This coming July 2012, Evoke is leading a group of creative evangelists to go!!!! And Preach the Gospel!!!! To the people of Colombia!

THE GOING

June 30th, 2012 we are taking a team of approx 7 people; including dancers, artists, and musicians and evangelists to Armenia Colombia! Evoke is partnering with E3 Partners to plant churches, do door to door ministry and public proclamation of the gospel & prayers for the sick. We will also be painting, singing & dancing in public parks, malls, and neighborhoods. (see more at e3partners.org)

THE NEED

We need your partnership to make this trip a success. We are believing for many souls to be saved and for multiple churches to be planted for the ongoing work of discipleship.

First, please pray for us as we go. Pray for our team as we go, and be praying for the people of Armenia, Colombia; that they would see the love of the saviour!

Second, would you consider covering part of the cost for this trip. We are looking to raise about $10,000 for travel, hotel, food, translators & supplies.

I am sure we will celebrate together upon our return as we expect many to be saved and have genuine encounters with the Lord.

Please contact us and let us know you are praying.
You can give a few different ways.

THE PARTNERSHIP

Online giving can be done at www.evokeministries.org/evoke-in-colombia

Checks can be sent to:
Evoke Ministries
P.O.Box 720866
Orlando, Florida 32872

Thank you for making an eternal difference in the lives of those in Armenia, Colombia.

Our good friend, Cory Hendrix, part of Cru’s Athletes in Action division and Chaplain to the Orlando City Soccer team just asked. Because he asked, he received.  He received permission for us to be witnesses to the near 8,000 spectators at the Citrus Bowl who came to see our town’s pro-soccer team, the Orlando City Lions. The teams wrestled to hit a black and white ball into a goal. We had a different goal in mind: introducing people to Jesus Christ!

As part of the ‘Faith & Family’ theme, Evoke was given an outstanding location just inside the gate, across from the food and merchandise stands. Evoke’s group of eight minister-artists created a live painting, 8′ x 8′ stylized image of Jesus Christ originally created by artist Jerryl Kain. We customized the painting using the Orlando City’s team colors and logo.

The painting read, “I believe that we can win! We have the victory in Jesus!” But, it was not so much about the picture as it was about the interaction with people. Many people stopped to watch us just long enough that we could engage them in conversation, but it was Jesus that touched them!

Sometimes, we assume that we can’t preach Jesus because it is unpopular, or even seems illegal, but God can give us favor in the most unusual places. We had a chance to speak and pray with many people, all in different locations along life’s journey. We asked them if they knew who was depicted in the painting and whether they knew what he had done. After that, the door was wide open. One boy admitted he had no idea who Jesus was. With help from my eight year old son, Asher, we had the opportunity to explain the gospel to him!

A couple of the Orlando City players with Evoke artists!

We passed out hundreds of flyers sharing the gospel and reminding people to take time to consider their life and stop to hear from God.

Since our goal is reaching others for Christ, let us, by faith, move into position and proclaim His name!

“For the earth will be filled
With the knowledge of the glory of the Lord,
As the waters cover the sea.”
Habakkuk 2:14

Big thanks to all the artists who participated; Jerryl Kain, Alexsa Gonzales, Antonio Santos, Neysa Millan, Gerson Sepulveda, EJ Nieves. Special thanks to Pastor Frank Reynoso of Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

I don’t want to dance

Around the fire anymore

I’m ready to burn…

The light of the gospel was burning bright on Saturday, April 21, as Evoke Ministries and Resound Missions Base collaborated to bring forth BURNING ONE – the Event. In the unique setting of a warehouse in downtown Orlando, the flames of ministry were kindled through dance, art, music, poetry, and film. What a great night of explosive, creative ministry!

Soul Movement break dance crew gave us an energetic dance battle. This dynamic group focuses on Bible studies through dance sessions. They have seen many people saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth.

ABOVE: Lito from Soul Movement breaks down the vision.

Shawn Welcome, nationally known Poet-Minister, presented a five-person Poetry Slam that was weighty with God’s glory. Shawn hosts an open mic Poetry Night in downtown Orlando where he takes a stand for righteousness in the midst of a twisted generation. www.ShawnWelcome.com

Nathan Arceneaux and Carlos Fores debuted their short film The Deception Project. This film is an amazing, thought-provoking, evangelistic tool revealing that we are “more than just flesh and bones.” www.TheDeceptionProject.com

ABOVE: Scott Howe, director of Evoke gives a bold and clear proclamation of God’s love and salvation.

BELOW: About ten people surrendered to answer the call of Jesus! Two of those were young men had never been to church before! Another one was a self-proclaimed atheist. When asked what he needed, he replied, “My life is completely broken and I need God to fix it.” The love and conviction of the Holy Spirit was present to save!

ABOVE: Kendall Brooke, worship leader at Resound Missions Base, brought down the house with a few tracks from her newly-released CD, Burning One – which this event was built around.

ABOVE & BELOW: Hearts respond to Pastor Leah Ramirez’s (Resound) challenge to be a BURNING ONE for Jesus! The encouragement of the Holy Spirit moved many to tears as they committed to press on to pursue the Lord and stand for righteousness in this generation!

Special thanks to all the Artists who submitted the amazing artwork for the Burning One Creative Wall! Their work will be on display until July 1st and all pieces are for sale. Stop by The Base at 7303 Monetary Drive, Orlando, and check it out!

Woe is me, I am unworthy / Still my heart’s yearning / For You to come closer…

Using words from Isaiah 6:5, Kendall Brooke’s original song, Burning One, provokes us toward a righteous use of our lips – praising the Lord and declaring the eternal gospel. That is what we did! We are always sure to not only be creative, but to clearly share the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. Creativity is not the commission, the gospel is. Let His name be famous throughout the earth!

BIG, BIG thank yous to all who helped prepare for the event and make it a reality. Thanks to all who came out to support.

Last Tuesday Evoke linked up with Chi Alpha student ministries on the UCF campus. This was now the 7th time we have organized such an outreach and we are seeing the fruit of our consistent witness! In our usual style and format, we interacted with students through dance, DJ, art, poetry and even makeup! Whatever talent the Lord has given us, it is to be used for His glory to build His Kingdom!

ABOVE: Scott Howe sharing how encountering Jesus turned his heart from atheist to passionate follower of Christ!

BELOW: Antonio Santos prays with a group of students desiring for Jesus to intervene in their lives.

Ashley Carrel births a new ministry! Making girls beautiful on the outside, and sharing their true beauty found in Christ alone!

Ashley shares this about her time at the outreach:

“My experience through the outreach built my inner witness and helped give me the confidence to share and speak to people about Jesus and truly love God and love People! Its an amazing experience to be on a college campus hearing the name of the Lord proclaimed and artists glorifying God through dance, music and painting. The arts is such a beautiful way to do that and I’m so blessed to be able to use my talent as a gift to bless other people!”

As always, Soul Movement & Ladies of Soul bring a dynamic element to the campus. Many people stop to watch the incredible talent and acrobatics of the crew. Being true to their name, Soul Movement brings more than street dance, but words of life for the soul!

BELOW: Lexi ThirtyOne Nieves shares about her & husband Jonny’s troubled past, including teen pregnancy and drug use and how Jesus has begun to radically transform their lives!

ABOVE: Hawk Foreste sharing Jesus one-on-one.

BELOW: SO many students drawn to see devotional art! A simple way to interact!

ABOVE: DJ HIZ lifting up Jesus all day, releasing a proclamation of Christ via 2 turntables and a microphone! (and a mac, and effects unit, and of course speakers)

Much thanks to all those who participated in ministry, setup, teardown, prayer and financial support and/or in any other way. Special thanks to Keith ‘Sincere’, Stailey Styles, KC, Charmaine & the whole Chi Alpha Team. May Jesus be glorified at UCF!!!

If you missed last months training – come join us for training on living an EVANGELISTIC LIFESTYLE.

Overcome fear, walk with greater compassion, and share Jesus with love and boldness. We’ll have a time of authentic worship, compassionate prayer and intercession, and an activation time on the streets. Come and be empowered to share the love-message of the gospel everywhere you go!

Saturday, January 28th, 10am-1pm

Evoke Ministries @ Resound Mission Base

7303 Monetary Dr. Orlando 32809

The training is FREE!

Contact Scott@evokeministries.org for more info

Come join us for training on living an EVANGELISTIC LIFESTYLE.

Overcome fear, walk with greater compassion, and share Jesus with love and boldness. We’ll have a time of authentic worship, compassionate prayer and intercession, and an activation time on the streets. Come and be empowered to share the love-message of the gospel everywhere you go!

Saturday, January 28th, 10am-1pm

Evoke Ministries @ Resound Mission Base

7303 Monetary Dr. Orlando 32809

The training is FREE!

Contact Scott@evokeministries.org for more info

A group of artists came together to participate in a very unusual art project. Phase one, the artists were tasked with creating their best “Crown of Thorns” piece. Phase two, which was kept secret, became a very unusual, powerful experience for all those involved. The paintings themselves were done on a 2′x2′ piece of plywood in the medium and style of the artists choice.

Every good and perfect gift is from our father, but lets not make idols of them. Remember the golden calf? The gold was plunder from Egypt which the Lord gave them, yet they crafted idols from God’s gifts & blessings.

We are reconcilers, reformers, co-laborers, ambassadors for Christ that means we are re-presenting Christ and His Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven.

Our time, talent and affections are to be his, and is agenda is knowing Him and making Him known; seeking and saving that which is lost.

Above: Artist Susan Gromala Crary

Above: Artist Jim McMahel

Above: Artist Jerryl Kain

Above: Artist Jeanne Smith

Above: Artist Antonio Santos

Above: Artist Keelan

Above: Artist Scott Howe

Above: Artist Cody Duncan

Above: Artist Neysa Millan Santiago

PHASE TWO

After presenting their finished paintings to the group, the artists are challenged to their surprise, to offer on the altar as a sacrifice, the very paintings they just created, as a representation of giving Jesus Christ full lordship of their creative abilities.

God promises Abraham a son, (Gen 17:15-21) and  that nations and Kings will come through him. After Isaac is born, God tests Abraham (Gen 22:1-18, asking him to surrender Isaac back to Him, by sacrificing him on the altar. God asks Abraham to release back to him the very thing he has blessed him with; that which he holds most dear, that for which he has hopes & dreams and even a word from the Lord! We believe God is asking us to place ultimate trust into His hands; to release what we hold most dear and personal, our creative ability, for His purposes alone – to make His name known in the earth not our own.

Pastor Larry Ramirez was the one-man wrecking crew who volunteered to smash the paintings. As he starts the dirty work he begins sharing about the sacrifice of Jesus and the atoning work that took place on the cross of Calvary. Almost immediately we feel the breath & presence of God. We began to get just a slight understanding of God’s love and the cost of Christ’s blood to buy us back.

Almost all of us are moved to tears as we experience God’s love for us, the sacrifice of His son and the ongoing furious pursuit for the souls of all men and women.

We gathered together on the altar and offered ourselves as LIVING SACRIFICES to our Lord and King. Our creativity, our hopes and dreams, our very lives offered to Him for His purposes!

Something significant happened in our lives that day. Something shifted in our perspective that will drive us in a greater way to do all things for the glory of God and no longer to the glory of ourselves.

What do we mean by power and love?

We seek to bring the love and power of God to individuals in everyday life by engaging people in everyday places with the Gospel and all it’s wonderful effects. We want to release God’s amazing love beyond the four walls of our church buildings and demonstrate the power of God in the marketplace. We mean, being an extension of Jesus in this hurting and dying world through a practical love that releases God’s power.

What do we do?

We gather groups of believers together for a time of deep prayer & intercession believing for the Lord’s heart towards our city. We then take some time for training, going over basic truths of God’s love and casting out fear and being His witness in the power of the holy spirit. We try to debunk some f the hangups that keep us from effectively loving people and being an effective witness. We then have a question & answer time addressing and specific concern before we hit the streets. We break out in small groups and GO into all the world! We hit banks, stores, parks, gas stations or anywhere else the holy spirit may lead us. In believing that Jesus died for all people, we approach any individuals that happens to be there (especially the sick & hurting) with a loving interest in their lives. We engage them with tender love and inquiry, as to how God can demonstrate His love to them. We seek to pray for anything that is specified by them in order to open the door to introduce them to Jesus. We have seen many miracles and healings as we pray for the sick. We want to show them that Jesus didn’t come to shame sinners, but to save them. Jesus didn’t come because He wanted to demonstrate His anger to them but to demonstrate His love to them. We tell them that, “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us…He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that we could become the righteousness of God…”

What is the Goal?

The goal is to see people touched by the presence of Jesus and ultimately reconnect with God and get born again through surrender to the gospel. As they are encountered with God through a practical love, that is completely focused on the care of their lives we direct them to the local body of believers to be discipled.

We want to see churches grow, not by the extracting from other churches but by the increase of members that were lost in the marketplaces and streets. We want to see believers come into knowing the thrill of co-laboring with Christ right here and now by releasing the power of God through their mortal hands and mouth.

The strategic favor of our time slot, right before the mayor’s throwing of the switch and tree lighting ceremony, provided maximum impact of the clear proclamation that JESUS IS THE REASON not only for the season but absolutely everything! The Pop Shop’s classy production included many traditional Christmas songs celebrating the birth of our savior, while Evoke artists Jerryl Kain & Neysa Millan Santiago did live paintings of Jesus and the nativity.

Above: The Pop Shop hypes the crowd!

Evoke artist Jerryl Kain live painting abstract Jesus.

Evoke artist Neysa Millan Santiago painting her vibrant nativity during one of the Pop Shop numbers.

Above: The crowd numbered in a few thousand. Our prayer was many backslidden and stray hearts would once again return to the heavenly father as the true Christmas story is retold.

Below: One of the Pop Shop numbers included a skit of a troubled man receiving the infant savior as his hope and strength.

As the fireworks lit up the sky and mega watts illuminated trees and decorations I was reminded of Jesus, our true light who reminded us; that WE are the light of the world! There is no such thing as darkness. You cannot turn up or down the darkness in a room. Darkness is merely the absence of light. The darkness in our neighborhoods, cities and regions is due to the fact that the church is just not shining. Lets commit ourselves a fresh to being bold witnesses of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit and brightening our region with His love this coming year. The world is waiting.

]]> http://www.evokeministries.org/light-up-the-holidays/feed/ 1 http://www.evokeministries.org/biblical-poets-diverse-word/ http://www.evokeministries.org/biblical-poets-diverse-word/#comments Fri, 02 Dec 2011 17:46:07 +0000 administrator http://www.evokeministries.org/?p=2647

A very unsuspecting, unique form of ministry is taking place every week at Dandelion Communitea Cafe. At a place where the food is as unique as its patrons, Dandelion plays host to Di-Verse Word; an open mic poetry night hosted by wordsmith & Christ follower Shawn Welcome. Shawn does an amazing job bringing words of life to a culture that is often hostile to the Christian worldview.

Not only has he been consistent to his Di-Verse congregation, having the longest running weekly poetry night in Orlando, but Shawn also won Orlando’s Poet of The Year in 2011. He is truly GOING into the world and sharing the Gospel, submersed in this culture, in it but not of it, as a shining star for Jesus. If we are to see our city and it’s culture changed, we must be in it, among them, proclaiming Christ’s life, Christ’s love, expending time and energy and resources, inconveniencing ourselves to care enough to GO and bring understanding to the darkness.

Not only is Shawn a beacon of light to the dark but his bold confession and no-compromise walk emboldens others to stand firm in their witness inside the public arena. Di-Verse has become somewhat of a safe place for up and coming poets in the church to sharpen their poetic, evangelistic skills.

Evoke Ministries is proud to sponsor Shawn Welcome as a local, creative missionary . He is worthy of the support of the body of Christ. Thank you for your generous giving to Evoke which enables us to help worthy witnesses reach out to their regions with God’s power and love.

See more of Shawn at www.shawnwelcome.com