About the Urban Bible Experience

Ancient truth. Today’s language. A whole new experience.

The Bible hasn’t changed. But the way we experience it can.

Let’s face it

For many people, the Bible can feel intimidating, confusing, or disconnected from everyday life.

Between unfamiliar language, ancient customs, and centuries of religious tradition, it’s easy to miss just how relevant its stories really are.

That’s where The Urban Bible Experience (UBX) comes in.

UBX is a fresh, culturally relevant, abbreviated paraphrase of Scripture designed to bridge the gap between biblical history and modern-day experiences. Through contemporary language, relatable storytelling, and an unapologetically authentic approach, UBX brings the people, struggles, triumphs, and timeless truths of the Bible into a world we recognize.

Then and now

Because while the times have changed, the human experience hasn’t changed nearly as much as we think.

People were wrestling with identity, relationships, betrayal, grief, purpose, temptation, forgiveness, and faith thousands of years ago. Sound familiar?

Different century. Same humanity. Same God.

What UBX is

Not a replacement. A bridge.

UBX was never intended to replace the Bible. Instead, it serves as a companion and an accessible introduction to the richness of Scripture.

Our goal is simple: to help people understand what they’re reading, recognize themselves in the stories, and become curious enough to dig deeper.

The Urban Bible Experience book beside an open Bible, with a hand photographing them on a smartphone

Wherever you’re starting

UBX meets you where you are.

  1. You’ve studied Scripture your entire life.

  2. You haven’t picked up a Bible in years.

  3. You’re exploring faith for the very first time.

No complicated religious language.

No expectation that you already know the story.

Just an opportunity to discover biblical truths in a way that connects with real life.

Four friends in headphones reading The Urban Bible Experience book together on a stoop

The Experience

More than a book. An experience.

The Urban Bible Experience was created with a vision that extends beyond the printed page.

Through storytelling, audio experiences, reflection, and engaging conversations, UBX seeks to make Scripture something you don’t simply read, but something you connect with, think about, and carry into everyday life.

We believe

  1. Understanding opens the door to curiosity.
  2. Curiosity invites exploration.
  3. And exploration can lead to transformation.
Start the Experience

Our mission

To make the timeless truths of Scripture more accessible, understandable, and relatable through culturally relevant storytelling that inspires curiosity, encourages deeper biblical exploration, and connects faith to everyday life.

Our vision

To bridge the gap between ancient Scripture and contemporary culture, reaching people across generations, backgrounds, and levels of biblical understanding.

The Word is timeless. The Experience… UBX.

Meet the authors

Two perspectives. One purpose. A shared passion for the Word.

What happens when a pastor with a passion for making Scripture practical joins forces with a psychologist who understands the complexities of the human experience?

You get The Urban Bible Experience.

Created by husband-and-wife team Pastor Shep Crawford and Dr. Shalonda “Sunshine” Crawford, UBX was born from a shared desire to make the Bible more accessible, relatable, and engaging for today’s generation.

Together, they bring ministry, theological understanding, psychological insight, and a genuine love for people to a project that challenges the notion that biblical truth must be communicated through traditional religious language to remain meaningful.

Their philosophy is simple

You shouldn’t have to speak “church” to understand God’s Word.

Pastor Shep Crawford smiling and holding up The Urban Bible Experience book, in a black LA cap and a black and white jacket

Pastor Shep Crawford

  • Co-Author
  • Senior Pastor
  • Biblical Teacher

Pastor Shep Crawford is the Senior Pastor of The Experience Christian Ministries in Los Angeles, California, where the ministry’s philosophy, “Out of the Box, But in the Word,” reflects his commitment to making biblical teaching relevant, understandable, and applicable to everyday life.

With a passion for helping people move beyond religious routine into a meaningful relationship with God, Pastor Shep approaches Scripture with both reverence and relevance.

His teaching emphasizes understanding biblical principles, challenging conventional thinking, and recognizing how the experiences of people in Scripture continue to mirror the challenges we face today.

As co-author of The Urban Bible Experience, Pastor Shep brings his pastoral perspective, biblical understanding, and passion for reaching people who may feel disconnected from traditional approaches to Scripture.

His desire is not simply for people to read the Bible, but to understand its message and discover how it applies to their own lives.

Dr. Shalonda “Sunshine” Crawford smiling and holding The Urban Bible Experience book, in a black LA cap and a black jacket

Dr. Shalonda “Sunshine” Crawford, ThM, PsyD

  • Co-Author
  • Licensed Psychologist
  • Co-Pastor
  • Speaker

Known to many as Dr. Sunshine, Dr. Shalonda K. Crawford brings a distinctive combination of psychological expertise, theological education, ministry leadership, and relatable storytelling to The Urban Bible Experience.

A licensed psychologist, author, speaker, and Co-Pastor of The Experience Christian Ministries, Dr. Sunshine has dedicated much of her professional life to helping people better understand themselves, navigate life’s challenges, and discover opportunities for growth and transformation.

She is also the author of Employ Your Pain: Putting the Hurt to Work for You, a book that encourages readers to recognize the potential for purpose beyond painful experiences.

With graduate training in both theology and psychology, Dr. Sunshine recognizes that the Bible is filled with profoundly human experiences: love, loss, betrayal, insecurity, courage, conflict, resilience, and redemption.

Her contribution to UBX reflects her passion for helping people see the humanity within biblical stories while discovering the spiritual truths that make those stories timeless.

Through her conversational style, thoughtful insight, and ability to make complex subjects approachable, Dr. Sunshine helps connect ancient biblical experiences with the emotional and relational realities of modern life.

For her, the goal isn’t merely to help people know more about the Bible. It’s to help them recognize how much the Bible has to say about life.

Get to know the authors

The Story Behind UBX

Pastor Shep and Dr. Sunshine sit down to talk about the people, the faith and the purpose behind the book.

A longer conversation. Watch whenever you have a few minutes.

Beyond the walls

The heart behind UBX

For Pastor Shep and Dr. Sunshine, The Urban Bible Experience is more than a literary collaboration. It’s an extension of their shared ministry philosophy and commitment to reaching people beyond the walls of the traditional church.

They recognize that some people have never been introduced to Scripture, while others have spent years hearing biblical stories without fully understanding their meaning.

UBX was created with both audiences in mind.

By combining biblical teaching, contemporary language, cultural awareness, and an understanding of the human experience, the Crawfords hope to create a bridge between those who know the Word and those who have yet to discover it.

Pastor Shep and Dr. Sunshine together on a city street, holding The Urban Bible Experience book

Their invitation is simple

Come as you are.

Bring your questions. Bring your curiosity. Bring your life experiences.

There’s room for you in this story.

Get the book Start the Experience

Welcome to The Urban Bible Experience.