By Ardie Arvidson
Staff Writer
The Messenger
September 30, 2005
Justin Hicks of McBee took more away from the Rick Gage Ministries visit to Hartsville a couple of years ago than a few evenings of inspirational messages.
The ministry’s work made an impression on Hicks and his youth group at Gum Branch Baptist Church. The group attended the Rick Gage Ministries GO TELL Camp in Georgia, and at the camp in June of this year, Hicks made the commitment to join Gages’ crusade to Russia. The group of 19 will leave Oct. 12 for Kirov, Russia, and return on Oct. 21.
For the last six years, GO TELL teams have visited Russia. They first drew their attention toward the city of Bryansk, preaching the Gospel and providing aid. Last fall, they turned their attention to the city of Kirov.
They helped their host church in beginning a halfway house for orphans who are put out on the streets when they turn 15.
The team also visited orphanages where they gave away shoes, meat and dairy products to 1,500 orphans; distributed 1,800 pounds of aid including medical supplies; and gave away 2,000 Bibles and Christian books in the Russian language.
Kirov is a city of 600,000 people 700 miles northeast of Moscow near Siberia with only four small Protestant churches.
Kirov is a high poverty area, said Hicks. “Mothers give their children to orphanages.”
Hicks, son of Butch and Melissa Hicks, said he would be visiting some of theses children in the orphanages and in a children’s hospital. They will be taking to them about the Bible.
“I feel God was calling me to go,” Hicks said. “Hopefully it will help me decide if mission work is something I want to do. I hope it will answer a lot of questions that I have about mission work”
Hicks said he went to the GO TELL camp last year and Gage asked the same question if any of them would like to go with him to Russia. Hicks said he held off and didn’t go.
He is the only one from Gum Branch to make the decision to go. Hicks met some of the youth who are going at camp.
Hicks said he hopes to touch some lives of the people in Russia.
“Maybe God will speak to me, too,” Hicks said.
The McBee High School senior said his parents agreed it was his calling.
“They are kind of scared for me to go,” he said.
Hicks said it was his first time ever going anywhere outside of South Carolina and the neighboring states of North Carolina and Georgia.
“I’m not scared,” he said. “I am anxious to go. I’m real excited. My friends think it is a great thing. They said they will miss me but are excited for me.”
His younger brother, Corey is excited for him, too. Hicks said his brother is more local with his work.
Missing school won’t be a problem, Hicks said. He said his principal has approved his time away from school, but he will have to make up the work.
Upon graduation from high school, Hicks hopes to attend Spartanburg Methodist College. At McBee High he is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and hopes to play baseball this year.
For his journey to Russia, Hicks not only had to make a huge commitment of his time away from school and family, but he had to raise money to go. He raised $2,500. He said his church is very big into missions and helped him raise the money.
“My church is very supportive of mission trips,” Hicks said.
The McBee native had to obtain a passport, and he purchased his plane ticket through the camp.
Hicks said he was told to take with him a journal to keep a record of his journey and to bring his Bible.
The youth said he knows the language barrier will present a challenge to him and others; however, he thinks it can be overcome. He is ready for the challenge he said God has put before him.
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Article from the Weatherford Democrat
The Weatherford Democrat
By Danie M. Huffman
When the youth group at Friendship Baptist Church went to camp in June, it agreed to take Jesus across the ocean. They could not think of a better place to visit than Bryansk, Russia.
“The group was impressed during a worship service to go on this trip,” Justin Alllision, the group’s youth pastor said.
The group’s only obstacle to making the trip a reality was money. So, the teens decided to hold fundraisers and work to pay for their trip.
“We took steps toward getting the money to go,” he said. “They held a fish fry, a karaoke night and several garage sales. They raised about $10,000 from the fundraisers and got about $2000 from individual donations.”
After successfully raising the funds, Lacee Stone, Jenni Burks, Andrew Bryant, and Benjamin Bryant were off on their adventure.
The hit Russia’s ground running.
Allison accompanied them on the trip, with Mechelle Bryant, Andrew and Benjamin’s mother.
A total of 29, including 13 others from around the country through GO TELL Ministries went to Russia.
Allison said the group met with six interpreters, who accompanied them through a public school, a few retirement homes, and several orphanages.
A Russian skit team from the city of Kirov performed for children to provide visionary tools to remember the Gospel by.
They passed out witnessing bracelets with beads of black, red, white, blue, green, and yellow. Each colored bead represents a Biblical truth in sharing the Gospel.
“We got to put the bracelets on the kids’ hands,” Allison said. “The thing that stands out the most was watching Andrew put on a presentation for children with the bracelets.”
“It’s not something that would happen in the United States – a school asking Americans to come in and tell the children about their religion and way of life. For that to happen in the U.S. would be extremely unheard of and controversial. But it happened in Russia.”
Benjamin Bryant said he learned he couldn’t be a “back-row Baptist.”
“You have to get out and talk to people so they can know you, so they can respond to you better,” he said.
The teens put on a show for children, sang songs, passed out stickers, and made animal shapes out of balloons.
“They went crazy over the balloons and stickers,” Benjamin said. “They like them a lot. We taught them who God is and what He’s done for them… about dying on the cross for their sins.”
Bryant said about 250 people accepted God and came to know Christ as their Savior from the teens’ action in Russia.
“I’m extremely proud of [the teens],” Alllison said. “I was very impressed with how they acted and ministered to the Russian people. They passed out invitations to an evangelism rally on the streets.”
Allison added the group was excited about speaking to people on the streets.
“It wasn’t a chore for them,” he said. “They chose willingly to do it.”
Benjamin said he believes the group changed some of the Russians’ opinions of Americans.
“I imagine before we came their opinion wasn’t too kind [of Americans] due to the Cold War,” he said. “By the time we left, they were inviting us back. We received a warm reception from most Russians.”
Benjamin said the best part of the trip was visiting the orphanages and putting on the show.
“I just had a wonderful time,” Andrew Byrant said. “It’s a trip I’ll never forget. It amazes me how the kids in Russia are just like the kids in America. They act the exact same, only they speak a different language.”
Mechelle Bryant said the students presented the plan of salvation with power bands.
She said the most memorable thing for her was visiting the orphanages, and she is doing research on becoming a liaison between the orphaned children and possible United States adoptive parents.
“Visiting the orphanages was heart wrenching and heartwarming,” she said. “Most had never seen an American before. It touched my heart so much to see [the children in the orphanages]. They really need homes and someone to love them. The need is so great. I want to know what we can do over here to help.”
Sunday, the group presented a slide show at Friendship Baptist Church, to show the congregation what they learned and accomplished in Russia. Each teen took turns speaking of the trip, their experiences, the people they met and God’s work accomplished through their actions.
An e-mail from Bob Thompson, the GO TELL Ministries mission leader, to the individual group leaders stated the works done on their mission.
While in Bryansk, Russia, the e-mail stated, the group helped distribute 1,000 pounds of food, clothing, and medical supplies.
More than $10,000 raised through GO TELL Ministries was donated to orphanages and churches. The group spoke to three churches, handed out approximately 800 Bibles and tracts, passed out more than 1,000 witness bracelets, and spoke to about 1,100 people in orphanages and hospitals.
By Danie M. Huffman
When the youth group at Friendship Baptist Church went to camp in June, it agreed to take Jesus across the ocean. They could not think of a better place to visit than Bryansk, Russia.
“The group was impressed during a worship service to go on this trip,” Justin Alllision, the group’s youth pastor said.
The group’s only obstacle to making the trip a reality was money. So, the teens decided to hold fundraisers and work to pay for their trip.
“We took steps toward getting the money to go,” he said. “They held a fish fry, a karaoke night and several garage sales. They raised about $10,000 from the fundraisers and got about $2000 from individual donations.”
After successfully raising the funds, Lacee Stone, Jenni Burks, Andrew Bryant, and Benjamin Bryant were off on their adventure.
The hit Russia’s ground running.
Allison accompanied them on the trip, with Mechelle Bryant, Andrew and Benjamin’s mother.
A total of 29, including 13 others from around the country through GO TELL Ministries went to Russia.
Allison said the group met with six interpreters, who accompanied them through a public school, a few retirement homes, and several orphanages.
A Russian skit team from the city of Kirov performed for children to provide visionary tools to remember the Gospel by.
They passed out witnessing bracelets with beads of black, red, white, blue, green, and yellow. Each colored bead represents a Biblical truth in sharing the Gospel.
“We got to put the bracelets on the kids’ hands,” Allison said. “The thing that stands out the most was watching Andrew put on a presentation for children with the bracelets.”
“It’s not something that would happen in the United States – a school asking Americans to come in and tell the children about their religion and way of life. For that to happen in the U.S. would be extremely unheard of and controversial. But it happened in Russia.”
Benjamin Bryant said he learned he couldn’t be a “back-row Baptist.”
“You have to get out and talk to people so they can know you, so they can respond to you better,” he said.
The teens put on a show for children, sang songs, passed out stickers, and made animal shapes out of balloons.
“They went crazy over the balloons and stickers,” Benjamin said. “They like them a lot. We taught them who God is and what He’s done for them… about dying on the cross for their sins.”
Bryant said about 250 people accepted God and came to know Christ as their Savior from the teens’ action in Russia.
“I’m extremely proud of [the teens],” Alllison said. “I was very impressed with how they acted and ministered to the Russian people. They passed out invitations to an evangelism rally on the streets.”
Allison added the group was excited about speaking to people on the streets.
“It wasn’t a chore for them,” he said. “They chose willingly to do it.”
Benjamin said he believes the group changed some of the Russians’ opinions of Americans.
“I imagine before we came their opinion wasn’t too kind [of Americans] due to the Cold War,” he said. “By the time we left, they were inviting us back. We received a warm reception from most Russians.”
Benjamin said the best part of the trip was visiting the orphanages and putting on the show.
“I just had a wonderful time,” Andrew Byrant said. “It’s a trip I’ll never forget. It amazes me how the kids in Russia are just like the kids in America. They act the exact same, only they speak a different language.”
Mechelle Bryant said the students presented the plan of salvation with power bands.
She said the most memorable thing for her was visiting the orphanages, and she is doing research on becoming a liaison between the orphaned children and possible United States adoptive parents.
“Visiting the orphanages was heart wrenching and heartwarming,” she said. “Most had never seen an American before. It touched my heart so much to see [the children in the orphanages]. They really need homes and someone to love them. The need is so great. I want to know what we can do over here to help.”
Sunday, the group presented a slide show at Friendship Baptist Church, to show the congregation what they learned and accomplished in Russia. Each teen took turns speaking of the trip, their experiences, the people they met and God’s work accomplished through their actions.
An e-mail from Bob Thompson, the GO TELL Ministries mission leader, to the individual group leaders stated the works done on their mission.
While in Bryansk, Russia, the e-mail stated, the group helped distribute 1,000 pounds of food, clothing, and medical supplies.
More than $10,000 raised through GO TELL Ministries was donated to orphanages and churches. The group spoke to three churches, handed out approximately 800 Bibles and tracts, passed out more than 1,000 witness bracelets, and spoke to about 1,100 people in orphanages and hospitals.
Monday, October 17, 2005
Vince Pienski
Dear Rick,
I always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when I pray for you, because of the love you have for the Word of truth, the gospel.
I am grateful for you and your staff’s hard labors in making the Go Tell Camp experience new, fresh, and better each. We have yet to attend a Go Tell Camp where first time and other major decisions for Christ have been made. As a result of our first camp experience in 2000, we have students “going” and “telling” every Sunday night. There is no greater joy than seeing fearless, passionate students sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ door to door and winning their campuses for Christ and it all began with a spark and a “fanning of the flame” every year at your camps.
I would also like to thank you for allowing me to be a part of your volunteer staff team at camps and conferences and would encourage other youth pastors to get involved and get some of their graduated senior high and college students involved as well. Please feel free to give any interested pastors my contact information so that I may share what a blessing it has been to me and my students.
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen!
In Christ,
Vince Pienski
I always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when I pray for you, because of the love you have for the Word of truth, the gospel.
I am grateful for you and your staff’s hard labors in making the Go Tell Camp experience new, fresh, and better each. We have yet to attend a Go Tell Camp where first time and other major decisions for Christ have been made. As a result of our first camp experience in 2000, we have students “going” and “telling” every Sunday night. There is no greater joy than seeing fearless, passionate students sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ door to door and winning their campuses for Christ and it all began with a spark and a “fanning of the flame” every year at your camps.
I would also like to thank you for allowing me to be a part of your volunteer staff team at camps and conferences and would encourage other youth pastors to get involved and get some of their graduated senior high and college students involved as well. Please feel free to give any interested pastors my contact information so that I may share what a blessing it has been to me and my students.
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen!
In Christ,
Vince Pienski
Sunday, October 16, 2005
NORTH JEFFERSON NEWS
James Phillips, Reporter
Evangelist Rick Gage has been filling football stadiums for more than a decade in small towns across America. Last week, Gage brought his Go Tell Crusade to Gardendale.
The four-day Gardendale event was attended by over 8,000 people and church leaders from across north Jefferson County are hailing it as an overwhelming success.
When the dust had settled at the conclusion of the Go Tell North Jefferson Crusade, more than 450 spiritual decisions had been recorded, including 199 first-time professions of salvation in Jesus Christ.
The event was held at Gardendale High School’s Driver Stadium Oct. 2-5. Each night thousands of people attended the crusade services. At the end of Gage’s preaching each evening, scores of people with tears streaming down their faces flowed out of the bleachers. Trained counselors, made up of both staff and lay leaders from more than 40 local churches, met them all across the football field to pray and help them make eternal decisions.
North Gardendale Baptist Church Pastor Stanley Kilgore said he was most impressed with the unity shown between different denominations during the crusade. “It was fantastic to see different denominations working together,” Kilgore said. “That is the thing that I will take from the crusade the most. I’ve already talked to some other pastors about possible doing a worship celebration for all denominations once a year.”
Crusade Chairman Ed Howse, who helped plan the north Jefferson crusade for more than a year, said the surrounding communities will feel the effects of this crusade for years. “I’m excited about what God is doing and what he will continue to do from what happened at the crusade,” Howse said. “We had a lot of people make decisions to follow the Lord and we will feel that for years to come because those people will go on to reach others.”
Rick Gage also commented on the decisions made at the event. “If just one person was reached for Christ, all the work for this crusade was worth it,” Gage said. “We had 199 make confessions of faith. Billy Graham was reached at a meeting like this and you never know when one of those 199 will become the next Billy Graham. We should never underestimate the impact of lives touched through this crusade.”
Every church that worked to bring about the crusade is now diligently following up on those who made decisions during the crusade. Scores of people are canvassing the community every day, knocking on doors and discipling those who made decisions. “This has had a great impact on our community already,” Pastor Gerald Brown of Warrior First Baptist Church said. “I don’t think we will truly know the impact for years to come.”
Rick Gage has witnessed more than 250,000 commitments to Christ through his many evangelistic outreaches in America and abroad. Rick Gage’s Go Tell Ministries include crusades, summer youth camps, school assemblies, one-day church events and overseas mission trips. “Everywhere I go, people are personally embracing the gospel message,” Gage said. “It is hope for the individual, for society and for the world. Saturating our communities across America with the glorious gospel must be done at all costs. It takes time, money and involvement to reach lost people. But it will be eternally worth it one day.
Evangelist Rick Gage has been filling football stadiums for more than a decade in small towns across America. Last week, Gage brought his Go Tell Crusade to Gardendale.
The four-day Gardendale event was attended by over 8,000 people and church leaders from across north Jefferson County are hailing it as an overwhelming success.
When the dust had settled at the conclusion of the Go Tell North Jefferson Crusade, more than 450 spiritual decisions had been recorded, including 199 first-time professions of salvation in Jesus Christ.
The event was held at Gardendale High School’s Driver Stadium Oct. 2-5. Each night thousands of people attended the crusade services. At the end of Gage’s preaching each evening, scores of people with tears streaming down their faces flowed out of the bleachers. Trained counselors, made up of both staff and lay leaders from more than 40 local churches, met them all across the football field to pray and help them make eternal decisions.
North Gardendale Baptist Church Pastor Stanley Kilgore said he was most impressed with the unity shown between different denominations during the crusade. “It was fantastic to see different denominations working together,” Kilgore said. “That is the thing that I will take from the crusade the most. I’ve already talked to some other pastors about possible doing a worship celebration for all denominations once a year.”
Crusade Chairman Ed Howse, who helped plan the north Jefferson crusade for more than a year, said the surrounding communities will feel the effects of this crusade for years. “I’m excited about what God is doing and what he will continue to do from what happened at the crusade,” Howse said. “We had a lot of people make decisions to follow the Lord and we will feel that for years to come because those people will go on to reach others.”
Rick Gage also commented on the decisions made at the event. “If just one person was reached for Christ, all the work for this crusade was worth it,” Gage said. “We had 199 make confessions of faith. Billy Graham was reached at a meeting like this and you never know when one of those 199 will become the next Billy Graham. We should never underestimate the impact of lives touched through this crusade.”
Every church that worked to bring about the crusade is now diligently following up on those who made decisions during the crusade. Scores of people are canvassing the community every day, knocking on doors and discipling those who made decisions. “This has had a great impact on our community already,” Pastor Gerald Brown of Warrior First Baptist Church said. “I don’t think we will truly know the impact for years to come.”
Rick Gage has witnessed more than 250,000 commitments to Christ through his many evangelistic outreaches in America and abroad. Rick Gage’s Go Tell Ministries include crusades, summer youth camps, school assemblies, one-day church events and overseas mission trips. “Everywhere I go, people are personally embracing the gospel message,” Gage said. “It is hope for the individual, for society and for the world. Saturating our communities across America with the glorious gospel must be done at all costs. It takes time, money and involvement to reach lost people. But it will be eternally worth it one day.
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