Read this letter from Revelation 2:8-11…

“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.  I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.  Do not fear what you are about to suffer.  Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation.  Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.‘”

These words written to the church in Smyrna over 2,000 years ago still ring true with us today.  The city of Smyrna survives today as the modern-day Turkish city of Izmir.  Turkey statistically is the most unchurched nation in the world, yet of the 7 churches addressed in Revelation it is one of the only in which the church still remains.  God preserves His church and His people.

A variation of the phrase “Do Not Fear” is the #1 mentioned command in all of scripture appearing close to 150 times.  God knew just as the church in Smyrna would be mistreated and experience great trail so would we.  God promises that those who accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior are secured by the Holy Spirit and “will not be hurt by the second death.”  See scripture tells us that a day of judgment will come for all those who have lived and died.  Christians will spend eternity in worship of God, while those who choose not to follow Christ will be forever separated from Him, experiencing a second death.

Yes, until we meet our Maker in death, this life might be tough, really tough.  But remember that for the Christian this life is the closest to hell you will ever experience, while for the non-Christian this life is the closest thing to heaven they will ever experience.  This reasoning is why God commands us “Do Not Fear” when times get tough because ultimately He has everything under control:

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trail, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”  -James 1:12

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”  -Jeremiah 29:11

“Do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.  For life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing… And which of you be being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?… For all nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them.  Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.”  -Luke 12:22-31

DO NOT FEAR.  DO NOT FEAR.  DO NOT FEAR.

Abandon is a movement!  This summer we are teaming up with Crossover 2012 to present a city-wide revival experience called “Awaken The City” featuring Trip Lee of the 116 Clique, local favorite Jake Smith, and much more!  The event will be held on Friday, June 15, 2012, at the East Jefferson High Auditorium in Metairie, LA, just minutes outside the city of New Orleans.  It is free and open to the public featuring Free Pizza and Give-A-Ways.  Stay posted to http://www.abandonproductions.org for all the latest information.

Spread The Word // Join The Movement

Who or what are you afraid of most?  We all struggle with fear.  According to WebMD, 3 out of top 10 selling prescription drugs are for treatment of anxiety, brought on by extreme fear or worry.  I’ve even had personal times of struggle with anxiety attacks and stress-related health issues.  It affects us all, no matter your position or occupation.  Sometimes it can be due to chemical imbalance, but often fear is the primary culprit.  We have a fear-crisis in our world.

Believe it or not fear can be a good thing when we fear an awesome God over anything else!  Psalm 111:10 tells us, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!”  Every person has a reaction to Jesus, you either fear Him or move right past Him.

In 1988 the late Rich Mullins released an album called “Winds of Heaven, Stuff of Earth” which featured the hit worship ballad “Awesome God.”  Many have heard the chorus before:

CHORUS:

Our God is an awesome God

He reigns from heaven above

With wisdom, power, and love

Our God is an awesome God

Truer words could not be spoken.  Our God is awesome!  But historically this chorus has been sung with less emphasis put on the verses that Rich Mullins wrote in the same song:

VERSE 1:

When He rolls up His sleeves

He ain’t just putting on the ritz

(Our God is an awesome God)

There’s thunder in His footsteps

And lightning in His fists

(Our God is an awesome God)

And the Lord wasn’t joking when He kicked ‘em out of Eden

It wasn’t for no reason that He shed His blood

His return is very close and so you better be believing that

Our God is an awesome God

VERSE 2:

And when the sky was starless

In the void of the night

(Our God is an awesome God)

He spoke into the darkness

And created the ligh

(Our God is an awesome God)

Judgment and wrath He poured out on Sodom

Mercy and grace He gave us at the cross

I hope that we have not too quickly forgotten that

Our God is an awesome God

Amen, amen, and amen!  Our God is a God of Love.  He is the One who sent His Son, Jesus, for “mercy and grace He gave us at the cross.”  He is the One who seals us with His Holy Spirit to empower us to live a life complete in Him.  We should worship and thank God for loving us but never forget the mercy He has on us as sinners.  We have all wronged or brought evil into this world, but God through his loving kindness chose to save us by His grace (giving us something we don’t deserve) and His mercy (not giving us something we do deserve.)

We all deserve the complete wrath of God, but thankfully those who choose to follow Jesus are spared from this wrath.  John 3:16 KJV says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  So what should be our initial reaction to Jesus?  Fear.  God is all powerful.  Yes, He came as a servant to meet us, but He will return as the warrior to save us.  Take some time to read the apostle John’s initial encounter with Jesus in the last book of the bible that speaks of the future, Revelation:

“When I saw him (Jesus), I fell at his feet as though dead.

But he laid his right hand on me saying,

‘Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one.

I died, and behold I am alive forevermore,

And I have the keys of Death and Hades.’”

-Revelation 1:17-18

Our reaction to Jesus should reflect this pattern:  1) See Him, 2) Fall at His Feet, 3) Fear Not.  God is all powerful.  He is awesome.  He holds “the keys of Death and Hades.”  Jesus boldly proclaims, “I am alive forevermore.”  Nothing can overcome Him because He is the Overcomer.  Fear Him.  Worship Him.  He’s in control.  Take comfort in that promise today!

Switchfoot is coming to New Orleans!  The Grammy & GMA Dove Award-winning rock band will be playing with special guest The Rocket Summer at the historic Tipitina’s venue in Uptown New Orleans, 501 Napolean Ave, on Thursday, May 17, 2012.  Doors open @ 7:30pm and the show is for ages 18+.  Tickets and further information available @ www.tipitinas.com

Abandon has been blessed to partner in promotion and put on events at some of the most popular venues in the Crescent City including the Hard Rock Cafe, the House of Blues, etc.  We believe strongly that “mission will often lead you into places you otherwise wouldn’t land” and our hope and prayer is that the faith-infused, positive message of Switchfoot’s music would resonate in our city!

BUY A TICKET // SUPPORT THE MOVEMENT

Also check out our post, “Is This Event Christian?” @ http://abandonthemovement.com/2012/01/18/is-this-event-christian/

Featuring “What’s Worship?” devotional written by:  Dean Ross, Abandon Productions & Lakeside Church

The IMPACT Student Leadership Devotional has been designed to help you experience a deeper walk with God and equip you to become the Christian God intends you to be.  Each of the subjects will assist you in identifying topics that are essential along the path to becoming leaders today.  It is our prayer that God will touch  your heart and allow His Spirit to guide you each day through devotion and prayer.  May you be changed and blessed by this devotional.

Packed with incredible discussion points for each day, written by 50 of the top young leaders in America along with featuring renown speaker and author Jay Strack, this devotional book published by Thomas Nelson and Countryman Publishers is an incredible opportunity for Parents, Pastors, Youth Pastors, and Mentors to give the gift of wisdom.  Leatherbound and embossed with the logo of First Priority, who’s launch in New Orleans is supported by Abandon Productions, these will go fast.

GET YOUR COPY TODAY for Discounted Price of $15! (Reg. $25)

100% of proceeds support our ministry work in New Orleans

To purchase contact us @ 504-264-3952 or http://www.abandonproductions.org

Abandon is a movement!  We have been called to love our city.  God has placed a special place in the center of our metropolitan area on our hearts called “Fat City.”  Fat City is an economic and cultural corridor of Metairie, LA, a suburb of New Orleans, LA.  The area was birthed in the late 1950s as an area of high class lounges and happy hour bars.  Over the years shopping, strip clubs, venues, restaurants, and apartment housing built up in this part of our city.  Over the years the region has lost the flashy appeal of its early days as businesses have closed and crime has moved in.  The area is a mult-cultural hub and primarily made up of low-income families in the heart of a mostly suburban middle-to-upper class region.

“The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.  Those who know Your name trust in You because You have not abandoned those who seek You…” -Psalm 9:9-10

We believe Jesus loves Fat City and desires everyone in this region to know Him and worship Him.  Rather than worship things which lead to devestation, we believe Christ is calling the Church to abandon itself to see the people of Fat City worship the Christ who gives life!  On Friday, April 20, 2012, Abandon Productions held an event called “Abandon 2012″ with Corey Hicks, Awake The Bride, and Brett Weller taking up donations and bringing awareness to future mission work in Fat City.

“When you give a lunch or a dinner, don’t invite your friends, your brothers, your relatives, or your rich neighbors…invite those who are poor, maimed, lame, or blind.  And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” -Luke 14:12-14

Over the coming months and years, we plan to be a movement of God’s people serving our city and proclaiming that Jesus loves Fat City.  Stay posted for upcoming missions work @ http://www.abandonproductions.org and http://www.abandonthemovement.com.

Awaken The City // Join The Movement

The core functions of Abandon: The Movement are identical to those of Abandon Productions:

1 – Assist the Local Church

2 – Proclaim Jesus Christ

3 – Mobilize God’s People in Mission

We have a great vision to see this movement expressed through events and initiatives that unite the church of Greater New Orleans and the Gulf South.  Abandon: The Movement aims to see “a movement of God’s people planting churches, revitalizing churches, resourcing the church, & serving as a catalyst for the Holy Spirit to move & touch our city, state, country, & world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”  For more information on our core foundations, or values, which drive the movement visit:

http://abandonthemovement.com/2012/02/29/foundations-of-the-movement/

Awaken the City // Join the Movement

God is moving… Period.  God has a great plan for the movement of Abandon in the coming years.  Many have been asking, “When is the next big event?” or “What do you all have planned next?”  Answer:  A lot!  We wanted to take a moment to share with you some vision, ideas, and direction for what God is crafting next for our ministry!

The story of Abandon began around a decade ago.  In fall of 2011, God led a small group of students to put on a student-led outreach to other students around our city and in our schools called Impact.  The event took 6 months of planning resulting in 6 decisions made for Christ.  In summer of 2007, shortly after the devastation Hurricane Katrina wrought on New Orleans, Abandon Productions was officially founded and incorporated by Dean Ross, a native of the city.  God had called Dean and his wife Laura in 2006 back to the city to be involved in its long-term physical and spiritual, restoration and renewal.

Many great things have happened.  Over 100 outreach events have been planned and executed reaching all parts of the city of New Orleans and the Gulf South.  Two years ago just before Easter, our ministry partnered with Awakening Events to pull off the largest concert outreach our city has ever seen with over 5,000 souls pouring into the UNO Lakefront Arena.  We have been blessed to work with some great speakers and musicians including Louie Giglio, Toby Mac, Lecrae, Skillet, Chris Tomlin, Newsboys, and many more at local churches and venues like the Superdome, New Orleans Arena, and Zephyr Field.

So what lies next?

This year we are launching “Abandon: The Movement,” a rebranding and strategic focus of our ministry as not just a non-profit, “production” company, but a “movement” of the local church impacting our city for eternity.  Abandon has never been tied to a denomination, particular church, or theological position, we’ve always been an organization that exists to “assist the local church, proclaim Jesus Christ, and mobilize God’s people in mission.”  Abandon: The Movement equals the mission we’ve always been called to expressed as church resourcing, church planting, church revitalization, and much more.

A few years ago our friend and past staff member Troy Gause, who currently serves our city through NOLA Church Plant on staff of Crescent City Community Church, inquired if Abandon ever saw itself planting or revitalizing churches.  At the time the answer was not known, but in praying for and partnering with churches in our city, we’ve seen great need for resources, revitalization, and planting efforts of the Gospel in New Orleans.  Honestly, an internal fear existed that our reach and impact might be diminished by any strong connection to particular local churches, but thank God that over the years many walls come down and the Holy Spirit has begun to move in a big way.  People now tend to care more about who you care for, Jesus and our city, than any particular brand or affiliation that you choose to work with to reach people for Jesus.

Church Planting and Revitalization

In fall of 2011, God led our founder and executive director Dean Ross to replant a church in Metairie called Lakeside.  A core team is coming together to revitalize and plant a new work of the local church in a part of our city that statistics show is both influential and unreached.  Another member of our team Dexter Gaspard, has formed a band called Awake the Bride and is more intricately involved in growing his local church called New Hope in Houma, LA.  Current board member and past staff member, Paul Irons faithfully serves his local church Lakeview Christian in New Orleans.  Abandon loves the local church and greatly anticipates what lies next as we build networks, create and craft events, and provide efforts to see churches across our city thrive and flourish in a new way.

Venue Development

Business as mission is a core principal described in Scripture and one we value at Abandon.  We have had a desire for a few years now to develop a music and multi-purpose venue to reach people in our city.  We have built relationships with and held events at some of the largest event halls and music venues in our city including the House of Blues and Hard Rock Café.  Beginning this month with “Abandon 2012,” we plan to start hosting regular concerts and events at Lakeside.  We can’t wait to see where this brings us and what developments lie ahead.  God has also given us a great vision for the Fat City area of Metairie, LA, with the potential to launch a mission’s center there in the years to come fighting for social justice and bringing compassion to an area in need of God’s love.

Events and Concerts

Abandon Productions is kicking back into full swing bringing the best and biggest life changing, community impacting events to Greater New Orleans.  We are developing a revival event called “Awaken The City,” holding our annual “History Makers” gathering this summer, and concerts at local venues and churches across the Gulf South.  Stay posted online for big announcements in the coming months.  We also have partnered with Artist Hub South, run by our own Brett Weller, to connect with local musicians and creative minds for the sake of networking, growth, and development of dynamic art expressed through music and other means in the Crescent City and Gulf South region.

Productions and The Movement

While “Abandon: The Movement” represents our heart and underlying passion moving forward, we still plan to continue with the “Abandon Productions” element of our ministry.  Our organization is officially registered as “Abandon Productions” and will operate under that name publicly and as “Abandon: The Movement” in the context of the local church.  We now have two primary websites with “abandonproductions.org” serving as our homepage and the site for information on upcoming events and “abandonthemovement.com” serving as the extension our ministry as a devotional blog equipping the local church and providing ways for churches and individuals to get involved in the movement.

Get ready for what lies next…  Stay posted.

The American church puts a major emphasis on Sunday morning gatherings.  The best attended weekends annually each year for churches are the holidays of Easter and Christmas.  Nothing quite wrong with gathering the church as the Bible says,

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” –Hebrews 10:23-25

The problem is when we put the emphasis on Sunday morning performance over day-to-day Christian living.  My childhood pastor taught me to do two things:  1) Love Jesus and 2) Work Hard.  Our love for Christ and desire to work hard for him should drive us to excellence, but excellence in what way?  What will be your show, your performance of excellence to Him?

I’ve said before that most Sunday mornings in churches across America can turn into nothing more than Christian karaoke sessions, singing songs we don’t back up with our lifestyle, followed by motivational speeches, aka sermons, that we never put into action.  All Christians are guilty of falling into this trap including myself.  I’ve seen the following statements made recently on social media:

“What is preaching accomplishing today?  It seems to me, and I began noticing this even back when I was a young boy, that the preacher sometimes preached really good life changing sermons, everyone greeted him leaving the church and told him what a wonderful sermon he preached, but I never saw anyone start living what he preached on.  That of course would include myself.  What’s the deal with this?  Is a sermon nothing but entertainment for a live studio audience?” –anonymous Facebook post

“How many sermons will American Christians have to hear before they finally believe the Gospel enough to tell others?” –anonymous Twitter post

My childhood pastor went onto say not only do we succeed in life as Christians by loving Jesus & working hard but those convictions should turn into three daily expressions of our faith:  1) Read your bible, 2) Pray, and 3) Share your faith.  Reading your bible daily & praying are often neglected by Christians but sharing your faith tends to be completely ignored.

“I believe that we’re prone to struggle with a sinful cowardice when it comes to sharing our faith in Jesus Christ. From inviting someone to church…to actually sharing our faith in Jesus with family, friends, classmates, or coworkers, most of us struggle.” –Mark Driscoll, pastor and author

The clear point is that it’s easier to put on “the show” on Sunday mornings rather than see it played out in your life.  Consider that when we refuse to show others the love of Christ in our day-to-day lives, we deem the Gospel to be false.  Rather than through humility submitting to Christ in sharing His Love with others by our words and deeds we struggle with our own pride rooted in the fear of man.  The Bible tells us,

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” –Galatians 5:22-23

These defining characteristics should set the Christian apart, the world should take notice, and the result should be “the show,” a great, life-altering, 7 day-a-week expression of the love of Christ to the world He desires to know Him?  What is your show?