We decided to highlight a "lady saint" next!  Miss Moses, once an integral part of the holy hip-hop scene when it first started is still holding it down for the Lord in new & different ways.  Now married and living in Florida, she shares about her life, interests, and even discusses a little about unhealthy churches & the black church culture.

The Urban Web Link (UWL):  Hi Leslie, thanks for doing an interview with The Urban Web Link.  How are you doing today?

Leslie aka Miss Moses:  Doing great!

UWL:  I know that God has orchestrated a lot of events in your life the past few years, and I was hoping you would share a recap with our readers.

You are married now, any kids?

Miss Moses:  No, no kids yet. My husband and I don't feel it's God's timing for them just yet.  We just have our little puppy, Apollo.

UWL:  So you're technically *Mrs.* Moses now! Do you still have your old website... missmoses.com?

Miss Moses:  Actually, no. I forgot to renew it and a domain squatter bought it out from under me.  (Laugh.)

UWL:  I hate it when that happens! 

Miss Moses:  I do have a blog, which I'd rather not make public... But if folks want to read it, they're welcome to email me for the link.

UWL:   Tell us how you and your hubby met.

Miss Moses:  Wow, long story. Well... we sort of met online and sort of met at work.  The summer of 2000, I was in Missouri staying with my parents for the interim between college and grad school.  So I went online and posted a personals ad for friends in my new city... not really dating, just friends.

He responded to it because I mentioned being a poet... He had a band and wanted a poet for it... and we had similar musical tastes.  We didn't meet "in real life" until about nine or ten months later. I got a new job, and we discovered we were coworkers.

He instant messaged me and told me he was two cubicles to my left. The rest is history.

UWL:  Wow, what a story. It's nice hearing stories of how God brings two people together. What year did you tie the knot?

Miss Moses:  We married May 3rd, 2003.  I definitely see God's hand in everything though.  Particularly because Mike didn't have feelings for me for a long time.

I knew he was "the one" pretty much immediately, but he had a girlfriend and really wasn't tryna hear me like that.  I put it in God's hands, was obedient to wait... and God did the rest.  One day Mike just came out and told me how he felt. I didn't force the issue or anything. I just let God handle it. I'm glad I obeyed.

UWL:  Amen. It's very important to hear God in matters of the heart.  If you had one word to sum up the last three years of marriage, what would it be?

Miss Moses:  Teamwork.  We have begun building things... a life... as a team.  Mike finished his degree, I've made job changes, he's made job changes, his music is doing very well, I've "moved up" in my volunteer work.  Things we couldn't have done without one another most likely.

UWL:  Beautiful.   I love it when there are positive testimonies about marriage. There are too many negative testimonies out there! What was Mike's degree in, and what is he doing musically? And are you still involved in music too?

Miss Moses:  His degree is from the University of Florida... Business Administration.  Last year, he started a band called GruvTherapy. They call themselves... I guess... "acid soul." It's a nice blend of funk, soul, jazz, etc.  He just left that group to move on and do a solo project. He is working with smooth jazz super-producer, Paul Brown.  I'm not doing much music-wise, other than helping him.

UWL:  Cool. What volunteer work are you into? Are you and Mike still coworkers?

Miss Moses:  I volunteer with Civil Air Patrol, the US Air Force Auxiliary.  No... we're no longer coworkers. He works in IT for Shands Hospital at the University of Florida.  I am a technical writer for Three Point Technology.

UWL:  What types of things do you do for the Civil Air Patrol, and what interested you in that cause?

Miss Moses:  I am a squadron commander. I'm basically in charge of the leadership and development of a group of about 75 volunteers, 30 of whom are teenagers.  We do emergency services... search and rescue, disaster relief, etc.  We have a youth program, the cadet program.  It provides leadership training and opportunities for teens, similar to a JROTC style and we do aerospace education.

We educate our members and the community at large about aerospace, and the importance of aerospace for our national security.  The organization does a lot more than that, but those descriptions pretty much encompass the gist of it.  We are all volunteers. From the National Commander on down, nobody is paid.

I got started in the early 90s in Missouri, as a cadet.  I decided to rejoin as a senior member in 2002-2003 after I finished grad school.  I wanted to volunteer in the community, and I knew it was a great organization.  I became commander of the local squadron in June.

UWL:  Very interesting, Civil Air Patrol does a lot.   It sounds a little like the Red Cross in terms of it being mostly a volunteer-based organization.  I don't believe I've ever heard of the Civil Air Patrol before this interview!

Miss Moses:  The national website is http://www.cap.gov and our local site is http://www.gainesvillecap.org if folks would like more information.

UWL:  How do you balance the time between that and your other job?

Miss Moses:  A lot of my evenings and weekends are spent doing CAP things. Paperwork. Emergency Services missions. Cadet activities.  I just make sure to set boundaries and to set aside purposeful time for Mike and other things... like... rest. My "real" job is pretty much a 9 to 5 so it doesn't really interfere with that.

Sometimes I will have to take a day off of work to go chase an emergency beacon, but... other than that, it's not a big deal.  Just like today... My cadets were having orientation flights. Some of them flew for the very first time, so I chaperoned that activity.

UWL:  Are you involved with church activities too? Where do you guys fellowship at these days church-wise?

Miss Moses:  I don't do much, ministry-wise, in my local church. We attend The Family Church in Gainesville.  We primarily spend time with small groups of friends for fellowship.

UWL:  So church is more so a place where you get fueled up to minister on the job and in your volunteer work?  (a sanctuary in the original sense.)

Miss Moses:  Yes, right now I think that's an accurate take on it. We also spend time at our pastor's home, at a small group Bible study/fellowship that he does.

UWL:  Talk to me a little bit about some of your church history, if you feel comfortable sharing.

Miss Moses:  Oh sure... well, I grew up in the church. I am fourth generation Assemblies of God (A/G).  Grew up in what folks jokingly call "mecca" in that denomination... southern Missouri.  Then I went to an A/G college out in California. Spent some time at a COGIC church out there.

When I moved to Florida for grad school, I became involved in a church with Mike. He was going there and invited me.  It at first seemed like the perfect church, but we later came to realize that it is a borderline cult... Well maybe that's harsh. It is spiritually abusive.

Very controlling.  So we obeyed God and left.   That's part of why we haven't been more involved in ministry since then. Still trying to decompress from that whole thing.  Mike has been on worship teams here and there, but we decided we'd rather not minister in a church setting for a bit.

The Family Church was a breath of fresh air to us.  A place where we could be real, make friends, enjoy God and hear good teaching.  We left a lot of friends at that old church.  Praise God that most of them have since "seen the light" and left as well. We prayed and prayed for them.

UWL:  For the benefit of other readers, how did you know the church was spiritually abusive? What signs were there?

Miss Moses:  Wow. That would take me all night to explain.  Basically, the pastor is accountable to no one.  He dictates who can marry whom, whether they can leave the church or even relocate.

There are some great articles on http://www.cyberscripture.com about it. The folks that run that website are former members.  I know God had me there for a reason though

And I believe that reason was to learn to recognize spiritual abuse... as well as to KNOW His voice.  And to obey, regardless of how tough or unpopular the decision.  We've had friends who have left and were called "cursed" and "in rebellion" from the pulpit.

UWL:  Based on that experience, what type of questions should someone ask or what things should someone look for, in your opinion, before deciding to join a church?  (before becoming a member)

Miss Moses:  

   1. First, that the Word is being preached and taught.
   2. And that any doctrinal assertions are backed up with scripture, not "I said so and I'm your pastor."
   3. That it is a place of balance, not too focused on one doctrinal subject.
   4. Accountability of leadership
   5. Personal holiness in the life of the believers in the church
   6. A pastor who is motivated to serve, not be served
   7. Care of the poor

UWL:  You used to participate in the Hip Hop Zone (HHZ) community back in the day as a writer & we often saw your mark on the HHZ message board too.  You also did a lot of spoken word and rap.  Do you still stay connected with that community, and do you still write outside of your job as a technical writer?

Miss Moses:  I separated myself from HHZ around the same time that I made the decision to step back from the hiphop community in general, nothing against Ray or anyone there.  My writing outlets right now are my blog and my public affairs efforts for my volunteer work.  But I do stay connected to lots of folks in the hiphop community through friendships and such.

UWL:  What do you think caused your decision to step back from the hip-hop community in general? You mean the holy hip hop community at larger, right? Were there things you saw that disturbed you, or were you just seeking a change?

Miss Moses:  I think it was for two distinct, yet simultaneous reasons.  First, I was getting angry.  It wasn't fun anymore.  I was angry at the schisms between the "philosophies of ministry" I guess.  It stopped making me happy and was making me bitter. I decided it was time to move on at that point.

Then, there was the fact that I was just bored. I started getting involved more in spoken word poetry... and then live music. My musical tastes just evolved.  I still have a respect for hiphop and listen to it often.  But it had become a borderline idol in my life.  I had to step back.

UWL:  I hear you. I would go as far to say that some in the hip hop community become addicted to certain websites and message boards, like the old HHZ board. It's unhealthy. What were some of the schisms between the philosophies of ministry that made you angry?

Miss Moses:  The "you've got to preach the message of salvation in every song and quote the Bible or you're not in the will of God" camp, vs. the "hip hop is my artistic expression... an act of creation in worship to God... I don't always preach in my art" camp both judgmental of the other.  The Holy Hip Hop community did not, at that time, seem willing that the two could co-exist and not only co-exist, but complement one another there were people who would say that certain artists "do not minister" and I took personal offense because they did (and continue to) minister to ME.  I had personal testimony.

UWL:  I remember those debates.

Miss Moses:  I was too emotionally involved. Probably still would be if I came back. I think it's just best that I remain a "fan" at this point.  And a friend.

UWL:  Briefly, what do you think of the recent attack on both holy hip hop camps by Craig Lewis of ExMinistries?

Miss Moses:  Actually... I know nothing of it.

UWL:  Wow. Okay. I'll fill you in after the interview if you'd like! Basically there's a man teaching any church who will listen (and many are) that the hip hop culture is sinful, even the holy hip hop culture. That a Christian can not be truly saved and identify with that culture.  His DVDs that are being shown at many churches during offertory have caused quite a stir this year. 

Miss Moses:  Without knowing all the facts, I'd say that it makes me nervous to hear anyone claim that "culture" and Christ are incompatible... no matter what the culture is.

UWL:  Hear hear. That is the sentiment of many, and it's heartbreaking that so many Christians are falling for this teaching.

Miss Moses:  Because that begs an obvious question... Which cultures are acceptable and who says so?

UWL:  Right, God created all Culture. It seems that many in the church who do not subscribe to that culture (hip hop) are the very same Christians who have always had a problem with "Christian rap" and are the ones jumping on the bandwagon the quickest.  It's a lack of understanding and education too I think.  There is as much "bad" and foul things in the Hip Hop Culture as there is any other kind of culture; anglo suburban culture included.

Miss Moses:  Oh of course. Folks like things that make them comfortable and reinforce their own beliefs.

(Miss Moses takes a look at the Ex Ministries website.)

... yo... it looks like this Lewis cat is primarily targeting black churches

UWL:  The Ambassador has written an article addressing some of the statements he's made.

Miss Moses:  I have observed in the past (and I’m obviously greatly generalizing here) that a lot of predominantly Black churches are very focused on rhetoric and dramatic presentation than sound reasoning and doctrine. It makes sense that he'd be popular there.  A lot of uneducated folks who take other folks' word for it.

Mike said one time, "You know... if they play the right chord at the right time on the organ, mugs will get up and shout and dance to someone reading the ingredients to minute rice."

UWL: Sad but true.  Not all black churches, but many.  One day I aspire to write an article about some of those topics.  Today's black church at large is a bitter sweet experience.  A lot of good, and some bad too, as in all denominations & culture groups.

Miss Moses: Absolutely. That is how I feel about it as well.  There is a lot that is special and good and a lot that is just sad.

UWL:  Is there anything else you'd like to share that wasn't asked?

Miss Moses:  Hmm... I don't think so.

UWL:  Any shout outs?

Miss Moses:  Sure... Ray Majoran of HHZ... The guys from CM, Corey Red, Sev Statik, KJ-52, LA Symphony, Pigeon John, Teron and Coffee from GRITS um...the Syntax camp and 4th Ave Jones'

UWL:  Mike?   And your dog!  (Laugh.)  Not that your dog can log on and read this article.

Miss Moses:  Well yeah. My husband's the most talented, sexy amazing musician and man of God in the world.  My dog does have a webpage apollo.ballardfamily.us.  And a profile on dogster.com.  I want to shout out my girls Judy and Char too.

UWL: Cool. If people want to get in touch with you, what's the best way?

Miss Moses:   leslie@leslieballard.com

UWL: Well, Mrs. Ballard, formerly Miss Moses, I'd like to thank you again for participating in this interview!  Grace & peace.

Miss Moses:  To you as well, and all the readers.