The holiday season started with a fun, packed house of worship and a HUGE thanksgiving meal to follow. My wife Sateba and I were blessed to see so many people rally together for one cause. That was 'to reach the community'. We rolled out the worship, food and volunteer's to complete the Thanksgiving outreach November 21, 2010. WIth 130 in worship service and 300 meals served afterwards, many lives were touched including the leadership team and 10 volunteer's from the small group out of Our Father Lutheran Church, Centennial CO.

I have a heart to engage our congregants in three areas. 1. Being God's Servant's. 2. Doing God's Mission. 3. Reaching Urban Center Globally.

This all came to pass as our women's ministry cooked up a mean Thanksgiving meal.

Let me tell you, them women can cook. The men rallied up to set up a HUGE tent, set up tables, and manage security. Tha MYX Team was in action. People lined up from all over the community including our church members. It was enough food for over 300 families and let me tell you, we served over that. It was so awesome just to see people coming together to live out the life of Jesus!

While we were serving we were signing up people in the community who were in need for Christmas gifts for their children. In our community, we serve the poorest population in the state with 98% below the poverty level with a annual household income of $7,450.00. This is a community that has been ridden with brokenness, crime and destitute. We set out to sign up individuals who could benefit from our resources and help through the holiday season.

As we went forward in reaching out to the community, we decided to throw in a community wide event on December 7, 2010 that exposed adults, children and youth to the life style of incarcerated women. We called on the Denver Women's Prison to bring out participants in the W.A.Y. program to give their testimonies to the community. These women were incarcerated for things from Homicide to burglary and more just to name a few. As testimonies were told, people were moved with unbelief. As children watched, many who have loved ones incarcerated, it was impact-ful that they may learn not to end up in a place that these women ended up in.

To start this night off we had our children Christmas Choir kick it off as they sang Christmas carols and one young man in our children's church sang a rap. This children's choir is made up of kids who attend our church from our community. What an awesome group of young boys and girls.

Many who are from single parents, mostly women, traveled all over the city singing their songs to people from all walks of life. Places included the 16th street mall ice skating ring, Bellmar outdoor mall, senior citizen center's and more just to name a few. It was a great tour through the Christmas season that ended with our annual Christmas event. On December 18, 2010 with over 600 kids served with Christmas gifts people came together from Tha MYX Family to small groups from across the city from other various churches. We had 40 volunteers along with MYX church members take needy individuals shopping through our store for the Christmas season. Wow, people being prayed for, encouraged and God using Us meeting their needs! I am still amazed at what God did on that day.

Wether it be our Christmas store, Thanksgiving outreach or other eventful doings at Tha MYX, I am grateful that we will always have in mind to meet human needs locally, nationally, and globally. Tha MYX has this attitude boiling within it's veins. I pray we can continue to do the work of the Lord and reach our community!!!

Hayride N Da Hood

Wow, What an awesome October 31st event. As I was preparing for the date, I was battling with what it might look like as Pastor hosting an event on the day that everyone so claims is the biggest evil day on the planet. I mean, we all know that the satan worshippers, witches, druids and the like all celebrate this as the biggest day of their year. So, here's a couple of thoughts as I was preparing. By the way, we reached well over 350 people with the light of Christ on this evening. Seeing over 250 individuals ride on a hayride n da Hood. Yes we did, bring the country to the hood. It was amazing, let me be the first to tell you. People praying for people, kids blessed by our compassion, parents in unbelief as we served the community. Sun Valley Homes (DHA), Sun Valley Coalition, businesses, police department, parks and rec, Denver Urban Garden's and more just to name a few all came through to impact the lives of people in Sun Valley.

John 3:20 tells us, KJV

"For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

The Message Version -

"Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won't come near it, fearing a painful exposure. But anyone working and living in truth and reality welcomes God-light so the work can be seen for the God-work it is."

In our everyday society it's plain to see that the lost generation of time has been over captured by the media, economy, selfishness, humor, money and more. It's led people into captivity to where when there is even a thought of being hurt by the exposure of light (God) is un-bareable. Why would someone who is so completely comfortable want to make change. After all change is very scary. It's a beast in our life that causes us to make change. So on this day, October 31st, or Halloween whatever you wish to call it, people stay in their same frame of minds and state. Dressing up and making the best out of a day that people will celebrate yearly. Most not knowing the true meaning behind the day and time of year. Wow! So, let's talk more about what the light can do in this time.

I was deeply moved, amazed and in awe at Tha MYX Church family as they came together to be light in a dark world that night. October 31st, 2010 was a night I will never forget. Trotting through the streets of our 'hood' in a horse and carriage, filled with hay, just seeing those faces of happiness was glorious. As we took on the second half of the verse above we worked hard for Christ's sake, serving people nachos, daffy apples, providing a pumpkin patch photography booth, and FREE hayrides was a work that could be seen for the God-work it is! People couldn't believe that Tha MYX would even do such a thing like this for the community. They were moved by Holy Spirit power. We didn't budge at all that night. We didn't run and hide like most believers do that night, we stood ground and stood strong in our faith as the Lord led us to reach out to those in a desperate hurting world overtaken by things that cause them NOT to see the Light! So, my hat goes off to those who were so deeply dedicated to that night. Lowrider's came out, street was blocked and happiness in a dark place rose to it's occasion on that very night.

Let's be reminded, that when someone sais, "It's the devils day," let it be known that Tha MYX International will always be ready in season and out to represent JESUS in this dark world. Every day is evil and controlled by the god of this world. It's up to us Believers in the most high God to stand firm in our promises and know that the Lord is with us always.

What do you do when....

What do you do when.....

...someone sits down right in front of you pouring out their heart and crying out because they are hooked to heroin. The only way they can function is when they are high. 

...someone looses their brother under the Colfax bridge due to a drug overdose. A man who was loved and searching for the place he needs to be in Christ. A Spanish bible laying right where he was found. This man once attended our Church, but now dead from drugs. 

...a young person approaches you and tells you they want to give their child to you when it's born not even thinking of any repercussions. The person knows that she can't handle it and the father is on parole and mother and brother in prison. 

...when your leaders come from different walks of life that carry all kinds of baggage with them in the interim of being what God has called to be and lead with a great attitude. 

...a young women who is 30 on parole and has a 15 yr old child who now has a new born baby. Wow, grandmother at 30 yrs of age.  

...when a lesbian couple walks into your church and after attending the third service they come forward and accept Christ as their Savior. 

so the question is....what do you do when.......

Trust in God with all your heart mind and soul. Let tomorrow worry about it's own. For it will work itself out. I Praise God that I have the opportunity to lead, worship, pray, play, preach, rap, fight, push forward, build, mold, teach, instruct, encourage, Praise, cultivate leaders in one house of God. That is 'the Body Of Christ.' 

ALL I CAN SAY IS:

"It's Amazing"

I will never step my foot....

"I will never step foot into a Christian Church in my lifetime."

One of my core leaders(Brian) in the Church is very Motivating in reaching out to those around him. Being close to someone is often difficult because your putting your vulnerability on the line. In this one case, it was a family member that he was reaching out to. Going to family BBQ's, holiday dinners and attending a once in a while family get together, would inspire this leader to be a witness to his brother. Brian's brother never once thought he would ever step foot into a Christian Church and in fact he told Brian he would never step a foot into a Christian Church.

Do you know someone that has made this statement? I have. 

Brian's brother thought he would never step into a Christian but when God gets a hold of you, there's no turning back. We had an event with a friend of mine (Fred Lynch) and Brian's brother came out to attend. He stepped foot into our place of worship and was never the same. He not only stepped in but was drawn forward for prayer but as I went up at the end to ask those people that didn't have Christ in their life to come forward and receive Him, he was up on his life changing way. 

At the altar on his knees crying and praying, we led him to receive Christ as his personal Lord and Saviour. Brian and some others were gathered around him in this very moment. Ever since then, this man and his family have been attending our Church. Coming out on Monday nights for our Hoops N Raps program, cooking food for the guys in the gym, and just being available to serve in any capacity possible. Praise God!

This past Sunday I watched as he and his daughter were standing up singing praise and worship songs. Man what a story! I am shocked to see that not only can God change my life, but if He can change me, He can change anyone who asks. 

This was the saying before he came. "I would never step foot into a Christian Church in my Life" Well- he did, and was never the same. Keep on encouraging those around you who you would never think would come out to a worship experience. Know that with God, All things are possible.

-AGE

"In Times of Despair"

Praise God for the work taking place in the inner city of Denver, CO. Sometimes I often wonder, should we do something different, should we change service times, what is it that we should do in these times when it seems a little heavy weighted or discouraging. Well, the answer we all know is, "Press toward the goal". Paul the apostle was a great role model when it comes to perseverance and being a great encourager in times like these. You see Timothy was feeling like we do at times and Paul was great at lifting his spirits when it felt like the pressure was upon Timothy to carry out the 'Good News' and message Paul was preaching. It struck me hard as I can actually feel like both Paul and Timothy at times. I am very thankful for God hooking D.J. and I up to start our Hoops N Raps program in his church gym. It has led to great relationships and great impact in our city and hopefully soon the national arena as God allows. I say all this to get to this:

Last Tuesday night at our Hip Hop service a man approached my wife right before I was about to go up and bring a message about 'Faithfulness. As S.I.C. was finishing up their hip hop performance and talking about the Holy Spirit my wife said a man wanted to talk to the Pastor. This man was in his mid to upper 40's. A few of the leaders approached him and asked him, "how can we help you?" The man said, "I only want to talk to the pastor." So, as I was about to go up, I stopped by him and asked, "How can I help you brother?" He said, "I am going to kill someone." I thought to myself this guy has to be way to drunk or high to even know what he is saying. There was something in his voice that made this statement a little more serious than just someone blurting out murder. So I took my hands as we were all around him and began to pray for him. After the prayer I asked, "would you like to stay and hear the message? Maybe this will be the last message you hear from a preacher before you do what you say your going to do tomorrow." So the man said, "yes." Brother Steve, a leader in our church, walked the man up to the third row and sat next to him. As I started preaching from Titus, the man's countenance started changing. I noticed as the Spirit of God through His word was beginning to break this man down. At the end when I offered anyone in the place to come forward and receive the Free Gift of Salvation, this man was the first to jump up and come forward. There was about 17 of our church members who surrounded him with their hands on him praying. As I led this man into the sinners prayer he was breaking as tears were flowing down his face. He excepted Christ in this time of Despair. When it was said and done, the man reached into his pocket and grabbed a knife and handed it to me. As he was hanging out after, ex gang members, drug addicts etc were encouraging him to move forward with Christ in his life. It's amazing to know if we weren't there that Tuesday night he would not have had the opportunity to run to a place of refuge. God showed up and we were blessed to see a man off the streets of the Sun Valley neighborhood come into the place of worship with murder in his heart in a time of Despair and leave with the Spirit of joy, love and peace upon him.

Praise God!!!!