Charleston-based street evangelist in Florida jail
Charleston-based street evangelist Brandt Russo was in jail today after trying to hold services at a church in Lakeland, Fla.Russo was arrested Tuesday at Lakeland's Ignite Church and charged with trespassing after he tried to hold communion services on church property, said friend and supporter Charessa Wilkinson. Russo was in the Polk County Jail on $500 bond this morning, according to jail records.
An ordained minister, Russo decided to give up his worldly goods, live on the streets and minister to the homeless. Russo decided to settle in West Virginia after visiting the state on a religious tour.
Earlier this month, Russo took his vegetable oil-powered school bus on a trip to different cities he has visited to shoot a documentary film about life on the streets. Wilkinson said Russo decided to go to Lakeland after learning of the plight of about 40 homeless men who are trying to live in a swamp about 100 yards from Ignite Church.
Russo believes leaders of the church -- until recently, home of controversial evangelist Todd Bentley -- should be doing more to help the homeless men camped right outside their door, Wilkinson said.
Russo, who has been thrown out of or asked to leave several nationally known charismatic churches, is not above using civil disobedience to draw attention to the plight of the homeless.
I believe that Brandt Russo has done entirely what Jesus would have: stepped aside from the plight of the religious bigwigs and got himself a troublemaking reputation for standing up to defend the oppressed and marginalised right in the temple compound.
Meanwhile, all the charismatic big shots have come out to distance themselves from and apologise for Todd Bentley and the family of Michael Guglielmucci have come out to affirm his need for love and healing. Todd Bentley's wife Shonnah allegedly wants nothing more to do with him, whilst Michael Guglielmucci's wife Amanda is allegedly determined that their marriage will survive. Todd Bentley is said to be praying and thinking before saying anything public, whereas Michael Guglielmucci has been on prime-time Australian TV attempting to explain himself. And I've got to the point of wondering, maybe this is enough. Maybe, as a person interested in what's happening and willing to pray yet entirely untouched by the former ministry or current unravelling of either Todd Bentley or Michael Guglielmucci, I don't need to know any more. Maybe the discussion and speculation of both is now best left to those directly affected.
Instead, maybe the media spotlight and blog space could divert to individuals like Brandt Russo. He sounds an amazing prophet, role model and human...
*Grace wonders about spending the $50 she refused to be parted with earlier on sending a large bunch of flowers to Polk County Jail*
5 comments:
Wow, that's an awesome story. It's so easy to get sidetracked with people's downfalls, and we miss some amazing things that God is doing. To give uo everything and follow Jesus, it's what we're supposed to do - but we don't it happening very often. Thanks for sharing this.
Hi Grace,
Brandt Russo and folks like him make me feel tired - in a good way, sad and happy.
When all is said and done, all the emerging church conversations self-hoarsened, and the big-noise conventional churches bound again in admin, scandal and other miles of mummy-bandage, it's good to be reminded what counts is kindness to one another.
Shares the load and rejuvenates.
Thank you.
Steve (a little surprised at how weary he is)
F***ing good bloke.
Yes... awesome, exhausting impressive and f***ing good bloke. I've just had an email from one of his friends to let us all know he was released from prison this afternoon. Phew. I look forward to watching his documentary!
I applaud Brandt and those like him which are looking to help people they way Christ did. So many Christians have completely lost touch with the way Christ did ministry. Brandt is a reminder to us all to serve the "least of these."
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