CHRISTAFARI YEAR-END UPDATE (By Mark Mohr)
Jan. 6, 2006 - Dear Friends,
Happy New Year from Christafari! The wonders never seem to cease when you are serving the Lord! We have felt your prayers over the last year. In fact, just a few days after we last asked you to pray that the Lord would provide us with a guitarist, we found one! His name is David Martinez and he is a Guatemalan graduate of Berklee College of Music that is presently the music minister of a Spanish church in Hollywood, CA. He fits in perfectly with the rest of us and joined the group right before our first visit to Buenos Aires. It sure was nice to tour Latin America with three band members that speak Spanish!
SALVATIONS IN ARGENTINA
Our visit to Argentina was a tremendous success and we had the privilege of ministering before an estimated 22,000 people! We recently received the following e-mail from one of our liaisons in the country:
"Blessings in Christ. I want you to know that at your concert on the night of September 24th in Buenos Aires, over 400 youths raised their hands and accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior! Glorify Him! Now is the time for us to follow up with these new converts, take care of them and bring them to the church! Give thanks to God for saving these souls!"--Pablo
As you can see, the Lord is still doing wonderful things through our humble ministry both at home and abroad. After returning from South America, we performed a few local concerts in Southern California (Carpinteria, Kings Harbor & Biola). People are getting saved and we praise the Lord for this continually!
CONCERT TONIGHT AT R.H.C.C.
On January 6th at 7:00 PM you have an opportunity to see Christafari minister live in concert at Rolling Hills Covenant Church. This concert will be a sort of a homecoming for myself, since I started the band on that same stage back in 1989! The evening is presented by Sowers International to benefit their new orphanage, Haven of Hope, for Muslim orphans in the Philippines. This concert is the perfect outreach for your un-churched friends. The music will be upbeat reggae and the call to follow Jesus Christ will be clear. For more information go to http://www.christafari.com or see the above post.
RECORDING 'IMISI
Also performing that night are Avion Blackman, Solomon Jabby and a group of Polynesian brothers from the South Pacific Island of Tonga called 'Imisi. These siblings now reside in Southern California and have joined Christafari on various tours throughout the years (Including the 2002 Winter Olympics). I have been personally working with them and mentoring them for almost ten years and have watched them grow from youths (Youth Exodus) into mature music ministers. Whether at their home congregation in Riverside, CA, or touring the world with their unique brand of music, these brothers never fail to proclaim the love of their Lord Jesus Christ. Over the last three months I have been spending the majority of my waking hours working with them in producing their next album-an evangelical musical ministry tool like no other. This album titled "Forward", contains all live instruments, and some of the most captivating gospel reggae that I have ever heard. "Forward" will be in stores on May 2nd. But don't wait until then to jam out to 'Imisi, grab a copy of their debut album "Visions of the Father" and hear what all the buzz is about.
OUR HEALTH
As you can imagine, 14-hour back-to-back days in the studio can take a toll on one's body. My health has suffered recently because of our rigorous recording schedule. Five of our band members ended up catching this nasty cold that is going around, and mine took a turn for the worse, resulting in a serious bout with chronic bronchitis that I have been fighting for the last two months.
As this New Year kicks off, we humbly ask for your continued prayers:
PLEASE PRAY FOR CHRISTAFARI:
For continued strength in our Marriages
For more opportunities to perform and share the gospel of Jesus Christ
That many find Jesus through our future albums and performances
The Lord's constant guidance and provision
For our health (and especially Letitia (Vocals) who is five months pregnant)
For a 15-passenger van for our local/U.S. tours
For Mark and Avion's upcoming trip to Trinidad and Tobago (Feb, 14th)
For the recording of Christafari's next album over the next few months
Thanks for your support. We covet your prayers!
May you be showered with all the spiritual blessings from above!
Swimming in His Grace,
Mark Mohr and Christafari
http://www.christafari.com
Note: Christafari and Lion of Zion are ministries that survive primarily through the financial support of those who believe in our vision and purpose. If you have been spiritually blessed by our music and ministry and wish to help keep our work alive by blessing us with regular support or a one time tax deductible love-gift, please contact info@christafari.com with an inquiry and we will send you our support letter. Thanks for your consideration.
