Guavaween is an annual event, a secular party similar to Mardi Gras, held the last Saturday of October each year. This event draws thousands of people, young and old, to the streets of Ybor City in Tampa, Fl. They come dressed in costumes much like an adult version of halloween, except here they flaunt their sins of homosexuality, drunkeness, nudity and the like, and they do it very publicly. This is their night to do as they please and the wilder they get, the better they seem to think it is. The later the evening advances, the worse it all becomes.

Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: Jeremiah 6:15a

That is why we travel for about 45 miles, in the late night, just to witness until after midnight each year. What a tremendous opportunity to let our light shine in the midst of perverse darkness!

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15

Usually we are located at one of the entrances into Guavaween which is actually a street sectioned off from vehicular traffic. This enables us to share on a sidewalk, which is public property, and mingle out into the street without traffic issues, except for the revelers who may be stumbling about.

We come armed with a music boom box, thousands of gospel tracts, a bull horn, some drama, and a heart full of the Love of God. We talk to people coming out and people going in, people at the ATM machine and people waiting in line, whoever the Lord leads us to talk to. We pass out tracts to any who will recieve them, admonising the very intoxicated ones to put it in their pockets and read it when they get home.

It is not unusual for us to pray right on the street with hurting hearts and many pray the prayer of salvation as we share the Lord with them.

It has been said by many of our ministry workers that Guavaween is like looking into the face of hell. Although some are nice and receptive to us, yet many are arrogant and hostile to the presentation of the Gospel. We actually never know what we might encounter.

Sometimes hecklers mock us as we turn on the loud speaker and preach the Gospel to crowds gathered on the street. For the ones called to street ministry, this is the ultimate!

And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. Matthew 11:12

We welcome all who might like to come with us on this annual event. Although it is a late night outreach, and somewhat hostile, you will certainly be encouraged and blessed by the overall outcome. Be prepared however, you will encounter things you do not ordinarily see!

If you are interested in attending this Street ministry event with us, please send an email for all the details. If you cannot make it, please pray for us as we go.

Jesus is Lord!