Jesus' Jubilee Ministries wants help 'Pushing back the Darkness'

BRADENTON -- Jesus Christ never stood still for long. He understood to get God's word out meant He had to go to the people and not expect them to come to Him.

Christ never asked his disciples to sit inside a building to spread God's word. Instead he instructed them: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation."

That's the spirit behind Jesus' Jubilee Ministries, a new grassroots Bradenton church that believes you fight the darkness by confronting it. At 10:30 a.m. April 9, people are invited to meet at the vacant lot next to 1912 14th St. W. for a prayer march down 14th Street to the Manatee County Courthouse. At the end of the march, a special prayer service will be held for healing within the city of Bradenton.

Efforts from city officials and the police department are having an impact on turning the city around and progress is being made. The 14th Street West corridor has long been a target of officials for the next round of redevelopment and attracting new business. Walking the one of the city's most visible streets brings the realization the corridor continues to be a symbol of human pain and suffering.

The "Pushing Back The Darkness" event is encompassed in 2 Chronicles: 1-24 when vast armies threatened the existence of King Jehoshaphat. After prayer and fasting, the word of God stated: "Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's."

Jesus' Jubilee founder and long-time Pastor Roxanne Powell said that scripture lives within the prayer march.

"This isn't about any one church and certainly not me," said Powell. "I don't care if you never know my name, but I do want you to see Jesus in me. It's about the Lord, not me. While this is up to people like you and me to do, we are directed by the will of Christ and the word of God. We are the vessels carrying the message."

Powell said the entire city has areas of darkness to contend with, but 14th Street West was chosen because: "It seems like this is the heart of the darkness. Police are doing all they can, but this city needs help. Bradenton is hurting with all of these drug overdoses and sex trafficking. We are losing an entire generation of our children to these things that feed the darkness."

In 2 Chronicles: 1-24, the Lord told the king to not be afraid and to send his praisers out first to meet the coming army. Powell said that is how the prayer march will begin.

"We'll split into two groups," she said. "The first group will march down 14th Street and praise all the way to the courthouse and the second group will trail behind in prayer for everyone's healing."

Powell, who is active in the faith-based community, has worked with other churches in outreach programs in the same area. She has seen the hurt taking place and she said the Lord told her it was time for action.

"We try to build people up," said Powell. "Jesus never stood still so it's time to bring Him to the people. We want to work together with all of our brothers and sisters in unity to get us ready for revival and the coming of Jesus."

Powell is inviting all area churches and individuals to participate in "Push Back The Darkness" to allow the holy light of God to touch and heal those within the city who struggle through the darkness.

"We want these people who are hurting to see the body of Christ in action," she said. "It's time for the church to stand up and stand together."

Jesus' Jubilee Ministries became an official church in July. It has about a dozen "very humble, but very hungry" nondenominational Christians thus far, said Powell.

It is not a building, she said. It's a movement. Church members do meet when and where they can and hope to establish a home base for praise and worship, but will continue to follow Jesus' command to go into the world, "and preach the gospel to all creation."

For more information on the event, contact Powell at 941-879-6705.

Mark Young, Herald urban affairs reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7041 or follow him on Twitter@urbanmark2014.

This story was originally published March 24, 2016 at 9:04 PM with the headline "Jesus' Jubilee Ministries wants help 'Pushing back the Darkness' ."