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.
History edit:
Jesus Culture began in the summer of 1999, when the youth group at Bethel Church in Redding, California, led by youth pastor Banning Liebscher, launched the first Jesus Culture conference. The ministry has been called "one of the most significant Christian movements in post-war America".
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."
Conferences edit:
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.
The conferences bring together a number of pastors and ministers to preach to the conference attendees. Worship is lead through song, featuring a number of performers, including the Jesus Culture band.
Jesus Culture Music edit:
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.
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. 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."
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 #133 on the Canadian music charts. The album was reviewed by Christianity Today, who critiqued that "...amps of staggering sound leave little room for thoughtful reflection or deliberate contemplation..."
