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Get A Taste Of Fla.vor Fest's Hip-Hop Ministry

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By SARAH HOYE

shoye@tampatrib.com

Published: November 6, 2008

For more than 10 years, Pastor Tommy Kyllonen has drawn young people to Crossover Community Church in North Tampa with his hip-hop ministry, featuring weekly services with R&B songstresses, DJs and guest emcees.

This weekend, he'll be sharing his techniques with hundreds of people during the ninth annual Fla.vor Fest, a conference for emerging urban ministries.

The event, which kicks off today and lasts through Sunday at 7809 N. Orleans Ave., teaches ministers and community leaders how to reach out to the hip-hop generation. It also explores forms of worship outside of the typical church services.

In addition, more than 40 Christian hip-hop artists are booked for evening concerts, which are open to the public.

"The mission is to train, network and resource emerging urban leaders to impact hip-hop culture. ... We've definitely been able to break some stereotypes," said Kyllonen, aka Urban D. "We want to share that knowledge with others and help them not make the mistakes that we did. We don't want to just impact the urban community locally, we want it to be global."

Kyllonen, 34, signed with EMI Records (with artists such as Corinne Bailey Rae and Pink Floyd) in 2006. His sixth album, "Un.orthodox," was released in 2007. That same year, his book, "Un.orthodox: Church.Hip-Hop.Culture," was distributed by Zondervan, a major Christian book publisher.

Fla.vor Fest was created in 1999 to teach others how to use hip-hop in their ministries. This year's conference is expected to attract about 250 people, Kyllonen said.

"I want them attendees to see that they can have a ministry that is culturally focused and focused on God at the same time," Kyllonen said. "Fla.vor Fest has a lot of dynamics, it's an equipping event and outreach movement."

FLA.VOR FEST

WHAT: Workshops for church and community leaders plus Christian hip-hop concerts open to the public

WHEN: 6 p.m. today through Sunday

WHERE: Crossover Community Church, 7809 N. Orleans Ave., Tampa

ADMISSION: $109 (walk-up registration for the weekend); $10 concert admission (7 p.m. Friday and Saturday)

INFORMATION: flavorfest.org or (813) 935-8887

Reporter Sarah Hoye can be reached at (813) 259-7832.

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