During the late 1960s, the “Jesus Movement” began to emerge on the West Coast. It was a movement where hippies found Jesus through experimental drugs and brought a new contemporary way of practicing their faith. The movement gave birth to contemporary Christian music, established churches and denominations.
This project aims to retell this historical moment through a series of podcast episodes. It will shed light on the influence the movement had, the experiences of people who were involved and address some of the issues the movement faced.
Ep. 1: The House of Acts
The Jesus Movement took the West Coast in the second half of the 1960s as hippies found Jesus through experimental drugs. Religious scholars have indicated that The Living Room and House of Acts, a Christian coffeehouse and communal, was where the movement began. In this three-part mini-series podcast, Wenei Philimon looks into how the House of Acts came to be. She traverses some of the highlights that transpired during the House of Acts operating days and how the communal house eventually folded.
Ep. 2: Jesus Music
The Jesus Movement gave birth to the music that helped shape contemporary Christian music in the U.S. It gave Christians a new way to express themselves through folk music, psychedelic, and rock and roll music. Wenei Philimon looks into the birth of Jesus Music, some of its pioneers and its influences.
Ep. 3: Shiloh Youth Revival Center
During the later ‘60s and ‘70s, communal houses were how hippies lived. Shiloh Youth Revival centers were among the biggest Christian communal living centers, making their way across the U.S. Wenei Philimon looks into the lifestyle of Shiloh, what led to it closing and the impact it had on the lives of its members.
About the Producer
Wenei Philimon is getting her master’s in journalism at the University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ. She aspires to be an investigative reporter with an emphasis on social justice. In her work, she hopes to shine a light on issues that are affecting her community as well as other marginalized communities.
Shiloh. 