"Seeking Whom he may Devour"

The photograph was taken by South Africa photojournalist, Kevin Carter, in 1993 while on assignment to the Sudan. The child was reportedly crawling to a feeding location set up by the Untited Nations just a little over a mile from the site of this photograph. The vulture in the background was waiting for this weakened child to die from starvation or exposure so that he could consume it.
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Carter waited over 20 minutes for the vulture to "spread its wings" so that he would have the "perfect shot." When the shot didnt materialize as he had hoped, he snapped this shot and immediately left the area. The photo was sold by Carter to the New York Times where it was first printed March 26, 1993. On May 223, 1994 Carter was awarded the most coveted award for photojournalism, The Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography.
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Within hours of publication, the NYT's received thousands of inquiries concerning the whereabouts and condition of the child pictured in the photograph. They had no answer - because their focus was on reporting the event and not actually involving themselves in the lives of those that were suffering that day.
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Sad to say, this is also a picture of much of the Church today. As the ultimate "vulture" (Satan) waits for people to be weakend by famine (not a famine of food, but of the hearing of the Word of God - Amos 8:11) and exposure to the filthy and debauchery of this world - we "report" or "preach" about the conditions we see, yet never make the effort to actually intervene.
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Men, women, young people, and children are "fallen in the streets" of sin ravaged cities. They are crawling and scratching for survival - yet the Church has more often than not stayed within the cozy confines of our "UN Base Camps" saying, "If they really want to know the truth, then they will come here." The "UN" of these places is obviously not "United Nations" but rather:
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UN - concerned
UN - motivated
UN - willing
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It was reported that Carter was asked (many times) why he didnt do anything to help the child. He responded, "That wasnt my assignment." Unfortunately, that is the same answer given by the mass majority of Christians who are asked, "Why wont you go to where the lost and dying are and share the message of JESUS with them." They say, "That is not my calling or my gifting."
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On July 27, 1994 - just a couple of months after claiming the top prize of in his field - Ken Carter took his own life. There in the vehicle that he rigged to be filled with carbon monoxcide a not was found that said, "I am depressed ... without phone ... money for rent ... money for child support ... money for debts ... money!!! ... I am haunted by the vivid memories of killings and corpses and anger and pain ... of starving or wounded children, of trigger-happy madmen, often police, of killer executioners...I have gone to join Ken if I am that lucky."
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Perhaps if his "assignment" would have been to "DO" rather than just "OBSERVE" he would have not found that barren, empty void within his soul that would drive him to kill himself.
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You may never find yourself in the famine infested areas of sub-Saharan Africa, of in the dumps of Mexco where starving children abound. But there are PEOPLE all around us who are STARVING for HOPE and that HOPE can only be found in a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Will you merely take a picture with your mind and go on about your business, or will you finally drop your personal agendas, fears, and SIN and reach out to the broken, lost and dying for Christ? The "vulture" stands by waiting to see if you will intervene - hoping that you do no so that he can claim another soul for hell.

Be a Part of this Year's Event!

"The Enemy is coming in like a FLOOD.... but the SPIRIT OF THE LORD is raising up a STANDARD against him. Come and be a part of the UPRISING!"

(Watch the Video and then Click the Mardi Gas link above for more info!)

Order your new outreach shirts today!

There will be no mistaking who you are representing when you step out into the streets in these new outreach t-shirts! The name of JESUS will be blazing in blood red with the news that He "is the only way." These shirts are sure to be conversation starters and tools to share your faith with unbelievers.

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This year we are taking on the theme of "Street Church" to commemorate both the Book of Acts demonstration that "Church" is not a place - but rather people and to recognize the powerful, Biblical ministry that is taking place around the world in the streets of some of the most dangerous and notorious cities.

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The deadline for ordering you group or individual shirts is February 14th [there will be some shirts available for purchase at this year's Mardi Gras outreach in limited sizes and quantities]

The cost for the various shirts is as follows:

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• Short-Sleeve T-Shirts $10 up to XL (add $1 per additional X)
• Long-Sleeve T-Shirts $15 up to XL (add $1 per additional X)
• Hooded Sweat Shirts $20 up to XL (add $1 per additional X)
• Zippered Hoodie $25 up to XL (add $1 per additional X)

Send your order on a sheet of paper with size and style details with checks payable to:

Raven Ministries International - PO Box 2102 Kenner, LA 70063

You can also order by send an email with details to: Raven@BigGrace.com and then paying via www.Paypal.com and use Raven@BigGrace.com at recipient

Redeeming the Time . . . because the Days are Evil

Levon Jones - six years ago next week several young men visiting from Georgia Southern University passed our team on Bourbon Street on their way into a local night club. The last young man in the pack [Levon] came past me and I said, “Hey, can I talk to you for a minute?” Turning away from me he said, “Dude I aint got time for that.” He was right: 15 minutes later he lay dead on the street in front of the bar that he passed me by to go into. A fight had broken out inside and one of the bouncers took Levon to the ground where he asphixiated and died.

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What if he had “redeemed the time?” He was 26 years old

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What would you say to someone if you knew that your words might be the very last thing that they hear before standing before God in judgment?

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Would you try to “make friends” with them or offer them a bottle of water or perhaps invite them to a special event at your church? Probably not. But how do you know if the person you talk with next will have their soul required of them after your conversation? You don’t.

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Ephesians 5:16 really hits home with me on this topic:

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“Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

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Walking down Bourbon Street in New Orleans a number of years ago the Spirit of God spoke to my heart clearly and said, “What would you do if you saw a young lady run out of one of these bars on fire?” I answered in my mind, “I would do whatever it took to put her out.” The Spirit quickly responded, “They are ALL on fire!”

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That exchange chilled me to the bone and woke me up to the realization that:

a) The Days are Evil

b) It is time for us to redeem the time that we have left

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As you could ascertain from the brief glance of what the Lord had us doing in 2010 - we are never off. Since we have been “bought with a price” and “[our] lives are not our own” all of our decisions have been made for us by our Lord and Savior.

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We are in situations every single day that necessitate us seeking His face, His empowerment, His wisdom, His provision, and His direction. This has really been impressed upon me recently due to instances that came back to me and several that have unfolded of late.

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Earl Wheeler - Each night as we make our way onto Bourbon Street we pass the popular Pat O’Briens. There are typically several employees on the sidewalk taking a break as we pass. Most times they will look away as the 12 ft tall bright red cross passes in front of them—and occasionally they will quickly glance and then look away—but never will they engage in conversation.

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The day after Thanksgiving this year, after we had packed up Raven Street Church for the night—Earl was driving home a few blocks from work when he was shot and killed by six assailants. What if he had “redeemed the time?” He was 21 yrs old.
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Sgt. Ryan Lekoski - Halloween in New Orleans brings many things to the French Quarter: Voodoo Fest, costumed partiers, and this year The Marine Corps Ball. As we preaching boldly on Sunday night [October 31] dozens of corpsmen passed by us dressed in their dress blues.

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Some were accompanied by their dates to the ball [as in the case with Sgt. Lekoski] others were “stag” and looking for a companion for the night. One thing they all seemed to have in common though—they didn't have time to stop and talk about the condition of their souls.

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Some would say, “I’m fighting for this country. I deserve to have a good time.” Two hours after our departure that night - Sgt. Lekoski was murdered a block away after getting into a confrontation with a man that insulted his wife, Kristen. What if he had “redeemed the time?” He was 23 yrs old.
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James 4:14 says, “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”

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Please keep us in heavy duty prayer and consider investing in this work with both your finances and your involvement. When we talk about lives [and souls] being at stake—it is not just rhetoric it is reality.

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Let us “redeem the time, because the days are evil”

We GO so that the world may KNOW

In Mid-October while conducting our Raven Street Church –Bourbon Street Chapel services we were suddenly attacked by a man who knocked our cross into the street. I was able to subdue the man in an effort to keep him from committing any additional acts of violence.
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An off-duty police officer arrived and told me to let the man go [I had him restrained from behind]. As soon as I let him go he began to attack people in the crowd—one of whom, struck him and knocked him out! His head violently hit the pavement and an ambulance was called.
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The attackers girlfriend would also attack Melanie—punching her in the face and chest! Melanie was fine, but the attacker was carried away in serious condition and the man that struck him was apprehended.
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The bottom line is that Satan just does not want his territory invaded with the Gospel! We are seeing souls saved and he is doing whatever he can to discourage us from “Taking the Good News Into Bad Place” - We have no plans to stop!

JAMES [pictured above] is just one of the reasons that we go. He approached the Cross just recently and said, I am depressed and I think of committing suicide every singe day. I need help.”

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As we prayed for him, the woman [seen handcuffed on the ground in the picture to the right] came out of nowhere yelling, “Satan is Here!” and began to push the Cross and punch and kick James!

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She was arrested and we went with James to his home where an hour later he cried out to the Lord Jesus in repentance and received Christ as his savior!

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We are willing to take the GOOD NEWS into the BAD PLACES because their are SOULS at stake and the only way that they will have a chance to know Jesus is if someone sees the need and actually goes to where the lost and hurting are.

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Will you consider helping us to CONTINUE GOING? There are a lost more young men like "James" needing someone to answer the call.

New Year . . . New Opportunities!

I find myself extremely grateful to the Lord Jesus Christ every time the calendar turns for a brand new year! It just reminds me that God has graced me with another year to live for Him and is about to give me another opportunity to know and serve Him in a deeper way.
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2010 was quite an amazing year to look back on to say the least! It has been a year of challenging triumphs and transitions for the ministry and for our family [to say the least!]
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As we announced in September both of our children are engaged to be married in 2011 and Melanie and I just celebrated our 24th Wedding Anniversary on Nov. 15th. Jered & Anne will be getting married in Amarillo, Texas and Joshua & Kayla are getting married in New Orleans on June 25th.
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We have another major milestone in January as well. It was twenty years ago that God brought me into full-time ministry. I was just 24 years old when Melanie and I went to Gospel Light Fellowship to visit on a Wednesday night and the pastor (whom I had not met until that night) approached me after the service and asked me to preach in his absence the following week.
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I did and would end up being named the pastor of the church about six weeks later! I had only preached in a pulpit one time prior to that and immediately was given the responsibility to preach three times a week in addition to the other basic pastoral responsibilities!
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God certainly gave me a lot of grace in those early days and even more to those that had to put up with me! We made it through some of the most life-transforming times that one could imagine—and saw the hand of God in operation more times than I could ever remember!
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We are now excited about the next twenty years and the next generation of young leaders and ministers that we are being given the opportunity to equip and release!

Practical Ways You Can Help

People will often ask us, "Are there any practical ways that we can assist in the ministry on a regular basis?" The answer is a definite, "YES!" There are so many things that go into taking the Gospel to the streets of this nation that many people might never stop to think about. Here are just a few of ways that you might consider partnering with us for souls!

PARKING: Each week our team here in New Orleans takes "Raven Street Church" to Bourbon Street in the French Quarter - and not unlike other big cities - the amount of "free" parking available is miniscule and seldom available. We have given up on driving around for an hour looking for a spot and [because of the equipment we use] parking a long distance away is not practical.

That means that we are required to use public parking areas that charge an hourly rate. The lot that we use provides us: 1) Security for our vehicles 2) A central meeting place for teams joining us 3) A short jaunt to Bourbon Street - - - that's the GOOD NEWS

The down side is obviously the cost involved. With the time that we spend ministering on a given day, our parking expense will typically be $13 on average. With our team ministering (3) nights per week - that is nearly $40 EVERY WEEK (or over $150 per month) or $1800 annually!

Would you consider sponsoring (1) or more nights parking per month? Perhaps you feel led to cover the expense of our parking each month or every other month or something.

GASOLINE: It is (15) miles from our front door to the French Quarter - about a (20) minute drive with light traffic. It works out to about 100 miles a week just to get back and forth! That is over 5,000 miles a year that we will drive just to do that part of the local ministry! That is a lot of miles and a lot of gasoline. Maybe you would desire to buy (1) tank of gas per months ($45) or send a prepaid gas card or something. That would help with the estimated $950 per year that is cost simply to host our weekly Raven Street Church.

OIL CHANGE: We really try to get the most out of everything that we have - that means taking care of the vehicles that we drive. Most of our vehicles are 10+ years old and have tons of miles on them. One thing that keeps us going is regular oil changes. These cost about $30 each now.

VEHICLE REPAIR: (97 Monte Carlo ) - donated by Steve & Jodi Ignowski a few years back needs fuel pump replaced and new head gaskets soon.

BATTERIES: Having a "mobile ministry" requires that we have "moble equipment" and as a result we go through a ton of batteries each month. Raven Street Church requires (10) D Cell batteries and (1) 9 volt battery each week. We pay $1 each for the D Cells and $2 for the 9 volt. That comes up to about $625 per year just to power our sound equipments. That does not even take into account the $5 spent on batteries each week to power our camera equipment. That is an additional $260 a year for a grand total of nearly $900 a year for batteries!

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As you can tell these practical aspects of the ministry come at a cost of over $3700 per year alone! So, if you are looking for a way to help eleviate some of the financial burden that we face in reaching the lost - this might be a good way to get involved in the process.

You can give securely online by going to: http://www.paypal.com/ and using our email address Raven@BigGrace.com as the recipient or by mailing your offering to:

Raven Ministries International - PO Box 2102 Kenner, LA 70063

Testimony from the Streets!

This is a first hand testimony from our recent ministry on Bourbon Street in New Orleans during Raven Street Church. People often ask, "Does it really do any good?" or "Do people really stop and listen to what you are saying." Occassionally someone will come up that claims to be a Christian and say, "What you guys are doing in WRONG!"

Read this note that was recently sent to Gracie by a sweet young lady that just needed a little direction, prayer and encouragement in the Lord!

[above - Kayla, Jessica & Gracie @ Raven Street Church]

Hey Gracie!

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I'm glad I found y'all on here too.. I know it will be a positive influence on me and it will help to keep me in line and on track.. I'm starting to remove people out of my life, my close friends who I'm realizing aren't really good influences on me.. but amazingly I've made an even better friend who is sweet & believes in God, and lives her life in a way I want to be.. I haven't been the best but I'm trying to be better..

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I've repented and I am taking small sure steps to make certain I don't go back. I still haven't drank alcohol since that night on bourbon, and I have no desire to.. another cool thing is I am now going back to college.. my new friend helped me out, and it was weird because everything fell into place.. classes were available, advisor lifted flags immediately, and I was able to get a payment plan..

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Jjust pray for me overall, I always need Gods help and guidance in my life.. and I'm so thankful to have met y'all when I did because without that night I know this year would have been straight downhill for me.. bless y'all & thank you so much, more than you could know..

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♥ jessica

Kicking off the New Year @ Raven Street Church

It may be a New Year - but Raven Ministries International is still doing what we have always done and that is "TAKING THE GOOD NEWS INTO BAD PLACES"

We are gearing up for our annual Mardi Gras Outreach (March 3-8) by taking the Gospel to New Orleans' Bourbon Street multiple times each week to prepare the fields for a tremendous harvest of souls!

GRACIE - RAVEN STREET CHUCH

PASTOR JAMIE - RAVEN STREET CHURCH

KAYLA -RAVEN STREET CHURCH

One Lost Sheep

Matthew 18:11-12 says, "For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?"

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According to one of the Police officers that regularly work Bourbon Street, there are approximately 40,000 people on the streets during a typical Friday or Saturday night!

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That means that over the course of an evening of preaching and ministering during RAVEN STREET CHURCH: BOURBON ST CHAPEL that our team will preach to what would be the equivalent of preaching to the whole population of Cleveland, Tennesee or Hackensack, New Jersey all in one night!

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The things is though, is that the people hearing the open-air preaching of the Word of God during Raven Street Church are not just from one or two US cities - or from one or two countries for that matter! We talk to people each week from all across the USA, Canada and this past week I personally had conversations with people from England, Nigeria, Brazil, Australia, and Honduras to name a few.

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With all of the tens of thousands of people that potentially hear the Word preached each week (120,000 + in a weekend of ministry), it is still that "one lost sheep" that we are on the look out for.

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Saturday night as I stood next to the "Bourbo Box" towards the close of the evening, a young man in a group of 5-6 twenty-somethings stopped and pointed at my black leather Bible sitting in front of me on the speaker. "What's this all about?" he said to me. "That is my Bible and we are here preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost and dying that have come to be a part of Raven Street Church."

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Recognzing that this was not just another mocker making a quick statement and dashing down the street, I asked him, "So what about your relationship with Jesus?" "Oh, I am good. I go to an Assembly of God Church and I am strong in the faith...", tapering off somewhat and sounding more as though he was trying to convince himself more than he was trying to convince me.

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"That's interesting," I said. "You are a Spirit-filled, Jesus-loving young man of God, but here you are partying on Bourbon Street and walking around with a beer in your hand? Something is wrong with this picture?"

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Over the better part of the next hour me and this young man talked about the Word of God and he shared with me how that just a few years earlier he had been mixed up with drugs and alcohol and felt as though life was no longer worth living. He shared how the Lord Jesus came to him and how he had repented and given himself to Christ. . . then the slow fade.

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"I'll be honest with you," he said as his friends would come back periodically to prod him to join them at their next stop, "I just lost the fire and I need to get it back." I took him to the Word of God and showed him how people start "adjusting to the darkness" [1 john 1:6] and that God is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness if we will repent [1 John 1:9]

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With a defeated sound in his voice he would say, "I know, but everyone is going to fall sometime." Stopping him, I took him to the Word of God and showed him that we have been set free from sin and not set free to sin [Romans Chapter 6} and that even though we are all tempted - Jesus always provides a way to escape any and all temptations [1 Corinthians 10:13]

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The Spirit of God truly orchestrated the conversation that night and this young man [22 years old] genuinely could be seen desring to return to a sincere and intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus. We were able to pray together and encourage him further in the faith - and we invited him to come back to the City and spend some time with us. Please keep him in your prayers - heaven is still seeking those "lost sheep" that have wandered out of the way.

The GREAT DISCOVERY

While working on one of his many scientific projects, a benevolent and intelligent man made a discovery that could possibly change the future and fortunes of untold millions. “How do I get this incredible information to the most people,” he reasoned to himself? This news is so valuable that it must be made available to everyone without delay he determined.
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“I know!” he exclaimed! “I will go about my everyday life and as I make friends with people and build relationships with them – I will eventually get around to telling them this profound news!”
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“I can just apply this discovery to my own life and over time people will see the great affect that it has had upon me and they’ll curiously ask me about it!”
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(or)
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“I can go to a local park, smile at people and offer them a cup of cold water to drink! I could even tell them how much they are loved and place a smiley faced sticker on their clothing. Surely THAT would be the most effective way of getting this information to the most people!”
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(but)
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After deeper consideration he came up with an ingenious plan that would enable his discovery to impact the multitudes! “I alone could not possible disseminate this information to the masses . It will require the ability to spread this good news in many different directions simultaneously!”
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Soon the man had a tremendous warehouse built and he purchased a state of the art printing press that would duplicate his discovery upon newsprint! The newsprint with the discovery printed upon it could then be circulated to every corner of the globe!
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Within a few short weeks the warehouse was built, the printing press was installed and copies of the printed discovery were being churned out by the thousands. “Even though I am able to print thousands of papers here; there are BILLIONS of people needing to know about this discovery.”
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He had a new idea! “I will build MORE warehouses! Not just here, but in neighborhoods and in strip malls and on major highways! I won’t just build large warehouse, but also small and medium warehouses as well and I will install a suitable printing press in each and every one!”
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Soon tens of thousands of warehouses were built and an equal number of printing presses were installed – but wait, he realized that he would need laborers to help in the reproduction process. He quickly got the word out that there were jobs available at his air-conditioned warehouses. They would only have to work one or at the most two days per week and they would be doing a great service to their communities and to the world!
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Thousands flocked to fill the positions and soon the work of printing the great discovery was underway. It wasn’t long before the warehouses were filled with freshly printed papers announcing the great discovery. The man was elated at his work. “Soon the whole world will hear about and experience for themselves this great discovery.”
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But wait! Now that the printing was complete – the great discovery was merely stacked in piles in his cozy warehouses. While the printing was of excellent quality and the quantity was more than adequate – those needing to read them were not in possession of the great discovery.
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Alas an idea! The man gathered up all of the workers that had come to fill the warehouse and printing positions, “Now that you have read the discovery and have seen the great need for all to experience it as well. Now that the work of gathering the information and readying it for distribution is complete – I need a show of hands of all of those who would be willing to take the stacks and share them among the people.”
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Expecting everyone to volunteer for the task – the man was shocked when not one of the workers volunteered to distribute the great discovery.
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“I am not really a distributor” said one. “I didn’t hire on for that job” replied another. “I thought this was a once hired always hired place to work – now you are asking me to leave and do something else” exclaimed another.
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One by one each offered their own excuse as to why they could not join in taking the great discovery out to where the man had expected it to go. They all returned to their posts and continued to print and to stack. When their warehouse was full, they would simply add on to make room for more stacks of the undistributed discovery.
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Occasionally one of the printed copies will find its way out of the warehouse and into the hands of those that it was designed to be read by, but most will simply discount it and say that there is a time and a place for great discoveries – and that is back in the warehouses where they are all neatly stacked.

Tuesday Night Street Church: Sugar Bowl Edition on Bourbon Street in New Orleans

1 Corinthians 1:21-23 "Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it's all nonsense." [above] Jessica returned to talk to the girls [Kayla and Gracie] for a second night. She had appraoched the Cross the night before with a beer in here hand and wanted to show they that tonight it was "just Gatorade." She confessed that a year ago she was walking with the Lord and actually involved in evangelistic ministry herself - but this 22 year old had been caught up in the compromises of college and the allure of peer pressure. She told the girls that she wanted to get her life back on track with Jesus and to do what they were doing - and even with them sometime!

[above] Sara came from a family with a Baptist mother and a Quaker father, at 18 years old she had yet to come to a relationship with Jesus Christ. She said that she was looking for the "answer" and Kayla and Mercedes well all-to-willing to provide her with the only answer to life's questions: Jesus Christ. She openly wept as they prayer for her and ministered the Word of God to her for the better part of an hour.

[above] "I totally agree with what you are doing and thank you," he said through slurred words effected by the consumption of alcohol. "I am a Baptist and I try to do right." Pastor Troy immediately took him to the Word of God in regards to the consequences of durnkenness and compromise [1 Cor 6:9-10; Rev 3:15-16] Challenging him to repent and flee the entangelments of this world, the man thanked PT for telling him the truth and being there that night.

[above] Drawn to the place of the Cross, this man would say, "I know you are right and I know what I need to be doing . . . but my friends." Pastor Jamie and PT tried to show him how "the friend of the world is the enemy of God" [James 4:4] but this man just could not overcome the pressure to please his friends while transgressing the righteousness of God.

"You may not have TWENTY minutes"

"I believe everything that you are saying and on twenty years I'll probably be doing the same thing," said the young man as I shared the Gospel with him on Bourbon Street during our Sugar Bowl Outreach. He had stopped with this "I am going to be belligerent" look on his face, but I beat him to the punch and quickly took the conversation to Jesus' desire to change and transform lives.
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As I drove home the need for all to "repent and believe the Gospel", he quickly retreated into the above statement; almost in an attempt to agree and acquiesce so that he could escape and excuse himself from the conversation. Seeing that his thought process was all to typical of the "I will live forever" generation - I drew him close with my right arm so that I could speak clearly into his ear.
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"Six years ago this past Friday I met another young man that shared your mentality. His name was Levon Jones. When I attempted to talk with him about Jesus he pulled away from me and said, "I don't have time for that", and he was right - because twenty minutes later Levon was DEAD just 20 yards from where you and I are now standing. Levon didn't have twenty years to get things right - and you may not have twenty minutes!"
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Those words, the reality of the frailty of life and the presence of the Spirit of God immediately brought a soberness to this young man's face. His shoulders dropped and his eyes focused on me and he said, "You are right." He turned and slowly walked away and into the crowd without saying another word of even looking back at me.
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I do not know where he went or what he did following our brief, yet direct conversation - but what I do know is that the Lord Jesus pierced through the darkness and [if for even just a brief moment] the grace of God provided an awe flash of His presence and gave this young man a glimpse of what it was to be in His presence.
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Please pray for him - and for all of those in this generation that continue to foolishly believe that they are invincible to satan's devices that are designed to "steal, kill and destroy."

SUGAR BOWL EDITION of Raven Street Church

(above) local team member, Mercedes Fernandez ministers the Word of God to one of the thousands of football fans gathering in the French Quarter in advance of the game between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Ohio State Buckeyes scheduled to take place at the New Orleans Super Dome on Tuesday January 4th.

(above) Pastor Troy and Pastor Jamie open their "playbook" to reveal what it will take to win in the game of life - "repentance from dead works, faith towards God and the finished work of the Cross of Christ". This young man chose to stay on the "losing team" that night - unfortunate.

(above) Team JESUS Members (still undefeated) Mercedes Fernandez, Garcie Burroughs, PT, Pastor Jamie, and Kayla Bohn (in front)

(above) Gracie Burroughs came over to us in a mid-season "trade" with Raven West Coast! She will be visiting us through the 12th when she heads back to California to continue her studies at the University of San Francisco.

(above) offensive "first stringer" Kayla Bohn takes a break from preaching to explain what it mean to serve Jesus and live a holy life to a "free agent" out on the streets last night.

New Years in Daytona Beach

It is hard for me to "sit still" when I know that there is an opportunity to share the Gospel with the multitudes - this New Year was no exception. I can't remember the last time that I wasnt able to bring in a new year while sharing Jesus with someone - somewhere!

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This year we were in Daytona Beach preparing for the wedding that would take place the next day and heard that there was going to be a major event on Main Street in Daytona. I quickly called up Jesse "Famous" Amos and recruited him to go with me to the streets [Jesse never says no to that!]

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When we arrived we instantly knew that the crowd was five times larger than last year's Main Street crowd - it looked like Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras with people stading shoulder to shoulder from Penninsula Blvd all the way down to Atlantic Ave.

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We parked in our normal spot at Main & Noble and jumped into "Ground Zero" where they had the New Year's Ball Drop set up - it took less than 30 seconds for us to engaged in a witness and soon I had Jess open air preaching just beneath the ball drop. A young man, Ramseys, was drawn to us and we were able to minister at length to this 20 year old young man that came from a God-fearing family.

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We actually plucked him off the street that night and he went to the church with us for a time of praise and worship and some personal ministry from son of the guys that were there. He is really a torutred sould - devestated both by compromise AND by the effects of the wide-gate, false religion that he has been exposed to in his life. Please keep him in your prayers - and all of those that we were able to share with that night.

(Above) that is Ramsey in the center of the above picture with the beenie cap - the "blur" is Jesse preaching the Word to the Crowd =)

Christmas with the Rowdens

(Above) Kayla and her fiance', Joshua Rowden at the wedding of Anthony England and Brittany Durrance. It was a blessing to have Joshua's mom and dad, Tom & Lori Rowden, and his younger brother, Benjamin, come to New Orleans and spend the Christmas holiday with us before making the drive to Daytona for the wedding. This is such a blessed family and we are thankful to the Lord Jesus Christ for bringing them all into our lives.

(Above) Kayla and Joshua again! These guys are really "two peas in a pod." They love JESUS, preaching on the streets, the Lion King movie, and Nachos -- match made in heaven!

(Above) Kayla and "Momma" Lori - Melanie and I are so tremendously blessed that Kayla is getting such a dear mom and dad in law in Tom & Lori. They too are excited about having a "daughter" after raising two boys! Lori is already spoiling Kayla though =)

(Above) The Rowdens (l-r) Benjamin, Lori, Tom, and Joshua - at a truck stop on our way to Daytona Beach -- they sure look like southern rednecks even though they are from Northern California! lol - - Nice hats

Congrats to this Beautiful Couple!

It was such a blessing to be a part of the wedding of Anthony England and Brittany Durrance this past weekend in Daytona Beach, Florida. Anthony is the son of Pastor Rudy & Lori Gonzalez of Raven West Coast and Brittany is the daughter of Pastor Scott & Robon Durrance of Raven International.
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I first met Anthony in Tijuana, Mexico while he was just a teenager struggling with his relationship with Jesus - he has truly become a tremendous young man of God over the years. He is a student at UC-Berkeley and plans on attending law school following his undergraduate staudies.
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Brittany and I met while she was on the streets of New Orleans with her dad during a Mardi Gras Outreach and she was actively involved in the ministry of Raven Daytona while we resided there. She and Kayla graduated from the same Christian high school. Brittany attended Daytona State College and plans on continuing her education in the Bay area (San Fran) in pursuit of her degree as a nurse practitioner.
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They will work with the Raven West Coast (UCRAVEN) teams around the state and on the campus of UC-Berkeley