Ghanaian/Liberian United States (US) based gospel recording artist, Steve Kelly, is set to fill the stage with worship to the Lord. `Youth Explosion,“ the kickoff concert to a three-day conference on reaching the younger generation promises to be explosive.
In Philadelphia, PA – a youth ministry in South West Philadelphia, known for its 700 regular attendees, will kick off its conference Friday night with a `Youth Explosion` concert.
The subject of the three-day conference is how to use culture to impact an `unreached generation.`
There will be a DJ spinning beats, two couches on the stage, and a line snaking out the door and down the block typical for a Saturday night. It`s a concert, and adults are invited.
The event will feature 200 youth ministers and 800 youth and young adults and the crowd will be treated to an earful of R & B, rap, and hip-hop lyrics and grind. The music will be accompanied by a message from the Head Pastor Apostle David Gaines.
Steve Kelly told youth ministers to rely on the Holy Spirit, engage the youths, and use whatever means necessary. `We need the baptism of the Spirit of the living God on these young people,` said Steve Kelly, who will also produce the conference and concert.
Using culture to save souls is how Steve Kelly described his Music. `I realised that if this (music) can speak to a culture that cannot be reached, then I want to see a fusion,` he said.
Since then, the ministry has evolved into an all-out hip hop scene with God as the centre of the worship. Two hours before show time, throngs of young people wearing baggy jeans, insignia T-shirts, and their caps backwards were thumping and bobbing their heads in a church that looked more like a nightclub.
Steve Kelly said instead of giving up, youth leaders should translate the gospel so that the younger generations can understand.
`Methods are always changing, but the message stays the same,` he said. Youth ministers need to build bridges to the people using whatever method possible, he said. This is what being relevant means. `I told God I didn`t want a religion,` said Steve Kelly. `I always wanted something real.`
Steve said people that crammed into long pews and stood in the back that the most important thing for any youth ministry to succeed is to pay attention to the Holy Spirit. Not every youth ministry has to look like hip hop culture.
`You gotta hear what God is saying and explore what`s in your area,` he said. `If I just told you what it is, then you might just accept it, but when you stop to ask, `Why` it might give you some insight.`
Steve added that receiving the Holy Spirit is about saving souls, saying that it is not about getting goose bumps or feeling good, but about preaching the gospel to people who haven`t heard.
`The end result of the Holy Spirit is to glorify Christ, and see people saved you know how many times Jesus tells them to go out, and the church says, `Come in, come in?` We`re more effective when we`re out there.` he said.
