|
To return to Main UPDATES Page, click here.
UPDATE - AUGUST 23, 2007: CHARLOTTE
Dear Friends:
We just finished an incredible week of WOW JAMS in Charlotte. I received the following email from Pastor Michelle Hoverson, the City Coordinator for the WOW JAMS:
Dear Grace Covenant Family:
How I wish it were possible to walk up to each of you and personally thank you for your involvement in WOW JAM/Charlotte. I know some were able to come and serve, some prayed, some recruited supplies, some gave dollars and some shared the opportunity with friends and family. Whatever your role…THANK YOU!
God’s grace was surely upon us and His presence was evident. The numbers below are the only way we can quantify the hundreds of testimonies from the WOW JAMs. I wish you could hear all of the testimonies that have been shared with me, such as…
…the custody in the airport on Monday and saw Stephen going through security and came
over and shared how attending the WOW JAM had encouraged his hope.
…the mother who doesn’t let her children out to play in the local neighborhood because of
the crime, but did on Thursday and they all received Christ as their Savior.
…the father and husband who took a very long walk from the back of the field, hand-in-
hand with a volunteer to the altar to give his life to Christ on Wednesday and then brought
his family on Friday so they could all “feel the joy in the air.”
…the 10 year old boy whose mom died when he was 2 and on Friday he not only accepted
Christ, but “forgave God for taking my mom.”
…the man who came up out of the waters of baptism with both arms held high shouting
“I’m free, I’m free!”
The stories of how God’s grace and love infected the hearts of thousands keep coming to the church, but for now, I can share these numbers which represent lives touched, changed, softened, captured and healed.
May the Lord continue to help each of us pray for those who were ministered to by His spirit in the coming days.
Keep letting your light shine!
Pastor Michelle
Because of You …At the WOWJAMs in charlotte in 2007…We Experienced
ATTENDANCE: 8790
Babies Rocked: 98
Bikes Repaired: 436
BOOK NOOK: 255
CAREER COUNSELING: 166
CHILDREN CRAFTS: 541
Children’s Games: 2390
Destiny Dress-up: 429
Face Painting: 863
FAMILY PHOTOS: 532
Food Served: 4094
Groceries Boxes: 2046 (35000 LBS)
Hair Cuts: 332
Health & Wellness: 209
Make Overs: 370
Nail Painting: 459
Plants Given: 400
SAMARITANS FEET: 1000
SENIOR SAINTS: 104
Snow Cones: 2727
Tot-Lot: 120
Water Baptisms: 121
Salvations: 1293
Thank You for playing your part to bring an outpouring of God’s Love to our cities!
Stephen Tavani
Founder and President/WOW
www.wowjam.com
UPDATE - JULY 20, 2007: LOS ANGELES
WOW JAM LA was historic in many ways: The largest number of interns we’ve ever had (148!) came from around the Country; more churches participated this year (32!), and the largest number of people saved at one Altar Call in the history of WOW (1,014!) occurred on Tuesday night at Houghton Park in Long Beach.
The largest Altar Call for salvation at one WOW JAM - 1,014 at Houghton Park in Long Beach!
We ran out of cards; so, even more responded, but 1,014 salvation cards were collected! The total number of salvations for the week was 2,162. Here are some other amazing statistics: 12,380 meals served, 278 bikes repaired, 6,378 plants given away, 535 family photos taken, 374 hair cuts, 803 faces painted, 1,900 snow cones, 460 nails done, 178 makeovers, 427 Kids Corner photos, 1,200 food boxes given, 1,200 Fiesta Corn, 277 kids crafts, 170 auditions, and even 2 wheelchairs repaired!
A couple with a rough background–he an ex-convict, gang member, and drug addict; she was destitute and dying of cancer; both were homeless and hopeless–came to the WOW JAM to score drugs and get high, thinking it was a party. He was on crutches after having been severely injured when a car hit him in the street. They came and got loved instead! BOTH accepted Jesus, part of the 1,014. I brought them to the stage and prayed over them. That night, the local church provided a place for them to stay and offered ongoing help.
Saturday was the big Baptism at Santa Monica Pier. The truck was set up by the beach where thousands had already arrived. We bused in over 200 people from around the City who were saved at the WOW JAMS. During the service and celebration, another 28 people received Jesus, and then we all headed for the ocean where a total of 216 were baptized. The couple I mentioned, above, also came to be baptized. They wanted me to baptize them, and I saw the joy on their faces as they walked into the water–he, still on crutches. After he came up from the water, he handed Glenn Todd the crutches and said. "I don't need these anymore. I am healed! “ He then proceeded to walk out of the ocean to everyone's amazement, including mine! Even more amazing was that all the burn marks under his arms, resulting from using the crutches, were gone!
A remarkable week, an awesome God! Please visit the website to see the amazing and many testimonies of God's grace. We are on to Charlotte where over 70 churches, hundreds of workers, and thousands of hurting people await the WOW JAMS. Please keep us in prayer, and please continue to support us with your prayers and financial giving. It is a big world, but we are winning it–one person at a time!
God bless you,
Stephen Tavani
Please see two Baptism Photos, below:
This couple came to the WOW JAM to get high, but got saved instead. The man is on crutches because he was hit by a car recently. Here they are being helped into the water by Glenbn Todd to be baptized.
After coming up out of the water, he handed his crutches to Glenn, told me Jesus healed him, and walked out of the water without any help! Praise God!!! The crutches are now in the
WOW truck. UPDATE: June 15, 2007 - Pomona
It was a beautiful day in Pomona!
Dear Friend,
The crowd was enormous, the people – wonderful, and everything was free! WOW JAMS never get old to me, and this time we were in Pomona with Pastor Craig Lawrence for our third WOW JAM. The mayor came out to greet the crowd, and we prayed over her. This was the first time that so many people responded to the invitation to receive Jesus that I did not ask them to come forward, but I asked the people that did not want Jesus to move to the side.
The people were so broken and desperate for something real in their lives. I thank God for the many workers that loved people all day and then ministered to people at the Altar Call. Thousands were fed, haircuts given, bikes fixed, groceries handed out, and much more; but the greatest achievement was: 379 people signed cards who received JESUS! The next day many came to church and 33 were baptized in a swimming pool set up on the church parking lot.
Would you please keep us in prayer, as we are just 9 days away from our big WOW JAM LA week. 135 interns are flying in from around the country, including New Orleans. We expect to minister to 17,000 people in four days in the toughest areas of Los Angeles and Long Beach, ending with a huge baptism in the ocean at Santa Monica Pier. The week will cost $200,000. Would you pray with us for finances, resources, workers, and many to accept Jesus. Thanks! I look forward to hearing from you.
PLEASE SEE MORE PHOTOS, BELOW.
God Bless You,
Stephen
Once again, the crowd was enormous.
 The cooking team fed the crowd grilled chicken, beans, rice, chips, and ice cream.
Two little kids in Kids Corner. This is the booth where kids get dressed up and prayed over. Then, they get a picture of themselves to take home.
 So many raised their hands to receive Jesus! It was so many that - for the first time - I had to ask people who did not want Jesus, to step to the side to make room.
 This couple had been going through a very rough time. They both received the Lord that day.
Another view of the numbers who raised their hands during the Altar Call.
This couple both received Jesus at the WOW JAM and came to the Baptism the next day. They wanted to be baptized together, so Pastor Craig Lawrence did just that!
UPDATE: May 31, 2007 - Fontana
The crowd was enormous, estimated between 6,000 and 7,000 people!
Dear Friends,
We were all amazed as over 6 thousand people gathered on a football field in Fontana for the WOW JAM on Saturday, May 19! Planes flew overhead with WOW JAM banners; 400 workers from 7 different churches ministered to the thousands. The Host Church was Water of Life with Pastor Danny Carroll. 112 bikes were repaired, 1,400 snow cones were given out, 3,011 burritos were eaten, along with 2,150 servings of ice cream, 110 family photos taken, and on and on!
But I–along with all the workers and crew–was awestruck at the power of God by the response for people to receive Jesus. 649 people filled out salvation cards and were saved and prayed for! They all received Bibles and wristbands with “I got saved at a WOW JAM” imprinted on it! In fact, over 1,000 Bibles were handed out. It was one of the biggest altar calls we have had at a WOW JAM. Even after the altar call and the prayer time, the crowd remained huge, and did not want to
go home.
With all the thousands present, there was a little 7-year-old girl named, Isabella, who came forward to receive Jesus at the Kick-off Rally on Friday night. Her parents were in tears to see their precious little girl get saved. The next day they all came to the WOW JAM and worked; then on Sunday, they all came to church and that afternoon little Isabella got baptized, along with over 111 other people. Thank you for your prayers. Please pray, as we will be in Pomona on June 2nd for
a WOW JAM with Pastor Craig Lawrence. The Bible says, “. . . The effective fervent prayer of
the righteous avails much.” Your prayers are the key as to why we are seeing the most phenomenal WOW JAMS we have ever experienced!
Please see the photos, below:
God Bless you,
Stephen Tavani
The altar call was one of our biggest, with 649 accepting Jesus!
People of all ages and walks of life got saved, including entire families.
This young man was experiencing the forgiveness of Christ as he wept.
Seven-year-old Isabella got saved at the Kick-Off Rally, worked at the WOW JAM, and got baptized that Sunday!
Pastor Danny Carroll takes time with a little girl he baptized. Over
10 people got saved at the Baptism.
UPDATE: May 22, 2007 - Azusa
The new look of WOW JAM Fiesta was a big hit!
Dear Friend,
On the weekend of May 11-13, we held the fourth WOW JAM in Azusa with Host Pastor, Eddie Ruano. I am blessed to serve with this exceptional man and his church. It is a small Hispanic church, but–even though small–they do HUGE things in their city. Pastor Eddie is now very well known in the city, and his influence is growing. The Mayor paid a personal visit to the WOW JAM and addressed the crowd. Their passion for the lost and their love, concern, and care given to those who get saved at the WOW JAMS are an example to any
city we go.
This year there were ten churches involved. The day of the WOW JAM 1,500 people gathered on a school field to be loved in practical ways. The mayor came to the WOW JAM and greeted the crowd. People who have been saved in the past few years at WOW JAMS came to be workers. In the middle of the WOW JAM we had a singing contest. The last person came up and sang, Amazing Grace. She has been living in a recovery home, has been through a lot; and, when she sang, the atmosphere was charged with the tangible presence of God's amazing grace! There were still many more things left to do, but I knew the time to preach was right then! 218 people responded to the altar call for salvation! Waves of God's grace flowed over all of us as people's lives changed forever. With tears in her eyes, the lady who sang came for a CONTEST but left with a CALLING, and that is to sing for the glory of God!
As often as I’m able to report the remarkable fact that thousands attend, hundreds get saved and baptized, I must say it never loses it's thrill for me! I stand in constant amazement each time it happens. I also need your prayers, as ministry comes at a great cost, and it is not all financial. Please lift us up in prayer as we contend for souls.
See the photos, below!
God bless you!
Stephen Tavani
Pastor Eddie and I praying for Mayor Joseph Rocha in front of the crowd.
The beautiful new backdrop for the Family Photos is wonderful!
This is when the woman sang, AMAZING GRACE, and the whole place was filled with the
Glory of God!
Pastor Eddie Ruano makes my messages better with his translating.
I am always thrilled and humbled at the sight of people accepting Jesus.
I love when I see a father and son raise their hands to accept Jesus.
One of my staff, Helen, tenderly ministering to a young lady in need.
The next day was Mothers' Day, and we had a catered lunch for everybody at the Baptism. All the mothers received beautiful roses.
Pastor Eddie baptizing a new convert full of joy!
UPDATE: May 11, 2007 - Fresno & Central Valley
The new look of WOW JAM Fiesta was a big hit!
Dear Friend,
We just finished a week of WOW JAMS in Fresno where 1,055 people accepted Jesus in four days. The theme this year is WOW JAM Fiesta! The desperation of people and the tough areas in which we go became a sobering reality as a young man was shot three times in the head just 100 yards behind the WOW truck. This occurred as I was giving the altar call for salvation. Although shots could be heard as I gave the call for salvation, 282 people came forward to accept Jesus, including adults, teenagers and children! As life was happening in front of the truck, death was happening behind it.
One pastor told me that, as he stood in the back of the crowd, he could see the whole scene with police cars and flashing lights on one side and the hundreds getting saved on the other. After I led people in a prayer of salvation, I gathered them all as close to the truck as I could. We prayed for the young man that was shot and for the people who shot him. I told the crowd that we live in a difficult world and, now that they have Jesus in their lives, they could be the elements of change for the community. As the moon shone bright with a warm summer breeze we all sang Amazing Grace. It was a powerful moment. That night I wept for the lost and for the young man that was shot and wondered if things might have been different if he and the other young men had come to the WOW JAM. He was only 100 yards from salvation and eternal life.
At the end of the week we bussed people from all four cities to Wild Water Park where 182 new converts were baptized in the wave pool. Thank you, all the churches that worked so hard that week. Thank you – all who receive these emails – and pray for us. We need your prayers, once again, as we do a WOW JAM in Azusa, California, this weekend.
Please see the photos, below . . .
God bless you,
Stephen Tavani
Our first WOW JAM in Madera. It was a HUGE crowd!
"Kids Corner" pictures tent. This lettle girl looks like a dream.
I love all the children that come to WOW JAMS!
Linda was singing up a storm with those giant pinatas!
We even had Fiesta Dancers!
The people were so in need of Jesus, they crowded up to othe stage for prayer.
At this very moment–as hundreds accepted Jesus–a young man was shot three times in the head, just 100 yards bhind the truck.
After the altar call I prayed with the crowd for the man who had been shot, and we all sang AMAZING GRACE. None of us will forget this moment.
This entire family got saved at the WOW JAM, and they all got baptized together.
It was a day of joy!
CLICK HERE For 2006 Updates
CLICK HERE For Updates from our Katrina JAMS
|
