Untitled Project

We are nearing the end of this musical sojourn. It has been an incredible experience. As I’m writing this post I’m in the Love Shack Studios on Music Row, listening to Ashley Cleveland, a Grammy-award winning vocalist here in Nashville, as she performs gut-wrenching backing vocals on The Ditch. I’m just enjoying the heck out of this. But I’m also aware that though it’s cool to have accomplished musicians play along me on a record, it’s still my record, my songs and my story and that sobers me and keeps my feet on the ground.

Please pray for things as they wrap up. It is my prayer that this music minister to folks at newer depths and for wider audiences. My hope is that proceeds will continue to fuel a movement of God’s Kingdom among the poor. I also pray for a platform to inspire the people of God toward the heart of God among the poor. If you pray along those lines, you can’t go wrong.

We have considered two different titles for the project. We are presently polling for opinions. The choices are between (1) Orphans and Kings, (2) Like Hell Inside. Let me know if you want to chime in on this issue.

Blessings to all!

Mo

Ministry Update-4/23

I’m on a plane now to Atlanta, will rent a car and drive to Augusta, Georgia where I will be sharing in a break-out session at the Augusta Conference. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to be with the brethren there and hopefully renew acquaintance with many. I also will be meeting with numerous groups throughout my time there including a Campus Outreach ministry at Augusta College on Tuesday night. I also will be meeting with some young people from Milledgeville – some who have expressed interest in staff positions at Rebirth. I will be consulting with others who are actively engaged in urban ministry in the great city of Augusta. It should be a rather action packed few days. Please pray for God’s blessing! Oh yea, I hope to fit in at least one round of golf. And no, it won’t be at Augusta National! However, I’m sure that I’m going to play better courses than that on other side of the Jordan!

I just got in last night from a fund-raising concert and dessert get-together in Slidell, Louisiana. There were close to a hundred persons in the home of my dear friends Larry and Mary Ann Welch. Ellen and I were deeply encouraged to renew our friendship with the incredible folks at Faith Bible and to be introduced to so many new friends, as well! The desserts were unbelievably tempting, yet you all would be proud that I refrained from gorging myself. The folks were very generous and the event was a real success!

I’ll update you more later.

Summer Internship Reinvisioned

After two very significant and successful events - the Weekend Conference in Mobile and the Week-long mini-internship with Campus Outreach from Georgia College - we’ve decided to reenvision our summer internship program. We will no longer be conducting the month-long summer internship that I used to run at Desire Street Ministries. Pray for me as I begin the process of hearing from God on a more efficient way to shape this vital program of Rebirth.
It is now our belief that in the future we will do more for the kingdom by shortening the experience and inviting more participants. We do not have a facility from which to operate the program but believe that the Lord will supply. Feel free to contact me directly regarding this opportunity.

Georgia College Students Make a Big Difference in New Orleans

Spring break. You know the scene. Uninhibited revelry. Youthful self-indulgence. Partying, drinking and girls gone wild! Stop the tape.
Call CNN, Fox News and MTV. It seems there’s a group of young people that are seriously breaking the mold. They are doing unto others, they are loving their neighbor and changing their world.
They rise early and retire late.
They serve others selflessly by gutting flood damaged homes, assisting minority owned small businesses, tutoring inner-city youth and restoring order from chaos by meeting basic administrative and marketing needs of recovering ministries. They paint walls, build furniture, design logos, organize mailings. They awaken to reading the scriptures. They do not retire until they’ve pondered and internalized the hardest sayings of Christ and have considered the lofty character attributes of sacrifice, justice and mercy, redemptive suffering and of charity and love towards those who are poor. They raise their own support from willing donors. They encourage, smile and are grateful for the opportunity to serve.
Wow! If this is the next generation of young Christian leaders…then the church will indeed be in good hands. They have served their college in the most distinguished way. They have represented their college ministry as worthy emmissaries. They have honored their families and their hometowns at heroic levels. They have made us proud. And yet they will defer the credit and hope that their service was used by God for His glory. All I can say is…wow!
I know you will want to join me in honoring their service and in following their example. These 19 students from Georgia College’s Campus Outreach, we salute you and express our heartfelt gratitude!
Sam Rauschenberg - Senior - Economics and Political Science, Dalton, GA

Jason Berl - Senior - Rhetoric, Moultrie, GA

Ashley Bohanon - Senior - Mass Communications and Public Relations, Conyers, GA

Jason Hughes - Junior - Special Education, Lillburn, GA

Richard Kerr - Junior - International Business, LaGrange, GA

Emily Allen - Sophomore - Economics, LaGrange, GA

Elyssa Sanner - Sophomore - English, Evans, GA

Bonnie Kelly - Sophomore - Special Education, Lillburn, GA

Jess Parks - Junior - Art, Lillburn, GA

Katie Woods - Sophomore - Special Education, Kennesaw, GA

Jenny Proffitt - Sophomore - Community Health, Marrietta, GA

Nadirah Ross - Senior - Mass Communications and Public Relations, Sparta, GA

Kat Mann - Junior - Psychology, Macon, GA

Lane Coursey - Freshman - Undeclared, Conyers, GA

Brent Adams - Junior - History, Savannah, GA

Brian McDaniel - Junior - English, Lawrenceville, GA

Lauren Crowley - Freshman - Undeclared, Augusta, GA

Whitney Fee - Sophomore - Mass Communications, Martinez, GA

Kelly Hartman - Graduate - Campus Outreach Staff, Augusta, GA

Concert for Campus Outreach at Georgia College

I just returned from a short trip to Georgia where I had the opportunity to speak and perform a concert at the Campus Outreach of Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville. It was especially encouraging to have the opportunity to spend time with these extraordinary young men and women both before and after the concert. Thanks to all who came and especially to those who generously contributed to Rebirth International. Special thanks to Glenn Wilkins for the invite and to Sam Rouschenburg for coordination. Also I want to especially thank Jaimie (aka Jeannie) for jumping behind the mike with me at my invitation. You did a great job and are quite talented! Within a couple of days a group of about 20 students from that college will be travelling to New Orleans to help in the city’s recovery. Pray that they might have safe travels and that the Lord’s blessing will be upon us as we explore God’s word together over spring break.

I also had the opportunity to visit with an old high school friend of mine from Macon named Steve Lee. Special thanks to he and his wife Joanie for their hospitality and renewed friendship. Please pray for them that God would continue to bless Steve’s graphic design company called Catalyst as well as their sweet family.