Trip 3--Hip Hop Ministry

My third trip was a victory for God's kingdom, and now I have even more work to do! I arrived in Philly on Tuesday May 13 in my big 15 passenger caravan donated from Loucon Training and Retreat Center (loaded with donated baseball eqiupment from PLD and WKU and sound eqiupment) and got started on Wednesday. That Wednesday I went to the court at 3 and played basketball until 7 (It's been a long time since I played like that). Luckily, almost all the guys from the month 1/2 before were there and of course, they remembered me. That day was a big bonus because I exchanged phone #s with several of them (so you know that's a big step).

The next morning there was an advisory board meeting--a group of 4-5 adults meet every 3-6 months to discuss how to raise money or what they can do for the community, etc. One of the members is Phyllis, who works for Impact Services, a company next door to the church (not faith-based). Though they are not "faith-based" they have served alongside of the Salvation Army because of all that the army does for the community and Impact Services job is essentially "community development/improvement." Major had me meet with the group and explain what I've been doing. Phyllis loved the idea and the next day called and asked if she could print an Ad in the newspaper, calling it "The Good Word in Gatorade" (haha)... she explained that it would let the neighborhood know that good things are happening and that there could be potential people who would donate money to my ministry (I think we can call that another step).

Then came Thursday afternoon where I picked up my "California Christian Rappers." From all the money I raised I was able to purchase 5 plane tickets for 4 rappers and a minister to come do a Christian Hip Hop show (Friday and Saturday). In the four days I was with them, I really don't know if I've ever had more fun. These were some of the funnest guys I've been around and the most genuine Christians! Their first day there I took them out for hoagies (no one makes sandwhiches like they do in the North... mmmm!) and showed them around the neighborhood as they passed out fliers and free CDs. As I showed them around, I quote one of the rappers (Explicittrell), "Man, the harvest is definitely here" and from another (N.I.C.), "This neighborhood puts Cali to shame" (these guys were from rough neighborhoods/backgrounds in Cali too). That kind of gives an idea of what this neighborhood is like--a troubled area ridden with drugs, etc but also ready to be harvested for the kingdom. One thing that makes the ministry easier there is almost EVERYONE sits on their porch outside (they have nothing else to do), so the people are right there in front of me! So thursday was spent passing out fliers for the show and spending time in bible study and prayer. The guys also came over that night to play ball in the gym!

Then came the shows. We had hoped to do it outside, but it rained all day Friday. So we cleared out the chapel and set up for inside. Saturday, however, we trusted God and put the equipment outside despite 40% chance of scattered thunderstorms. As the show went on, storms were all around us, but never over us :). When people asked me how the shows went, I tell them, "Quantity not as big as expected, but the impact it had on people greater than I expected." Friday we had 20 and Saturday about 40... so not as many as I had hoped for, but lives were changed in one night. Several people invited Christ into their lives and several others saw for the first time that there is more to it than just believing in a Christ who died for their sins--they saw the idea of "walking in their salvation." That's why I say there is now more work for me. Several people there were outside of my "target group" and now there is potential for an additional bible study/discipleship. What I loved about these two nights is that I saw that I truly did have the best group of Christian rappers--they didn't care how many showed up (and it is common that I would see worship leaders be upset over a 20 person attendance and thus not care so much). These guys were simply there to glorify God and minister--I've never seen people so excited to witness (even during the day, outside of the show). After the show they praised God for the work that had been reaped, "Hallelujah this, hallelujah that"...

One example of a life changed over night is Evette. Evette is a woman (probably in early 40s) who lives a few doors down from the church. A couple of the rappers visited her to invite her to the show. She bluntly replied, "I'm not going to that, I'm going clubbing tonight." Guess where she was that night? Yup... at our show. She heard the music coming from the church so she came over, and brought her daughter and her daughter's boyfriend! She went from saying she was going clubbing to.... the next day standing outside at our show again, only this time passing out bibles and gospel tracts to everyone who walked by!

To close out, I should probably tell you who this group is and how I came to contact them. The four rappers are N.I.C. (Noticed in Christ also called Nicolodean), B Fade, Explicittrell, and Brotha Ruff (aka "Gospel Gorilla") and the minister is Jnezz who started the "Pray Area Movement" which brought these rappers together. I met them online through a friend from another mission trip. A few years ago I went to Jamaica on a mission trip and met Acacia, who was from Cali. Well after she sent out an e-mail to all the Jamaica missionaries about 9 months ago, I responded explaining what I had been up to (part of it was about Philly). She then replied and told me about her friend NIC who would be good to have come out... so then I contacted him. To be honest, neither one of us thought it would actually happen; but hey, God likes to slap you in the face sometimes. They not only helped kickstart my ministry in Philly, but it also helped their ministry. Several people heard them and loved them, and these people have further contacts for future potential shows (they've also had kids e-mail them asking when they were coming back!). I hope to have pictures posted next week... If you want to find out more about Pray Area Movement, they have a myspace web page: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=370124781 (you can even see an interview with Evette).

Well... I'm now getting ready to get on the road to head back for the next 8 weeks! Pray for me and I'll keep things posting once a week. :)

Trip 2 bridging to Trip 3

This still deals with my 2nd trip but I gave it its own post because of its significance. While passing out fliers for the Thursday night show down, I came across one guy who looked at the flier. He was surprised that the gym was going to be open. My first time there, the church had open gym every thursday night, but this second time there, they were no longer having it. I thought it was because the recreation director had left, but I found out the real reason from this one guy.
He proceeded to tell me that his brother had gotten in a fight at the open gym and next day he was shot and killed. Well, I didn't realize it at first, but after connecting the dots, I came to realize that I had met this victim from my first trip. Not only did I meet this victim, I shared the gospel, my testimony, and gave him a gospel tract... He was shot and killed a month later. I wonder--did he make some sort of decision in that month? It really convicted me more that my ministry there needs to be longer than a week. So while sharing the gospel that night over pizza, in the back of my mind I was thinking how I need to stay longer. God was drilling it in my mind and heart. After sharing the gospel, Major Phil (head pastor) told me it was great and hoped he could find someone to keep it going. That's when I told him that I would like to. I was already staffed to work Camp Centrifuge in NC, so we agreed that if he could work it out on his end and I could work it out on mine, I could stay all summer. Well... sure enough, camp released me and he did his part. I am now staying there until July 20. In these two months, my first focus is starting bible studies. One is for the teens already members of the church to equip them with an evangelistic attitude and carrying out the Great Commission. The other(s) is a seekers bible study for the kids I have been meeting. So I will be living on the 2nd floor of the church in my own little room!!!

Now, I have already been there for my 3rd time (which was the main thing I raised money and what I planned all along). I had told people I would post updates, but I did not have any access to internet. Looks like I will only have access on weekends when I can go to McDonalds for wireless. So tomorrow I will post this past week's ministry (my 3rd trip... I did that, then came home and will go back Monday). Look for what happened last week! Good stuff!

Trip 2

So originally, my plan was to head out for one week right after the school year ended, but the Baptist Campus Ministry at WKU asked me to lead a group there during Spring Break. So my second time was with a group of 3 freshmen girls, one Junior girl, 2 freshmen guys, myself, and the campus minister. It was very exciting getting others involved and seeing the area God called me to for the time being.
Through the week we put together several outreach events and community service projects. For two mornings, we spent two hours passing out free hot chocolate and praying for/over people. Several gained the courage to take hot chocolate to some street corners and under the el-train at Kensington (one of most poverty-stricken neighborhood in America). Seeing young Christians step up is a great sight--very encouraging. We also spent a day or two painting the bathrooms for the after school program (blue for boys and pink for girls... there's no other way in America!).
But the highlight of the week (and I'm sure the others will agree) were the two major initiatives put on--one for the mothers/families of kids who attend the after school program, and one for the teens from the streets/hood. Of all the kids who attend the after school program, only a couple mothers attended church there. So the girls decided to prepare a big dinner for the mothers and other family--they could come pick up their child, but then stay for dinner. Originally, 13 said they would come... good thing we bought extra because 23 showed up! The girls were able to cook and serve them and then share some testimonies. I know God's love was witnessed because when I was recently there for my 3rd time, a mother commented on how much it meant to her (when she commented on this it was 1 1/2 months later).
As for us guys, we planned a basketball and free pizza night. All week we had been playing at the park I was at the year before (unfortunately, I only saw one guy that was the same) so on Thursday night we invited them to the church for basketball and pizza... we actually passed out hundreds of fliers to teens (girls and boys) and so the plan wasn't to play ball, but the only ones that came were those we played with all week and some friends they brought (meaning, relationships had already been established). After playing ball, we brought them down for pizza. While eating, one of the freshman guys shared his testimony, and I gave a gospel message. I first asked what they wanted out of life. The majority answer? "To get rich." Well... looks like a lot of work needs to be done. No one confessed Christ that night, but But they did see something they're not accostomed to: A God who loves and his servants who care and express that love. Hearing that a white boy from Kentucky would come all that way to do all this for them spoke loud volumes.