Spiritual Health/Vitality

Would you be willing...?

Would you be willing...?

A simple question changed the trajectory of a young college student’s life in the late 1970s. “Would you be willing to go to the city?” Jeff Bass, EGC’s executive director, reflects on how the Holy Spirit used that question to prompt other questions that continue to shape God’s call on his life.

A Theology of Racial Healing

A Theology of Racial Healing

Today, issues related to race are sometimes seen as “liberal” or “political” issues. As a result, some Christians have disengaged from this important conversation, and this breaks the heart of God. Racial healing is first and foremost a biblical value. This article from the Race & Christian Community team explores a Biblical theology of racial healing.

Cry Out: New Music Video & Lyrics

Cry Out

This year, EGC’s annual urban ministry celebration was a bit different. Instead of a party, we sent out a gift. Straight from the heart and spirit of EGC’s creatives, this song and music video is for you to enjoy, reflect on, and share. Below you’ll find the video link, lyrics, and art photos.

Like the Christian leaders we serve, EGC is in a time of deep listening—to God and to other leaders—in this unexpected season of distancing and connecting, conserving and giving, caring and surviving.  Friends, may this song inspire you to cry out to God with all that you need, as you also hear the cries of those Jesus loves.

Music Video

Cry Out. Music and Lyrics by Caleb McCoy & Jaronzie Harris. Sound Production by Caleb McCoy. Video Directed & Edited by Elijah Mickelson. Videography by Giovanni "Fugi" Acevedo and Sue Murad. Behind the scenes Photography by Rosa with R9Foto. All precautions were taken in the filming of this video to ensure the health and safety of the artists, film crew, and Boston public.

 

Lyrics & Photos

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CALEB

See I just wanna go on record

That this is never what I expected

Take away our pride and possessions and

It’s gonna beg the question, what is anybody left with?



What do you do in a pandemic?

Who takes the blame and who gets the credit?

Some will second guess it and others will get prophetic

Some sayin’ it’s the endin’, I think it’s a new beginning

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We still have abundant life, we can live it up

But when Lord speaks we should listen up

And it shouldn’t take a virus that’s killing us

To think about the elderly, the poor, and the prisoners (that’s real)

It changed the whole world as we know it

But hopefully we can learn from this moment

We need beauty from artists and words from the poets

It’s time to dive deep, like the pearls in the ocean

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I know you sad Sunday service is closing

But this the best time for the Church to be potent

How can we go serve the hurt and the homeless?

Do we really believe every curse can be broken?

I think we do, so let’s see it then

Some people need food, some will need a friend

Some people need a song, go and sing it then

This our prayer ‘til we meet again, that

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We need perseverance through the pain

We need God to clear it when it rains

It’s only by the Spirit that we change

So let the people cry out

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And God gave a command—it was, “Love one another”

Through the hard times enemies become brothers

The only thing certain is the God that’s above us

Let the people cry out

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Jaronzie

We cry out in this world where calamity’s conjectured on a curve

We confront our own fragility

Raising up petitions and repenting on our bended knees

Seeking asylum from a sickness of a different breed

Shadow of death looming long on society

But servants of the Most High still trust in His authority

Who grasps the globe in His hands? Who is the King of Kings?

Holding all of our existence in supreme dexterity

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Lifting up the cup of my salvation, calling urgently

Hoping that the God who formed creation will deliver me

Resting in His promise, drawing power from the NIV

Knowing that He’s faithful so I give Him this doxology

Chorus

We need perseverance through the pain

We need God to clear it when it rains

It’s only by the Spirit that we change

So let the people cry out

And God gave a command—it was, '“Love one another”

Through the hard times enemies become brothers

The only thing certain is the God that’s above us

Let the people cry out (So we all pray together)

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ALL

Let the people cry out to you

Let the people cry out to you

Let the people cry out to you

Let the people cry out

Let the people cry out to You (for healing)

Let the people cry out to You (for breakthrough)

Let the people cry out to You (for deliverance)

Let the people cry out

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The Word

When the righteous cry out for help,

The Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers them out of them all.

Psalm 34:17-19

About the Artists

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Caleb McCoy

Caleb writes, performs, records, and shoots videos for Christian hip-hip through his ministry called OAK. His ministry also mentors other Christian hip-hop artists in Boston. Before the stay at home advisory, you could find Caleb ministering in schools, communities of youth at risk, and sold-out concert venues across the region. The OAK albums are available on Apple Music, Google Play, Spotify, and wherever albums are sold. Caleb also is EGC’s Development Manager and teaches the EGC 101 introduction to EGC’s city ministry.

 
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Jaronzie Harris

Jaronzie is an educator, worship leader, playwright and director who uses research and the arts to unite communities and promote justice. She is currently a scholar in the Institute for the Study of the Black Christian Experience at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and the Research & Networking Associate at EGC for the Boston Black Church Vitality Project. Before the stay at home advisory, you could find Jaronzie meeting with Christian leaders across eastern Massachusetts to bolster youth programs and develop spiritual vitality through collaboration and the arts.

 
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Elijah Mickelson

Elijah is a storyteller, pastor, and director. He serves as EGC’s director of communications helping churches and Christian leaders tackle the complexity of the urban environment. He is also the founder of the Filmmaker Collaborative. The purpose of the Filmmaker Collaborative is to build community, encourage one another in the creative process, and explore collaboration. Contact Elijah at emickelson@egc.org.

 
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Rosa Cabán

Rosa Cabán is R9 Foto. Rosa is a photographer who uses the arts to bring influence to communities in need of God's love. She is currently serving on the creative team in the media department at Impact Church. Before the pandemic, you could find her cooking, hosting friends, and working on projects with other Kingdom artists.

 

EGC FILMS

Resources for Christians Navigating Political & Theological Divides

Resources for Christians Navigating Political & Theological Divides

We live in polarizing times—but we’re not the first. Prof. Dean Borgman recommends resources with time-tested kingdom principles about how to engage with others in political matters.

Avoiding Babel: 5 Tips for Spiritually Healthy Collaborations

Avoiding Babel: 5 Tips for Spiritually Healthy Collaborations

Does Christian collaboration move us towards God’s ideal of healthy urban life? It depends. For Christian leaders, collaboration minus discernment can add up to idolatry. Check out these 5 disciplines for Christian leaders to help the Church avoid Babel in Boston.

From the Bible Belt to Boston: What God's Doing in New England

From the Bible Belt to Boston: What God's Doing in New England

Are you ministering in a spiritual desert? In a recent study, Boston was ranked one of the most “Post-Christian” cities in the U.S. Kathryn Hamilton, an EGC communications intern from West Texas, weighs in about her experience with Boston’s spiritual climate and Christian vitality.

Understanding Boston's Quiet Revival

Understanding Boston's Quiet Revival

What is the Quiet Revival? Fifty years ago, a church planting movement quietly took root in Boston. Since then, the number of churches within the city limits of Boston has nearly doubled. How did this happen? Is it really a revival? Why is it called "quiet?" EGC's senior writer, Steve Daman, gives us an overview of the Quiet Revival, suggests a definition, and points to areas for further study.