Monday, December 24, 2012

Concert FOR the City - Friday, 7 pm, Dec 28

The concert was GREAT!  We worshiped Jesus, and could feel His presence in our praise. We raised hundreds of dollars for the two great causes, Oasis Calcasieu Women's Shelter, and Backpacks for the homeless in Atlanta. Huge GoJesus to the Water's Edge Gathering for allowing us to hold this in their Community Theater, and to theCityBand for wanting to be the best band for the city!

We planned on airing this short talk at the event, but technical issues prevented it. But we have it here now: Jesus it the Hope For Our City

(The video about the break-In at Laundry World on Christmas Morning is here.)

Here are Sam Turner and Paul Pettefer in front of the Oasis Women's Shelter sharing about the work they do, our story of simple engagement there, and the upcoming concert:


theCityBand has a goal: to be the best band FOR the city!  So, this Friday they are throwing down a concert with 100% of the total proceeds going to the Oasis Women's Shelter and Backpacks for the Homeless.  Here is band leader Sam Turner announcing: Concert 4 the City!

We have a couple of short videos describing the concert, why we picked the causes, and how you can engage!  $10 a ticket, 100% of the proceeds go to the two causes!

You can buy tickets online and read more about the event here.



(You can see more videos from theCityShouldBeDifferent on our YouTube channel here.)
www.theCityShouldBeDifferent.com

Friday, December 7, 2012

Stories Collide: Brokenness and her child, death (3 killings in 1 weekend)...and God's Transforming Love!

UPDATE, DEC 15 - Paul and Braylon on 2nd ave...a response to Newton, Conn



PRAYER VIGIL, DEC 9, 2012, Lake Charles Civic Center -Hosted by Baptist Minister's Union (Six prayers offered, videos being uploaded now):
http://www.kplctv.com/story/20301261/local-ministers-working-to-stop-violence-city-wide




Braylon Harris and Paul Pettefer pray for the families of the deceased.
Today (Dec 7, 2012), a couple of friends went together to trace the path where darkness had it's day last weekend, as three different altercations ended in violent deaths in Lake Charles.

Paul Pettefer and Braylon Harris made it to two of the sites today, praying for the loved ones grieving such tragic losses and praying for a transformation in our city. The pair are a part of a movement of people who follow Jesus who want see our culture transformed - a transformation propelled by God's love.

Those burying loved ones this week are calling for an end to the violence that cut short such young lives this past weekend.  

We cry with them...crying to the God who made the world for Good, and hurts at the brokenness displayed in our city this week.  And in response to our cry, we are calling for the people who follow Jesus in our city to bring the full-on, love-infused lifestyle of God's truth and grace to bear on our city.  

Here are a couple of initial activity points: 
  • Watch the videos we will be posting here, comment below, join in the conversation on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/paulpettefer,https://www.facebook.com/theCityChurch).  
  • Some friends are planning to gather and be in the Louisiana Avenue neighborhood (just North of Prien Lake Road) Saturday, December 8, about 4 pm.  Meet with us there as we pray, share some love from God and be good news to the neighbors.
  • There is multi-church prayer vigil planned for Sunday at 5:30 at the Civic Center.  Join us there as we pray for the transformation of our city.  http://www.kplctv.com/story/20281444/lake-charles-residents-invited-to-prayer-event-sunday
  • We are working with friends to develop simple pathways for people to get engaged with social service agencies in the city.  Our goal is to have hundreds then thousands of new people volunteering and engaging in changing the culture of our community - no kidding!.  (For example, our little group held a party today for the after school kids at the Women's Shelter.)
  • If you are connected to a church, then engage your life and heart there in following Jesus. Use this site can be a source of encouragement as we, as an entire church in Lake Charles. move more and more into an active, full-life engagement in transforming our culture.
  • If you are not connected to a church, we want you to know God is for you.  And so are we.
Feel free to contact Paul Pettefer at 337-794-9891, or paul@theCityChurch.us to join in your voice to the conversation.  Email paul to get updates from theCityShouldBeDifferent.com.

Paul leads www.theCityShouldBeDifferent.com, a movement oriented ministry whose objective is to be a catalyst to change the city. Braylon is the Pastor of Mount Olive Baptist Church, which meets at 600 N. Simmons St, Lake Charles.

#theCityShouldBeDifferent



We are capturing a number of responses and will be providing them to you here.  Below are two from today.  (Both of the videos below are the same conversation, in two parts.)


Check out more video at your Youtube page, www.youtube.com/user/paulpettefer
We will be adding more over the weekend, and welcome your voice into the conversation.