Justin Taylor’s Blog commented on a project to import manhood into the presently manless U.S. urban culture:

Over 20 years John Piper lamented:

Little help is being given to a son’s question, “Dad, what does it mean to be a man and not a woman?”

It’s easy to be discouraged about this rampant confusion in our culture (and in our churches), and it’s easy to worry deeply about the ongoing crisis of absentee fathers and delayed (or perpetual) adolescence.

But I’m encourage by the new “Man Up” campaign by ReachLife Ministries and Reach Records.

Even if this isn’t your “kind of music,” maybe you’d consider stopping and praying for a moment that God would use these gospel-centered brothers to make a real difference in helping a lost and hurting generation—especially in the urban context—discover what it means to be a real man in Christ.

You can go get an MP3 for the “Man Up Anthem,” and watch the video below:

Here’s a trailer for the short film they are working on in connection with the album:

More explanation of the whole vision and campaign below.

THE PROBLEM
There’s an ongoing war within urban culture. Confusion over what manhood is has plagued our cities, families and lives. The concept of a biblical man has been lost in our generation. Unfortunately, many churches struggle to provide its urban members, much less those beyond their walls, with a tangible definition of a real man.

THE CAMPAIGN
In partnership with ReachLife Ministries and Reach Records, Man Up is a new campaign, calling men in the hip-hop culture to true biblical manhood through repentance and faith in Christ.

The campaign consists of a short film, small group curriculum, music soundtrack and concert series. It is our call for men in urban culture to repent for their failure to become the men that God has created them to be and for believers to live as who they truly are in Christ.

THE SHORT FILM & CURRICULUM
The short film takes a look at six different areas of manhood that young men fail to live up to. By taking a look at the common challenges and responses of young men in urban culture, we hope to reveal the need for clarity on what being a man truly means.

A curriculum is also available through ReachLife Ministries to accompany the short film and promote further discussion in small group settings.

THE SOUNDTRACK & CONCERT SERIES
The soundtrack of Man UP is from Reach Records and delves into the concepts addressed in the film and curriculum. Later this year, audiences can experience a showing of the film, a panel discussion on manhood, and a live concert as the Man Up concert series makes stops in select cities.

It is our hope that men everywhere will answer the call to Man Up!