QUICK HISTORY
From a Basement to a Parking Lot, to a Studio, to a Non-Profit, to the Road, to the Globe… All Glory to God.
A CHICAGO BASEMENT & AN IDEA…
The idea of Streetlights Audio Bible began in a Chicago basement next to Edgewater Baptist Church. Esteban and some other youth leaders were doing life with a group of young men from the neighborhood. Part of their time together involved studying God’s Word. One observation bothered Esteban. The guys often disconnected from the times of reading the Bible. He knew they had the capacity to learn; but it seemed for a majority of them that the lack of education, their reading ability, and the general cultural disconnection from the text created a learning barrier and left many of them feeling alienated from what the power and beauty of what was being studied.
A DEMO & BIBLE STUDY
Esteban went home and recorded Acts 2 & 3. He intentionally narrated the passages dynamically, then set it to a Hip Hop soundtrack. He wanted an Audio Bible that spoke like he and they did and was backed by a potent soundtrack to bridge the communication gap. “If the rappers and poets on Hip Hop albums were listened to so much and taught so many worldviews, why couldn’t God’s word be heard in that format?, Esteban thought. “Plus, we all memorize thousands of lyrics that way- we are all very much oral learners, especially in our context of the city.” So he brought the recording (on a burnt CD) to the guys the next week and pressed play. He waited to see how they would naturally react.
Some closed their eyes and listened. Some read along as they heard the Scriptures being played. Others listened intently with eyes open. The guys not only heard God’s Word but after hearing were able to dialogue about the profound truths being spoken. The understanding and internalization of the text were like ‘night and day’.” This idea birthed what is now the Streetlights Audio Bible. “God’s Word, so ALL can understand” - no matter their literacy level or optimal style of learning.
A PARKING LOT IDEA & CELL PHONE CALL…
Esteban called Aaron Lopez (SL’S Audio Producer & Director) “Ay bro, I think God gave me an idea…” and Esteban went on to explain the concept. Aaron responded by saying “That’s fresh. What would you call it?” Esteban responded, “Ummmm, Streetlights… God’s Light - His Word, Jesus, the Light of the World … shining on every corner… just like a streetlight.”
“Let’s do it.”
A few years later, we began, supported under GRIP Outreach for Youth, to help not just those guys from a neighborhood church basement - but youth across Chicago who needed God’s Word - in this form.
MINISTER LOCALLY BUT HIT THE HUMBLE ROAD
All we wanted was an Audio Bible, solid Bible teaching material suited for our ethnically diverse city (eventually our Curriculum & Corner Talk), in order to help disciple young people and share the Gospel in our city’s heart language through a multimedia format. We grew under GRIP, started to build a small studio, produce the first Audio Bible release, write, film, and make our first Bible teaching materials, while continuing to spread the Word through our Hip Hop group ALERT312. GRIP was a pivotal base for us to grow the ministry. More and more, people from outside Chicago heard of the materials organically through word-of-mouth, events, and us doing ministry tours. Then Humble Beast Records (West Coast Label) asked to help spread awareness of Streetlights’ mission and resources so more could be reached. From there, many leaders and young people alike started downloading the materials and using them in their local neighborhoods, churches, schools, and even prisons. Larger organizations and partners also appreciated Streetlights ministry offerings and what was “cooked up to feed our local table” started feeding people across the country. We were humbled and wanted to steward this call - God’s Word for our Creatively Driven-Urban-Digital Learning times.
LOCAL X GLOBAL: FULL THROTTLE
It was then at a Chicago coffee shop, during a prayer time and meeting, that Loren La Luz shared what was a watermark idea; “Let’s launch our own App.” God miraculously provided a way through some coders GRIP knew of and this idea eventually propelled the use of Streetlights globally The App was being downloaded in 100+ countries and started being streamed by the millions. Many requests also began coming in for more languages to help serve all people across the globe - just like where and with whom we began. There are street corners, basements, and churches of people everywhere that need God’s Word in their heart language -delivered in a digital artistic form. “Faith really does come by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” echoed in our minds with every faith step forward. Just like the plaza of communication in Acts 17 - our culture globally needed God’s Word produced, delivered and taught in a way ALL could understand.
STUDIO SCRIBES GROW & LAUNCH OUT
Audio Bible Book after Audio Bible Book came out; in English & in Spanish. Music albums from Alert312 accompanied them. Bible teaching grew as well in the advent of the online digital learning age. Streetlights began to be used globally & multilingually - all while stewarded by three friend-musician-ministers (Esteban Shedd, Aaron Lopez, and Loren La Luz) and a spectrum of supports and volunteers. It was time to grow… With much counsel, a hand of blessing from GRIP, and by a “God-Given-Grace-Driven” faith, Streetlights launched as its own non-profit, to help grow the staff needed and adapt to a global, multilingual communication ministry.
GROWING TEAM, NEW STUDIO & SEASON
Launching as a non-profit was no easy task - neither was growing our necessary team. But as the ministry has grown since 2019, God has proven Himself faithful again and again; providing through the generosity of God’s people. We continue to Unfold God’s Word, So All Can Understand” in three primary ways:
•Audio Bibles •Bible Teaching •Alert312 Music
New languages are now on the horizon, Kingdom partnerships have grown, Bible teaching & Alert312 Music has accelerated, and outreach to a global online community is thriving. We continue in what we as a ministry are called to do; Bring God Glory by encouraging, teaching, preaching, and singing the Gospel through multimedia production So All Would Know Christ’s Love & His Word for their lives. Built on these great and powerful offerings, we are not done trailblazing and looking for new ways alongside Kingdom Partners to minister with a Christ-glorifying zeal to the urgent need in our times for ALL to understand God’s Word and follow Jesus wholeheartedly.
OUR FUTURE HERE & NOW:
IMAGINE WITH US
We have grown into a new Studio HQ in Chicago and have a growing team both locally, and in other locations like Puerto Rico. Mobilizing hungry a colorful cast of Christian artists and communicators, we are engaging more people with the Biblical materials we create than ever before. We are built on and called by this core conviction; All of our gifts are given by God for His Glory alone and when His Spirit fills His people, and they humbly serve Him and their global neighbors in the mission of making Christ known - He will make an impact. And by God’s grace- through His ministry of Streetlights and us whom He has called, He is indeed making a transforming impact in hearts throughout the nations. We ask for nothing more than this.
TAKE A LOOK AT THE STUDIO
Help Bring the Light
We are introducing to you STREETLIGHTS' Year End Goal of $225K. As you consider where to invest your gifts at year end, we ask that you would consider generously supporting the mission of STREETLIGHTS as a foundational ministry bringing God's Word & Gospel Light to this generation. Jesus promises in John 8:12, "I am the Light of the World. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life." This is our time to invite them to follow Jesus. TOGETHER- Let's Go!" Will you partner with us to reach this generation with the transformative Word of God?
