JESUSFEST 2013 (ROCK & ROLL HARDEE'S SPRINGFIELD, IL
(more photos to follow)
IN HONOR OF JESUS CHRIST AND BREAST CANCER MONTH (OCTOBER)
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Chosen Generation Gospel Band (in part) |
One of the major goals I have in bringing these free outdoor
Christian concerts to various
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Tamara Norville |
parts of the city and the county in coming months
and years is to bring the joyful news of the Kingdom to areas given up by the
church, to worldly systems. The first
one, though too long by a few hours, happened in Auburn, Illinois in October
2011. JesusFest 2 was at the brand new SouthWinds Park (just on the outskirts
of town) in October 2012 and the recently concluded JesusFest 3 brought the
powerful message of Jesus to the South East Laketown area of Springfield.
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IDENTITY from Bloomington, Il. |
Future spots being explored are Petersburg, Rochester,
Chatham and other parts of this big city of Springfield. The rubber meets the
road...on the road. We can expound and pontificate from a pulpit on Sunday
morning, feel good about ourselves and there is nothing wrong with any of this.
However the Great Commission from the Great Christ was to "GO AND
MAKE", not sit and take.
Evangelism and outreach are not just two words which begin
with vowels, but the burden of every soul (or should be) who has been called
out of the pit by the Great Rescuer - Jesus, when He saved us. This event went
so well, that even the regional management of Hardee's was impressed by the
size and tone of this outreach, under the most perfect sky of the month!
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Evangelist Christian Rapper, MB |
So many hearts were touched, we were invited to do an event
there monthly. If I had the resources and could, I would do that, just to reach
that part of the city which has the biggest strip-club between Chicago and St.
Louis - Deja Vu! God alone knows how many people's lives - from marriages to
the young women who peddle their flesh there - have been completely destroyed
by this so-called "gentleman's club". No real gentleman will be
caught dead in a place like that - EVER!
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Rachel Ray, American Cancer Society |
Right off the bat, a wonderful saint
in the pro-life community and the wife of one of my dearest brothers and a man
I fellowship with daily went over to this strip club to pray on the streets
surrounding this "establishment". Here is a partial testimony of what
happened there, first hand - "I went
to pray towards Deja Vu & when we parked in a place to purchase beer across
the street a young woman walk out with a beer she had purchased...we witnessed
to her & prayed for her about 30 minutes & it was soooo BEAUTIFUL!!! The young woman walking to her vehicle that
seemed so lost & sad left with a HUGE smile on her face & genuine
"JOY"!! I love serving God & I'll pretty much go anywhere @ any
time...thank you again!”
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Monica Hay, New Life Church, Auburn |
A young man who had trouble with drugs, came up to our
ministry table ready to surrender his life to Christ! Christian Rapper MB (Zach
Ayappa), and my buddy Bob Kennedy led him to Christ right next to Stevenson
Drive! A young lady was so convicted, I heard that she gave up her will to do
more drugs right in front of some church people who prayed for her. There were
more people affected by the message and the music and the method of loving
others to Christ which will have a huge impact for months to come.
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BROKEN CHAINS CHURCH & TRANSFORMATIVE DRAMA TEAM |
One amazing treasure was the Broken Chains Church (Corner of
Monroe & Lewis Streets) of Springfield whose brand new Drama Team brought
the Gospel of the Kingdom to life so much that it captivated hearts and minds
big time. Those are the illustrations that stick with both the redeemed and
maybe, soon-to-be redeemed, rather than 45 minute message on a Sunday morning!
I wish to thank Pastor Brian Williams for bringing his team out and know we
will have a long association with them as we reach this generation with the
Truth, as the days of the End draw closer!
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A section of our Exhibit Row,before J-FEST began |
Thank you to Rachel Ray, the happy warrior from the American Cancer Society, for bringing hope and resources for breast cancer prevention and treatment to the event, and for returning to J-Fest this year.
Thank you also to the following for your heart and your
ministry: Don Hunt and the Chosen Generation Gospel Band. Visit the Holy Ground
Coffee House on Allen Street for more fine gospel music of all genres twice per
month.
Thank you to a delightful couple of beautiful kids from
Illinois College- Allan Miggins and Tamara Norville for their joy and
excitement.
Thank you to Monica Hay from New Life Church.
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Allan Miggins & Tamara Norville from Illinois College, Jacksonville, Illinois |
Thank you to IDENTITY who drove all the way from
Bloomington, Illinois to bless us with their virtue and fun.
Thank you to the wonderful group ASHLAND from Greenville, Illinois.
Thank you to DJ Mayday and evangelist/Christian hip-hop
artist Zach Ayappa (THE MB) for being there and such good sports!
Thank you to Rock and Roll Hardees management for allowing
us to use the facilities and to soundman Oakland Morris (Oakie) for doing our
sound, event after event.
Thank you to the best production team in the business –
brothers Brian Powell and Bob Kennedy and to all who helped us get the word out
citywide!
Business Men in Christ will continue to promote and produce
these events as God provides and calls us to reach our city with the Good News
of Christ, until He comes! Maranatha!