MARDI GRAS 2013

When we arrived in New Orleans you could feel a heaviness in the atmosphere. There was a dark oppression that seemed to be looming over the city. As we approached an intersection near downtown New Orleans, floats for the Mardi Gras parade begin to stream by, causing traffic to back up.

Finally as the last float went by, we continued to drive through the city. We saw many homeless people lying under bridges and sleeping on street corners. This is nothing new, we see homeless people on the streets where we are from, but it still saddens me to see it.

We arrived at our destination and got unpacked. During the day we took in some sightseeing of the city. That night we decided to go down to Bourbon Street where people were already celebrating Mardi Gras.  Bourbon Street is where the pinnacle of the party takes place.  People are drinking and dancing, and even stripping clothes off to reveal their bodies. When we arrived at Bourbon Street the party seekers saw our Jesus shirts and immediately begin throwing beads at us really hard.  I got hit in the top of my head so hard it stunned me.  I started to look up to see where it came from, but was afraid I would get hit in the face.  I guess that was their way of telling us that they didn't want us there, and the devil's way of trying to intimidate us.

We would not be discouraged or intimidated.  The onslaught actually encouraged us even more to fight the good fight. We would end up talking for hours to people about Jesus, and prayed with many that God would change their lives. It was an awesome first day, but the best was yet to come.

The next day we met at the church where would be eating our meals and fellowshipping. We would meet with other believers from all over the country.  Raven Ministries, a local ministry in New Orleans, hosted the event. They not only fed us three meals a day, but also provided sleeping arrangements for around 300 people. Praise God for Raven Ministries!

The bonds we made with other believers, and the experience of sharing our faith at Mardi Gras, will be something we will never forget.

(Below are some pictures of us witnessing for Jesus at Mardi Gras)

  This is our team of 10 that went to Mardi Gras to preach the gospel together

The prayer rally at Jefferson Square in downtown New Orleans where nearly 300 of us were gather together to worship and pray together. Then we would march all together down to Bourbon Street, where we would kneel down and pray right in the middle of Mardi Gras.

A group of guy's who came to Mardi Gras to party, but ended up meeting Jesus and praying for change in their lives!

This guy was really convicted as I expounded on the gospel and how it could transform his life

My beautiful wife preaching the gospel and giving her testimony! What a powerful testimony she has of how Jesus changed her life! AWESOME!!!

Courtney observing the people on the balcony's hurling down beads at us. This was Courtney's first time doing anything like this, and let me just say, "She was used by God in a powerful way!"  She was as bold as a lion out there!!! Way to go Courtney!!!

This guy was very angry with me at first, but later was shaking my hand and smiling.

When I saw this young man, the Holy Spirit gave me a word of knowledge for him. God told me that he had just broken up with his girlfriend and that he was having a hard time getting over it. I asked him about it, and he was so shocked by the whole experience that he took the beads off from around his neck and got rid of his beer..When I asked him if he wanted to get serious with God and live for Him, he said, yes, that he was serious and we prayed together.  I believe God did a wonderful change in his life!  Praise God!



What an awesome and life changing experience we had in New Orleans! God is moving in these last days, and He is looking for those that will fulfill the Great Commission. I hope this blog post has challenged you as much as this trip has challenged us. God Bless!!!


Luke 14:23

Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

 

 

 

RADICAL FOR JESUS,

 

Dean

MISSION MARDI GRAS 2013

On Thursday morning at 3:00 a.m. we will be heading to New Orleans to preach the gospel at Mardi Gras.

One account given by David J. Stewert

Mardi Gras is EVIL!

By David J. Stewart

"Mardi Gras is one of the most despicable and sinful celebrations in the world! Although originally began as a religious holiday (holy-day), it's one of the most pagan celebrations existing today. Droves of lesbians, whoremongers, and Sodomites creep into New Orleans every February to participate in this apostate godless event. Mardi Gras means "Fat Tuesday" and of course is celebrated on that day of the week. The date can fall between February 3 and March 9 depending on the Catholic Church. Mardi Gras is always 47 days before Easter Sunday. The official colors for Mardi Gras are purple, green, and gold. These colors where chosen in 1872 by the King of Carnival, Rex. He chose these colors to stand for the following:

Purple represents justice
Green represents for faith
Gold represents for power

The Mardi Gras season begins about two weeks before Fat Tuesday. During those two weeks, parades can be viewed nightly and on weekends. Almost all businesses are closed for Lundi Gras (Fat Monday) and for Mardi Gras itself. People all over the world come to New Orleans to enjoy this extravagant holiday."

Another account from crossbearer.net says: 

"In the past years of preaching at Mardi Gras, the Christians who have come out to tell these lost souls to turn from their sins and share the gospel of Jesus Christ, have been arrested, lit on fire, bitten, spit upon, had beer thrown in their faces, been urinated upon, mocked, cursed, screamed at and fondled by the sexually perverted who think that Christians are puppets for their use. Women are raped by perverted men. Homosexuals drug unsuspecting male guests and drag them into back alleys where they are raped! Satanists perform their rituals upon the Christians including throwing the blood of their animal sacrifices on them! The Voodoo practitioners blow incense in their faces while chanting curses. Tarot card readers, psychics, and mediums line up their business in front of the Catholic Cathedral in Jackson Square each day! Unless you have been to this sinful party, there is no way anyone can explain the decadence of this revelry in words that can accurately share the depth of sin that has fallen upon this city that has, year after year, allowed such evil to persist! Only the words "Sodom and Gomorrah" can come close to describing this atmosphere of sin! Mardi Gras has infected much of the Gulf Coast cities and is observed from the shores of Texas to Mobile Alabama, which has its own Mardi Gras and is second to New Orleans in size and revelry!"

While hundreds will be gathered to celebrate ungodliness at this festival, hundreds will also be gathered together to preach the gospel. Believers from all over the country will unite to spread the good news of Jesus Christ at Mardi Gras. We are believeing for a great harvest on this trip.

Even though we have a great task set before us, we believe that God's Word can reach anyone.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Please pray for us that God will have His way as we allow Him to make us living sacrifices for His service. Our goal is to love people into Heaven by getting them to see the Hell that their living in. To share the precious and powerful gospel of JESUS  CHRIST which can change a life for all eternity.

John 8:32

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

James 5:20

Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

To God be all the glory for the things that will be accomplished at Mardi Gras!!!

Living Radically for JESUS!!!

Dean