Fatherhood, as I’ve discerned, isn’t confined to the roles of provider or protector. It’s about being a weaver of experiences, a curator of cherished memories. My mission is to guarantee that as my children criss-cross the expanse of life, they do so not only with cheap trinkets but with a profound sense of being deeply loved.

One of the biggest mistakes I see urban planters making is being too cool to promote their church. The idea that you will somehow grow a church by preaching dope sermons and street cred? Bruh! You trippin’! 

Whether you're building a church, launching a nonprofit, or just trying to keep your faith and family strong while leading others, these books have shaped me and countless others on the journey. Each one offers timeless wisdom, practical tools, and soul-level encouragement.

What is the real cost of being nice? Being nice has long been praised as a virtue. Can the price of being nice be too high? We will explore the personal impacts of always putting others first, using the concept of the "Nice Guy Rebel" and the "Mr. Nice Guy" as examples.

In an era where superficiality often reigns supreme in the music industry, Derek Minor emerges as a sign of life in a desolate genre.

Here's a revelation: being misunderstood isn't a curse.  It's a sign. It's a sign that you're ahead and see a future others haven't glimpsed yet. It's not about them not getting you; it's about you getting them to a place they can't even envision. It's not about you, but them.

The evidence is clear: God is not merely an entity who values rituals and sacrifices; He is a loving father, deeply invested in His children's lives (Matt. 7:9-11).

Another day, another headline: a public figure facing serious allegations, this time Shannon Sharpe. A 50-something former NFL star turned media mogul, accused of misconduct involving a young woman nearly three decades his junior.

There are countless stories out there today. We could call them worldviews. America has its story:  The American Dream, that promises prosperity through hard work. Baltimore has its own narrative – a story of surviving the streets and escaping if you can. But what if I told you the Bible offers an alternative story? And not just any alternative…a superior one.

Looking around at men, especially those in the church, I realized this message, overcoming people-pleasing, was an essential part of my life’s work.

“It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.” Psalm 127:2 Most urban pastors I know are exhausted. I became a leader in the age of hustle culture. But before it had a cool name, remember what Nas said, “I’m never sleeping because sleep is the cousin of death.” 

I am planting this church to reach the young men who are dying in our streets every day, and it feels like no matter what I do, it’s not working, and things are getting worse. Have you ever felt like giving up as an urban church planter or pastor? I know I have!

In a world where the concept of masculinity is often distorted and diluted, we have to ground our understanding of manhood in a robust biblical theology—one that provides both a framework for understanding our calling as men and a defense against the cultural currents that seek to undermine it. 

From my experience coaching church planters, I believe what stifles many urban church planters is their limited view of what is creatively possible because they limit their content intake to theology, spirituality, and Christian history. 

“Could today be the day?” That question haunted me every night as I drifted to sleep. Since January 2017, this thought lingered in my mind like an uninvited guest.  The constant fear that today might be the day my kidneys fail, leading to hospitalization and dialysis. This wasn’t just a personal fear. The dark cloud loomed over my journey as a church planter.

Riding to the sound of a Nas track one day, something hit me. I paused to consider the church planting scene. So much uniformity. It's almost surreal.

In sports, the marks of a great athlete are unmistakable - agility, speed, skill, and a unique style that sets them apart. The benchmarks might differ in the music world, especially hip-hop, but the principles remain. An artist like J. Cole, with his masterful lyricism and insightful messages, encapsulates what it means to excel in the craft of rapping, much like the basketball players who dominate on the court.