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Break With Tradition

Dan Willis, USF

Maria Bass worships at Crossover Community Church, which helped her form a better relationship with God and those around her.

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By WENDY WITHERS and JENNIFER TEUBER

Published: December 20, 2007

News Channel 8 Report

Video: Renee Bunts Interview

Video: Maria Bass Interview

Snap Photo Gallery

TAMPA - Renee Bunts' first reaction to Crossover Community Church wasn't positive.

The flier about the church that her twin boys had given her didn't sit well with her.

"I looked at the flier and I was like, no, this is not a church. What kind of church is this that has graffiti and hip-hop stuff?" recalled Bunts, 47.

But her 13-year-old sons begged her to take them; she finally gave in.

When she pulled up to the church for the first time and saw men with dreadlocks, tattoos and baggy pants, she thought, "This is what I'm trying to get my children away from. … I said, 'I guarantee I won't be staying here.'"

But that changed when she went inside and saw that her sons actually took something away from the Sunday sermons, which they didn't do at their old, more traditional church.

Like a growing number of urban residents around the country, Bunts embraced the down-to earth message by the hip-hop ministry at Crossover, a leader in what has become a national movement.

Putting Bible In Modern Context

Crossover's ministry began more than 10 years ago, the vision of a young rapper and new youth minister, 22-year-old Tommy "Urban D" Kyllonen. Today, he's the Rev. Kyllonen, pastor of the church and host of an annual conference that's spawning hip-hop ministries and churches across the country.

They use urban staples such as basketball courts and skate parks and sermons with depictions of biblical heroes as real men and women dealing with their own inner struggles. Web sites and new books including "The Hip Hop Prayer Book" cater to them.

Christianity Today magazine ranked Crossover 13th of the 15 most innovative churches in the country citing the music, Crossover's publication SoulMag and open-mic competitions as ways the church draws in worshippers.

Despite her initial reservations, Bunts has embraced the church. Since joining Crossover, she has become a volunteer with the children's ministry. She said it was the best move she ever made.

At 19, Maria Bass had her own cross to bear.

Her parents were both in prison during her childhood and as she grew older, she spent nights roaming the streets when she should have been in bed. She grew up searching for a place to belong.

From Uninspired To Inspirational

At Crossover, she found that place. She also found a new family with Crossover congregants Loudez "Lully" Davila and her 16-year-old daughter Lulu, who have allowed Bass to move into their home.

"I had my grandmother there to teach me some stuff, but it was like I was missing something, and I would always go through life thinking everything's fine, but then I'm like I just don't have anybody," Bass said. "I never really forgave them."

Davila has seen a change in Bass that she attributes to the street-credible teachings of the church.

"That shy little flower?" Davila mused. "Now she dances for God and she sings and she draws beautifully, and she's a good inspiration for my daughter."

She has become more like a member of the family than a friend, Davila said.

"I want you to know that I'm here for you,." Lulu said, turning to Bass. "You're still my role model; you're my idol. It wasn't an accident that you are in my life."

For Craig Nice, a local artist who has tried a few different churches, hip-hop ministries are a powerful tool to reach people who feel out of place in traditional churches.

"Other churches just don't understand the hip-hop culture, and it's hard to talk to someone that doesn't understand you," Nice said.

The kids are drawn by the music, skate park and impromptu break dances. Once at the church, they hear a message that parallels their own lives of struggle. They learn that the heroes of the Bible didn't have it easy.

Bass said she has no regrets about her past or her life today because she now sees God's plan in everything that happens.

"Anything that I went through in my past, God did it," Bass said. "I didn't do it at all. It was all God."

Reporters Dan Willis, Jessica Hall and Chelsea Kelly contributed to this story.

ABOUT THIS REPORT

This report is part of a multimedia project produced by a University of South Florida journalism class in cooperation with The Tampa Tribune, TBO.com and News Channel 8. For questions or comments, e-mail editor Cheryl Segal at csegal@tampatrib.com.

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