Enoch Magazine is back helping the homeless in Skid Row in Downtown Los Angeles. Last March we took our first journey to help the homeless and we’re back to continue the work we started. Listen to Brandt Russo as he talks about the overwhelming experience of people reacting to our Skid Row Trip. You can read the interview Enoch Magazine did with Brandt here.,p>

Read the Brandt Interview Part 1

I had the chance to talk with Brandt Russo; he is a simple man that desires to see the world change. Some may call him a radical, hippie, communist and even a homeless pastor… But I just see him as another human being with a good heart. Someone who realizes that something is broken in the world, and he’s trying to do something about. This interview went much more in depth than I expected, so we’re breaking it up into 2 parts. This is Part 1…

Enoch Magazine) To start us off I was wondering if you could give the readers a bit of your background/story?

Brandt Russo: My name is Brandt Russo. I am a 24 year old disciple of Christ from a small southern Louisiana town called New Iberia. I grew up in church all of my life. Jesus was a household name. Never had any kind of lasting relationship with Him, nor did I ever see much great evidence of Him growing up in small “full gospel” churches, just one of those things that I had to find out first hand.

I come from a big family with 4 younger brothers and a baby sister, who I’m still trying to get to know to this day. I was always the black sheep of the family it seemed, everything from music, to arts, to the way I dressed seemed in complete opposition to the way things were supposed to be in the Russo household. I was home schooled until 10th grade, and then wrapped up my high school career at a small christian school called Assembly Christian.

I attended Texas Bible Institute for two years after high school and then immediately after graduating, I started traveling. “Seeking” is a much more suitable word. My two years at bible college laid an amazing foundation of faith in my life, and it’s where I feel I actually said yes to Jesus for the very first time; Yet the excess and abundance taught there, along with the favoritism showed to students of certain prominent families left me scarred. I began to learn about Jesus, structure of the “church” and all that pertains (i.e. christian book stores, bible colleges, ect). This all seemed to mirror organizations and societies that Jesus constantly rebuked, (in love of course).

I spent a couple of years traveling and church hopping, offering assistance by merely being a servant and trying to learn the difference between the many denominations. What made them so different and so secluded from one another? After traveling and working with churches, and realizing that no one would ever take much interest in a heavily tattooed, long haired, pierced pastor, I gave up searching to merely “existing.” I was burnt out on ministry, or at least the ministry was portrayed to me.

I moved to College Station, TX and worked two jobs for about a year with tons of down time. I had a lot of time to read, pray and pick the minds of church folk about why things remained in such turmoil within the church. I picked up a book called “The Irresistible Revolution” by a wonderful man named Shane Claiborne. It ended up changing my life and opening my eyes to a “new” Jesus. A Jesus easily neglected by the local church and rejected by religious elite. The Jesus I never seemed to know. The Jesus who blessed the poor, rebuked the rich, loved the broken hearted, the homeless, the whores and crack addicts. The Jesus who came to bring those who claim to sight, blindness, and not only offered freedom to the oppressed, but oppressor as well. The Jesus who recklessly destroyed my preconceived ideas about Him (portrayed by America), and His plan for my life, and this is when i really started my journey as a disciple.

I sold all I had, and what I couldn’t sell I gave away. Purchased a VW camper van and just left. God called me to the streets, to the broken and neglected, and what seemed like a simple task still leaves me shaking my head at how great His purpose is for our loves. He has called me to be a bridge. A bridge between the rich and the poor, the mediocre and the overly zealous. The pharisee and the tax collectors.

Now I travel the US preaching about the Love of God, Jubilee, Redistribution and the early church. I live on the road and do all I can to love like Christ loved. I dumpster freshly thrown out food and prepare meals for the hungry, repair clothes for the naked, and just meet whatever needs I see and feel led to meet. All the money I receive, I re-distribute to those in need. There are no class lines in the Kingdom of God. No division, no separation. We are called to be the Body. One heart, one mind, and if it takes us all selling everything once again and ending poverty like the early church, praise the Lord. God has always used voices crying out in the wilderness, calling His people back to the desert (proper way of doing things). I am just yet another one of those voices.

I’m no celebrity nor do I ever want that. I just want to follow Jesus to the margins, and tell beautiful stories of His provision in my life and the lives of the people I meet. To God be ALL the glory!

Enoch Magazine) Wow that was a full blown background check my friend! You said in the last few lines of your story that you didn’t see yourself as a “celebrity.” But it seems as though you have still created some sort of craze. People are following you and wanting to do what you do. How do you respond to that?

Brandt Russo: Well I just think that people long fora revolution of sorts. We all look at the 60’s, and see a generation of kids who were actively involved in change. They didn’t wait for the delegation of the government to actually take the problem into their hands, and inter dependently seek change. I just did what so many people are now coming around to do, and that’s believing that what Jesus said was real and relevant and is to be enacted now.

I mean I have no idea why magazines, and documentary makers have been knocking on my door for a chance to look into my life. I’m a kid that’s trying to figure things out, and I’m very quick to make mistakes, but if you really want to live life, you have to expect to make mistakes. So long have we lived in this culture of “Christian Celebrities” that have such eloquent speech, bright white teeth, and live far far away from any type of suffering, (apart from having to perhaps wait in line at a department store, or a cramp from a book signing). Usually somewhere down the line we find out that they have been a closet homosexual, or have had affairs. Its all because we put people on these pedestal and the pressure to perform keeps them in so much fear to screw up, that when they do they hide it until it comes out like a media fireball. Community is so important, because not only is the act of confessing our sins one to another a lost art, but pride keeps us from truly being able to love.

My story is just as valuable as anyone’s. Sometimes when I’m speaking at a conference, or at a huge church, I stand and wonder why these people are listening to my words and yet I will never get the chance to hear theirs. Why does a pastor stand for two hours telling the people what to believe, and then they leave awaiting the next weeks lesson while holding in disagreements, fears, captivating thoughts, all because they aren’t the pastor and don’t feel they have the right. Its nonsense, because Jesus made us all wonderfully, and completely capable of love. I don’t know, I just know my self to well to take someone seriously when they say im there hero.

Enoch Magazine) So in essences are you saying that you would rather have people look towards what Christ did, rather than you as their “hero?”

Brandt Russo: Is this a trick question? I am as goofball as they come. I usually most relate with peter. I’ve got this earnest desire to do things for my Lord, with every good intention, but then I just ending up cutting people’s ears off. mewithoutYou has a song with lyrics that I relate to. “I do not exist, only you exist.” Its not me that lives, but Christ. Any good you can extract from my life comes from God, and the mistakes are mine. People would fall in the presence of Peter, and he would just tell them, “Get up (silly), I’m merely a man like you”. That being said…I still think this is a trick question.

Enoch Magazine) Ok, trick question: no, I’d never do that to you. But seriously man, what does a day consist of for you?

Brandt Russo: This is something that is far from typical. I never have a typical day. Lately, I have a veggie oil powered school bus that I converted into a homeless shelter/food kitchen/place, to give and receive love. So no matter where I go in that thing; whether to the grocery store or to a downtown “feed,” we always draw a lot of attention which means tons of new friends. I’m not in the business of feeding homeless people, but more into the idea of people eating together. When the rich and the poor meet, class lines dissolve into brotherhood.

Usually every night we leave around 10 o’clock to dumpster dive for food, drinks and whatever we can find to serve the poor and homeless. No matter where I am, I try to go under the bridges and serve the homeless with whatever food we end up finding from the dive the night before. Honestly, every day varies. I have no idea what I’m going to do from day to day. Some nights I’m sleeping on the streets with the homeless simply because I don’t want to leave them. And the late night stories are the best! Other nights I’m sleeping on the floor of a million dollar mansion trying to convey the compassion of Christ to a confused businessman I may have met on the streets. I just wake up and go wherever He leads me. It’s like Mary told the servants at that party in Cana, “Whatever He tells you to do, DO IT,” (John 2 verse 5).



Enoch Magazine is a non-profit media movement, which documents the pulse of current culture and how that relates to love, faith and understanding. Last April, a team of 8 individuals from different cities and states joined together for an Enoch Documentary in Skid Row Los Angeles. We walked the streets day and night, spent time with the people and distributed food and water. Our focus in filming this experience was not to show what we had done, but to show what the needs of Skid Row are and how outsiders (such as ourselves) could begin to meet some of those needs.

By the end of the trip, we had met with almost everyone you could think of: Housing Coordinators, Substance Abuse Councilors, Street “Celebrities,” Homeless people, Drug Dealers, CEO’s, Pastors and Street Ministers. We learned that the first real need for Skid Row is to assist those who are already down there working everyday to make a difference in people’s lives. Most of them are under funded. Nevertheless, they have dedicated their lives to assisting the poor and the addicted, so they know what works and what doesn’t.

Meeting Patrick and his crew was a particularly interesting experience. As we’ve always said, our plan for Skid Row was to have “no plan.” We wanted to see how God would lead us once we set foot on the streets. But as we got out of the car and stood on the streets all kinds of stuff happened: threats to harm us, burn our car, and a woman crying and asking for new pants cause she had just urinated on herself.

We left soon after that, overwhelmed with emotion and a little fear. But later that night we regrouped, prayed, and Uli searched youtube for anyone that was connected to Skid Row. That’s how we found Patrick.

Uli found his website (www.jonahproject.org), called him up and told him our situation. He agreed to meet us the very next day and take us into Skid Row. This video shows the time we spent with Patrick throughout the week and specifically the very day we met.

*Editors Note*
It’s important to note that not only was Patrick the guy that brought us in to Skid Row, but he also brought us in WITH the camera. It was his confidence and familiarity with San Julian St. that allowed us to openly film on the streets, despite those early threats of violence.

Enoch Magazine ) What are some of your favorite tv shows, podcasts, or movies that you enjoy and why?

Tim Convoy : On TV I like, The Shield, The Office, and Mad Men. As far as podcasts, there’s a band called Tally Hall that has the most amazing internet show EVER. www.tallyhall.com

Enoch Magazine ) If you could open up for your favorite band who would it be and why?

Tim Convoy : It’s a tough question, but we fantasize a lot about opening up for bands like Ween, Weezer, and They Might Be Giants.

Enoch Magazine ) Are your morals and values ever challenged on the road? What did you base your morals and values on?

Tim Convoy : Most my challenges on the road involve finding a place to do laundry, or finding someone else to do my laundry, or finding a place for someone else to do my laundry. Morally, having someone else do my laundry can be challenging, but i persevere.

Enoch Magazine ) Faith seems to an important thing in so many peoples lives. What is your perception of Jesus and how did you get that perception ?

Tim Convoy : Wow! That’s a BIG one! I think a person’s faith, spirituality, religion, etc is something that should constantly evolve and grow as any person hopefully evolves and grows. I think there’s nothing more important than not only tolerating, but respecting other people’s points of view on those topics. Even between the 4 members of Ludo, we certainly believe very different things but absolutely respect each other’s beliefs!

Enoch Magazine ) Where did your inspiration come from that led you to play keyboard?

Tim Convoy : I guess it was necessity as much as inspiration, Tim and Andrew needed a keyboard player, so i dove in! I think i was always passionate about the moog though, especially from bands like Weezer and The Rentals that i listened to growing up, and then a lot of moog-heavy classic rock stuff i got into from there.

Enoch Magazine ) Our magazine is doing a clothing drive for the homeless who live on Skid Row in Los Angeles right now. Have you had any experiences with the homeless and what do you think a person can do to help with this epidemic.

Tim Convoy : We’ve been fortunate enough to work with a charity called LiveFeed to help raise money to feed the homeless. Through our work with them we’ve learned a ton about just how bad the problem is, and how just a little bit can go a long way towards helping people. You can check out their site at LiveFeed.org

Enoch Magazine ) If ludo broke up tomorrow and you had to get another job. What would you do and why?

Tim Convoy : On TV I like, The Shield, The Office, and Mad Men. As far as podcasts, there’s a band called Tally Hall that has the most amazing internet show EVER. www.tallyhall.com

Enoch Magazine ) In good will hunting, You say the girl has an Oompa Loompa problem. What does that mean to you?

Tim Convoy : It’s actually “Oompa Loompa monkey problem.” It’s an issue that affects millions of Americans each year.

Enoch Magazine ) Warped tour has been compared to a circus or a traveling carnival. What was your warped Tour experience like?

Tim Convoy : I would liken it to a circus, or a traveling carnival. …it was definitely one of the best experiences we’ve had a as a band. We would knew it would be fun, but it was better than we expected. We played to tons of people, made tons of friends, and have stories i’ll be telling for the rest of my life.

Enoch Magazine ) St Louis is considered the gateway to the west. What are your favorite parts of St Louis and do you consider yourself a Cardinals fan?

Tim Convoy : I guess my favorite part of St. Louis is that it’s home. i was born here, and have lived here almost my entire life. Favorite parts would be the Loop, Soulard, the Central West End, and Kirkwood where i grew up. I’m absolutely 100% a Cardinals fan.

Enoch Magazine ) There has been much talk about your former bassist, Marshall, Are you sad about his loss from the band?

Tim Convoy : Absolutely. We all are. You don’t expect things like this to happen and it really sucks, but we’re trying to focus on the future and all the positive things ahead.

Enoch Magazine ) I like to cruise around whole foods and eat a bunch of samples of soup, and then i hit the olive bar. I once took my senior editor along on this journey for the free meal. Do you have any shady moves or rituals you like to pull and why?

Tim Convoy : Hmmm…. not really. But back in the day we spent full days at CiCi’s Pizza buffet.

Enoch Magazine ) Does Ludo ever go to guitar center and rock out on silly instruments while you are on the road and what is the current gear you are using?

Tim Convoy : No, not really….maybe we should. I currently play a Moog Voyager and an Alesis Q series keyboard. And from time to time a melodica and glockenspiel.

Once I read that the video of Johnny Foreigner’s ‘Salt, Pepa and Spinderella’ was banned from UK TV in fear that it could cause seizures, I had to check it out. I just had to. So I wandered over to youtube and finally found the link to the forbidden video… Sure, I got a small headache within the first minute of watching the videos, with its choppy, quick-paced stop motion, but I couldn’t really see what the big deal was.

‘Waited Up ‘til It Was Light’ is the debut album of the Birmingham trio, a collection of fast paced, slightly trashy pop songs that appeal to “people what like the same bands as we do.” I must be one of these people, because I seem to really like this British band, very much indeed. This album appeals to me as something you’d blast out of your cd player/ipod/computer when you’re getting hyped up for a big night out. The array of fun tunes on this album easily gets your heartbeat pumping and excitement coursing through your veins. I have every intention of adding it to my ‘getting ready’ playlist…as soon as I make one.

From looking at their myspace page, it’s simple to see that Johnny Foreigner are poppy and childlike, an approach to the music industry which can be seen as immature, but this British outfit do it with ease. They’re like the UK’s answer to Australian band, The Grates. You never see many of those, free-spirited, colourful bands these days.

Johnny Foreigner’s debut album ‘Waited Up ‘til It Was Light’ is out now on Best Before Records, and can be picked up on itunes or at HMV.

The band is; Alexei Berrow (guitars/vox), Kelly Southern (bass/vox), Junior Elvis (drums).

Check out Johnny Foreigner on Myspace

They might not have thousands upon thousands of fans on myspace, they might not have a proper band biography in their ‘about me’ section, but in their photos, but hot damn, Paramount Styles make some good music.

‘Failure American Style’ is the musical child of Girls Against Boys singer/guitarist Scott McCloud, an album where the collaboration and participation of various well-known performers, like Courtney Love and Richard Fortus from Guns N Roses encouraging McCloud to mature as a performer and create a fantastic blend of moody rock, enhanced with his smooth acoustic guitars and heavy bass line.

McCloud’s deep vocals remind me somewhat of Courtney Taylor-Taylor of the Dandy Warhols, which, if I were McCloud, would take as a compliment. His rich voice as well as the upbeat and innocent instrumentals shadow over the slyly dark lyrics of ‘I Keep Losing You’, making it take me a couple of listens to hear the mean threats underlying; ‘If that don’t work, I got a gun if you wanna run’

‘Failure American Style’ shows the maturity and sincerity in McCloud’s songwriting, showing old Girls Against Boys fans just what has happened to their favorite singer in the five-year semi-hiatus that Girls Against Boys have been undertaking. McCloud stated that he wanted to make a solo record without sounding too much like a singer/songwriter, and I believe that he has reached that, because, without knowing his background, you would think that Paramount Styles is a band that has been around for quite some time, perfecting their dark sound and creating moody atmospheres for years.

‘Failure American Styles’ is out now on Dutch label KonKurrent, and Touch and Go is distributing it on U.S. shores.

Paramount Styles is; Scott McCloud, featuring drummer Alexis Fleisig, guitarist Richard Fortus, singer Angela McCluskey, cellist Marlan Barry, and composer/pianist Paul Cantelon.

Check out Paramount Styles on Myspace

The strange scene unfolded around me. I felt as if I were a piece of a living oil painting. There I was, on my motorcycle, riding through Glencoe campground in Sturgis, South Dakota at the cusp of midnight. I never could have imagined the surreal landscape unraveling before me. I felt like I was riding through hell.

The canyons echoed with the thunder from the millions of Harley Davidson engines roaring throughout the night. The darkness was pierced with bonfires and strings of lights. The parade of obscenity and absurdity preceding our group’s trek toward the shower facilities was nothing, if not mind blowing.

On a flatbed pickup driving slowly in front of us sat a 70 year-old woman, with a string of beads around her neck — and nothing else. The fence along the road was covered with bikers and their ladies shouting, chanting, drinking, smoking, and tossing things at the parade rolling through in front of them.

Somehow, our missions team became a part of the parade.

I dodged a beer can flying across the aisle and almost laid it down on the gravel campground road as I saw a rubber phallus attached to a fishing pole being cast out into the traffic. This parade was a party; an annual ritual for millions of blue collar faithful, ex military, dissatisfied professionals, and young roving rebels. During Sturgis Bike Week, this campground becomes the fifth largest city in South Dakota.

Our small team was prepared for this, however. We knew, to some extent, what we had gotten ourselves into. Choosing one of our nation’s most hedonistic party weeks to be “the city on a hill” was pretty ballsy. We were, and still do believe we are, the messengers of light in a dark world. Our hearts needed to be pure, our minds clear from distraction, and our faith on solid ground.

The depravity far surpassed midnight parades promoting sexuality, drunkenness, open drug use, and celebrated gang violence. The worst of the offenses against God was, to me, a toss up between blatant idolatry and the commercialization of the Cross.

I have always found it to be disheartening to see people using the name of Christ to make a few bucks. What really galls me is using a commercial logo and altering the words to make a generic Jesus statement. Not only is it tacky, but copyright infringement is illegal. You and I both know that Jesus is the King of Kings, but putting the same message on a Budweiser logo doesn’t impress anyone. Those actions only further the case that Christians are frauds.

Our visit to Sturgis was in 2005, at the height of the motorcycle craze. This was a time when the lines for Orange County Choppers extended for nearly a mile, as people hoped to meet their television idols. We had a chance encounter with Billy Lane, of Choppers Inc (and Bike Build Off fame) at our Free Oil Change tent. These guys, who could be seen on A&E, The Learning Channel, and The Discovery Channel walked around like gods and kings.

The people of Sturgis wanted a king, and Paul Teutul Sr was the one to whom they pledged their allegiance to, and bowed for. The Teutuls have no qualms about being biker royalty, they gladly accept the money being handed to them, hand over fist.

Having the opportunity to show the biking community in Sturgis the love of Christ isn’t about rules and judgment, but about love and care for one another.

I have always found myself drawn to the “dregs of society,” the unwashed, unwanted souls who seem to have been overlooked, forgotten, and left out. I feel sympathy for them. As a child, I was never picked first for anything. I was smart, but not smart enough. I was strong, but not athletic. I was funny, but not the funniest.I understand what it is like to be misunderstood.

Apparently, so did Jesus. He surrounded Himself with fishermen, tax collectors, and uneducated laborers who were deemed not good enough to be professional religious scholars. In the Jewish culture of the day, every young man was examined for potential to become a student of a rabbi and learn the faith. To be a professional clergyman was both prestigiously and financially rewarding. Those who were found to be “not good enough” were sent to the workforce. Not only were they denied the education, but they would also be treated as lesser people.

Go easy on those who hesitate in the faith. Go after those who take the wrong way. Be tender with sinners, but not soft on sin. The sin itself stinks to high heaven. Jude 1:22-23 (The Message)

Read Rosh’s other Article HERE>>

The tour guide looked at us and said “Montellano? Why would you even WANT to go there?”

He had good reason to be nervous at the request. A van full of Gringos had no business in the suburban ghettos of Puerta Plata. But Benjamin is a man of his word and he promised to take us wherever we wanted to go; even if we did want to go to Montellano. Montellano is a small Dominican Republic town on the outskirts of one of the nation’s most bustling tourist attractions. The resorts were beautiful, with lush lawns, happy workers, safe beaches, and walls to keep the riff raff out. The walls around our resort, The Riu Bachata, and others were unimposing from within. From the outside, however, the walls were symbols of the Dominican inability to join with Western civility and prosperity. The walls house an unattainable utopia to be enjoyed by foreign visitors only. The walls protect those within from the horrors on the outside.

We traveled in a cramped van towards a gas station the small village where we were to meet our contact. Cara was a young girl of twenty-two years; a short statured Texan with a heart of gold and a smile that could paint a thousand skies. She would then lead us to the school where we would visit with the children and share the books, supplies, and game balls we brought with us from home. The children we met were an absolute delight. I had my lip pierced, as well as my ears and cartilage. The near dozen tattoos fluttering about my arm were different to these kids. Such excessive living is something that most, if not all, of them will never see. “EL GIGANTE! EL GIGANTE!” one boy yelled as I approached. The he grabbed my arm, looked at the picture of Jesus laughing and tried to rub the tattoo onto his arm. If only getting inked were so easy.

The children, as we came to find out, were mostly illegal Haitian immigrants. After a certain age, Haitian children are forced out of the public schools, leaving them to remain uneducated and unable to find work. There are an estimated 1M illegal Haitian immigrants in the Dominican Republic, a number seemingly small until compared to a general populous of barely 9M. What we had also come to learn is the hatred for the illegals by the Dominicans. I tried to learn the reasons as to why there is such animosity towards people sharing the island of Hispaniola, but could not find just one reason. The blatant racism has facilitated over a century of violence and hatred. But in this little school building, hatred has no home. Makarios has been educating Haitian children who are unable to attend public schools since Sharla Megilligan began the program in the spring of 2004. The organization is Christ-centric and the staff are young Gringos with a greater hope for a better world for all of God’s children.

The school is not only a place of learning, but a place of healing — as doctors and dentists make routine visits to the children lacking government programs or finances to afford basic health care. The staff at Makarios also teach the students, who are separated into classrooms by age to facilitate progressive education, to play sports, maintain gardens, and love like Jesus loves — unconditionally. Life in Montellano isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Last week a Dominican mob destroyed at least ten Haitian immigrant dwellings in response to the brutal killing of a Dominican motorcycle courier by three armed thugs. The attackers used machetes in the mugging and murder of 35 year-old Rafael Ventura Tineo.

For many Haitians living in the Dominican, life can be frightening. But even the threat of violence cannot return them to the destitute squalor they live with in Haiti. Mob violence has been on an upswing. Haitians are being persecuted, often to the point of death, by the resident host Dominicans for infractions and even simple accusations, a scene all to reminiscent of the pre-civil liberties movement in the United States. Hatred is ugly. The Dominican Republic is pock marked with violent outbursts. One can only hope that the smiles of the children are a beacon of promise to end such travesties

To Learn More Check out

Makarios International Organization and Latienda

Read Rosh’s other Article HERE>>

Enoch Magazine traveled to Atlanta Georgia in early December to document a street minister named Sean Rogers. Sean does a lot of work with the local men’s homeless shelter, and it was outside that shelter that I ran into Karl. Certainly, the first thing you notice about Karl is his swollen eye. He told me he had been robbed and beaten with a metal pipe the previous night, but he also admitted that he shouldn’t have been where he was when he was…and he left it at that.

This video featuring Karl is the first Enoch video that is literally not edited. It’s important to note that this conversation occurred while Karl had a concussion, and was on a 24 hour watch, (in case fluid started to run out of his nose). But with no health coverage, the hospital prescribed him some basic pain medication and released him and his clenched pillow back to the streets. His eye looked way worse in person, so you can imagine my joy when Karl asked if I could take him to the CVS store and pay for his medicine. Karl didn’t have the $11 to pay for the cheapest pain reliever that was prescribed to him. When I agreed, he told me he had already submitted the prescription order, asked what it would cost and then prayed that God would provide the means to pay for it.

Once I paid for Karl’s prescription at the CVS store, he asked for some additional items, like neosporin, deodorant, a razor and coco butter. Homeless ministry can get confusing for some people when money becomes involved. Most people start to worry about being taken advantage of. Others have a strick “no money” policy when they’re on the streets, (like Sean Rogers sitting next to Karl in the photo), so the money issue never even becomes an issue.

When Karl asked me to buy him some extra items, I felt a bit of fear rush through me for a moment, but then I remembered that I too was trusting in God to help me financially (since I was fired from my job a year and a half ago). I figured, “What’s the difference from being broke a little sooner? I’ll still be trusting God the same.” So I just nodded my head and focused on the fact that I was given the chance to help a beautiful person such as Karl. (It’s true what they say; The less you have, the easier it is to give……I learn that NOW!)

I believe Karl was sent to that location in Atlanta so I could meet him and thousands of viewers could hear what he had to say. You’ll notice at the beginning, he says “…God is speaking to you, through me.” Normal people just don’t talk like that! I guess Street Faith and the World Wide Underground is more alive than we originally thought. It’s a reminder to me that some of the least expected people stand up for Christ first.

Rockstars and famous people around the world have millions of people listening to them, but they never say the kind of stuff Karl did. I just think it’s crazy that the person who immediately shares his testimony and tells others about Jesus is a beaten, abused, homeless man with no possessions. As I logged our footage from that weekend in Atlanta, I noticed I have more footage of Karl, so you’ll probably see more of what he had to say that day. But I’ll say, the whole “Karl” experience was pretty encouraging.

DJ Morph (aka dj morphiziz) is probably one of 10 or so DJ’s I’m aware of who are down with the Lord and ill on the turntables. I met Morph 4 years ago while he was heavily involved with the Beatmart label (a hip-hop label out of Nashville). Since then I’ve had one more chance to hang out with him and I simply adore his attitude and heart for the Lord. Morph is one of those guys who will spend time with anyone, treat them with tons of respect and then offer them encouragement for the rest of their lives…

DJ Morph has toured the world. He knows tons of emcees and crews. I must admit that I’ve been out of the loop for awhile, so a lot of the collaborators on his new album “International” are new or unknown to me. But of course there are others, such as The Breax and Braille, whom I’m well aware of and never tire from.

There’s 20 tracks on this album and close to 30 different emcees involved (I sorta counted). In fact, some songs feature up to 5 different emcees sharing the mic. Artists like K-Drama, Eddie Nigma, Mahogany Jones, Applejaxx, Big Nate and Break Bread are featured on multiple tracks. But anyway you slice it, this is a giant album. Tons of people are involved with this one.

What does it sound like? Well, it’s not jazzy or loungy…it’s the opposite. It’s club banging, mixed with an international flare. The album title “International” is perfect, because I imagine the beats work well in any city or country. Morph lives in Florida, so that slower, dirty south sound is certainly present. But mixed into that is an electronic vibe that seems to emulate the clubs and large crowds Morph has performed for around the world. But maybe more apparent than the sound, is the lyrics. I’m going to say that this could be considered the first “Hip-hop Worship album” ever recorded. I don’t own any worship albums, so I don’t know what is actually required to claim an album to be a “worship” album…but as I listened, I kept thinking this is not just an album…it’s a worship concert. And with all the people involved, it’s exciting hear the different ways each emcee praises God. . Morph, I know you’ll read this, so I just want to say that your time, your heart and your efforts all shine on this project- as does the relationships you’ve sustained with hip-hop artists over the years!

www.myspace.com/djmorphiziz

Check out his E-Card HERE

Art is seen and interpreted by people in many different ways. I consider myself someone who appreciates art, but what I may think is beautiful…others may think is terrible.. It’s all about the eye of the beholder.

This past summer Enoch Magazine was in St Louis and we stumbled across the Screwed In Art Show. It was about midnight and we had just finished filming the Less Than Jake concert. But as we walked toward our car, we noticed a guy waving to us from across the street. He had just emerged from a building with hundreds of paint brushes on the floor and ipod music playing out of an old guitar amplifier. There were hundreds of colorful images on the three walls that surrounded the huge room. Some were painted, while others were stenciled, pasted or glued. There were spray paint cans, paint cans, trash cans and inside the trash cans: beer cans. With curiosity in full effect we wondered in and began to ask what was going on.

The term “screwed in” came about as the first step taken toward the creation of this art show. They literally screwed in giant boards to cover all the walls of the gallery. Then seven different artists with different backgrounds and styles came together to decide how to equally fill the emptiness that stood before them. The ultimate battle of ego vs. style has begun!

Screwed In was an awesome experience for us. Enoch Magazine’s documentaries tend to focus on missionaries and bands that we cross paths with in our day to day activities, but this new video reminds us that when you think you’re done…you’re not done.

With so much music out there these days it’s easy to forget about the bands you used to love. I now present you with a journey through “When the World Comes Down” by the All American Rejects.

The snow was 10 inches deep. No make that 12 inches. I’m not really sure as I’m stuck somewhere in the middle of Oklahoma in a 91 Toyota Previa Van. I dictate this on my recorder as it may be my last words. The gas ran out days ago and I can only feel the heater in my mind. I’m eating my last piece of beef jerky that I was saving.

I had only a portable cd player with the new All American cd to keep me company. I couldn’t feel my fingers. I was almost out of Jack Daniels, the only thing that was giving me any warmth. As Damn girl played on in my discman I was taken back to just a week before. I walked out on my girlfriend of 4 years, hopped in my van and started driving toward Mexico. I figured, once there I could eat tacos, drink beer, and start a new life.

I had been learning Spanish from the cassette that was stuck in my tape player. Oh its so cold. I should have packed gloves in the car as my mom always told me to do during the winter. I am full of regret right now. I should have done this; I should have done that. Oh Mona Lisa your lyrics and music are warm to my ears in my cold broke down van. I never will be married, I’ll never finish college, I’ll never… see the sun again. I wish the snow would stop.

“You can save us sadly when the world comes down” Those lyrics in Mona Lisa are so comforting as I can’t be saved now. I’ll die alone. I wish someone was next to me but I’m here with this stupid recorder I bought in college to further my learning. I knew I should not have smashed my cell phone against the wall when I walking out on my girlfriend. Here’s to a good life!!

The last shot of Jack tastes so bitter; just like my life. I can see it flashing before my eyes. I’m fading quickly….. The music is barely audible.. My vision is going, my eyes are getting blurry. The will to live is caught in the thought of dying. If someone gets this message. Im sorry Sara… On my grave please put this… “What’s the point if the feelings gone.. I can see you in a silhouette…breakin’s what your heart is for” – Breakin – All American Rejects.

Will somebody save me? This is the end…..

The new All American Rejects album is a great Christmas Present for any music fan. Everyone should go out and buy it as a Christmas gift for themselves today. The music will keep you rocking through the new year!! Check out The All American Rejects on Myspace

The music sets my mood. I was driving a semi heading down I-75 in Florida hauling oranges from outside Orlando to Key West. The trek was long and I hated dealing with the entire tourist population, driving their rented suvs. These tourist drove like they owned the road and I could only compare them to the mother-in-law I didn’t like.

I could change lanes only between tracks; the music was keeping me awake. I tried other cds but my head began to nod up and down with a case of sleepiness. With the Color Fred in the cd player I was awakened with a fresh voice and view of the world.

I could relate to the lyrics “Don’t you, don’t you fall asleep, Gonna get us both killed, driving late to Coatesville. In 1996 I was riding shotgun in Hank Murphy’s rig. I was awakened as the truck swerved off the road for just a few seconds. Hank had fallen asleep. If only the Color Fred was out then it could have saved us from a closely adverted Castrophe. The Color Fred is a musical treasure, buy it today for all your road trips!

Check it out The Color Fred on Myspace

Enoch Magazine ) The weather’s heating up over here in Australia, and I’ve noticed that Hopeless Records has teamed you up with label mates All Time Low and a couple of others on a ’summer sampler’. Do you feel like your sound is summery? Has being label mates with All Time Low scored you any extra fans, looking for something fresher from Hopeless?

Mike Kitlas: I think our sound is very versatile and universal. We incorporate a lot of different styles and genres into our music which gives our music a more unique sound. I guess you could say our music is “summery” but that’s not what we were shooting for on the digital release. All Time Low has done nothing but supported us and it really has broadened our fan base. We love those dudes and we cant wait to see them again.

Enoch Magazine ) You’ve only got an EP out so far, The Natural Way, are you pleased with how it turned out? Is it much of a different sound than what you presented to the record labels in your senior year of high school?

Mike Kitlas: Yeah, we’re very pleased with the responses we’ve been getting from it. The Natural Way does sound a bit different than our older stuff, but it still sounds like the same band to me. The new stuff is a lot edgier and I think it sounds different than a lot of the stuff coming out these days.

Enoch Magazine )Speaking of school, how many classes did you have to jig/wag so you could get to gigs or practices? Did your teachers get annoyed? Better yet, did these sacrifices cause you to flunk/fail any classes? Who was your favorite teacher anyway?

Mike Kitlas: We had to miss a lot of school our senior year of high school, we started playing out of town a lot more, but we still all graduated! Our teachers didn’t get annoyed, in fact a lot of them were really supportive of our situation, it was awesome to haeve them on our sides. Pretty much all of them were supportive and were always asking how the band was doing and asking for our CD’s. No, we all stayed on top of our school work while we would be on the road, so we got through high school fine. My favorite teacher was probably my senior English teacher, she was always way supportive of the band.

Enoch Magazine ) ‘Where The Wild Things Are’, which has an impressive 200, 000 plays on your myspace, is also the song on the Hopeless sampler. Did the book of the same name inspire this song in any way? What monsters were you afraid of as a child? What ‘monsters’ in life intimidate you now? How do you battle these obstacles?

Mike Kitlas: The book did not inspire the song in anyway. We were afraid of inner closet monsters and monsters under the bed when we were children. ‘Monsters’ that intimidate us now would probably just have to be all the greedy people in the industry. You just gotta be smart and make sure you’re always making the right decision.

Enoch Magazine ) Do you have plans to travel overseas? Will I see you in my country any time soon? You said you want to stand out, what makes you stand out? Is there an unusual country you want to play someday?

Mike Kitlas: Hopefully we’ll get to travel across seas! That would be way cool to play in the land down under. I think our music is a lot different than a lot of the bands that are coming out today, it’s something different than all of the v-neck, nike dunk wearing bands.

Enoch Magazine is attempting to bridge the gap between the homeless on Skid Row and those living in homes and suburbs around the world. Not only are we creating awareness, but we are also offering a real opportunity to help the people in our films.

Skid Row is the word used to describe the downtown homeless district in Los Angeles. Most of its residents are there due to drug addiction, mental illness and/or financial distress. This community is made up of thousands of homeless people and encompasses a 4-5 block radius.

Last April, a team of 8 individuals from different cities and states joined together for an Enoch Documentary in Skid Row Los Angeles. We walked the streets day and night, spent time with the people and distributed food and water. Our focus in filming this experience was not to show what we had done, but to show what the needs of Skid Row are and how outsiders (such as ourselves) could begin to meet some of those needs.

Half of our trip was spent wondering the streets of Skid Row without any direction or influence. We wanted to get a pure sense of the situation, and humbly inject ourselves into the madness. However, the second half of our trip was spent meeting with known figures in the community such as Pastor Ron. We learned that the first real need for Skid Row is to assist those who are already down there working everyday to make a difference in people’s lives. Most of them are under funded. Nevertheless, they have dedicated their lives to assisting the poor and the addicted, so they know what works and what doesn’t.

Pastor Ron’s storefront assembly, Set Free Church & Outreach, is located on San Julian (the main street of Skid Row, one block from the rescue mission and a half block from the Dream Center pickup). It would take many pages to completely describe what Set Free Church & Outreach does, but simply stated, they: feed and cloth people, house men and women, run a de-tox center 100 miles outside L.A., operate a daily “safe house” for people on the streets, host group meetings and events, and maintain a faith based community of constant service to the people on the street.

Pastor Ron comes from the streets of Skid Row. A former drug addict and homeless man, Pastor Ron has a heart for the people on the streets and what is needed to change their lives. Most of what his organization does is modeled after the path that took him off the streets. His organization is the only one we found running a free de-tox center, an on-site clothing ministry and other daily services which are immediately available to those in need.

While we were on the streets for 10 days we observed only two apparent clothing ministries. One was a table of used clothes, dumped out in the center of Skid Row by street evangelist Patrick Ersig. Although this act of kindness was pure in gesture, (Patrick is practically homeless himself), the outcome was highly ineffective. People had high expectations for the opportunity to get new clothes, only to find out that they had to fight over a pile of unorganized second-hand clothes. Tempers rose and a frenzy developed, resulting in the weakest and most in need being run off by the more aggressive and less in need. Also, the time it took for people to determine if random articles of clothing would fit them and their gender was too long.

Pastor Ron’s Set Free Outreach is the second ministry we found running a clothing drive. His clothing ministry room is open 4 hours everyday, and he leads a staff of rehabilitated on-site volunteers and residents to assist people needing things, such as clothes. While this venture is much more aligned with love, structure and efficiency, he barley has any clothing to offer. He explained that his ministry suffers because so few people donate clothing to Set Free Church & Outreach. “And what little clothing that is donated, is immediately distributed because there is a daily need for clothing, especially men’s clothing,” says Pastor Ron.

Since the release of our Skid Row trailer, Enoch Magazine has already been contacted by teens, college students, churches and homeless workers across the country who want to help Skid Row. The needs of Skid Row are so immediate, that it would be silly for us to spend prolonged time and money on a full-length film. Instead we offer our footage as a timely tool to meet the needs of people like Pastor Ron. We pledge to continuously return to Skid Row to help the people we’ve met and film the progress of Skid Row. Anyone reading this is welcome to contact us for information on joining us in Skid Row.

There’s a few ways you could help us!

1) You could by an Enoch t-shirt. This would help us sustain our mission! They’re not the coolest things on the planet, but they do make consistent appearances in places no one else wants to go like Skid Row. So that’s kind of unique.

2) Donate money via PAYPAL to the Pastor Ron Clothing Drive and the people of Skid Row.

3) Join us on the streets. If you are more of a “doer” than a supporter, then join us on the streets. Many have already made this decision without any solicitation from us and we look forward to meeting you all. Just hit us up at: info@enochmagazine.com

Its not often i find something in society that sickens my heart and mind. In the United States we live in a country where sex and money drive people in life. Hollywood is all about the idea of getting sex and making money. Most of the time I can handle the constant crap Hollywood and the media throws at me and I look for a positive message. But this is shocking! 22 year Natalie Dylan (that’s her stage name) announced to the world that she would be selling her virginity to the highest bidder. Although prostitution is illegal, the sale will be going down at a legal brothel in Nevada. It just so happens that her sister works at this brothel. She already has undergone a lie detector test and medical examinations to prove that she is not lying and is truly a virgin. When this idea came to mind she tried to sell herself on Ebay but they rejected her offer. It’s good to know there is some things you can’t actual