Honk the Hairy Angels Sing

DJ Wade-O at Elements Church

Order Mission Friends the Album!

JOIN US FOR OUR GRAND OPENING ... THE REMIX!!!

DATIN at Elements Church!

The Strivers Visit Elements Church!

"Free" Music...

Peep the Article - Beach Baptism

Elements featured on K-Love (96.7FM in NYC)!!!

As featured on K-Love 96.7 FM in NYC, Carmen Sanchez was interviewed regarding The Elements Scholarship Fund.

THE ELEMENTS SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Description

The Elements Scholarship Fund is an annual scholarship providing financial support of up to $1,500 to first year college students.

Tax Benefits to Donors

Donors will receive a receipt letter thanking you for your donation.  All donations are tax deductible. 

Pictures and notes from recipients will come soon!

Please click the button below to donate to the Elements Scholarship Fund!

Baptism

Join on Sunday, June 24, 2012, at Sunken Meadow Park as we conduct Baptism!  

We leave immediately after church so come through service at 11AM.  

Bring your own food and beach chairs and let's celebrate together!

DO YOU LOVE MONEY???

Honoring Mothers Through the Arts

Has There EVER Been a Holy Culture?

"There has to be an engagement of hip-hop that doesn't just treat hip-hop
as an enemy." - Efrem Smith, The Hip Hop Church

Let me frame this post around this... if you don't believe anything I say, put your opinions to rest for a while and read a book!  Here are a few authors you can begin with, Efrem Smith, Phil Jackson, John Teter, Ralph C. Watkins, Nelson George or Tommy Kyllonen.  

I've been involved in Gospel / Holy Hip Hop for almost 20 years now.  I've been an artist, event coordinator, ministry leader, cd outlet owner, writer, editor and now pastor who is part of the culture.  Like KRS-One said, "I am hip-hop."

Some say that hip-hop was created by the devil.  That it is an evil culture.  That it is rooted in demonic influences.  Many have made a name for themselves by saying that God doesn't embrace things that have a corrupt origin. What they fail to recognize is that there is not ONE SINGLE CULTURE on this planet that was not birthed from pagan beliefs.  Read up on the origins of various cultures of Europe...Jesus wasn't a part of the equation.  Our own American culture was born out of paganism and slavery.  Even the Jewish culture had it's origins in paganism and what we've come to know as satanic rituals.  Like my friend T. C. said the other day, "Haven't they heard of Ur?" 

Using this logic, "you can't be a part of anything that was created in evil," I wouldn't be able to enjoy the culture of my island.  I wouldn't be able to even use my people's language.  You cannot go on using this logic...because it's flawed.  And I haven't even mentioned how the devil is the creator of nothing!!!  He doesn't create, he usurps and twists things around in order to steal what was never his in the first place. 

I am extremely concerned when I hear those who claim to be a part of the culture use these very terms to describe it.  EVERY culture on the planet comes out of a non-Christian world view yet...you only hear "evil" ascribed to the hip-hop culture.  Why is that the case when again, using this flawed logic, you could drop the "evil" tag on everything...yet we only hear it slapped on to the hip-hop culture?  

A few years ago a friend shared a conversation he had with a Christian rapper.  This rapper had been ministering for years and now refused to use the term hip-hop but only used the word "rap" to describe anything he did.  He was also using some rock music for some of his songs because "hip-hop is not of God."  The conversation ended when my friend asked this rapper, "I guess you never heard of sex, drugs and rock and roll, huh?"

Stop slapping the demonic tag onto things you're afraid of!  Many times, when we see something happening in our world, instead of addressing it, we as a church shy away from it.  We demonize it because we don’t really understand it.  We become stagnant and comfortable with our church folks and forget about those in our own communities who are dying.  For years the church has ignored the hip-hop culture.  Let's engage in conversations with respect, love and humility, but let's also engage in conversations with the understanding and real belief "that we've all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23.  I thank God that He is the only judge, that no one I know can judge me because I'd be in hell already because I am hip-hop!

Unstoppable, a New Preaching Series!

Join us for Unstoppable, a new preaching series! 

Where the Heart Is!

Ezzy shares about the new one act play she wrote and directed, which will be presented at "Elements" this Easter Sunday, April 8th at 11am.  The address is 2165 Powell Avenue, Bronx, NY.

Where the Heart Is!

  

Boombox Theater!!!

March 16, 2012, will be the debut of

The Boombox Theater

where we'll strive to bring you music, art & poetry

that will move your soul!  

Catering by TGF!  Party Planning by Inspirations by Ada! 

Test Prep!!!

Test Prep...from 3rd grade through senior year in high school!

Join us as we help the children of our community

get ready for standardized testing!

Certified teachers, only $10 for 9 week program!

 

SUNDAY SERVICES HAVE MOVED!!!

Since February 5, 2012, Elements Sunday services are being held at 2165 Powell Avenue at 11:00AM! 
Please join us EVERY SUNDAY at 11AM! 

Our new Sunday Worship Space!  Join us at 11AM every Sunday! 

The Mic Check...check the interview!

Arrested

Getting the cuffs put on and lead to bus.

Yes brethren, today, in an act of civil disobedience, I was arrested.  We were outside of Morris High School, where Mayor Bloomberg was to give his "State of the City" address.  We took part in a protest rally in the hope of changing the minds of the powers that be…who have begun a process to evict churches who rent school space, after school hours, for church services.  There are tons of articles online but you can go here for a quick reference…

Go HERE  /  and go HERE  /  and go HERE

So first things first...I am home, safe and sound and a bit exhausted as I write this as soon as I could after getting home from the 41st Precinct.  The next thing you should know is that I send out MAJOR prayers and big ups to the officers from the 41st Precinct who handled us with care and love and understanding.  We know they were just doing their jobs and all, but the truth is they were truly all a blessing to us, every one of them.  I got to personally interact with several officers and found myself face to face with people I know and love...they were us, from our own communities and hoods.  Some were Marine veterans.  Some were mothers or fathers.  Some came from church backgrounds and one officer had one more year on the job.  Thank you 41st Precinct and all the officers at the rally, from top to bottom, for your service to our community!    Our prayers are always with you and all your brothers and sisters in blue. 

So, on to the rally.  I got there very early, not by design but by chance, as I left all my travel directions home...I was scared I'd get lost!  But God has been restoring my memory and I remembered my train and bus route and I got to the rally early, before there was even a designated meeting place.  So I walked around the school (a very long walk lol) and prayed, alone, asking for God to move in a special way today.  Quiet time with God is so good.

When I returned to the front where all the police activity was taking place, an officer saw my collar, yes...I wore the minister's collar...and asked if I was “there for the protest?"  I said yes and she directed me to a corner where we would be meeting.  Once I got there, there was a whirlwind of activity as pastors, lawyers, civic leaders, politicians and lay people of all kinds showed up.

Pastor Sign In Table

Once all the introductions were done, we were gathered to a barricaded space, and we began praying and singing songs like Amazing Grace, said the pledge of allegiance...with the "under God" portion IN it, and had various politicians share a few words.  And then...it was on!

We moved in waves toward Morris High School.  First wave was a bunch of pastors and leaders I know and love.  Mentors and icons of the faith as well as emerging leaders.  Not seeing what happened to the 1^st wave, I lined up for the 2^nd wave and I look to my left and my right, the brothers whose arms I was locked with, and found myself arm-in-arm with young men.  Not clergy, not pastors, but young men who believe in the cause.  I almost began to cry. However, as we moved and I wondered what would happen, I have to be honest, I began to breath heavy, as my heart rate shot up and my blood pumped super quickly.  Let me make one thing clear…I was not scared, I was excited for this to happen.  So I had to slow them down, they were almost walking too fast for a protest, and I took some deep breaths as we began to just call on Jesus’ name.  Then as the police approached us, one of the young men said out loud, “Let’s kneel.”  And our wave kneeled down to pray for a moment.  The police then did their jobs and we were cuffed and lead to the police bus. 

About to be taken to precinct...they took the mug shots here!

Once on the bus we joined the 1^st wave of protesters already arrested and as the bus continued to fill up, we sang songs, prayed for the officers who had just arrested us, joked, laughed and even got to interact on a personal level with some of the officers.  I laughed as one officer kept calling me “Father.”  We were taken to the 41^st Precinct where we were treated with respect and dignity as they processed us as fast as possible and released us with court dates. 

So what got my heart so open and joyous?  Here’s a list:

1.     Young people joined in this rally.  Students!  To see young people moved by the heart of God to do something so radical is crazy encouraging!  God is radical and the future of the church, in the hands of these young men and women, will be to continue to move by His spirit!

2.     Older people joined in this rally!  From elder statesmen (names removed to protect the innocent) to grandmothers.  People of all ages were represented! 

3.     Sitting in that bus, handcuffed, with my shoulders feeling as if they were going to pop out of their sockets, I couldn’t help but think about the Civil Rights Movement and how they paved a way for us in this country to act out of our convictions in civil disobedience.  We even sang “We Shall Overcome” in honor of Dr. King’s upcoming birthday!

4.     As mentioned before, the police officers who were obviously ONLY doing their jobs and sympathized with us on every level also treated us with respect and dignity even as they arrested us.  They explained everything and even made adjustments to cuffs that were killing circulation.  Plus, at least for myself, I got to speak with some of them on a very real, one-to-one level, learning about their lives on the job and off.  Former marines, married men and women, even one who had one year on the job and is hoping to finish his career healthy and safe.  We were allowed to pray for the officers who were on our bus and they were all silent as we lifted up prayers on their behalf.  God protect these civil servants and draw them to YOU! 

A bunch of activists for Christ!

5.     Finally, the last thing that blew me away was the solidarity of those who are involved in the movement.  People who I know, ministry partners, classmates, friends...some I only know by reputation and some I  have followed and tried to “imitate them as they imitate Christ.”  I won’t name names…but one of my favorite preachers ever, who was instrumental in me rapping and confirming my calling, got arrested in the final wave and when he walked into the room they had us in at the precinct, the room erupted!  Seriously, for some of these brothers, I NEVER ONCE IN LIFE expected to have this experience with.  I’m changed by it! 

Thank you brethren for loving Jesus and His church so much that you would put yourselves in harm’s way.  Let’s continue to do His work on this earth as we move and breathe as His hands and feet…the only visible mark on this planet that there even IS a church!  WE are the church!

Until the next rally, much luv and blessings,

Pastor Efrain Alicea

Arrested for the cause of Christ!

BIG SHOUT OUT TO MY COVENANT PASTORS, MICHAEL CARRION AND JOSE HUMPHREYS...GREAT DOING TIME WITH YALL!!!  "my whole crew.......keepin it gangsta!"  LOL

Can you spot the Covenant Pastors?

PS...more pics on Facebook page! 

This is me after the release!

 

 

JOIN US ON THURSDAY AS WE PRAY AGAINST

THE DECISION TO REMOVE CHURCHES

FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC PLACES!

New Year Smiles!

For more smiles, check out our Facebook page at http://www.ElementsBX.org

Chris & Denisse cheesin it up!