BAHAMAFEST!

So the Cruise with a Cause was fantastic- a time to chill out, eat a lot, use the gym, hang out with the guys in DecembeRadio, catch up on some study and some reading, listen to some good concerts, but most of all to experience an incredible day of mission in Nassau, Bahamas. Most of the 1,500 cruise participants split in small groups and headed off to over 40 schools, the hospital, and the prison, as well as the streets, in an evangelistic campaign that ended with over 20,000 people attending the free BahamaFest in the evening. The night featured the actor Danny Glover ( of Lethal Weapon fame) amongst others. My personal contribution was to be the Gospel speaker at Gambier Primary School in the oldest community on Grand Bahama. The school only had 104 pupils, but 79 on them came forward for prayer to invite Jesus into their lives as Saviour, Lord and Friend! It was such a thrill to see the volunteer counsellors with me praying for the children- for many of the Americans present it was their first taste of overseas missions. What I learnt from Cruise with a Cause: *Matthew Dunaway and his team from PraiseFest ministries are a faithful, visionary and dedicated bunch of people who love Jesus and love to share Him with the lost. *Scotty Wilbanks is a genuine 'diamond geezer' for getting me on the cruise. *Decemberadio know how to ROCK! *If I was on a cruise for a month I'd be so fat they'd have to roll me off the boat. *Thank the Lord for onboard gyms! *Black gospel fans know how to dress up smart for a concert-and how to participate! *God is more attuned to verbs than nouns (you'll have to read The Shack to understand this.) *Sharing the love of Jesus with young children is such a fulfilling opportunity. *Michael English is still a powerful singer, and now has an even more powerful testimony of God's grace, forgiveness, and redemption. *Cruise with a Cause brought together people from all 50 American states, from 25 different denominations and about 12 different ministries. *Cruise with a Cause is such a good way to introduce Christians to overseas mission in the middle of their vacation. *10,250 people made decisions for Christ in the one day-that's recorded first time commitments and re-dedications. *By the time we left Nassau on the morning after BahamaFest, local churches were already beginning the follow-up process, and over 60% of last year's converts were still going strong in the church 12 months later. * If you haven't realised by now- I'm hooked on the Mission/Cruise concept!