July 29, 2009

CHICAGO – Traveling the world put the issue of hunger on the map for Dave Scherer.

The Lutheran rapper went to Bosnia in 2007 and El Salvador soon after, and realized that he wanted to help equip young people to be advocates for social justice.

"Seeing hunger firsthand makes you want to see how to impact it," he said.

Scherer teamed up with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) World Hunger program and will stage a series of concerts across the country to benefit the cause. The "Jesus Justice Jazz" tour makes 12 stops, starting at Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa, Sept. 12, and ending at Augustana College, Rock Island, Ill., Feb. 14, 2010. Wartburg and Augustana are two of 28 ELCA colleges and universities.

Many organizations have approached Scherer about partnerships, but he's excited to work with ELCA World Hunger because of the "holistic" approach they take. "(ELCA) World Hunger attacks it from so many different angles," he said.

The rapper and company hope to raise $50,000. The performers are challenging each concertgoer to raise $20. Prizes will be given to groups and individuals who raise the most money and each person who donates $20 will get a digital download card.

The tour is serving two purposes for Scherer – battling world hunger and helping youth build on what they learn at this summer's 2009 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans. Held every three years, the event brings together thousands of high-schoolers from across the country to worship and serve. More than 37,000 Lutherans attended this year, including Scherer, who performed and attended events.

Scherer compared the gathering to scaling a mountain. "It would be cool to keep that momentum going," he said.

Three artists performing at the gathering will join Scherer on the Jesus Justice Jazz tour – Lost and Found (Michael Bridges and George Baum) and Rachel Kurtz.

He hopes that those who attend the Jesus Justice Jazz tour will be inspired to "identify one thing that they are passionate about, one way that they could live out their baptismal call."

Scherer started rapping as a kid in Minneapolis and brought his skills out for the first time while working at a Bible camp. "The kids were like, ‘man, these stories are lame.' And I was like, ‘All right, well, let's create music,'" he said.

Scherer became a full-time artist 10 years ago and still lives in Minneapolis. He goes by the name Agape on stage, which comes from the Greek word meaning "unconditional love of God," he said. In 2001 he founded JUMP Ministries (Joint Urban Ministries in Praise) to help inner- city youth develop leadership skills through hip hop and the arts. His fourth full-length CD, "Paradoxology," debuts July 22. "It's about praising God in the midst of the paradox of life," he said.

Paradoxes are a big part of Scherer's rapping, "When I see a 90-year- old Scandinavian lady throwing her hands in the air right next to an eight-year-old Puerto Rican kid, that is beautiful for me; that is what I am on this earth to do," he said.

More information on the 2009 ELCA Youth Gathering is available at http://www.ELCA.org/youthgathering/. on the Web. Dave Scherer is at http://www.hiphopoutreach.com/, on the Web. Information on the Jesus Justice Jazz tour can be found at http://tinyurl.com/loljot/, on the Web.

ELCA News Service
Carrie L. Draeger is a senior communication major with a concentration in journalism at Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Wash. This summer she is an intern with the ELCA News Service.