City Street Evangelist in Florida Jail – Technology – redOrbit.
By Rusty Marks
Charleston (WV)-based street evangelist Brandt Russo was in jail Wednesday after trying to hold services at a church in Lakeland, Fla.
Russo was arrested Tuesday at Lakeland’s Ignited 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 the Ignited 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.
Friends and supporters back in West Virginia were trying to get Russo released from jail Wednesday afternoon.
Wilkinson said news of the arrest was posted on Russo’s MySpace Internet site, www.myspace.com/brandtishollywood. She said she has been flooded with calls and messages about the incident, most in support of Russo.
“I haven’t been off the phone all day,” Wilkinson said. “I’ve been getting e-mails from all over the world.”
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.
September 2nd, 2008 10:39 am
How interesting. I thought taking care of the poor, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and the jailed, seeing to the needs of the widows and orphans were supposed to be our first priorities, and in that sharing the good news, at least according to the apostles. Here is a church who proclaims they are so wonderfully in revival, but are so blinded to what Jesus would be doing if he were in Lakeland. I dare say he would be feeding and ministering to those men who are homeless. They actually think he would be in that church with them. Maybe they should take what is inside outside and see what kind of change it can bring about. What a shame that during the selfish height of revival, we forget what we are here for in the first place. Though I do not applaude civil disobedience, I do praise God for Mr. Russo who revealed the hearts of those who are wanting to give us some of their revival spirit. No thank you! God is truly faithful.
September 2nd, 2008 10:41 am
Now, now, Tammy, you are judging again! (Sarcasm here). Yes, you are right, though, he did reveal what was in their hearts.
September 3rd, 2008 1:03 pm
=) Me, judging? naw. =)