| Jesus Culture | |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1999 |
| Headquarters | Redding, California |
| Parent organization | Bethel Church |
| Website | www.jesusculture.com |
Jesus Culture is a Christian youth outreach ministry that hosts three conferences in Redding, California every year, as well as in Atlanta, Las Vegas, Dallas, Cleveland, as well as Australia and England. The conferences bring thousands of young people from around the world to the host cities.[1]
Contents |
Jesus Culture began in the summer of 1999, when the youth group at Bethel Church in Redding, California, led by Banning Liebscher, launched the first Jesus Culture conference. The ministry has been called "one of the most significant Christian movements in post-war America".[2] Their albums are a mix of original and cover songs.[3]
According to Jesus Culture's website, "The heart of these gatherings was to serve other churches and lead young people to experience the radical love of God. At each conference there was a strong presence of the Lord, and the youth and young adults were going back to their homes, schools, work places and churches, completely impassioned and transformed...It soon became very clear to us that worship was to be a significant part of our movement. Kim Walker-Smith, Chris Quilala, and Melissa How were worship leaders at our local youth group, and the Lord began to use them to bring an entire generation into whole-hearted worship."[4]
As of September 2010 Jesus Culture are holding conferences in Redding, Orange County, Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago, Atlanta, in Australia and England.[4]
Kim Walker-Smith, Chris Quilala, and Melissa How were worship leaders at Bethel Church's youth group, and are the core of the Jesus Culture Band.[5] Jesus Culture states the purpose of music in their movement is to "ignite revival in the nations of the earth...compel the Body of Christ to radically abandon itself to a lifestyle of worship, motivated by a passion to see God receive the glory that is due His name..." and to "encounter His extravagant love and raw power."[4]