Jesus Culture

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Jesus Culture
Formation 1999
Headquarters Redding, California
Parent organization Bethel Church
Website www.jesusculture.com

Jesus Culture is an international Christian revivalist youth outreach ministry based at the Bethel Church of Redding, California. Jesus Culture Ministry hosts conferences and operates a record label, Jesus Culture Music, to share its message and spread worship. Jesus Culture is to move to plant a church in Sacramento, with meetings starting in 2014.

History

Fall of 1999, when the youth group at Bethel Church in Redding, California, led by youth pastor Banning Liebscher, launched the first Jesus Culture conference. Tony Cummings, music editor of Cross Rhythms, described the ministry as "one of the most significant Christian movements in post-war America".[1]

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."[2]

As of July 2013 it is planned that Jesus Culture will move to Sacramento to plant a church, with meetings starting in 2014.[3]

Conferences

Growing from the original conference in Redding, the organization now hosts annual conferences in Redding, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Dallas, Cleveland, and locations in Australia and the United Kingdom. The conferences bring thousands of young people from around the world to the host cities.[4]

The conferences bring together a number of pastors and ministers to preach to the conference attendees.[4] Worship is led through song, featuring a number of performers, including the Jesus Culture band.

Jesus Culture Music

Jesus Culture Music is the music label for the Jesus Culture Ministry. Its albums feature the worship of the Jesus Culture band, performing a mix of original and cover songs.[5]

Youth worship leaders Kim Walker-Smith, Melissa How and Chris Quilala, long active with the youth group at Bethel Church in Redding, became the core of the Jesus Culture band.[6] 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... and... encounter His extravagant love and raw power."[2]

Since 2006, the band has released a number of albums on the Jesus Culture Music label. Their 2011 album, Awakening (Live From Chicago), appeared at No. 133 on the Canadian SoundScan charts.[7] The album was reviewed by Christianity Today, who critiqued that "...amps of staggering sound leave little room for thoughtful reflection or deliberate contemplation..." [8]

Discography

  • Everything (2006)
  • We Cry Out (2007)
  • Here Is My Song (2008)
  • Those Who Dream (2008)
  • Your Love Never Fails (2008)
  • Consumed (2009)
  • Here is Love (2009)
  • Marked By Heaven (2009)
  • My Passion (EP) (2010)
  • Come Away (2010)
  • Encounter Live (With Jake Hamilton) (2010)
  • Awakening (Live from Chicago) (2011) No. 133 CAN[7]
  • Emerging Voices (2012)
  • Live from New York (2012)

Criticism

John F. MacArthur an American fundamentalist Christian pastor, author and radio personality, who adheres to the doctrine known as cessationism—which states that Apostolic gifts ceased with the original twelve apostles—and has openly criticized forms of charismatic worship, held a conference in October 2013 coinciding with the release of his book Strange Fire: The Danger of Offending the Holy Spirit with Counterfeit Worship, ISBN 978-1-4002-0517-2. During the conference, MacArthur singled-out the Hillsong song "Fire Fall Down" as performed by Jesus Culture. He notes that the symbolism may relate to Pentecost as described in Acts 2, but that the event is not repeatable and so it is not reasonable to call down fire from heaven again. He goes on to refer to the song as demonic and having nothing to do with either Christianity or God.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "''Cross Rhythms'' Jesus Culture: Kim Walker speaks about the powerful worship ministry from California". Crossrhythms.co.uk. Retrieved October 24, 2011. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Jesus Culture website". Jesusculture.com. Retrieved October 24, 2011. 
  3. ↑ "JC Move: Jesus Culture is moving to sacramento". Jesus Culture. Retrieved July 11, 2013. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Winters, Amanda (January 16, 2010). "Bethel burgeons under pastor's visions of prosperity". Record Searchlight. 
  5. ↑ Mahoney, Mike. "Jesus Culture- Come Away". Retrieved September 28, 2011. "It’s also typical in that it’s a mix of originals and cover songs." 
  6. ↑ ""Chris Quilala: Encountering God in Jesus Culture" 700 Club Interview". Cbn.com. Retrieved October 24, 2011. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 SoundScan Charts CANOE - JAM! Music Retrieved July 11, 2013.
  8. ↑ Awakening: Live in Chicago Christianity Today Retrieved July 11, 2013.
  9. ↑ http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/TM13-11/strange-fire-panel-question-and-answer-session-1

External links

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