

2017

Tycho Their modern instrumental sound needs to be the soundtrack to your life already.

S

ome of the most moving music doesn’t need lyrics.

“My approach with music has always been to channel ideas and emotions into a language that is universally understood,” says Scott Hansen, the

primary songwriter and producer behind Tycho. The group combines EDM beats and actual instrumentation to create an ambient listening experience equal parts danceable, introspective and otherworldly. On their latest release, Epoch, Tyco accomplishes something few artists could: They use only beats, synths and guitars to communicate something universally understood.

EPOCH [GHOSTLY INTERNATIONAL]

Epoch is the fourth studio album from Tycho and debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Dance/Electronic charts.

ARRIVAL

Anchored by

THERE IS A CLOUD

DENIS VILLENEUVE

stirring visuals of

ELEVATION WORSHIP

[PARAMOUNT]

elegantly designed

[ESSENTIAL

alien craft, the film is

RECORDS]

Church worship band is about duality: There

Is a Cloud isn’t only referring to overcoming darkness; it’s about

Arrival isn’t concerned

about what it really

with mass destruction

takes to understand

The latest album from

exploring light in the

and intergalactic war.

one another.

Charlotte’s Elevation

midst of the process.

Jonathan David and Melissa Helser JONATHAN AND MELISSA HELSER live deep in the woods of North Carolina, away from the recognition that comes with being rising stars of the worship music genre.

Their commitment to simplicity is evident in their approach to music. Their songs offer a reflection on God, love and what it truly means to be in a relationship with a savior when everything else is stripped away.

089

BEAUTIFUL SURRENDER [BETHEL MUSIC COLLECTIVE]

As their eighth album, Beautiful Surrender offers 12 songs reflecting on the freedom of a life truly lived for God.

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

02/04

RECOMMENDS

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE ELIZABETH STROUT [RANDOM HOUSE]

A follow-up to her bestselling My Name is Lucy Barton (2016), this new novel is a powerful story of reconciliation in a broken family.

PRISONER RYAN ADAMS [BLUE NOTE

OK GO

RECORDS]

Prisoner brings Ryan Adams’ prolific career full circle with alt-

The modern rock innovators have

country ballads, gritty guitar work, harmonicas

made a lasting impression.

and heartbreak.

OK

GO AMASSED hundreds of millions of views

on YouTube for groundbreaking music videos involving treadmill choreography and giant Rube Goldberg machines. But despite being one

of the most “viral” artists making music, the secret to the

HARD LOVE

OK GO is breaking

band’s success is that at the end of the day, they aren’t overly

records with their highly

concerned with pleasing the masses. “Any band that was trying

imaginative productions.

to make music and wanted everybody to like them would

Their video for “The One

STRAND OF OAKS

be making really crappy music,” explains frontman Damian

[DEAD OCEANS]

Kulash. The band knows that making great music is about being true to yourself first. “We do mean to be broadly accessible,” he

One-man band Timothy

THE ONE MOMENT

Moment,” which was shot in four seconds, went viral in November.

says. “But you can’t try to please everybody. At the same time,

Showalter transcends

we try to make the originality speak universally.”

his ’70s-rock influences.

The album focuses on innocence, the simplicity of youth and the power of music.

LION

his birth family after

WENDELL

The writings of farmer

GARTH DAVIS

being adopted and

BERRY AND THE

and poet Wendell Berry

[SEE-SAW FILMS]

MARCH-APRIL

raised by a wealthy

GIVEN LIFE

Australian couple. The

Lion looks at the life of

story plays off themes

a young boy from India

like love and the true

who goes looking for

meaning of identity.

RAGAN SUTTERFIELD [FRANCISCAN MEDIA]

090

offer us the hope of a richer, more connected, and more sustainable way of life. A life that is significantly more fulfilling.

2017

“I BELIEVE THE ARTS AND

Makoto Fujimura New York artist Makoto

FLORENCE WILLIAMS

Fujimura wants to fix it

[NORTON]

as only an artist can. He’s

This insightful book

putting forward a frame-

reminds us of the

work to reconnect culture

of God’s creation, and highlights the benefits we will find as we slow down and become more attentive.

LIMITED-RESOURCES ENVIRONMENT.”

CULTURE IS BROKEN, and

THE NATURE FIX

interconnectedness of all

IMAGINATION ARE IN A REALM WHERE NATURE IS NOT STRICTLY A

with beauty: “culture care.” But this isn’t just about artists or even art.

It’s ultimately about faith.

“I believe the arts and imagination are in a realm where nature is not strictly a limited-resources environment, that there is generativity embedded in creation,” he said. “And when human beings exercise the imagination, and we

I AM NOT

act upon it with love, we

YOUR NEGRO

create something into the

RAOUL PECK

world that is so expansive

[MAGNOLIA

that typical bottom-line

PICTURES]

thinking can’t explain it.”

Based on an unfinished

CULTURE CARE

Throughout Culture

James Baldwin

Care: Reconnecting with

[INTERNATIONAL ARTS MOVEMENT AND

manuscript, this

Beauty for our Common

THE FUJIMURA INSTITUTE]

Life, Fujimura fleshes out

With compassion and introspection, Fujimara

these profound ideas,

explores how to approach culture as a world to

making it a must-read.

be cultivated, not replaced for its deficiencies.

exploration of racism and inequality still rings startlingly true.

DIFFERENT CREATURES CIRCA WAVES [VIRGIN EMI]

Circa Waves may be from England, but their attitude is pure California. The songwriting is all sunny energy and punk rock spirit influencing the whole album’s progression.

Amy Peterson THE DESIRE TO SERVE God can easily

become problematic. There’s a difference between loving action that flows naturally out of understanding your status as beloved of God, and actions that stem from a desire to “do big things for God.” Amy Peterson explores that desire in her new book, Dangerous Territory, as she goes from idealistic missionary to unhindered child of God to make a difference.

091

DANGEROUS TERRITORY [DISCOVERY HOUSE]

It’s a journey back to the main thing and finding love in the most unexpected places.

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

03/04

RECOMMENDS

Foxygen Resurrecting the ’70s to where they belong.

I

T’S NOT HARD to hear

hints of Foxygen’s range of influences when you listen to their latest

album, Hang. The energy of ’70s rock icons like The Ramones, Lou Reed, The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin fuels their music, but the California duo of Jonathan Rado and Sam France have grander ambitions than just to emulate the music of the past: They want to build on it.

“We’re diving into an exploration of what it means to identify with American influences and return to a hero’s journey far more significant than what is shown at hand,” France says. It may sound like a big aspiration, but when you hear the giant riffs, wall-of-sound arrangements and soaring vocals, you’ll see why Foxygen understands what makes for great rock ’n’ roll.

“WE’RE DIVING INTO AN EXPLORATION OF WHAT IT MEANS TO IDENTIFY WITH

HANG

AMERICAN INFLUENCES AND RETURN TO A

[JAGJAGUWAR]

HERO’S JOURNEY FAR MORE SIGNIFICANT

This album resurrects ’70s rock cool with a

THAN WHAT IS SHOWN AT HAND.”

full band ensemble, jangly guitar riffs and gritty, loose vocals. Guest collabs by Steven Drozd of the Flaming Lips, as well as Brian D’Addario also make their mark.

SNOWDONIA

a battle with cancer,

LOVING

the couple who

SURFER BLOOD

Surfer Blood returns

JEFF NICHOLS

challenged laws

[JOYFUL NOISE]

MARCH-APRIL

with Snowdonia. They

[BIG BEACH]

maintain their signature

preventing interracial marriages. Its themes

A year after founding

beach rock vibes, but

Loving tells the true

of overcoming racial

member Thomas Fekete

there’s an understandably

story of Richard

injustice are very

passed away after

somber undertone.

and Mildred Loving,

relevant today.

092

2017

DOCTOR STRANGE SCOTT DERRICKSON [MARVEL STUDIOS]

Doctor Strange represents a new turn in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, centering on a hero who uses supernatural forces rather than superpowers to fight dark forces.

WORTHY BEAUTIFUL EULOGY

Trip Lee

[FAIR TRADE SERVICES]

The trio, Beautiful

One of Christian hip-hop’s best emcees is back with style after a two-year hiatus.

Eulogy, makes a kind of

IT’S BEEN A WHILE since Trip

about how tough life is,” Lee

people’s perception of

Lee’s last project. He’s been

said. “This is a season where the

taking it easy, you know—just

difficulties of life in this broken

church planting, pastoring,

world are front and center.”

“worship” music that’s pushing the limits of

restless for new music, Trip

relate to. “When things seem to

began putting together The

be going great, we can be

Waiting Room as an EP. And then

under the illusion that maybe

it evolved into his latest mixtape

this is really our home and

on Reach Records.

everything is great. But when

is means to be real and honest

and electronic sound.

It’s a theme everyone can

raising a family. As fans grew

“The project explores what

the genre with hip-hop

THE WAITING ROOM [REACH RECORDS] The album is a 10-track excercise in precision and honesty where Lee explores modern-day

stuff is a little chaotic it makes it

cultural struggles as well as personal.

a more apparent.”

TO ALTER YOUR WORLD MICHAEL FROST/ CHRISTIANA RICE [IVP BOOKS]

THE BENEDICT OPTION

JACKIE

ROD DREHER

PABLO LARRAÍN

[SENTINEL PRESS]

[FOX SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES]

Dreher argues that the possibility of

Natalie Portman portrays the days

global cultural upheaval means we need

after one of America’s most infamous

more holistic faith communities.

moments: the assassination of J.F.K.

093

To Alter Your World is an immensely practical book about how our local churches collaborate with God in the transformation of our neighborhoods.

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

04/04

RECOMMENDS

Colony House A (fun) emotional rollercoaster.

A

FTER THE RELEASE of

their 2014 debut album, Colony House found themselves in a dark place.

That season sparked a new source of creative inspiration when it came time to write the follow-up, Only the Lonely.

“The album came out of the irony of being on the road and surrounded by people all the time—surrounded by people clapping for you onstage all the time—and still feeling like it’s a lonely place,” frontman Caleb Chapman says.

Their sound explores emotions often left unattended, but also makes you feel

ONLY THE LONELY [RCA RECORDS] This sophomore attempt pops with intricate tracks and anthemic choruses.

like it’s also a celebration.

MARCH-APRIL

094

2017

UNIVERSAL HARVESTER JOHN DARNIELLE [FSG BOOKS]

Centered around the mystery of clips spliced into VHS tapes at a small-town Iowa video store in the 1990s, Universal Harvester is exactly the sort of dark, quirky tale we would expect from the frontman of the Mountain Goats.

LORE A case study in the folklore of podcast success.

LORE WAS NEVER SUPPOSED to achieve the popularity it has. Aaron Mahnke, the podcast’s writer and producer, created it to market his fiction writing—assuming it might get a few hundred downloads a month. Four million average monthly listeners later, it’s become a cultural sensation, and now Lore is headed for TV. Each episode tells a dark tale from history in a style something like a campfire experience, often diving into the supernatural and how fear motivates action and belief.

“Each of these stories highlight how broken we are as people and how that brokenness spills out into the lives of others around us,” Mahnke says. “I think it’s just an important lesson to pick up on. Especially in this day and age.” With five thousand 5-star reviews on iTunes, others clearly agree.

095

“I’M INTERESTED IN WHAT IT SAYS ABOUT US AS HUMANITY THAT WE EVEN TELL THESE STORIES TO BEGIN WITH.”

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

LAST WORD Before We Go

Yes, Pray for Our Leaders

humility, transparency and, if

pray that we not grow weary,

necessary, repentance.

or cynical, or apathetic, or even

While our churches should not be political, per se, we can’t be naive in ignoring politics.

Why? Because politics create

The United States is anything but united. Here’s how to change that.

T

times for our nation. Typically, every four years during a

followers of Christ. Many desire to influence the world, but it

Real people. And often, the most

really begins with us—and then

vulnerable and marginalized.

those literally around us.

Begin in our homes. Love our

special place for the vulnerable

families. Meet your neighbors.

and marginalized. In other

Respect the elderly. Advocate for

words, we can’t neglect the

those on the margins. Seek the

invitation to be courageous and

welfare of your city. Love mercy.

faithful to the biblical call to

Seek justice. Walk humbly.

speak truth to power.

presidential election, we know

But rather, pray that you’ll live out whole discipleship as

policies which impact people.

Based on Scripture, God has a

hese are uniquely challenging

seduced by power.

Yes, we should pray.

In that spirit, we ought to pray that the hearts of leaders more

what happens: One ticket, representing one

closely reflect the Kingdom of

political party gets elected. About half the

God. Pray for their courage to

A CALL TO PRAY

country is thrilled with the results and the other

protect the sanctity of life—from

FOR THOSE IN

half is upset. But when the inauguration finally

are especially vulnerable in our

womb to tomb; for those who

takes place in January, there’s a sense of healing and coming together for the whole nation.

society. Pray for an openness to

ALSO COMPEL US

engage the conversations that

TO EXAMINE OUR

involve the realities of black and brown communities, LGBTQ, refugees who’ve fled terrible

Americans and many Christians.

situations around the world and

whether you’re thrilled or upset,

But we must adhere to the

have already suffered so much;

we’ve not seen healing since

instructions of Scripture.

for the rampant increase of

But so far, regardless of

the inauguration of the new administration. Far from it.

The election has strained friendships, challenged families

in authority should also compel

say just pray for those you like.

us to examine our hearts and

I’m not suggesting that to

pray for ourselves.

heard news of some churches

offer a flippant prayer or free

splitting—all over the political

passes from any wrongdoing. To

reminded that Jesus is neither

state of our nation. In the midst

pray for our leaders is to remain

Democrat nor Republican.

of so much angst and division,

engaged, listen to the Holy Spirit,

God’s Kingdom transcends our

how should Christians pray?

to act and to ultimately seek and

human boxes. In this complex

work for God’s Kingdom.

and polarizing world, we ought

We ought to pray for wisdom

As Christians, we must be

to be steadfast in reading the

for our leaders and their

Scriptures, to be informed

advisors. We ought to pray

through our personal study and

1 Timothy 2:1-2. Now, if we’re

for protection for those in

research, to live in community

being honest, this is particularly

leadership and their families.

and be open to both affirmation

those in authority.

Scripture implores us to in

challenging for about half of

MARCH-APRIL

We should also pray for

FOR OURSELVES.

Lastly, a call to pray for those

those you voted for. It doesn’t

pray for our leaders is simply to

be praying for our leaders and

HEARTS AND PRAY

Islamophobia.

It doesn’t say just to pray for

and tragically, I’ve even

For starters: Yes, we ought to

AUTHORITY SHOULD

and correction. We ought to

096

EUGENE CHO is a pastor, humanitarian and author of Overrated.

2017

When the people you most want to help are out of reach.

You can Unlock Hope for refugees today. worldrelief.org/hope 03

RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM

MARCH-APRIL

04

2017