The First Night celebration in downtown Raleigh draws large crowds each year who come to ring in the new year. In 2011, 9 people shared nearly 4,000 gospel tracts with attendees between 7-11 PM, taking advantage of the opportunity provided by such a large crowd. One conversation with some teens was cut short when their father made them leave. The outreach was considered a success overall. The document goes on to describe plans for an outreach at Mardi Gras in New Orleans, where the author will lead a team of 5 others, including a new mentee named Michael Creech, and requests donations to fund the trip.

1. First Night 2011 Outreach
The First Night Celebration in Downtown Raleigh draws as many as
40,000 people each year. They come to ring in the New Year with
the famous Acorn drop at midnight. This year’s activities included
several concerts, a fire dancing demonstration, children’s activities,
a giant Lite Brite and a resolution tree. Events like this one – where
the world draws a crowd – are perfect opportunities to share the
good news of Jesus Christ. 9 of us hit the streets from 7:00 – 11:00
PM and gave away nearly 4,000 gospel tracts… (Picture: Looking
down Fayetteville Street in Downtown Raleigh from the Capitol
building.)
Penny had a great evangelistic conversation going with this
group of 4 teens until their father came along and decided
that they had to leave. Sometimes that happens when you
evangelize on the streets. You cast the seeds and the birds
of the air come and snatch them away (see the Parable of
the Sower in Matthew 13). Still, God used our team
through several conversations that evening.
Michael Creech (in the light-colored sweatshirt) is one of
our newest team members and mentees. He is sharing a
tract with this young lady entitled, “New Year, New You”
which I wrote for the outreach. Michael is excited to tell
people about Jesus at every opportunity. He will be joining
us at Mardi Gras this year. Please pray for him as we teach
him how to share the good news of Jesus Christ effectively.
Our first attempt at reaching out for the New Year here in Raleigh was a huge success. At one point, one of
the celebration workers tried to shut our efforts down saying we weren’t permitted to hand things out. After I
explained our constitutional rights to free speech and informed him that I had already cleared our efforts with
the Raleigh Police Department, he gave up claiming it was a “gray area.”
We should never take our right to proclaim the gospel in a public arena for granted. One day soon, we are
going to lose that right in America. Thanks for praying and God bless…
Foundation Ministries PO Box 2151, Garner, NC 27529 www.onlyfoundation.org

2. Mardi Gras 2011 Outreach
March 3-7, 2011 – French Quarter, New Orleans, LA
Once again the Lord is leading me to join with Evangelist David Cobb and about 40 other evangelists on
the infamous Bourbon Street and around the French Quarter as we
witness one-to-one to the thousands of party-goers that flock to this
celebration. The things that happen during Mardi Gras are both
unbelievable and ungodly. It is vital to take the message of hope in
Jesus Christ to this dark place. We can only do it with your prayers.
This year, I am proud to have 5 people join my team of
witnesses. Mark Pluckhorn, Michael Creech, Bruce Parsons, Paul
Infranco (all from the Raleigh area) and Dan Christian from Colorado
will join with me and the other team members for this year’s effort.
We will drive to New Orleans early in the morning on
Thursday, March 3 and drive back on Monday, March 7. Dan will fly Mark Pluckhorn on Bourbon Street - 2010
from Colorado and join us there.
In order for me to lead the team, I must raise $1125 to cover lodging, fuel, food, tracts and ministry
support. In addition, I need to raise $500 to help cover the expenses for one of our team members who I am
currently mentoring. That makes a total of $1625 that I need to raise.
I invite you, first and foremost, to commit to pray for this outreach. With the open atmosphere of
sinfulness and darkness, Mardi Gras is the most spiritually demanding outreach I participate in. It is one huge
spiritual battle after another. So your prayers are absolutely needed for the team and me.
Second, I invite you help me go to New Orleans by giving a gift of $50, $100, $250 or some other
amount to help reach the lost party goers of Mardi Gras for Christ. I believe that God will take your investment
and multiply it producing a harvest of souls for the sake of the Kingdom. Give today…
Darrel…I want to join what God is doing at Mardi Gras…
Name: __________________________________________
[ ] I will commit to pray for the Mardi Gras
Address: ________________________________________
mission and the team members
________________________________________________
[ ] I will give a gift of…
City, State, Zip: ___________________________________
E-mail: __________________________________________ [ ] $50 [ ] $100 [ ] $250 [ ] $____________
Phone: __________________________________________ Use my gift….
Gifts to Foundation Ministries are tax-deductable and greatly appreciated.
Foundation Ministries exercises complete control over all donations. Thanks [ ] Mardi Gras Mission [ ] Where needed most
for your investment.
Foundation Ministries PO Box 2151, Garner, NC 27529 www.onlyfoundation.org