104. Beats of Belief & Gospel for the Streets

About this Episode

Join us in an enlightening and soulstirring episode of our podcast as we delve into the remarkable journey of Brother Devan, the visionary CEO of Gospel for the Streets. His transformative faith and relentless pursuit to bring unity and hope through his unique blend of Gospel and hiphop music is helping to reshape the spiritual landscape of Memphis, Tennessee. In this conversation, we not only uncover the depths of his tenacity but also explore how his innovative approach to ministry is breaking barriers and challenging conventional norms.

Episode Highlights:

• A deep dive into the inspirational journey of Brother Devan, CEO of Gospel for the Streets, and his unique blend of Gospel and hip-hop that is reshaping the spiritual scene in Memphis, Tennessee.

• An exploration of Brother Devan's personal journey, his role at Innovation Church, and his unique music that challenges norms and unites communities.

• A thoughtful discussion on tough topics such as religious dogma, church hypocrisy, and faith's entanglement with government, with insightful perspectives provided by Brother Devan.

• A look at the vibrant city of Memphis, highlighting the significant role Brother Devan's ministry plays in societal transformation through grassroots activism, dialogue, and music.

• The episode concludes with a light-hearted discussion on viral moments and how they can ignite a deeper calling.

• The dialogue with Brother Devan offers a fresh look at living out the gospel, powered by the rhythm of hip-hop, and reaffirms the power of faith in action.

In the episode, Brother Devan opens up about his personal odyssey and the serendipitous encounter that led to this interview. His powerful narrative is one that defies societal skepticism, much like Jesus faced in Nazareth, and stands as a beacon for believers enduring modernday scrutiny. From his pivotal role at Innovation Church of Memphis to producing soullifting Gospel volumes infused with hiphop beats, Brother Devan's story is a testament to a faith that refuses to bow to adversity. 

We traverse sensitive subjects, examining the pitfalls of religious dogma, the impact of church hypocrisy, and the concerning entanglement of faith with government influence. Brother Devan’s candid insights offer a refreshing perspective on the true essence of spiritual maturity and the courage to maintain convictions in the face of peer pressure and societal expectations. 

As we share personal connections to the vibrant city of Memphis, a place often misrepresented, yet teeming with and resilience, we acknowledge the critical role that strategic collaborations like Brother Devan's ministry play in driving societal transformation. Through grassroots activism, genuine dialogue, and his distinctive Gospel hiphop music, he exemplifies the impact of living out the gospel in everyday life and the streets of Memphis. 

Topping off the episode, we indulge in lighter fare, reminiscing over banana pudding and discussing how viral moments can serve as catalysts for a deeper calling. This episode is not just a conversation; it's a journey through the heart of urban ministry, underscoring the enduring belief in the power of Christ's message to resonate, regardless of life's paths. 

Tune in for an episode that will inspire you, challenge your preconceptions, and reaffirm the power of faith in action. Whether you’re a believer seeking encouragement or simply curious about the intersection of faith and community work, this dialogue with Brother Devan is sure to ignite your spirit and offer a fresh perspective on what it means to live out the gospel for the streets, powered by the rhythm of hiphop.

Connect with Brother Devan:

• Gospel For the Streets Instagram, Facebook & YouTube

• Listen and Follow Brother Devan’s Music on Spotify, Apple Music, iHeart Radio, Deezer, or Youtube

• Devan’s Personal Facebook

Episode Timestamps:

Timestamps:

01:02 Exploring Christian Faith and Ministry 

• Introduction to Brother Devan and his work with Gospel for the Streets.

• Discussion on prioritizing Christ over the state and personal experiences.

• Insights into Devan's journey and his role at Innovation Church of Memphis.

• Emphasis on ministry through music and the impact on the community.

• Devan's personal likes and dislikes, including banana pudding.

• Reflection on his personal transformation from a gangster to a gentleman.

11:44Modern Day Pharisees and Spiritual Warfare 

• Challenges of personal growth and staying true to convictions.

• Addressing modernday Pharisees and divisiveness within Christianity.

• Importance of returning to the simple teachings of Christ.

• The negative impact of pride and infighting on the search for truth.

18:47 Church Hypocrisy and Government Influence 

• Comparison of Jesus' skepticism in Nazareth to modernday scrutiny of believers.

• Critique of postConstantine Christianity and the shift in church teachings.

• Importance of authenticity in Christianity and spiritual discernment.

• Discussion on being doubted in faith and the challenges of being heard within the church.

31:19 The Narrative of Memphis 

• Reflection on faith versus fear in the context of government and authority.

• Emphasis on community, fellowship, and the broader definition of church.

• Personal connections to Memphis and its potential for growth and transformation.

• Acknowledgment of Memphis' challenges and the media's portrayal of the city.

40:48 Gospel for the Streets 

• Discussion on spiritual leadership and societal change in Memphis.

• The phenomenon of false prophets and marginalization of true spiritual individuals.

• The need for grassroots activism and celebrating the efforts of changemakers.

• Personal connection to Brother Devan's music and its diverse appeal.

45:51 Banana Pudding and Gospel Ministry 

• Nostalgic exchange about banana pudding and personal family recipes.

• The story of Brother Devan's expulsion from church leading to street ministry.

• The role of viral moments in igniting a calling to minister beyond the church walls.

• Emphasis on respectful dialogue about faith and preaching in everyday life.

57:37 Strategic Collaboration for Gospel Outreach 

• Intersection of faith and community action and the call for the church to disengage from corrupt systems.

• Importance of spiritual strategy and belief in divine guidance.

• Plans for a collaborative project with the Bad Roman Project to engage the Memphis community.

• Invitation to a "man cave" event for open discourse among men in the church.

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37. Think for Yourself with Karen Keener

Karen Keener, free thinker, natural health advocate, owner of The Sovereign Mom, and head of the Army of None (not yet released) can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and emailed at thekarenkeener@gmail.com.

She joins us today to talk about the denominational and political division among American Christians, the validity of most COVID diagnoses, and the blind compliance of the American public.

Timestamps & Starting Points:

1:35 “A church for smart people”

• Growing up at Christian school, kids would fight about which denomination was right

• She longed for a church without so much dogma, who used critical thinking

  • Without fear of being called blasphemous

• Found Church of Religious Science

  • But politics got in there too

  • “politics gets involved in spirituality and then it's not really spiritual anymore” -Karen

5:39 Churches claiming to be the only valid -- or even the original -- group

• But… many denominations started in the US

  • How can they trace their history back to the Early Church?

  • The Early Church was about Jesus, not doctrinal division

• "I wanted to understand how they related to the state and there was no Baptist or church of Christ or Pentecostal, or none of that mentioned in their writings. It was all about Jesus." - Craig

9:28 Trump is equated with Jesus

• "There was this whole fear that you were going to burn in Hell if you ask any questions." - Karen

• It’s grown up to adulthood where people don’t question authority

  • Don’t question Trump

    • He is fighting the evil illuminati

  • They’ll call anyone who uses their own brain demonic

  • Y’all are crazy

14:11 It’s almost like Borderline Personality Disorder

• Anything I agree with is holy

• Anything I disagree with is evil

• Humans are not seen as complex

  • They are either the embodiment of evil or good itself

  • If you point out a flaw or positive, they’ll say “Nobody’s perfect; only Jesus”

• “This is like saying that Jack Black isn't a perfect replica of Beyonce… like they both can sing high notes, but like they're not perfect.     They’re such a far cry from each other, like Trump and perfection is so far away.” -Karen

  • It doesn’t matter if the person they’re following blatantly does evil, it is acceptable to them. If their enemy did that, they would be so upset

• Young people are not growing up

  • Their parents are paying for everything

  • They’re taught not to think or question

  • They have been taught lies about history

  • Changing any of that is terrifying, so they cling to it

20:55 Craig and Karen’s political journeys

• Guiding resources:

  • Sibel Edmonds’ book

  • Eva Bartlett reporting on Syria

  • Dr. Joseph Mercola on medical freedom

  • Larken Rose

•  “I think taking a nap is way more productive than voting.” -Craig

29:46  COVID theatrics

• Karen’s friend’s dad got it

  • Proved to her that it was a real illness

  • Got sent away from the hospital because he “wasn’t bad enough for a ventilator”

  • Died after being on the ventilator for a month

  • Hospital would not offer any other treatment

• Craig medically can’t mask

  • So he had to find other ways to fight it

    • VITAMINS

  • People with masks were the ones getting sick

  • He never got it, even when he spent time with those who did

• Misdiagnosing COVID

  • Bacterial pneumonia and the flu both fit the diagnostic criteria

  • The actual tests were inaccurate

• Deaths

  • Most people die in hospitals

    • If you diagnose everyone who comes into a hospital with COVID, then a lot of deaths will count towards it

• Kerry Baldwin, The Virulence of Moral Panic

• Misdiagnosing the flu

  • 37:15 Doctors are telling people, “The flu doesn’t exist anymore.”

  • Peter Doshi article from 2013

  • Make a big deal of it every year until now

  • They don’t usually test for Influenza

    • What if the symptoms are caused by something else?

      • Another illness

      • Eating poorly/detoxing from holidays

      • Less sun

      • Cold weather

      • Mold

      • Stress

• Refusing to treat people

  • Hospitals incentivized to have serious cases

  • Didn’t offer typical pneumonia treatments to help

    • Waited for patients to be severe enough for ventilators

41:52 What’s the next thing?

• Karen's episode with Pete Quinones

• People are rule-followers, not boat-rockers

• Changing the rules

  • Little kids need to mask now

• Can they mandate a vaccine for work?

  • Anyone can ask, but they cannot require you to answer

• We have our own authority; we don’t have to follow irrational laws

• But how do we know who is on our side now?

  • People are not wearing masks because they’re vaccinated AND because they just don’t want to

• Maybe an alien invasion to unite us under one world government?

• “Not that COVID was fake, but the pandemic was fake.” -Karen

• They’re timing the changes in law so people will feel grateful and willing to listen

  • Babylon Bee's satire article

  • People believe their rights come from the Constitution, not from within themselves