(We received this letter of testimony recently from Wes Neill, a policeman in Tyler Texas, that attended the "Beale Street Blast" this past May, 1999.)
I attended an event, May 6-9, 1999 that changed me, then changed my family and is having continuing repercussions to those who come in contact with me. This event, spiritually speaking, I would rank in importance only after my salvation, baptism. The event was a national street preachers convention known as The Beale Street Blast held in Memphis, TN. in conjunction with the Memphis in May Music Festival.
I have preached from the pulpit off and on for the last few years knowing that I am a preacher. For some time I have had a desire to do street preaching but just seemed "bound up" and could not get "off high center". The moment that I read about The Blast I knew that I had to attend. As soon as I mentioned it to my wife she said something like "I already knew that you had to go when I read that".
While at the Blast the music, the preaching, the training, the fellowship was ALL GREAT! I saw the difference that God’s Word (KJV) made in the lives of the families of those at the Blast. I saw a new power in my preaching knowing without a doubt that what I was preaching is God's Word. I felt the power of the Holy Spirit work through me when I opened my mouth and said "The Bible says...... I came to the Blast believing that the King James Version was the best translation and left knowing without a doubt that it is The Word of God. I had a fire lit in me that I pray will never go out.
About 1 month after returning home myself, my wife, my 17 hear old daughter, my 7 year old son and my 4 year old daughter went to a music and art festival about 50 miles from our home. We took a banner (which I got a The Blast), scripture signs (my wife had made) and gospel tracts. It was great! The first day we only had about 200 tracts with us and they were gone in the first hour. The second day we got out about 300 more. My whole family got lit up for the publick ministry. My son wanted Chick tracts for his birthday (he got some). We will be hitting the streets again very soon because we miss it and because there are souls that need to be wrested from Hell.
Many things were accomplished in my life at The Blast. First and foremost I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. I am no longer in a church with books but no Bible. I am in a Bible believing (KJV) church. My wife and I knew that we were called as a family to be missionaries and now we know where to: the streets! We are praying that someday we can go full time.
I want to thank everybody that had anything to do with The Blast. I want to say a special thanks to a 12 year old soldier for the Lord named, Austin Zander who showed me that I am without excuse.
I want to leave you with a final thought:
DON'T LET THEIR BLOOD BE ON YOUR HANDS!
"When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul." Ezekiel 33:8-9