We needed and felt the prayers of many on this trip. But how was I to know that this trip would be as much for my growth as for the people to whom God was sending these more than two hundred men of God from eighteen different states.
Your writer left Lebanon Kansas at 6:00 AM SHARP to be at the bus in Lincoln, NE at 11:00 A.M. Although I would not then admit it, my attitude was wrong as I believed that these people at Mardi Gras were so fortunate to have us mighty men of God coming down to witness to them and tell them about Jesus. And although the message of the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ, His salvation, deliverance and healing power are of great importance to all men, HE can only use a vessel who is surrendered and fit for HIS use. My attitude was so bad, I now confess, I was not ready for His use. I was needing a Spiritual ego-ectomy.
I arrived at the bus location at 11:15, fifteen minutes later than my target time as I had gone to the wrong location by putting in North instead of South 84th. (Oops) But, "I" was here before most of them. So after reacquainting with many and meeting some new ones, we left for our other pickup spot near Kansas City, Kansas. The trip was rather uneventful for the first day as we talked and got to know each other, we sang some songs and we had some "cross training." (Prayer , Fellowship,Witness, Study)
Now here I was with my "attitude" and a tall quiet man (Brother Dave Porter) had agreed to teach on prayer. But, he taught me "attitude change." He started:
"We are going down to New Orleans. You will meet drunks, sexual perverts, homosexuals, drug dealers, murderers, ex-convicts, child molesters and hard core criminals."
Then he paused and looked up at us with a mixture of hurt and stern discipline as a father speaking to his children and said:
"These are the people I love and work with every day. These are people for whom Christ died. And many of us think we are doing them a big favor, coming down to New Orleans. But if you go with that attitude, you might as well not go at all. They are not stupid. If you think they are scum, they know it. You need to have the heart and mind of Christ. These men are sinners . . . just like . . . you and I. You are just one sinner talking to another sinner. You need to share the good news of Jesus. And to do that effectively you need to pray and be prayed up so that you can have the mind and heart of Christ."
Except for the quiet whir of the diesel engines and the tires turning on the pavement, you could have heard a pin drop in that Silver Eagle Bus with 22 men sitting silently. And at least one, was beginning to have a major "attitude adjustment."
Dave Porter is a stalwart, venerable man of God. God has used him to speak into me on previous trips. Just a few powerful words. Now he was pleading with me (and others) to have a proper attitude. Yes, he continued and taught the A.C.T.S. prayer acronym: A=adoration; C=confession; T=testimony; S=supplication, but I did not hear, I was stuck on attitude change. I respected this man. He was my close Christian Brother who had been coming to Mardi Gras for more than ten (10) years. He was worthy of my attention. If he loved them. I should love them.
That first night (Thursday) we had stayed in a church in Missouri where there were two men who experienced attacks from demons. We prayed for them and cast the demons off the bus as we were leaving the next day (Friday) we continued on to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where the big No Greater Love group met. After a meeting, we would be dispatched to our locations.
Friday: My first choice had been Vieux Carrie Baptist. My second choice had been Algiers United Methodist. I wondered at which camp I would be placed? I was sent to Gentilly Baptist Camp in New Orleans. (More teaching on humility and submission to those in authority). But at least, I thought, Gentilly had the prayer walkers who go out at 5:00 AM and pray over the French Quarter and anoint the streets with oil. I had always been a part of that and had led that group for more than five years. We were the point men. We walked down to the French Quarter of New Orleans, anointed the streets and prayed over them before most of the men were up. You had to be in good physical and Spiritual shape for this. We were the macho men. But I was NOT leader of that group or any group this year, but an assistant leader in a group that would not be able to walk any morning through the garbage of the night before.(WOW LORD WHAT ARE YOU UP TO IN MY LIFE?) Therefore, as an Assistant in another group, I would not be a prayer walker
Gentilly Baptist Camp
Leaders: Gentilly Camp had a good Chaplin, Brother Dave Maragni (Mo-ron-ee) an assistant pastor at a large church and a former coal miner (age 4?) who was laid off some years back when the coal mines in Southern Illinois closed. The other leaders, I had heard of, but had never served with directly. Our Senior Advisor Brother Charlie Houston, had led base camp. But I had been moved to advance group before he ran base camp. I had seen his good preparation of the men. Brother Steve McKeown was our Director. He was always talked about positively among the NGL people, but I had not served under him. We met the praise and worship leaders the Brother Steve Miller band. The Steve Miller praise and worship band was a conglomerate, some of whom had not ever played together. Yet, we would not have known that had not Brother Steve Miller told us. (And these were not our Okies-smile). Our Street Co-ordinator, was Rich Henry, a man with a good heart and one for the people on the street, we would serve. BUT, I did not know what to expect. (The leaders turned out to be virtuous leaders of integrity) We met and were going to the street the first night, but, I thought are we prepared for this?
The next day was to be our first full day in the New Orleans outreach and we were going to a parade route on Canal. We tried to arrive, at the least, two hours before the parade started so we could minister to the gathering and already waiting crowds. (The people do not want to talk to you or watch you after the parade begins)
No Greater Love trains men to do five basic things: 1. Clown: Be a clown for Jesus, 2. Tract: pass out Big Question (fn1) tracts to strangers. 3. One-on-one: After the person has the Big Question Tract, you ask them: How would you answer the Big Question? 4. Street preach: Take a Scripture and read it to the people on the street and tell them what it means to that person (fn2)and 5. March into the enemies camp to take back what rightly belongs to our Creator and Redeemer. Not the ground, but the people who are each created in the image of God. We march in ranks of three We sing Christian songs, we tell the people God loves them and wants to save them from hell. We emphasis love, not hate. God hates sin and has already judged satan who is sin’s author. BUT God does not hate the people who have fallen into sin. No Greater Love was shown when God the Son took on human flesh and died on the cross to pay your sin penalty that you have earned (the wages of sin is death). HE pled guilty to your sin-crimes. Then when the death penalty was announced, HE, your Creator, Who had become a man, died in your place. Do you understand? (smile)
Saturday: Although many of the men were up earlier reading their Bibles and having private prayer, that first full day (as every day) began at 6:30 AM with prayer. Breakfast followed at about 7:00 AM. That was followed by a large group meeting (preaching along with praise and worship) of all men assigned to Gentilly camp. After that meeting, one of the groups was made up as clowns. The rest of the six groups would "Tract". (Pass out gospel tracts to the awaiting crowds) I really wanted to talk to someone about Jesus, BUT knew I was under authority of the camp and was going to hand out tracts. We were transported down to within a few blocks of the parade and walked into St. Charles and Canal. The clowns stopped once or twice to minister to children, but because of our two slow walkers, always caught up with us. As we arrived at the parade route, I was about to hand a tract to a young man about 25. A No Greater Love clown stepped in front of me with a "Smile Jesus Loves you" sticker. He asked the man, "Wouldn't you like one of these?" And as the man took it, the clown said, pointing to me, "This man wants to ask you a question." Well, I knew that meant, I was to ask him the Big Question. He looked at me expectantly. I said, "Sir, if you were to die this minute do you have the assurance that you would go to heaven?" He said, I do now. I asked, "How do you know, sir?" He reached into his pocket and pulled out a Big Question tract and said, "Some man just gave me this, minutes ago, I read it and I prayed the prayer on the back." I almost fell over. WOW! GOD DID IT ALL. Someone gave him a piece of paper, then God the Holy Spirit, took over, I asked him to tell my witnessing partners in the Group 2B. We all rejoiced with him. Now the attitude adjustment and seeing the power of God working in New Orleans was enough for me. If I had to go home after that first hour out, my Mardi Gras 2009 AD trip would have been a success. We asked the young man his name and address for follow-up. His name is Andrew Hornsby. If you would, please pray for Andrew and for every other person who received a tract. Pray, they might be truly converted AND the devil’s agents would be rendered powerless from stealing the seed planted in each heart. Thank you.
As we passed out tracts and had a few conversations, we found that the vast majority of the people (that day) were glad to take our tracts. Very few were being thrown on the ground.
Then when I went with another Brother to get everyone lunch, I set my Bible down and walked the three blocks back to the men, gave out the food, ate my salad and then realized I had left my Bible at the fast-food place. Well the Mardi Gras crowd is known for taking everything that is not nailed down, but I returned an fortunately for me (unfortunately for any thief that passed it by, not knowing its eternal value) my Bible was there.
Soon it was time to return to camp, we didn't really want to go. We asked our two slow walkers to lead and keep going if we stopped, we would catch up. My witnessing partner handed a Big Question tract to a young, very beautiful, clear skinned, dark complected young woman who looked to be about 25. She was reading the Big Question. Although, I do not generally witness to ladies (especially not to one who might tempt me) before I realized what I was saying, I asked, "How would you answer that question" (If you had been with me, you could have asked-smile). She said she goes to church, but she did not know if she would go to heaven. So, why discuss it any further? She needed Jesus. So, I asked, "Would you pray with me?" I reached out my right hand and took her hand (as if in a hand shake) and asked her to repeat after me. The young lady made a very genuine prayer, she wanted God in her life. I asked her for her name. She said Juanita Johnson. When I asked her for her age, the 25 year old lady said "14". Whoa!!!
She confessed that she had sin in her life. We prayed to God and she admitted to God her need, her willingness to stop, but her inability to stop without God’s help. Please pray right now for Juanita Johnson. She will be a target for older men, especially because of her appearance some will even consider her "totally legal" BUT GOD CAN KEEP HER. Please pray for Juanita.
As we left there, I turned to my witnessing partner, (who has served with me before and knows that I do not talk with women) and asked Brother Bill what happened. He had a great big smile on his face and he said, "The Holy Spirit." I smiled and nodded and felt so blessed to have been used of God. IT IS ALL ABOUT HIM.
We had a meeting when we got back to Gentilly Camp and then small groups. In small group we learned that one man had a new job and God was blessing. Another had an eBay business and asked for our prayers. One man who has been married more than 30 years wanted to know how to love his wife more. The group leader, who has been married 50 years had some wisdom to share. Three of us were without wives. One man (who had never been married to this point) asked me how it was going for me. He knew how much I had enjoyed being married and I suppose they were seeking the "details." All I said was I had learned a lot and the things that would benefit my new wife (if God was willing to give her to me). One of the men prayed a powerful prayer on my behalf. It was so powerful that in the midst of it, my eyes popped open and I looked at him. Was he praying for me to hear? He was praying, head down, eyes closed, to God.
That evening we would march through the French Quarter and part of the time on Bourbon and Royal the two most decedent, party streets. But I wanted to meet people. I was on a high. Maybe God was going to continue to give me joy after joy. This was going to be FUN. And then, along came Justin.
Oh what a clever, tearful (sometimes), (other times) yelling BUT, always confrontational man. He said, Yes, I am a homosexual, but I had no choice. I just am a homosexual. I really don’t want to be one, I just am one. And at first, "I" tried to figure out Justin, Was he a man who wanted out? Was God going to deliver this young man (about 25ish)? You see I began to think and reason, not pray and submit. Justin’s ability to affect ones emotions and (most likely) his demons were too much for me, but "I" resisted and reasoned in my own strength. I told him his homosexuality was a choice, but he could be set free. Justin and I could not agree on a thing. My witnessing partner, Brother Bill Harris and Justin’s homosexual buddy, each had one of us by the arm. I responded to Brother Bill as I knew that "I" was losing the Spiritual battle. After a mountain top experience, I was back relying on me. If only I had recalled the words of A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD. That hymn warns us, we are no match for the devil we need to call on Jesus, BUT for a few moments that night, I was totally in my own strength, I lost that battle.
Brother Bill walked me over to Jackson Square near the Cathedral and there were some Christ For the Nations youth and we talked to them and two of their young men prayed for us. One of the people who impressed us was named "Audre" She has just been set free from a druggie life style. Please pray for Audre that she will stay strong and that any devils trying to pull her back will be defeated by the Lord Jesus Christ or His dispatched angels.
As we returned to the homosexual area, I found myself defending a homosexual musician against a ‘straight’ party goer, about six feet eight 280 pounder. The 5'8" musician pushed the big man away from him and his space and the big man pushed back. The other homosexuals seemed a little frightened to go to the aid of their fellow. So I stepped between the two pushers and thought WHAT AM I DOING? I finally got the big man’s attention. He realized I was a "peace maker" and he settled down. ~ Thank You, JESUS! It may have been at that point that I began again to trust God and not try to do things in my own strength. I was giving away ten inches and one hundred pounds. And this guy looked like he may still be playing basketball for some team.
A few moments later four college aged people came around the corner. They had just come from Bourbon Street (we were on Royal and St. Peter). On Bourbon, there was a "God hates you" sign. After we talked a few minutes one young man asked, "Does God hate?" I said, "Yes." And he looked disappointed. I continued:
God hates sin. But, God loves you, even when you are sinning. God the Father allowed Jesus Christ, the Son, to come and pay your death penalty. The death penalty which you and I earn when we sin."
Okay, but God doesn’t hate us? He asked hoping I would affirm him.
And I smiled and said, "RIGHT. There is No Greater Love than this that God would allow His Son to lay down His life in your place." Well the four of them and I were having a good discussion when it was time to go back to camp. They did not want to pray, but they all took tracts that they had earlier refused and promised to read them. Pray for them. Three young men and one young woman, college aged at Mardi Gras who are seeking Truth.
As we marched back to the buses in ranks of three the singing was not good and I said to myself, Lord, this is not good. They should sing the same song over and over when they get to the loud crowd noises in the French Quarter. Hope someone tells them.
We returned to the Camp. Oh, by the way, our camp was in part of a larger church complex, gym and kitchen area. Along one side of the gym were rooms with bunk beds. On the other side of the gym floor was a full commercial kitchen. There were bathrooms and eight showers. On the second floor, over the gym were more rooms with cots in them. So whereas most NGL slept on floors in sleeping bags, not Gentilly. (Please pray for the other men in other camps)
Sunday: The next day was Sunday. We got up had prayer and breakfast. Large Group was to be our Sunday Service. Brother Pastor Dave Maragni spoke on our need for an Enema. (Spiritual ectomy?) So if someone asks what was the Sunday message at Mardi Gras, Gentilly Camp, most men will probably say they would rather not say. After the worship service two groups of men were made up as clowns. The other five groups were to talk to people one-on-one about their need to repent of sin and ask Jesus to come into their life as Savior and Lord.
This was one-on-one day. We were to engage people in conversations about their need for a Savior. As we arrived at a parade site, I was still not totally repentant, but was trying to do things in HIS strength, I now realized I needed to allow God to arise (in me) and be His hands, feet, mouth. Only then would God’s enemies be scattered. We talked to one man who assured us he was going to heaven. He invited us over to "his mansion" when we get there. We also talked to a man who identified himself as a Christian wiccan. Let’s see Christian wiccan (pagan-witch). So that would be like a Doctor performing a Christian abortion? The wiccan assured me you could be both a Christian and a witch. (Wonder who wants him to believe that lie?) This crowd of party goers and parade route people were not as open and receptive as the crowd the day before had been.
That evening, we marched into the French Quarter. Again there was not good order in some groups and the singing was strained. When we were on the street we were to continue one-on-one. But the night crowd was a little different. They are more confrontational and they are controlled by spirits, not God the Holy Spirit. They were drinking, drugging and showing. Brother Bill walked up to an age 30-something lady who had on a badge that said, "Bead Whore." But, she assured him that she was alright, after all she said, she was an elementary teacher. Please pray for her students.
Later that evening after a few discussions that did not lead to people praying to receive Jesus, we were leaving to re-group and march out. As we waited on the corner, I saw a young man on the street heading our way. One of the newer guys went up toward him without his witnessing partner. A huge no-no. I told my partner I would be right back and pointed at the man going by himself. He nodded and motioned for me to go as he would stay with the group by the corner. As I approached the NGL man was trying to do one-on-one. As he handed a tract, he asked the prospect, "How would you answer this question?" I was now close. The young prospect said, I don’t know for sure. The No Greater Love man must have then realized, he did not know what to do next. So, I asked the prospect, Would you like to know for sure? The prospect said, Yes. Then the No Greater Love man started to pray. After he finished, I took the hand of the prospect (as in a handshake) and had him repeat a prayer after me. It was very similar to what is on the back of the Big Question tract. After we had him tell the No Greater Love man what he had just done. He said the right things, "I just prayed to have Jesus in my life." But God the Holy Spirit was allowing me to discern that there was something not quite right. So after we got his name. Joseph Smith (no he is not a Mormon or a relative of the founder of the Mormon religion). I asked him, "Joseph may I ask you a question? I do not want to know what it is, but, what is your favorite sin? You know, the thing that you do most often that you know is wrong." Have you got it in your head?"
His head slowly shook slightly up and down. "Now," I asked, "Are you willing to turn from that sin and turn to Jesus? . . . Are you willing?"
He finally looked me in the eyes and said. "Yes"
Now Joseph was ready to be serious with God. So we prayed and his face and countenance changed. I gave his name and address that he gave me to the other No Greater Love man and told Joseph this other man was his Spiritual father. Joseph was 17. The man told Joseph, he had a son about the same age. Then the men on the corner called us and told us we would have to join the march out.
Well I was feeling good, but as the March arrived, there was only one of the band to lead singing. Rich, our Street Director stated, Brother J.R. You have done this before. Can you lead the singing on the way out? I said I do not want to take someone else’s position. He said, (with a smile) "Its either you or no one." I nodded okay and whispered, Lord HELP!
As we marched out, we sang Amazing Grace, ~ Jesus Loves You, ~ Oh How I Love Jesus and Lord Prepare me to be a Sanctuary OVER and OVER and OVER. And I was amazed. It went very well. THANK YOU JESUS. It even worked out that as we were finishing Lord Prepare me to be a Sanctuary, there was a group coming in that joined us in our prayer-song.
Monday: After private time, group prayer, breakfast and Large Group meeting, we were told that we would street preach. We were to go to the French Quarter for our small group as it was a beautiful day with the sun shining and the temperature in the mid to higher 60s Fahrenheit. They would drop us off by the French Market. We would walk down to Jackson Square passing the famous Café DuMond, the home of the very strong coffee and the world famous beignet (ben-yeah") [fn3] a doughnut’s cousin, covered with powdered sugar. Of course one of the slow walkers chose me to walk over to a church and see a pastor he wanted to visit. We left our group standing in line, and although gone forty-five minutes, we arrived back in time for a hot chocolate and beignets. And then we were on the street preaching.
We were careful not to take anyone else’s spot or to purposely hurt a business. But, shortly after we started someone behind us opened up her balcony and was tossing (giving away) beads. But, we continued to preach to the gathering crowd. Each group member spoke three times from an elevated portion of the pavement at the corner. As we finished and were walking away, an older man (60-70)rushed up to us and gave us an offering of $5.00. Which at first we refused but was prompted to accept as it was, to him, an act of worship. We turned in the offering to No Greater Love.
One of the men, (Brother Bill Harris) wanted to walk and sing hymns. We did. We had several people join us as we sang old hymns that they knew. As we finished a hymn, I noticed a young father watching his two sons and listening to us. His boys about ages 4 and 2 were wearing MSU Green and White sweat shirts, so I asked, Michigan State University? And he said, Yes and smiled. So I began to sing the Michigan State Fight Song. He walked over and joined me at the final chorus "Fight! Fight! Rah-Team Fight! Victory for MSU" So we were smiling and began to introduce each other all around. His name is Jacob Pitre, he had graduated from MSU Law School. His sons names are Jacob and Jude. His wife, their mother, is a very stunning brunette lady, whose name I do not remember, but God had us pray for the family and God gave me special and heartfelt words. I had tears in my eyes and she had tears rolling down her cheeks, as God had me explain to her how important she was to her husband. How he could not be the man of God, God wanted him to be without her. That she was so special that God had created her to complete Jacob, her husband. Oh, it was a Godly time, a Divine appointment.
Her husband (Jacob) said, with a smile, You’ve got my wife crying. But she was crying with Joy in her heart which Jacob recognized. He also gave us an offering of $20.00 which was given also to No Greater Love. When we preached: $5.00. When God helped us pray: $20.00. (smile).
We then had time for a snack before the Christian Raven Group’s Christian Concert. We joined them and sang with them. The Raven Group was allowing everyone to join them. There were fifteen or twenty Christian signs. ONLY ONE had the God hates: nonsense on it. And this "God hates" man was not with any of the other Christian groups who had permission of the city to be there. He was just a loner with a sign. His sign said God is supposed to hate everything including Used Car Dealers and Methodists. You will never guess which one of the fifteen to twenty signs and banners got all the attention. OH! You guessed! One of our NGL leaders (Brother Kent Lewis) is a Methodist. He went down to confront the man and there was a TV camera right there.
Before our group arrived our praise and worship band, (the Brother Steve Miller Band) had played (we did not know that was going to happen) He thought that he was on right before the Ravens, but there was a tumbling group between the two. They may have been hurt because of the delay. Please pray for them and that they will come to know the real blessing: Jesus and His Joy.
When we arrived back at the church Brother Rich Henry came up to me and asked me if I would lead the singing in the combined march of Gentilly Camp and Algiers Camp. At first I refused as I did not want to offend my brothers who were doing it before. He said they do not want to do it. They want ANYONE ELSE to do it. We really have no one. I said let me think and pray. I thought and I said, Lord You know I do not know exactly what I am doing. And I need help to do this correctly. Who would I get to help? (Rich had told me we needed at least one other from our camp). As I thought I was directed to mid twenties Lowell Vosser and forty-ish Steve. I thought, Okay, if they will join, I will agree. I asked them both if they would help, if they still wanted me to lead. They agreed. So Brother Rich came back and I said, Okay, but I need two guys. So I went to the Group leaders of the two and they released them. Steve would bring up the rear, Lowell would be in the front, I would be in the middle. We would put the two men from Algiers into the mix in the middle. I instructed them on how I did it and what I expected of them.
We three had started on the bus Lowell up front, me in the middle and at my request, Brother Steve in the back read the Whole Armor of God sections at the beginning before we sang and shortly before we got off the bus and well GOD showed up and led singing.. Our first song was Lord Prepare Me to Be a Sanctuary. And we ended the March with Hallelujah, Hallelujah! And I thanked God that the next night would be the silent march.
Now here I was, a mighty man of God. Coming back after a GREAT VICTORY in the singing. Would we be praised for our great contribution. (Remember my Spiritual attitude problem?) The leadership (in appreciation) said, Group 2B (that includes me) you have Kitchen Patrol in the morning! You will scrub and wash out pots and pans, mop floors and help the cooks. BUT, . . . but, . . . didn’t they realize that I just led . . . . (Smile-Thank You Jesus)
Fat Tuesday: We were on the last day, so we became the final inspectors of dirty pots and pans. However there is a problem. IF we find some dirty pots and pans that another group did not wash properly, guess who gets to clean them up? YEP. US! Well we found quite a few that needed cleaning. Some NGL had not used, but NGL would probably be the ones blamed, so we clean them. And when we were done there, we cleaned the kitchen. AND when that was done, we were given toilet duty. Hooray! And because it was the last day, two of us stayed back and made sure that the pots, pans, kitchen and bathrooms were clean for our host church.(Gentilly Baptist). That just is the No Greater Love men’s ministry way. We always strive to leave it cleaner than when we arrived.
The men came back a little early from the day time outreach to the French Quarter, since we had the big final rally and the silent march of all the five camps together that night. We had been here several days. We had given them tracts. Our men had clowned for their children. We had talked to them about Jesus, We had preached on the street. We had sung Christian songs as we dragged a large wooden cross as it scraped along the paved streets. We had carried signs telling people Jesus Saves. Jesus Loves You. Jesus Delivers From sin. We had given them opportunity after opportunity to accept Jesus Christ and escape the lake of fire for which they were headed (Revelation 20:12-Rev. 21:8) Now we would walk through the French Quarter 220 strong, in ranks of 3 men wide. We would no longer talk or sing. We would plead with our eyes and pray in our hearts for them. We were silent. God would convict those ready to receive Him.
The buses left to carry the men to the edge of the French Quarter at 6:00 PM SHARP! Then we walked from the edge of the French Quarter in New Orleans to our rally location, about a mile farther in at Jackson Square. There was the Christian Band that had been the main stays for the last ten years, Common Ground, from Oklahoma. We (the five camps) joined as one and sang together. The Director and Founder, Brother Fred Bishop, preached then spoke, then revealed a contest between the camps. One camp had a banner. One camp had made up a song that they sang. Our camp had a motto and a salute. The motto was Strength through Humility. Our Battle cry was revealed when the Director Steve McKeown said, MEN OF GENTILLY, ATTENTION. WE responded: YES SIR! Then when he said GENTILLY MEN GIVE US YOUR BATTLE CRY. We followed the lead of Senior Director Charlie Houston. Our hands went slowly up as if to salute. Then we took the bill of our cap, took it off of our head, placed it over our heart and dropped our head in a respectful, reverent, prayerful manner.
We received tribute for our proper attitude by Director Fred Bishop. Then the call.
MEN LINE UP FOR THE SILENT MARCH.
Silent March: We lined up three abreast from the front camp Vieux Carre to the last camp Algiers. As we heard Common Ground in the background singing, we began our long march to and along the full length of Bourbon Street from the homosexual and voo doo section to the block just before the parade route street of Canal Street, New Orleans. The streets were crowded with wall to wall party goers asking woman to flash for beads, most had beer or something stronger in their hands. You could not move without pushing through a roaring, indignant, sea of people. There were more than ten thousand people on each block.
As we marched some of the crowd asked, Not talking tonight? Some sang Jesus Loves You to us. A couple sang Amazing Grace. We marched silently, in order our arms locked so that no one could breach our lines and separate our groups.
The balcony people did not like our silent witness and began throwing beads. Sometimes bags of beads. A row behind me, Brother Marvin, an assistant leader who had been educated as an attorney was hit hard in the chest. Then a financial advisor in front of me. Brother Terry was hit. I silently, prayerfully asked the Lord Why was HE allowing this? And was impressed of the Lord that HE was allowing those who needed more humility to be hit. So, as I thought, I thought, "Well Brother Marvin. Yes, I can see how he may need it as an attorney. And Brother Terry? Hmm. Well I wonder, which one of them needs more humility. And just then (God is my witness) I felt a group of beads SMACK me on the right side of my head. (Okay Lord!) But it was a silent March. I could not even cry out in pain. (smile). Down in the midst of this angry crowd, who did we see in the middle of the worst part of Bourbon street? Brother Fred Bishop, our Director and Brother Carl Horn smiling and urging us on.
Well, I thought, we had finally escaped the angry crowds and the flashers and so forth. That had been a rough crowd. Good! It is over. I thought. Then the leadership passed the WORD. We have time, we are going to double back and go onto Bourbon again. (Joy to the world, I silently thought). But back, under authority, we went. Again we pushed and shoved our way through the raging ocean of people who were there for a big devil’s party. Only occasionally did we see some who were touched. And so I reminded myself of a man who had come to a Mardi Gras about ten years before. He had not gotten a tract. No one had tried to lead him to the Lord. But he saw the cross going down the street. The Lord used that visual to get his attention and convict him so much that he left immediately. A few years later, he had found out who we were and joined No Greater Love mission trip to New Orleans, Mardi Gras.
As the second foray onto Bourbon Street ended, we thanked God that no one was hurt. No one had anything stolen. We had not sung or even carried the cross. We had prayed: Oh, God Arise and let your enemies be scattered. The enemy is not the people for whom Christ died. No we had not wrestled against flesh and blood, but against principalities, the powers of darkness. (Hear us O spirits of darkness, so you will know where we stand. We are HIS people, the children of God, bought with the Blood of the Lamb, the Blood of the Lamb. We’re the people of God, called by His Name. Called from the dark-ness delivered from shame. One holy race, saints everyone, because of the Blood of Christ Jesus, The Son: because of the Blood of Christ Jesus, The Son)
As we silently left the French Quarter, we went through the homosexual section. They were surprisingly quiet. No heckling. No vulgar words. We pray this was because GOD was working on their hearts and minds. We thank God for His many answers to prayers and
May God bless all who prayed for us,
Brother J.R. Hughes
Servant of the Only True God
P.S. You may have heard of a shooting on a Parade route in New Orleans, Mardi Gras, where eight were hit and taken to hospitals. It happened in a place where we had ministered and because of the silent March that was to follow that night, one NGL group had left that location, about twenty minutes before the shooting.
