(I Got A) Pentecostal Block
On Friday evening, Adams Morgan's pizza and beer-fueled sinners met their match: A group of pizza and God-fueled "soul winners."
At around 1:30 a.m., a sizeable crowd gathered outside Columbia Road watering hole Chief Ike's. The hundred-strong mob jumped, fist-pumped, and chanted in unison. Some wildly brandished flags, possibly made of their own shirts. From my perch across the sidewalk, the driving two-syllable chant was indecipherable.
Were these revelers footballers? Kickballers? Goths? As I ventured closer to the seductive chorus, its message became clear: "JE-SUS!" the mob shouted, again and again. "JE-SUS! JE-SUS! JE-SUS!"
They had me at "JE-SUS." I joined the mob as it began to migrate down Columbia and toward 18th Street's den of iniquity. Most of the crowd was composed of coltish, t-shirted teens; some older, calmer heads took up the rear, driving the pack to their destination. One bright-eyed, fanny-packed reveler enthusiastically extended a postcard to me after lamenting, enthusiastically, that he no longer had any "American" cards. I accepted an un-American version, then slipped from the train before the Jesus coalition hit Asylum.
"JESUS," the card read, predictably. "Es la respuesta a todos tus problemas."Beyond the rather ambitious promise, the card held little identifying information. I dialed a phone number on the card and reached Jerry Staten, Pastor of the Living Hope First United Pentecostal Church.
The evangelists, Staten informed me, were members of the Go Win Souls Soul Winner Boot Camp. What makes a "Soul Winner," you ask? Here's a tip, via Brandon"T" of Corvallis, Oregon:
This Is just a small tip and its not really a idea.
GET AGGRESIVE God Always choose aggresive people to use in the Bible.
Example: Moses murdered someone.
Last weekend, these Soul Winners GOT AGGRESSIVE on Washington. "We had over 300 young people come from around the nation to reach out and tell people where we're located and invite them to come worship with us" (Read: win their souls -ed.), Staten explained. Staten explained that the group held religious programs on U Street and in the Trinidad area last week.
But Staten held few details on the early-morning after-party. "Of course, I’m a little older," explains Staten. "These were young people. They had scheduled programs with them until about 11:30. Then, I guess they fed them pizza and stuff, and a bunch of the young people, on their own initiative, you know, walked through Adams Morgan, I'm guessing," he says.
"I went home and went to bed," Staten admits. "Really, I didn't really have anything to do with this. I was just in charge of the facility."
Find more soul winning tips—and a sweet Website theme song—here.
4:49 pm
I was there, I was actually ashamed to admit but I was there to party. One of the people from this group helped me repent and be baptized that night, thank God for people who still believe in whats right. Everywhere I go people want to push the wrong things on me, ie... party, sex, sin and this group wanted to help me get back where I need to be with God. Cuddos!
5:45 pm
I was there, but I was a part of the boot camp and I'm from this area. I was soooo excited to be a part of such a power movement of God. I once was a street runner, partier, rebel. But thanks be to God for him dying for us all, through him we can be free. I will be attending the one in Newport News Virginia. God bless anyone that was there and received the blessings of God.For there is much more where that came from.
5:47 pm
I was also there. It was the most amazing thing to see. There was such a refreshing and powerful presence around this group.
5:57 pm
I was a member of this rally in the late night (early morning) hours this past Friday night of the weekend. My name's Miss Tamla Camille Ford, a 26 year's young lady, with a Bachelor's of Arts degree from Howard University. I teach for Hampton City Schools. And am as well a preschool Sunday school teacher at my late grandparents' church. I lived in this very neighborhood of N.W. Washington D.C. for 5 years while finishing college. I often shopped at the SafeWay on Columbia Road leading to 18th St. N.W. where our rally was marching that night, and, where I incidentally met a woman who followed us with much curiousity about our cause. And while a "Washingtonian", I prayed and believed God to bring a rally of devoted Pentecostal (Apostolic) youth, to come crusade the streets of our nation's capital for JESUS! That souls' be saved in Jesus' name. I prayed this with hope for 5 years. This article in reaction to our rally is evidence that Jesus is God! And He's God Who answers prayer! I even prayed our outreach would get the attention of the news. And here we are. JESUS IS GOD and He answers prayer! He answered my prayer. Though Ms. Amanda Hess has written this first person view article with a bleak tone; I must contest that this article does not reveal the truth of many on the streets of D.C. who were in darkness; and the weekend, brought to the marvelous light that comes through the new birth experience in Christ JESUS alone! Please visit http://www.gowinsouls.com or http://www.bootcampamerica.tv to further familiarize this paper's perspective, and, that of its readers with what's truly happend the weekend of this rally. Thank you for publishing a fair perspective of current events.
12:06 am
I just stopped by to read the article about the BOOT Camp, and I am just amazed!!!!! God is so good!!!
GO SOUL WINNERS!! GO!!!
12:06 pm
We are a nation under God. It is about time people are taking back our nation under God. We must repent and turn from our evil ways of homosexuality, drug abuse, pornography, idolatry, etc. or God will spew us out of our land. Any time a great nation began to fall, it was because of immorality. Thank you Matt Maddix and Tim Downs and all the other leaders of the United Pentecostal Church International for the great ways you are allowing God to use you. The Apostolic Pentecostals shall not be moved!! I hope to see you in Louisville, Kentucky to help WIN SOULS!!!
2:28 pm
I am amazed at the awesome power of God this is what America truly needs in these very trying times. He is an on time God and to God be the glory
2:42 pm
God God God God God God God!
7:39 pm
hey its tim, i just wanted to say thank u to the newspaper for recognizing the real party that went down on adams morgan!god bless all the bootcampers and keep the fire going guys...see you again in newport news va
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