Breaking News
August 27, 2008
Charleston-based street evangelist in Florida jail
Staff writer

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- 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.

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Posted By: andy (12:21am 09-13-2008)
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lets not forget that our words become our testimony of Christ and are very hard to get back once we release them. I doubt if anyone has ever come to Christ solely on the basis of words, absent of a loving relationship. and perhaps fewer have come through the banter of a newspaper message board. not all fights are worth taking. even Jesus was silent before His shearers [isaiah 53 mark 15:5], and when He spoke He chose his words wisely [mark 14:53-65]. lets instead pray for brant and for those who honestly ask questions and those here who seek only to start quarrels.
continue to speak the truth, but always in love [eph 4:15].

your brother,

Posted By: Larry (1:47pm 09-03-2008)
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I just read a comment by Fr Rick. He is giving priase to Ignited and its pastors for the work they have done in the city for the homeless. This is good. But what the leadership of this church has done is wrong. If all Russo was doing was offering the homeless a communion service and trying to minister to them, this was not criminal behavior. This was doing the work of Christ and the kindgom of Heaven. Ignited put a black eye on the Body of Christ by asking Russo to leave and then calling law enforcment. This is nothing more that a power and ego issue. It is like the Pharasies and Saducees and how they dealt with Jesus and his disciples. Every time Jesus did something great the first thing they did was wanted Jesus arrested. Ignited should have worked along side with Russo for the greater cause, the kingdom of God. But, it looks like Ignited is working for Ignited kingdom. My God this is a discrace. These mega churchs and pastors are power hungry money hungry sinners. They need Jesus.

Posted By: Dinonum (12:57am 08-31-2008)
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An incredibly important realization that I think so many of those commenting have forgotten is that none of us is perfect. To believe that even Mother Theresa didn't mess up and have moments when her intentions weren't even the most minimal percentage of selfish is ridiculous.

Whether Brandt has those selfish feelings isn't up to us to decide, but rather between Brandt and God.

The homeless population in one of the richest countries in the world, the U.S. is pretty ridiculous. Especially when you consider the resources we have available to take care of those who are in need. Churches, especially those which have poor literally living outside of their doors, should feel conviction to help them past their supposed "abilities" because we can do ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST! Why should helping the homeless men, women, and children be any different?

Also, we aren't necessarily called to be poor, but we are a Christian people in desperate need to be liberated from our materialism.

Posted By: Hyman Goldstein (12:38am 08-31-2008)
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Kooky:

1) Why does the church possess this infatuation with buildings and 501(c)3's? Does those things validate a minister or is validation found in the life one leads?

2) If 'the poor will always be among us' then christians will never have an excuse to not be helping the poor. What you did is called prooftexting and christians are very fond of it.

3) I've read my bible and can't seem to find the verse that states Jesus was rich (cash-plush). I've read that the Son of Man doesn't have a home. I've read that he had to borrow money to pay the temple tax. I can not find a single place that says he was rich with money.

4) Jesus didn't call anyone to a life of poverty; He called us to a life of community, sharing our possessions with those that have less. This is the 1st Church action taken when the Spirit moved in Acts 2.

People are not blessed so we can have stuff. We're blessed so that we can give to others in need.

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