Live from Montego Bay! Saturday, May 3, 2008, Jamaica Crusade, 6:58 p.m. (Jamaica time)– I am at Dump Up Beach, sitting in the Miles Ahead video land. (That’s what Josh, one of the tech guys, call it. It’s the command center for the production of the second night of the Jamaica Crusade, and it’s hopping! These guys are all truly talented and dedicated professionals and it has been fun to work alongside them.)
I am borrowing Eric’s station because I can’t find a wireless hotspot, and he’s so crucial to this operation I have only five minutes to log some impressions about how wonderful things are going so far. So here goes…
Last night the Montego Bay police estimated the crowd at more than 30,000. And it’s typical for the second night of an event like this to draw twice the number of the first night. There’s no way to tell how many people are out there right now on Dump Up Beach park listening to Carlene Davis and her group, but the ground is jumping!
Before the sun went down a few minutes ago, Team Faith made Montego Bay residents catch their breath, when the four motocross stars went airborne in freestyle performances. One rider, a 22-year-od from Oklahoma named Willy Watts, said he gave up riding when he became a Christian because it had overwhelmed his life. Then a few years later he picked it up again, with the goal of showing young people that God calls everyone of all talents. He just wants to glorify God in all he does, and boy does he make people gasp.
The night is perfect — balmy and breezy — and we’re having fun. I hope you’re watching the live stream. If not, you have to try to catch it when it’s posted later this week as a clip on MilesAhead.tv. More soon!
Early in this week, we were all reminded that one of the first commandments of this mission is, In All Things Be Flexible. If something can go wrong, it probably will (and has!). But how else are we to grow in our faith in a loving, detailed God, if we didn’t need to rely on him for those details?
There have been countless “opportunities” to learn this during the Miles Ahead Jamaica event this week. Just read some of the iDo blog entries, such as Rebekah Hsieh’s, or Steve Poppert’s story.
Even Pastor Miles had to be flexible yesterday (Friday), when the backed-up traffic on the main road around Dump Up Beach made it impossible for the van in which he was riding to the crusade to turn into the venue’s the parking lot. The driver had to inch along a jammed side road until he could find a place to turn the big vehicle around, and then maneuver his way back for a second try.
Remember, there are no coincidences in God’s economy.
Friday, May 2, 2008, 9:24 p.m. Jamaica time (Montego Bay,Jamaica) – Israel Houghton is playing, and everyone is dancing.
Everyone including the massive crowd packed into Dump Up Beach and stacked along the road outside the park; everyone including the stage crew, the security guards, and the waiters in the VIP tent — and even some of the VIPs. One song ends, and on its own the crowd starts to chant, “Yes Lord, Yes Lord, Yes Yes Lord,” “Yes Lord, Yes Lord, Yes Yes Lord,” “Yes Lord, Yes Lord, Yes Yes Lord” …
Yes yes, Lord. What an amazing afternoon and evening. Miles has invited Montego Bay to return Saturday night, when he will be speaking about sex and the Bible. By the end of Israel Houghton’s set, it sounds as if the entire Dump Up Beach has transformed into a massive choir. Out of the dark rises a unified voice of praise. The first night of Miles Ahead’s Jamaica Crusade ends on a heavenly note. Thank you, Jesus. Yes, Lord. Yes, Lord. Yes, yes, Lord.
Friday, May 2, 2008, 8:09 p.m. Jamaica time (Montego Bay, Jamaica) — Jesus’ disciples were out on a lake when a storm blew up, so severe that it threatened to capsize their boat and end their lives. Then they saw a figure moving toward them. Jesus was walkng on the water, coming to save them.
Miles McPherson is talking to a huge crowd (we’ll get a final estimate of the numbers by the end of the evening) at Dump Up Beach. He’s telling them that Jesus has come to rescue them from the sins dragging them down to hell. He’s saying that if they will take Jesus’ hand and let Him pull them up, they too can walk on water, and live a victorious life full of joy.
“You are like the disciples out in the boat in the lake with the storm coming out and they can’t handle it,” he says. “You can stay right where you’re at, and die and go to hell. The Bible says the wages of sin is death. Or you can accept that Jesus died for you, and walk on water.”
He reminds them that the evil one tries to convince us that whatever we’re putting in the place of God is no big deal. That sort of thinking is a trap. God has something better for us than anything we keep holding on to. Miles shared from his own life, telling the crowd that he had been a 24-year-old professional NFL football player sucked into a cocaine habit he knew was wrong. He kept hanging on to it, until one day he turned his life over to Jesus. God healed him of his addiction, and guided him into a new life.
“The Bible says trust. Action number 1 is to give your life to Jesus. Action number 2 is, start walking on water,” said Miles. “Come on, let’s pray. Give your life to Jesus now. Now is the day of salvation. You might not have another chance. Tonight is your moment. Turn to Jesus. He can help you weather any storm; he can help you walk on water.”
After the alter call, Miles invited people who had made a commitment to Jesus Christ to raise their hands. Thousands did. He told them to wait for volunteers to give them a book for new Christians.
Friday, May 2, 2008, 7:14 p.m. Jamaica time (Montego Bay,Jamaica) – Prodigal Son is blasting from the main stage. Dump Up Beach is jumping. It’s packed with rocking Jamaicans from the shore to the street, from the stage to the parking lot. Lord, let everyone You want to be here, be here.
Earlier, local leader the Rev. Conrad Pitkin introduced Robert Levy of Jamaica Broilers. Mr. Levy welcomed Miles McPherson and Miles Ahead to Montego Bay, and DJ Nicholas made the crowd roar. People continued to pour into the field at Dump Up Beach, tranforming it into a concert hall under Jamaican stars.
The event is part of an island-wide 50th anniversary celebration funded by the Jamaica Broilers Group, the region’s premier food manufacturer. Three major family-oriented festivals are being presented between April 26 and May 4. Andrew Palau addressed the Mandeville Festival April 26 and 27; and Miles McPherson will be at Montego Bay’s Dump Up Beach on May 2 and 3; and Luis Palau will be on the King’s House grounds in Kingston from on May 3 and 4.
Friday, May 2, 2008, 6:34 p.m. Jamaica time (Montego Bay, Jamaica) — In the VIP tent behind the main stage, a friendly athlete named Evan Kuzava (who explains below how his name is pronounced), plopped down and said hi. Turns out he is one of two Untitled Skateboard riders, which provided entertainment during the family fun time preceding the concert and Miles’ message. We invited Evan, who’s from Colorado, to post a guest blog post, and this is what he wrote:
Untitled Skateboards riders Evan Kuzava (Koo Zah Vah) and Professional Uriel (Yur-El) Luebcke (Lub-kee) have skated in 2 demos in the hot sun today alongside “Stunt Dudes” John Andrus and Mike Montgomery. These dudes threw some technical maneuvers and tricks all over the first skatepark in Jamaica built by Untitled Skateboards’ founder, Jud Heald, and the team. Right next to the skatepark was a 20 ft ramp for the “Team Faith” Motocross freestyle riders to launch across a 70-ft chasm in the field, causing a loud roar from the Jamaican locals who’ve never seen such a show live. The riders main purpose was to preach the Gospel and share much more than Extreme sports. Three of the guys spoke on the mic about their freedom from sin and death through Jesus. Radical skills, radical faith. Nuff said.
Friday, May 2, 2008, 5:44 p.m. Jamaica time (Montego Bay, Jamaica) – It’s time. We’re at Dump Up Beach in downtwn Montego Bay. The stage is set, literally. The event Miles Ahead has been working toward for months is here; the Jamaica Crusade is ready to launch.
Miles McPherson just taped his daily video blog overlooking the Dump Up Beach park in front of the stage. Thousands of families are there, enjoying an extreme bike demonstration, jump stations, juggling, face painting — all sorts of fun things.
This morning a heavy rain prompted us to pray that God would bless the festival with clear skies. Now? Let me tell you how beautiful it is here right now. The sun is low in a luminescent blue sky. Sunlight is sparkling over the bay’s crystal water — water that laps right up to the boulders rimming the park. Seriously, the festival is right on the water. A gentle sea breeze is nudging away the humidity. Did I say it was beautiful? God clearly answered our prayer for the right weather. Stay tuned! (We’ll be blogging throughout the evening…)
Today, there was evidence of the darkness in this land, but the light was brighter. The people of Jamaica are turning to this light, the Lord Almighty. I saw a 62 year old Christian woman who had been beaten by her husband just the night before. He is committing adultery. She was received, cared for, loved and prayed for by our counselling team. When I saw her next, she was renewed with the Holy Spirit. I finished my exam. Then we held each other as I again praised God for His glorious love for us and asked for His protection, strength, mercy and help to overcome this woman’s circumstances. I prayed for her husband and this other woman to be released from the darkness and bind them to the power of the Lord Almighty. She has hope again and knows to go to her church sister for protection. Praise Our Lord. June Melin, M.D.
At our clinic today at Flanker’s, a 6 year old girl came into see the doctor. He prayed with her, and because her responsiveness to the prayer was remarkable, he realized this was more than a 6 year old girl, but a very spiritually mature and anointed being. He felt God asking this girl to pray for him, after asking, she was quick to say yes. As she prayed for him (and later, 2 other ladies on our team), there was authority and power in her prayer. She had annointing, clarity, focus, and simplicity that could have come from a preacher! All were in awe of the Lord and the faith of this 6 year old child!
