Exhibition

Arthur Jafa: Works from the MCA Collection

Saturday, Jun 01, 2024–Sunday, May 11, 2025

Sylvia Neil and Daniel Fischel Galleries

Artwork installed on a white wall. The left side of the artwork is a black and white illustration of Mickey Mouse. The right side of the artwork is a black and white photo of a person with skull makeup on their face.

Arthur Jafa, Mickey Mouse was a Scorpio, 2017. Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum; 52 × 83 in (132.1 × 210.8 cm). Collection Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Gift of Marilyn and Larry Fields, 2023.61.

Photo: Fredrik Nilsen

Across three decades, artist and filmmaker Arthur Jafa has developed a singularly dynamic practice comprising films and videos, photographs, and sculptures. Through his multidisciplinary work, Jafa seeks to encompass what he describes as “the full complexity, specificity, beauty, and potentiality of what Black folks have made and continue to make out of the bleak existential circumstance we’ve attended to over the past several hundred years.” Utilizing found imagery, music, and artistic techniques such as montage and collage, he has constructed an extensive assemblage of Black expression, layered and arranged in ways that reveal the diverse and complex realities of Black being.

Still black and white shot of a black person scrunching up their nose to display a grill on their teeth.
Arthur Jafa, APEX (still), 2013. Video (color, sound); 8 minutes, 12 seconds. Collection Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Gift of R. H. Defares to the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago and the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, 2017.35. © Arthur Jafa, Courtesy of the artist and Gladstone Gallery.

Arthur Jafa: Works from the MCA Collection surveys the artist’s output over roughly the last ten years through a selection of artworks held in the MCA’s collection, including his videos APEX (2013), Love is the Message, The Message is Death (2016), The White Album (2018), and Akingdoncomethas (2018). Accompanying the videos are a few key sculptural and photographic works that further underscore Jafa’s unique approach to visual culture and image making, in which the lines between popular and high culture blur and the personal collides with the political.

Arthur Jafa: Works from the MCA Collection is organized by René Morales, former James W. Alsdorf Chief Curator, and Jack Schneider, Assistant Curator.

About the Artist

Arthur Jafa (b. 1960, Tupelo, MS; lives in Los Angeles, CA) is an artist and filmmaker. Jafa’s films have garnered acclaim at the Los Angeles, New York, and Black Star Film Festivals, and his artwork is represented in celebrated collections worldwide, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the Tate, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, The Studio Museum in Harlem, the High Museum of Art, the Dallas Museum of Art, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, the Luma Foundation, Pérez Art Museum Miami, Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden; and the Smithsonian American Art Museum, among others.

Recent and forthcoming solo exhibitions of Jafa’s work include presentations at Luma Arles, France; Glenstone, Potomac, Maryland; OGR Torino, Italy; Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Serralves, Porto, Portugal; Moderna Museet, Stockholm; and the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebæk, Denmark. In 2019, he received the Golden Lion for the Best Participant of the 58th Venice Biennale, May You Live in Interesting Times.

Related Events

Transcripts

Las siguientes transcripciones solo están disponibles en español mediante traducción automática. Para ver este contenido en español, haz clic en ‘Español’ a la izquierda del menú.


Some artworks in this exhibition contain racist language and descriptions of police violence.

  • [0:34 min.] – “The Pure and the Damned” by Oneohtrix Point Never

    Love, make me clean
    Love, touch me, cure me
    The pure always act from love
    The damned always act from love
    Every day I think about untwisting and untangling these strings I’m in
    And to lead a pure life
    I look ahead at a clear sky
    Ain’t gonna get there
    But it’s a nice dream, it’s a nice dream
    Death, make me brave
    Death, leave me swinging
    The pure always act from love
    The damned always act from love
    The truth is an act of love
    Some day, I swear, we’re gonna go to a place where we can do everything we want to
    And we can pet the crocodiles
    Love
    The pure always act from love
    The damned always act from love
    That’s love
    The pure always act from love
    That’s love
    The pure and the damned
    The pure and the damned
    Love
    The damned

    [4:45 min.]

    Well it’s me, I’m back again.

    I’m here to talk about fear, pride, arrogance, narcissism.

    Um . . . all that good stuff.

    So what is it that stops so many white people from wanting to change their hearts in regards to race and wanting to see the reality and come out of denial?

    What is it that keeps us stuck right there in that comfortable position of untruth?

    Well I think part of it is fear, another part of it is greed.

    Greed in that we don’t want to lose dominance, we don’t want to lose power, we don’t want to lose privileges, we don’t want to lose benefits that the system of white supremacy has created here in America for white people.

    We don’t want to lose none of it.

    We’re scared.

    We’re scared of Black retribution. We’re scared of Black vengeance. We’re scared shitless and we always have been. Since day one, we’ve put our hands on Black people, grab’em , snatched them up, put them on a boat and made them our own fucking personal slaves and assistance for no pay.

    We did all that.

    You’re god damn right we’re scared.

    We’re scared of losing what we got. We’re scared of losing our positions. And we’re scared of retribution.

    So, we got a lot of fucking fear man. Yeah, we do. You hear me white brothers and sisters?

    A lot of fucking fear.

    We’re scared, we always have been.

    You see a Black man walking down the street. You lock your doors. You check make sure he ain’t gonna hurt you. You clutch your purse.

    We’re scared.

    So what we do?

    Lock’em up, throw them in jail.

    We’re the largest prison population of Black folk right now. Right here in this fucking country. I wonder why?

    We’re fucking scared.

    Even fucking police officers. The coward police officers that kill unarmed Black people are scared.

    We’re scared of that retribution; we’re scared of that Black vengeance.

    Then we project, then we pretend and project that Black people are as racist as white people.

    Who the fuck ever taught a Black person Black supremacy? The first thing a fucking Black person learns is why it’s wrong to be a supremacist. They have to deal with that shit their whole fucking life. Why the fuck would they want to act supreme? I ain’t never heard of a Black person go around acting superior because of the color of their skin.

    In the end, they do the opposite. It’s white people that are taught. I ain’t saying Black people can’t hate, I ain’t saying Black people can’t be angry. But hell, if they do hate, it’s a hate that hate produced. It’s an anger that anger produced from white supremacy, a culture and a system of white supremacy.

    So yeah, Black people are angry.

    Some of them, not all of them. Some of them.

    The point is—face your fear, face your greed so that we can fucking have a more peaceful country, a more peaceful world. Until white people face that greed that they have—“Oh, oh I gotta be on time, I gotta keep my white privilege. Oh god, I’m scared that Black people are gonna kill me, they gonna come get me, they gonna snatch me up the way we did them! They gonna do all that dirty shit to me that White people have done to them.”

    Stop being so scared man.

    Man up, woman up.

    Let’s face reality.

    White supremacy is real.

    Our country is a country of white fucking supremacy!

    Yes sir, it is.

    It always has been. Let’s face it, let’s do something about it, let’s take some fucking responsibility. Act up, speak up, vote, do what you gotta do. Be active, protest, get in the fucking streets, white people have to change your fucking culture of white supremacy

    If we don’t—it will destroy us all.

    And it already is. All of us.

    Has to do with morality—this thing about getting out of denial. One you gotta acknowledge the truth. We are a white supremacist nation and we always have been. We have white supremacist institutions, culture, structures, power, psychology—everything—politics.

    Whitewashing is in everything—the media, education . . .

    History is whitewashed and biased.
    Education is whitewashed and biased.
    Entertainment is whitewashed and biased.

    I ain’t saying Black people are bad. We’re all equal, we know this. Stop being defensive, stop being judgmental, stop being defensive, stop being delusional. Get out of denial and face reality.

    Our culture is racist. Our white culture is racist.

    I ain’t saying all white people are racist. I’m not saying that.

    But it’s all that indifference, it’s all that inaction, it’s all that turn a blind fucking eye, that’s the real fucking problem.

    Step up, get out of indifference.
    Do something.
    Say something.

    Let’s take our white America back, I love America and I love white America. Let’s take it fucking back.

    Let’s be proud of ourselves. I’m not proud of white America anymore. I used to be, ain’t be a fucking racist. Not proud America anymore.

    Face your fear and face your greed. Once and for all.

    Take your fucking country back to what it should be. Which is means it’s made for all people.

    Not just white people.

    [11:06 min.] – end of clip

    Bye.

    [11:07 min.] – “Livin’ On A Prayer” by Bon Jovi

    Tommy used to work on the docks, union’s been on strike
    He’s down on his luck, it’s tough, so tough

    Gina works the diner all day working for her man
    She brings home her pay, for love, for love

    She says, we’ve got to hold on to what we’ve got
    It doesn’t make a difference if we make it or not
    We’ve got each other and that’s a lot for love
    We’ll give it a shot

    Woah, we’re halfway there
    Woah

    [12:05 min.] – “For That Dick (FTD) Challenge” by Erykah Badu & Michael Blackson

    Erykah Badu: I aint doin shit for da dick
    Licky Lik for da dick
    Give up my window seat for da dick
    Fuck it I’ll eat meat for da dick
    Fight hurricane Maria for da dick
    Ride a missile from Korea for da dick, hey
    Let him call me a ho for da dick
    Baby daddy number 4 for da dick
    Buck a bitch in the head for da dick
    Fuck WOKE. I’m dead for da dick
    Suck it down to da bone for da dick
    Let him use MY phone for da dick – call me
    Motorola for da dick
    Fuck Michael Blackson – EBOLA for da dick

    caught on tape . . .

    Michael Blackson: Not smart for da pussy
    Cheat on my wife—Kevin Hart for da pussy
    I’ll eat Pork for da pussy
    I’ll skip court for da pussy—call me
    I’ll bleach my skin for da pussy—Black power
    Fuck a Siamese twins for da pussy
    Salute the flag for da pussy
    Fuck a bitch on the rag for da pussy

    [13:05 min.]

    I’m going to talk about a very touchy subject right now. I debated doing this because I know, I know this is something that you know, most people try and avoid talking about this type of subject, but I feel the need to say something about it. It is driving me up the wall, it’s something that bugs me like. . . . It’s just to a point now that it’s just ridiculous, I just need to talk about it.

    So, let me start by saying that I am the farthest person from being racist.

    I, when I was younger from the time I can remember until I was about 12-year-old—12 years old—I—if you put me in a circle with a bunch of Black people. I would not have noticed. I would not have noticed that I was the odd one out. I would not have noticed any difference. I would not have felt uncomfortable. I would not have felt anything. I would have had no problem walking up to them and just being, “Hey, what’s up, how’s it going?”

    No problem.

    I would have seen no difference whatsoever.

    I am not racist.

    I will never be, I have no problem with that. I am the most chill person you’ll ever meet. It takes a lot. I complain about a lot, you know, on here, because there are things that bother me, but it’s just, it’s just mentally like, “hey it bothers me but I’m not really going to do anything because I’m chill.” I really don’t care that much. It’s just things that bother me internally or whatever, but I just . . .

    But anyway—

    I think that white people have the hardest time nowadays because we try so hard—the majority of us—try so hard to make sure that we don’t say anything racist, and we, you know, treat women with respect, we make sure that they’re, you know, okay and you know, they felt, they feel a part of everything.

    But then white people have double stan—I mean, Black people have the double standard with white people. Is that they can say anything they want to or Mexicans or Chinese, I mean it’s just white people come down to it, we’re just, we’re looked at as being very . . .

    And I know why, I know where it comes from.

    But think about it now, I know there is racism, but think about now, how many of us are actually racist toward you?

    I’ve had best friends who were Hispanic and you know, Black people or whatever. I—I’ve had best friends and been in family with or whatever who are all different races. I—I cannot stress enough that I do not care. I have no problem whatsoever what color skin you are. I do not care. I do not care.

    But it just, it just makes me so mad how, you know, Mexicans or whatever can make smart jokes or whatever about how, “We used to get our butts whooped when we were younger. White people would just go and sit in the corner.” That’s not how it worked for me. And that is something that I could never like talk about, because I’d come off racist. I’m, I can’t talk about that or . . . I used to get whooped too, you know? I used to have it hard too. It’s just, why can you guys talk about it and have every right to say everything and we’re supposed to feel so guilty, but we can’t talk about it?

    It makes me so mad. It’s just, it’s ridiculous. It’s not fair.

    It’s—I know life isn’t fair.

    Can go on a huge thing about how life isn’t fair. But, it’s just not.

    It’s—you—I . . .

    I have no problem not saying anything racist to people. That’s not the issue.

    But have the same respect for white people okay?

    It’s not cool—at all.

    [17:12 min.] – Instagram video of Plies, November 8, 2017

    You wanna argue

    [chuckles]

    I can’t argue with you

    Nooooo

    You mad

    Look at you
    You mad
    You big mad

    [chuckles]

    I’m happy
    Leave me alone
    I just want some money
    A lot of money
    I don’t get paid to argue with you

    Nooooo

    Who is you?

    You ain’t nobody

    You mad
    You mad

    [chuckles]

    [18:09 min.] – “Animals” by Oneohtrix Point Never

    We sit by the side
    And observe all the animals
    I try not to laugh
    Cause I know
    It’s the end of us

    I fry from the heat
    But the sun
    Isn’t killing me
    We run from our death
    When we cum
    Are we really free?

    Primal rage
    Life in a cage
    It’s nothing
    (I can live)

    You sit in your throne
    You decide
    “Off with his head”
    She kneels at your feet
    She feels cold;
    “Something more to eat?”

    Queen dies in her sleep
    There’s no time
    King must not weep
    We look at our phone
    Every morning Battery is dead

    Kiss the sky
    Tear in your eye
    It’s nothing
    (I can live without)

    [22:58 min.] – “Meeting Of The Spirits”/”You Know You Know” by Mahavishnu Orchestra

    [24:09 min.] – 7th Annual Ballroom Awards Ball, New York, February 1999

    Sinia Ebony

    Sex sex
    Woo
    Sex sex
    Sex sex

    The feeling, Sinia

    The S for she’s sexy
    The I for intriguing
    The N for so naughty
    The I cause she’s innocent
    The A for always serving

    Sinia, Sinia, Sinia-nia-nia-nia-nia-nia-nia-nia-nia-nia-nia-nia-nia-nia-nia-nia-nia-nia-nia
    Score Nia Nia

    1 . . . 2 . . . 3 . . . 4

    Alright that’s the panel, tens across, anybody else could ya’ll please . . .

    [24:56 min.]

    [expletive]
    [expletive]
    [expletive]
    [expletive]
    [expletive]

    Fuck you
    [expletive]
    [expletive]
    [expletive]
    [expletive]
    [expletive]
    [expletive]
    [expletive]
    [expletive]
    [expletive]
    [expletive]
    [expletive]
    [expletive]
    [expletive]
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    Fuck you
    [expletive]
    [expletive]
    [expletive]
    [expletive]
    [expletive]
    [expletive]
    [expletive]

    Fuck you
    You are a [expletive] officer
    Fuck you
    [expletive]
    [expletive]
    [expletive]
    [expletive]
    [expletive]
    [expletive]
    [expletive]
    [expletive]

    I hate you
    [expletive]
    [expletive]
    [expletive]
    [expletive]
    [expletive]
    [expletive]
    [expletive]
    [expletive]
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    [expletive]
    [expletive]
    [expletive]

    Fuck you
    [expletive]
    [expletive]

    [25:55 min.] – Devon Hawkins on KHQA local news, January 29, 2016

    Reyna Harvey: Sir, can you please tell us what happened?

    Devon Hawkins: You know, I’m in the room, chilling, kickin’ like I usually do, drinking and somebody shot right through my back window, hit me in the chest. And I’m like shit, get my son out of the room. You know, I don’t want him like trippin’ over here, like a petty wound you know? I ain’t trippin’ though.

    Harvey: Absolutely, so you did show me on your chest where you were shot. Are we able to see that right now, or?

    Hawkins: Yeah, y’all can see that.

    Harvey: Okay so what, do we know what happened? Do you know who? Do you know why they would’ve done this?

    Hawkins: I don’t know what’s going on, man. I just know [expletive] probably just want me dead. Lots of other stuff. I don’t know.

    Harvey: Alright, well I’m here. And what’s your name?

    Hawkins: Devon.

    [26:33 min.]

    Bro, you’re trash bro
    Is them tears, bro?
    Come on bro, you gotta get you together boy

    Oh! An interception!

    I wasn’t even playing, I was wiping your tears off bro

    I was wiping your—bro

    Bro where you going bro

    Where you going bro

    Bro you’re trash bro
    Bro you’re trash bro

    Bro come on bro

    Come on bro

    Woman: Whats the matter?

    [boy cries]

    Hey child what it is, what it is
    Hey, what’s the start up

    [voice laughs]

    [27:17 min.] – Honey Boo Boo, 2018

    Hello
    Someone just told me to stop acting Black in my comments
    Honey
    The last thing I am is Black, honey
    I’m white
    Look at my face hon
    I’m white
    white
    I need to restraighten that piece but I’m white
    And I wanna know how the fuck you act a color
    Oh you wake up one day and hmm . . . let’s see, I’m gonna be purple
    Ho you can’t act a color
    You can be a color, but you can’t act a color

    [27:56 min.] – Anna Eberhart in Boston Crusaders’ production Quixotic, 2016

    [28:32 min.] – “Mask Off” by Future

    Call it how it is
    Hendrix
    I promise, I swear I swear
    Spit it
    Yo

    Percocets
    Molly, Percocets
    Percocets
    Molly, Percocets
    Rep the set
    Gotta rep the set
    Chase a check
    Never chase a bitch
    Mask on
    Fuck it, mask off
    Mask on
    Fuck it, mask off
    Percocets
    Molly, Percocets
    Chase a check
    Never chase a

    [29:10 min.] – O.J. Simpson Granted Parole, CNN, Lovelock, Nevada, 2017

    Parole Board: Mr. Simpson—I do vote to grant parole when eligible, and that will conclude this hearing.

    Voiceover: Thank you, thank you my white princess.

    Thank you, oh!

    I’m so happy I could stab somebody. Thank you [expletive] over there in the corner. Thank you Black [expletive] that didn’t believe in me.

    Yes, yes.

    Woah, my back hurt from all the dicks I took in prison.

    Lord I hopped this. Yes! Oh!

    It’s over—white lady, I’d fuck you but you’re not my type. I feel like I stabbed myself.
    Uh—[expletive], later I’m throwing a stabbing party tomorrow night at the crib, call me. You on the guest list.

    Hide yo kids, hide yo wife, hide yo husbands.

    And fuck you Jay-Z.

  • And she says, “Call 911, my name is Amanda Berry.” I knew something was wrong when a little pretty white girl ran into a Black man’s arms. Something is wrong here. Dead giveaway, dead giveaway.

    I’m tryna keep my faith

    We on an ultralight beam
    We on an ultralight beam
    This is a God dream
    This is a God dream
    This is everything
    This is everything

    Mmmm, I’m tryna keep my faith

    Deliver us serenity
    Deliver us peace

    Amazing . . .

    Deliver us loving

    . . . Grace

    You know we need it

    The description doesn’t fit
    It’s not a synonym of minutes
    Then forget it and turn

    That’s why we need you now, oh I
    Pray for Paris
    Pray for the parents
    This is a God dream
    This is a God dream
    This is a God dream
    We on an ultralight beam
    We on an ultralight beam
    This is a God dream
    This is a God dream
    This is everything
    Everything (Thing, thing, thing)

    The mundane Afro preachers recognize that you’re not aliens.

    I’m trying to keep my faith—

    Mommy!

    Joaquin, stop, stop, stop.

    Mommy! Wake up!

    Stop.

    —But I’m looking for more

    Deliver us serenity
    Deliver us peace
    Deliver us loving
    We know we need it
    Lord knows we need it
    You know we need it
    You know we need it

    That’s why we need you now, oh, I—

    Teach me how to Dougie
    Aye
    They be like “Smoove
    (What?)
    Can you teach me how to Dougie?”
    You know why?
    Cause all the girls love me

    She said, “Somethin’ ain’t right.” I said, “Ahh, man.” She said, “Aww, man, the building is on fire.”

    I got my kids and we bouncin’.

    This is a God dream
    This is a God dream

    I been dreamin’, I been dreamin’

    We on an ultralight beam
    We on an ultralight beam
    This is a God dream
    This is a God dream
    This is everything
    Everything (Thing, thing, thing)

    I’m tryna keep my faith.

    That’s it, don’t run away, walk backwards, keep your hands up in the air. Keep going.

    Come on back, come on back, keep walkin’ backwards.

    I’m just why?

    Keep walking backwards. Put your hands behind your head. Right here. Come on back.

    What is wrong?!

    We don’t have a gun.

    Get in the car.

    My kids.

    How old are they?

    How old are they?

    They’re six and eight. What is going on? Oh my God, you’re gonna terrify my children.

    But I’m lookin’ for more
    Somewhere I can feel safe
    And end my holy war.

    And now, Mr. Wallace.

    This is me, the B.I.G.
    Competition never ever same story

    I’m tryna keep my faith

    So why send oppression not blessings?
    Why, oh why’d you do me wrong?
    (More)
    You persecute the weak
    Because it makes you feel so strong

    So what would America be like if we loved Black people as much as we loved Black culture?

    (Safe)
    Don’t have much strength to fight
    So I look to the light
    (War)
    To make these wrongs turn right
    Head up high—

    I want my mom!

    —I look to the light
    Hey, cause I know that you’ll make everything alright
    And I know that you’ll take good care of your child
    Oh, no longer am afraid of the night
    Cause I, I look to the light

    When they come for you, I will shield your name
    I will field their questions, I will feel your pain

    They don’t know, they don’t
    They don’t know, they don’t know

    Foot on the Devil’s neck ‘til they drifted Pangaea
    I’m moving all my family from Chatham to Zambia
    Treat the demons just like Pam
    I mean I fuck with your friends, but, damn, Gina
    I been this way since Arthur was anteater
    Now they wanna hit me with the woo wap, the bam
    Tryna snap photos of familia
    My daughter look just like Sia,
    You can’t see her
    You can feel the lyrics and spirit coming in braille
    Tubman of the underground, come and follow the trail
    I made “Sunday Candy,” I’m never going to hell
    I met Kanye West, I’m never going to fail
    He said, “Let’s do a good ass job with Chance 3
    I hear you gotta sell it to snatch the Grammy
    Let’s make it so free and the bars so hard
    That there ain’t one gosh darn part you can’t tweet
    This is my part, nobody else speak
    This is my part, nobody else speak
    This little light of mine
    Glory be to God, yeah
    I’mma make sure that they go where they can’t go
    If they don’t wanna ride I’mma still give them raincoats
    Know what God said when he made the first rainbow
    Just throw this at the end if I’m too late for the intro
    Uh, I’m just having fun with it
    You know that a nigga was lost
    I laugh in my head
    Cause I bet that my ex looking back like a pillar of salt
    Ugh, cause they’ll flip the script on your ass like Wesley and Spike
    You cannot mess with the light
    Look at Lil Chano from 79th

    We on an ultralight beam
    We on an ultralight beam
    This is a God dream
    This is a God dream
    This is everything

    Yes, God
    Hallelujah

    Everything (Thing, thing, thing)

    I’m tryna keep my faith
    Faith
    (Yes, Jesus)
    But I’m looking for more
    Somewhere I can feel safe
    And end my holy war

    I’m tryna keep my faith

    That’s what the police do to you

    Father, this prayer is for everyone that feels they’re not good enough. This prayer’s for—

    Put your hands up against the wall.

    —everybody that feels like they’re too messed up. For everyone that feels they’ve said “I’m sorry” too many times. You can never go too far when you can’t come back home again. That’s why I need…

    Faith

    In the war we was looking for

    More

    God, please keep my little brother

    Safe

    Don’t stand here, we fighting this

    War

    [End of Audio]

  • Al Green: We’d like to do a song from our Call me LP.

    Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory . . .

    That’s why I—we are living witness today to say that
    Jesus is waiting
    If you’re broken down (with me)
    Jesus is waiting, hey yeah
    Don’t let yourself down (oh)

    He standing right there behind you
    Helping you to make up your mind
    Jesus is waiting, hey
    Do I have to say it again (say it again) (say it again)
    Jesus is waiting, hey

    Talking ’bout, you’ve got a friend
    (I believe it this evening, I just wanna let you know that)
    Reach down in your heart and say
    A little prayer just for me
    He’s the one that believes in love
    Can’t you see

    Hey Hey (thank you) Hey (thank you)
    Just saying
    Jesus is waiting
    Jesus is waiting
    Jesus is waiting
    Jesus is waiting

    What I want you to do is just:
    Help me, help me
    Help me, help me
    Help me, help me
    Help me, help me
    Help me, help me
    Help me, help me
    Help me

    I want you to help me
    And I’ll help you,
    Save my soul
    I’ll save some for you
    I’ll do my best to just
    Do what I can to
    Stand up and be a man
    I said hey, hey, hey
    I just want everybody to know that
    Jesus is waiting
    Jesus is waiting
    Hey
    Jesus is waiting
    Jesus is waiting
    I wish the man would just
    I wish the man would just
    I wish the man would just
    Bring it way down

    I say
    I’ve been a fool, yeah
    Disregarding your love, hey father
    But I just want to tell you this evening that I’m
    That, I’m sorry, (sorry) sorry, (sorry)
    Sorry (sorry) sorry hey
    But I tell ya
    You’ve been good to me
    You’ve been good to me
    You’ve been good to me

    Thank you thank you
    Thank you thank you
    Thank you thank you
    Thank you thank you
    Thank you thank you

    I wanna thank you, thank you
    I wanna thank you, thank you
    I wanna thank you, thank you
    I wanna thank you, thank you

    Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey
    Jesus
    Woo hoo
    Come from there and help us
    Absolve me, Absolve me
    You can absolve me,
    Absolve me, Absolve me

    Thank you thank you
    Thank you thank you

    If I could just hold your hand I’ll be alright
    I wanna thank you
    My my
    All my troubles are gone . . .

    Preacher 1: Now in Hebrews, the 12th chapter. The 12th chapter of the Book of Hebrews. He tells us here that we are surrounded. I said, we are surrounded. With a host of witnesses. Somebody else has run this race. Somebody else has been along this way. And he said in the light of the fact that we are surrounded, by a host of witnesses, let us who are tempted to quit, lay aside every wait. Amen! Some of this quitting has to do with wait and sin. Sin will make you quit. Sin will shut your mouth. Sin will rob you of your joy. Sin will shut up your amen. Sin will make you intimidated. Even in worship service. Sin, and not drinking and cavorting, but sometimes the sin of righteousness, the sin of disobedience, the sin of not being at your post, sin will rob you of the joy of the Lord. But he said let us lay aside every wait and every sin that would so easily beset us. Hallelujah here. And he didn’t say let’s quit, he said let’s run this race with patience and with confidence. Thank God for Jesus. I have a race to run. And in every race there is a day of winning. And there won’t be just one that wins, everybody that runs will win. Because he that started you, is going to be with you. And the holy spirit is gonna help you. Hallelujah here. And then all you have to do now, to keep from quitting, is to focus your eye on your goal. For it says looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. I know it’s gonna be alright because it was authored and finished by Jesus. Bless his holy name. My faith didn’t come from an agora. My faith is not Buddhism. My faith is not Judaism. My faith is not Islam. My faith was authored by Jesus. He wrote it up, he fixed it up. My faith was finished on cavalry by Jesus. He’s the author and finisher of our faith. And if I keep him in focus, if I keep my mind on him, if I wake up with my mind on Jesus and then run with patience, the race that is set before me, I shall overcome. I will be alright. I shall get home someday. You’ve got to keep your mind and your eyes focused on Jesus. But not only that, but you’ve got to keep thinking about a better place. Every time I get where I wanna quit, I look around, and this world is no place to quit in. No, No. I want a better place . . .

    Female Announcer: —Music world Gospel recording artist Le’Andria Johnson

    Heaven! Heaven! Not Harlem, Heaven! Not Paris, Heaven! Not San Francisco, Heaven! Heaven! And with that in mind, don’t quit.

    Le’Andria Johnson: Call him when you want him
    Look at myself in the mirror
    Religion lookin’ back in me
    I threw my hands in the air
    And the law arrested me
    Girl interrupted
    I needed to
    Break out and get freedom
    One bad decision after the next
    Just getting by, letting you figure me (out)
    Oh oh
    I have to call on his name, y’all.
    Jesus, oh. I love that name, yes I do.
    Curses unbroken
    Still trying to hold me down
    Bondage, but I didn’t even think
    I was good enough for God’s best
    But I’m in my closet
    Yes I am, I’m in my closet
    Time after time after time
    Praying Jesus, crying Jesus, singing Jesus, yeah
    Jesus
    (Jesus, call him when you want him)
    When I was going through nobody was there but my Jesus
    If I had time to tell you, how good he’s been to me
    Yeah can I tell you (Jesus)
    He took me out from a stinking place and said I’ll be with you everyday everyday everyday everyday
    I’m so glad, I’m so glad that he made me new (and I say yeah)
    Our father Jesus which art in heaven Jesus
    Hallowed would be thy name Jesus, thy kingdom come Jesus
    No no other name Jesus
    Can you find sombody like Jesus
    Do you know anybody like Jesus
    I can’t find nobody but Jesus
    Nobody but Jesus
    Jesus
    I get excited about the man, I get excited about the man
    Yeah, Jesus
    You ought to cry Jesus
    If he’s been good to you, you ought to say Jesus (say Jesus)
    If he made a way, if he brought you out, if he saved you
    Did he deliver you?
    I, I remember when I had to call on him
    I said “Lord help me, Lord help me, Lord help me”
    With my flesh trying to take the best of me,
    I had to proclaim I rebuke you I rebuke you
    In the name of Jesus
    I found out there is power in the name, healing in the name,
    Joy in the name, deliverance in the name,
    In the name, in the name, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah yeah,
    You ought to get happy right now
    Somebody ought to say Jesus,
    I feel a switch, Jesus
    I remember when my mother told me to get down on my knees and cry out Jesus
    If I had, If I had anybody here, that know like I know,
    You ought to think of one thing, think of one thing, think of one thing,
    And say Jesus
    Say Jesus, yeah
    Who delivered you?
    Who delivered you?
    Who set you free?
    Yeah, Oh Jesus,
    Oh ah, this here morning, I love you
    Can you help me say Jesus
    Jesus

    Man: Something about that name, Something about that name, Something about that name, JESUS.

    Oh my prayer, anybody there?

    Mustached preacher: Oh, my my my my, Woo! Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. Oh my god my god my god. Woo! Oh my god. Touch your neighbors, say I’m glad you’re sitting next to me today. I am. I couldn’t be siting next to nobody like the frozen chosen today. I couldn’t be sitting next to nobody stepping today. I need too much from God. You may be seated in the presence of the Lord. Oh my god. Well, thank you so much Le’Andria Johnson, you are a gift to the body of Christ. Woman of God.

    Preacher 3: Your mind is a decision made in the heart of a man who has heard from God. For faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. He sent his word and the word healed him. We don’t need gimmicks, we don’t need tricks, we don’t need foolishness, all we need is a word from God. If God’s word comes out, it will change circumstances and situations and dilemmas and crisis by the power of his word. He chose the foolishness of preaching. Just preaching, it doesn’t even make sense, that you could preach the word of God with such power and such clarity and such delivering that people are set free. What education doesn’t do, and intellect doesn’t do, and pressure, and peer pressure and somebody nagging at you cannot do. Just the word of God can touch you and turn you completely around. that’s why it’s pricelessly important we stay around men and women of God who can declare definitively the word of God with power and with clarity. Stained glass or padded pews, that’s something we can do without. But the word of God is something we’ve got to have. If we don’t have air-conditioning, we can fan, but if we don’t have the word, the air-conditioning means nothing at all. We need the word!

    Preacher, blue background: Have you ever felt, as though God forgot about you? Have you ever been in such, such a dilemma, such a dark, trying, struggling place, that you wondered, “Maybe God has forgotten about me”? Those trying times, when we wonder “Has God forgotten about me”?

    Such was the case with the people of God during Babylonian captivity. Isaiah speaks of it, they wondered, they struggled, “has God forgotten about me?” In Jeremiah 29, verse 11, God says: “I know the thoughts that I think toward you.” They are thoughts of peace, they are not thoughts of evil. They are thoughts to give you a future, and to give you hope. One version says, “I know the plans that I have, I know what I’m thinking about you. I have not forgotten about you.” If you get nothing else out of what I say today, God brought someone here today to stamp that truth, that revelation, indelibly into your spirit: “I have not forgotten about you.” Turn it around, make a declaration, watch this, “God has not forgotten about me.” Say it with me. “God has not forgotten about me.” Put your hand over your heart this time: “God has not forgotten about me.” That’s God’s work for someone today.

    Female singer: God has not promised me some sunshine.
    That’s not the way, no no, it’s going to be
    Yeah, a little rain (a little rain)
    Mixed with ice, sunshine, a little pain (a little pain)
    Yeah yeah helps me to appreciate the good times
    Oh Lord, rain for me, rain for me, rain for me
    Oh yes we are (Oh yes we are)
    Well, God’s desire to feel, oh Lord, your longing
    Every pain, every pain that you feel, he feels
    Just like you,
    Well he came forth, well well, to let you
    Feel all he do (all he do)
    So you can appreciate (can appreciate), good times
    Rain forth (rain forth)
    We want you to know that we grateful for you Jesus, oh yes we are
    We grateful
    We are thankful for all our blessings, be grateful, (oh yes)
    Be glad that you’ve got a church, (yeah) you’ve got a church home, you’ve got a church. Be grateful (you ought to be grateful)
    (I’m so grateful) . . .

    Preacher 3: But, to believe the word, you must have the word. The Bible will teach us that it is the engrafted word of God that is able to save your soul. That is the word that sticks to you. That clings to you. That gets down into your heart and becomes yours. The word you possess. Out of everything that you’ve heard preached, you have no laid hold on everything. There’s somethings you won’t really get until you hear the tape. Six months down the road, a year down the road, you’ll hear the tape and get something different out of the same message that you got before. You can read the same scripture and get different things out of it at different times. But it is only when the word of God clings to you, impregnates you, leaves a deposit in you, that you are able to save the soul, the mind, the memories, the attitude, the affections, and the dysfunctions, by the power of his word. You need a word, that’s all. Just a word. Do I got worshippers who are addicts because they hadn’t heard the word. Some of them are sitting in church haven’t heard the word. Some of them are dancing and they haven’t heard the word. Some of them are shouting but they haven’t heard the word. It’s when the word gets down in your spirit! The greatest compliment that you can give the word is change. It’s not shouting, it’s not being radical, it’s not being a cheerleader. The greatest “amen” that you can ever give the word of God is to be changed by the word you hear. And if you are not changed by the word, shouting means nothing at all. When your attitude changes, your heart changes, your mentality changes, and the word is become flesh in you. That word is a word that you can fight with, you can live with, you can preach with, you can pray with. You can reconcile your home and your life with that word that you know about God. You cannot fight the devil with word that I know. Oh, you’re gonna catch me in a minute. You’ve got to fight the devil with the engrafted word of God that has connected in your spirit. You cannot use hearsay information in court, you’ve got to be an eyewitness to the power of God. Do you know who he is? Do you know what he’s able to do? You must be convinced in your own heart. From the power and the anointing of God.

    Helen Baylor: . . . you know when I think about it, I started in the church as a little girl, 7 years old, and Grandmother used to take me to church back in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I used to sing for the Lord and I used to sing in the adult choir and I loved the Lord with all my heart. By the time I was 9 years old, I was gung-ho and Grandma said to me one day, she said, “you know baby, God’s gonna use you one day.” And I didn’t know what she meant, but I knew I liked the sound of God using me. By the time I was 11 years old, my mother and father, and my five brothers, and little sister, we moved from Tulsa to California. My dad’s job had transferred him out here and by the time I was 12 years old, I found myself in a nightclub that was in Los Angeles. My mom and dad used to go to the clubs on weekends. They didn’t know the Lord Jesus and Grandma wasn’t around anymore, so we just quit going to church. Was in the nightclubs at 12 years old and that was the worst place and the last place that I needed to be,
    [sings] But I had a prayin’ grandmother!
    [speaks] By the time I was 13 years old, I had recorded my first single and began to open up for people like Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, BB King, and Bill Cosby, I remember opening up for him one time and things began to happen. Hallelujah. Things began to happen all around me. The Devil had a trap see? He was gonna set me up because, see, I liked it—I liked the money. I was making a lot of money and I liked the glamor and I liked the applause, because that said, “I love you.”
    [sings] We all want to be loved! Hallelujah!
    [speaks] I didn’t know that Jesus loved me. I didn’t know it then. When I was 16 years old, I had a baby out of wedlock and, by the time I was 17 years old, I left home and joined the cast of Hair and I began to travel all across the country. I was making more money than my Mom and Dad put together. By then, things were looking pretty good. Then I was introduced to marijuana. Devil had a trap set. Next thing I know, it was pills. Pills to get up in the morning and pills to go to bed at night. Then, it was the alcohol. Then I became very promiscuous and ran around with a lot of people I had no business being with and, one day, I was introduced to cocaine and I know all drugs are a spirit, but this cocaine became my best friend and I began to hang out with the Devil and I did everything that I was big and bad enough to do. And I’m not glorifying him, I’m just letting him know that
    [sings] I don’t belong to you! Hallelujah! I’ve been set free! Hallelujah! Glory to God!
    [speaks] I went on for about 12 years of my life and I traveled with people and I worked with Chaka Khan and Rufus and I worked with Captain and Tenille and all the people in the studios and I was good at my job and I was quick and I could demand double, triple scale and I went to work and I was high every day.
    [sings] The Devil was tryin’ to kill me, but I had a prayin’ grandmother, never turned her back on me! Hallelujah!
    [speaks] One time, when I was in Houston, Texas, I met a man there and I was getting ready to go on the road with Chaka Khan and there was a group going on the road with us, Heatwave, and they had a man working with them and he was doing their lights and I didn’t know this, but I met him on the road and he was a nice guy and you never would know it to look at him, but he was also, not only was their light director, but he was a cocaine dealer. The Devil knows how to really do it. So, we began to be friends and we began to date and, you know, I began to get all the cocaine I wanted for free. How many of you know it wasn’t for free? But we came home, me and this young man, and we began to live together and he was still selling drugs and I began to make drops for him. I was dropping off cocaine and making a lot of foolish turns in my life and my life began to do this spiral, downward spiral. I was going to Hell. Then, I began to watch Christian television. I began to watch Dr. Frederick K.C. Price. No matter what time I went to bed on saturday night, whether it was 3:30, 4:30 in the morning, somehow, my eyes popped open at 8:30.
    [sings] Evidence!
    [speaks] And I have to be honest with you. I used to sit there with my pre-rolled joints from the night before and I used to fire up a joint and watch Dr. Price. And I used to, kind of, you know, Dr. Price, you know, you know how I am. I used to make fun of Dr. Price. I’d say, “Just look at him, talking about ‘Faith comes by hearing and hearing By the Word of God’!” But faith came. Hallelujah! Glory! Praise to God tonight! Hallelujah!
    [sings] He’s worthy! Yes, He is!
    [speaks] You see, for two years, I watched Christian television. I was in and out and I bought a Bible and I would throw away all of the paraphernalia to smoke crack with and to smoke freebase and we used to make it and make our own. I threw it all in the trash and I’d go get it again and we’d get high. One night, as I was getting loaded and I began to pass out. Then, my head hit the wall. Pow! Then, I began to slide down the wall and, as I began to come to, all of my bodily fluids were doing their own thing and I was dying
    [sings] but I had a prayin’ grandmother and I knew enough to call on the name of Jesus!
    [speaks] Wasn’t a couple of days later that I was watching Christian television and Grandma tells me she was layin’ on her face during this time and she had been fasting for two weeks of just calling on the name of Jesus.
    [sings] “Save my granddaughter! Save my granddaughter, Jesus!”
    [speaks] I watched Christian TV and it was as if God Himself said, “That’s enough!” and he rebuked the Devil long enough for me to make an intelligent decision and I said,
    [sings] “Jesus, if you take me back . . . I wanna come home, if you take me back.”
    [speaks] And I want you to know that, instantly, I was set free.

    Female Preacher in white: . . . they can pick you up off the floor and take you to your seat. And all the way to your seat, you’re still saying “thank you Jesus, thank you Jesus, thank you Jesus, thank you Jesus, thank you Jesus.” See, I’m sorry but I didn’t get saved by you handing me no track. I’m sorry, but I got saved calling on Jesus. I’ve got the holy ghost telling him to fill the Lord’s house. Fill the Lord’s house! Is there anybody in here that God saved calling? For in the name of Jesus! Stop the music, and start calling on Jesus. C’mon, this ain’t no conference. It’s a revival. Is somebody still need a breakthrough in your spirit? Call Jesus! C’mon call him! Call him until you feel his presence! C’mon louder! Is that all that? Baby, you ain’t calling him loud enough! Because when you get desperate, in your spirit, you’re calling him out of your belly. C’mon everybody! Call him with all your might. Call him with all your strength. C’mon! Something is breaking. There’s another level breaking. There’s another realm breaking. This is the light that you’re gonna take back home. This the lamp that’s gonna show up in your kitchen. This is the lamb that’s gonna hit you in your car. Open up your number and call Jesus! Call Jesus! Jesus, Jesus.

    Preacher 3: . . . that’s why if they ever know anything about you , they’ll never let it die because they do not believe that the old you could ever be changed into the new you. Their perception is limited to one realm of existence. They basically believe that you will always be who you always were. What a prison. What a trap. To tell me that I cannot change. Why are you praying for me if you’re not going to accept a change when it comes? What it is, what it is, is that they watch us go down. And whenever people watch you go down, or watch you struggle, they make a decision about you. And many of us are suffering because of the decisions that somebody else made about us. They have made provisions for us to stay where we were. Provisions. They have given you space to be who you are. When you tell a child “you are stupid and you are dumb and you are ignorant,” you’re just making space for them to be what you said. You’re creating room, you’re reinforcing it. You’ve made a decision, you are telling them “I’m giving you a license to be stupid, I expect nothing from you, I expect no aims, I expect no performance, I expect nothing from you but stupidity.” You’ve built a grave for them. And you speak against another brother and you say, “this is what he is” and “this is where he is,” and “this is how he is.” You build a prison, a tomb, and you set him in there. And you say this is all you can be. Now that is not a problem, as long as you are talking about people down the street and around the corner, but it’s a real problem when the people in your life and the people in your house have decided that you will never be more than what you were. No grace. No mercy. Oh! I’m not trying to create some escape for Lazarus. He was sick alright. He was sick a long time. And whenever a person is sick, it affects everybody they are connected with. That’s the tragedy about getting hooked up with people. Because whenever you get hooked up with people, they invite you into their madness. Whatever’s going on with them, starts going on with you, because when you get around them, they just invite you into their unique confusion. That’s why you have to be careful who you covenant with. Because when you covenant with people, you get tied up into their circumstances, and they can only treat you like they treat themselves. There is no way that you can get respect from a man who does not respect himself. The whole concept escapes him! If you council wife-abusers, you will find out that men who abuse their wives also hate themselves. They are self-condemning, frustrated, and they are their worst critics, and out of their own personal frustration, they act out on her the rage and the venom that they have for themselves.

    Choir: I’m sorry. Forgive me. Bring me up, Jesus, I didn’t mean to hurt you, or desert you, because I love you so much I can’t believe! When I need it, I didn’t mean to let you down, and Jesus turned my life around. Forgive me! Lord! Lord! Lord Jesus! I’m sorry. Forgive me. Bring me up, Jesus, I didn’t mean to hurt you, or desert you, because I love you so much I can’t believe! When I need it, I didn’t mean to let you down, and Jesus turned my life around. Forgive me! Lord! Lord! Lord Jesus!

    Soloist: Listen, every time I try to do the right thing, I always end up doing the wrong thing. The only thing I seem to do is keep on messing up.
    Can I get a witness? I’m so confused, Lord, I don’t know what to do. But you told me. If I would just seek your faith and try to turn from my wicked ways, you will heal me, forgive me, and give me another, another, another chance.
    Can I get a witness? Can I take it in? Every time I try to do the right thing, I always end up doing the wrong thing. The only thing I seem to do is keep on messing up. Oh yeah. I’ve been so confused, Lord, I don’t know what to do. But you told me. Yes you did. If I would just seek your faith and turn from my wicked ways, you will heal me, forgive me, and give me [scatting] another chance. I’m really sorry.
    [Choir:] I’m sorry.
    Forgive me.
    [Choir:] Forgive me. Bring me up,
    Jesus
    [Choir:] Jesus, I didn’t mean to hurt you
    nor desert you
    [Choir:] or desert you,
    Cuz I love you
    [Choir:] because I love you
    Sooooooo
    [Choir:] so much I can’t believe!
    I mean it,
    [Choir:] That I didn’t mean
    That I didn’t mean to let you down,
    [Choir:] I didn’t mean to let you down, and Jesus turned my life around. Forgive me!
    That’s all I ask you tonight Lord.
    [Choir:] Lord! Lord! Lord Jesus!
    Hey hey, hey hey, Another chance
    [Choir:] another chance.
    Is there anybody here tonight who wants the Lord to give you another chance?
    [Choir:] Lord! Lord! Lord Jesus!
    I wonder tonight, is there anybody over here that ever messed up before?
    [Choir:] Lord! Lord! Lord Jesus!
    Or was you born like John the Baptist with the holy ghost?
    [Choir:] Lord! Lord! Lord Jesus!
    Another chance. Another chance.
    [Choir:] Lord! Lord! Lord Jesus!
    Listen, I remember, the story of David,
    can I get a witness here tonight?
    [Choir:] Lord! Lord! Lord Jesus!
    David got up one morning, walked out on his balcony and saw a fine woman
    [Choir:] Lord! Lord! Lord Jesus!
    The Bible say her name was Bathsheba, yes it was yeah
    [Choir:] Lord! Lord! Lord Jesus!
    He said I want you, I want that woman for my son, yeah
    [Choir:] Lord! Lord! Lord Jesus!
    She had a husband, he had her husband killed, put him on the frontline, yeah.
    [Choir:] Lord! Lord! Lord Jesus!
    But one day, David woke up, he came to his self.
    [Choir:] Lord! Lord! Lord Jesus!
    Do you remember reading it? In the 51st numbers of Psalm, yeah.
    [Choir:] Lord! Lord! Lord Jesus!
    He said have mercy on me oh God.
    [Choir:] Lord! Lord! Lord Jesus!
    According to your love and kindness, your tender mercy
    [Choir:] Lord! Lord! Lord Jesus!
    He said behold I was shapen in iniquity
    [Choir:] Lord! Lord! Lord Jesus!
    My mother did conceive me in sin, yeah.
    [Choir:] Lord! Lord! Lord Jesus!
    He said purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean
    [Choir:] Lord! Lord! Lord Jesus!
    Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow
    [Choir:] Lord! Lord! Lord Jesus!
    He said, create in me a clean heart
    [Choir:] Lord! Lord! Lord Jesus!
    And renew a right spirit within me.
    [Choir:] Lord! Lord! Lord Jesus!
    Uphold me with thy free spirit, whatever you do Lord don’t take your joy from me
    [Choir:] Lord! Lord! Lord Jesus!
    Chance!
    [Choir:] Lord!
    Listen, we talking to somebody, at your neighbor, and I don’t know about you, but I want the Lord to give me, to give me, to give me another chance. Anybody want to do it tonight? Put your hands up! Say: “Lord give me another chance.” Say “I’m sorry,” “Forgive me,” “I admit it, I did it,” “I admit it, that I blew it,” “I admit it, that I knew it,” but Lord, Lord, Lord, give me, give me, another chance. Say yeah, say yeah, say yeah.

    Preacher: . . . Give me a minute. What on a little minute. How do I manifest his glory? I must make his glory seeable. I must be an incarnation of his revelation. They ought to be able to look at me, and behold his glory. Full of grace and truth. I’m ready to go home, y’all. It means my life ought to be a demonstration. I cannot come with fancy words, I cannot come attempting to be so attractive that I dilute and minimize the power of the holy ghost. But I must come with a made-up mind that my life is a demonstration of grace. And grace is nothing but another word for a favor. You don’t know who’s sitting on your row tonight. Because there’s some miracles in this house. There are some folk in this room, whose lives are but a demonstration of the power of the living god. Don’t worry about your neighbor. When they don’t get up and raise their hand when you praise him. They don’t know what you’ve been through. They don’t know what you had to go through. Just all to be here tonight. Somebody came through many dangers, toiled in sadness. Nothing but grace, and that’s favor, it’s a favor of God that will open doors where no man can go. They turned us down 22 times. When we tried to buy the fort, before the preachers in town laughed at us, the businessmen took wages and said we’d never do it. We got turned down 22 times, and one day in my depression and my confusion, I asked “Lord is this really what you want me to do? I’ve only already had 22 negative responses.” God said, “Well, you only need one.” I came to tell somebody today, God has that one expression of favor that’s got your name on it. He’s got that one blessing that has your name on it. It’s too soon to quit, it’s too soon to stop. It’s the power of the living God that sure rests on you, because your life shall be a demonstration of the truth of who God is. When you saw Jesus, he was wrapped up in flesh, but he was wrapped up in truth. The challenge that you and I have will be to hold on to the truth and turn away from the flesh. Y’all aint got that. It’s the flesh that always holds onto the facts of life. It’s the truth that comes forth by the spirit. And in my mind I must make a choice: to listen to the spirit, or listen to my flesh. Y’all didn’t get that. It’s the spirit of God that is in me that moves on my mind and causes me to make a choice, between the flesh and the spirit. They beheld his glory, full of grace and full of truth. It’s my flesh that holds on to facts. It’s my spirit that holds on to truth. Y’all didn’t get that. It’s my flesh that holds on to facts. It’s my spirit that reaches up for the truth. And if I am going to be a demonstration of the glory of God, my life must reflect that I’m walking in the truth. Is there anybody here tonight that knows what it’s like to walk in the truth and turn away from the facts? Now the fact is: you may have to cry all night long, but the truth is weeping may endure for a night, but joy is coming in the morning. The fact is: you might not have a dime in your pocket, but the truth is my God shall supply. All your needs according to his richness and glory. The fact is: sometimes you feel like you’re walking in darkness, but the truth is the Lord is my light and my salvation. The fact is that the enemy will get on your trail, but the truth is: threaten not thyself. Because those evil doers, they will soon be cut down. Somebody ought to get in praise tonight. The fact is you can’t figure out the whole problem, but the truth is: I can do all things to right those who striketh me. Somebody hear God’s glory. C’mon and praise him, c’mon and praise him, in the name of Jesus! I want to help somebody! Not a shame, but give thanks and praise. Because the fact is that sometimes I’m tired of praying, I’m tired of waiting, I’m tired of trusting, but the truth is pave that way upon the Lord, [speaking in tongues] Somebody bless him tonight. The fact is I’m tired of praising, I’m tired of lifting my hands, but the truth is I will bless the Lord at all times, and his praise shall continually be in my mouth. Somebody praise him! Somebody bless him! Somebody give him the [speaking in tongues]. C’mon and bless his name! C’mon and bless his name! In the name of Jesus! You’re already praising him! Somebody praise him! By clapping your hands. Somebody praise him! By clapping your feet. Like my grand momma used to say: “If I couldn’t say a word, I’m
    [speaking in tongues]! C’mon and bless him! Ya’ll already praising! [speaking in tongues] Give God some glory! [speaking in tongues] And give God some praise! Hallelujah! [speaking in tongues] Hallelujah! Thank you, Jesus. God, I feel like praising you. I feel like blessing you. I feel like hearing your glory. [speaking in tongues] Somebody bless him. Somebody praise him. Praise him. To the Lord’s door and open it. Praise him. ‘Till he makes a way out of no way. Praise him! ‘Till you get your deliverance. C’mon and feel the power!

    Female Preacher in white: . . . we don’t know this way. We ain’t been here long enough, we don’t know the way. Show us! Here we are wandering in the wildness and don’t know the way. Show us! Show us! Give us the faith. I was once delivered to the [speaking in tongues] Somebody right now got it. They don’t want to be touched. Help! Oh Jesus. Somebody’s tired of being touched? Have a touch! Don’t keep me waiting. But God get you out of the inside! [speaking in tongues] Do it! Do it, do it, do it, do it . . . break every block, break every block in the building, Jesus break every filter. Jesus break every filter. Every filter that keeps me in check. [speaking in tongues]

    Preacher in red tie: They prayed for him, they sent for Jesus. Come, come to our house Lord, because I’m living with a sick man. Some of you are here tonight because somebody prayed you through. I shudder to think what I might be doing tonight if somebody hadn’t prayed for me. If somebody hadn’t kept calling on Jesus and saying “Lord, I know your evil, he’s going through a fall, he’s in a crisis right now but, oh God.” Now we’ve become church-ized. And we act like this is all we’ve ever been. Now we have to hire professional people to get you to worship, and if the music isn’t right, if the drum isn’t right, if the singer doesn’t sing real good, you’ve got the nerve to cross your legs and talk about that you’re too tired to worship. But if you ever think back and remember that gutter you were in, when he reached out and saved you, you don’t need no music or no choir or nobody else, you will bless the Lord out of your spirit! Touch somebody next to you and tell them “I’ve got to praise the Lord.” That means it’s not an option for me, it’s not an option, I’ve got to praise him. If he hadn’t touched me like he touched me, I’d have—still be in the mess, in the gutter, and in the sewer. I wasn’t no nicey-nice person. He came in the mud and pulled me out. I will bless the Lord at all times. Yes, Praise him.

    Le’Andria Johnson: . . . Never would have made it
    Never could have made it without You
    I would have lost it all
    But now I see how you were there for me
    Never would’ve made it
    Never could’ve made it without you
    I would have lost it all
    But now I see, you’re there for me
    And I’m stronger, I’m wiser
    I’m better, so much better
    When I look back over my life,
    I knew you were there for me by my side.
    Say never (never would have made it)
    Oh I never (never could have made it without you)
    I could’ve lost my mind
    But you walked in for me right on time
    I never (never would have made it)
    I never (never could have made it without you)
    You’ve been there for me,
    You’ve been there for me
    And that’s why
    I’m stronger (I’m stronger), and I’m getting wiser
    so much better (I’m better)
    I said better (much better)
    Lord you’ve been there in my dark times my friend
    You were there for me all the way until the end
    I’m stronger (I’m stronger), I’m wiser (I’m wiser)
    so much better (I’m better)
    yeah I’m better (much better)
    (I made it) I made it
    (I made it) I made it
    (I made it) I made it
    Through the storm and the rain (I made it)
    Through the sickness and pain (I made it)
    Yeah I made it (I made it)
    I (I made it) (I made it) (I made it) (I made it)

    Johnson jazzclub: Look at myself in the mirror
    Religion lookin’ back at me
    I threw my hands in the air
    And the law arrested me
    Girl interrupted
    I needed to
    break out and get freedom
    One bad decision after the next
    Just getting by, letting you figure me out
    Call him like you want him,
    Call him like you need him
    Hey
    It was the best thing that could happen to me
    Curses unbroken
    Still trying to hold me down
    Bondage, but I didn’t even think
    I was good enough for God’s best
    But I’m in my closet
    Yes I am, I’m in my closet
    Time after time
    Praying Jesus, singing Jesus, crying . . .
    (Jesus), you ought to call him like you want him
    you ought to call him like you need him
    (Jesus),
    Say it
    (Jesus),
    Anybody know him out there? Anybody know him out there?
    Anybody know him like that?
    Jesus
    Did he deliver anybody? Did he deliver anybody? Did he bring anybody out?
    You oughta look at your neighbour and say
    It was nobody, nobody but jesus
    Yeah
    Jesus
    My god, he’s my pariah, he’s my hero, he’s my eternal savior,
    that’s why I’ve got to say
    Our father Jesus which art in heaven Jesus
    Hallowed would be thy name Jesus, thy kingdom come Jesus
    Thou will return Jesus
    You oughta come
    You oughta come
    You oughta come
    yeah

    Preacher in red tie: . . . the stink is gone. He’s out. The stink is gone. He’s out. Tell somebody, tell them the stink is gone. (He’s gone) See, that means if you didn’t know me, you couldn’t sniff me and smell what I used to be, because the stink is gone. And, the stone is gone. The hearthplace is gone. The shell is cracked. The yolk is broken. The prison door is open. I’m like David, my soul escapes. Like a bird. I’m out. And I’m glad I’m out. I’m out and I know I’m out. Would anybody believe I’m out? I’m glad!

    They just unwrapped him. They understood, that was then, this is now. I want every man in this room that just needs a second chance to come as close to this stage as you can get. If you’re in the third balcony, just come as close down to your level as you can get, you don’t have to come all the way down here, just come as close as you can. Now, I hope this tape makes it to the wives, makes it to the fathers, makes it to the sons, makes it to the employers, makes it to the congregation. I hope it makes it to the one who wrapped you up and said you wouldn’t be back. These men are not dead. You threw them away too son. God isn’t finished with them yet. Need you to lose that man, and let him go. Now this is serious business. Because there are men around this altar, who are suffering. Tired of being in the tomb, tired of the stinky stuff, tired of living in the past, tired of having our mistakes brought up over and over and over and over again. We confess. We’ve been sick. We confess, we failed you, and we weren’t always there for you, we confess. We didn’t always make the right decisions. We confess, we didn’t always do the right thing. We confess that we didn’t know how to father correctly. We confess that we didn’t know anything about being a husband. We confess we didn’t know how to handle our money. We confess we didn’t know how to treat no family. We confess we failed, we blew it. We confess we came to work late. We confess we spent the money. We confess we faltered by the wayside. We confess we got in trouble. We confess we did some things we shouldn’t have done. We confess we failed, we faltered, we’ve made mistakes, we’ve had illicit affairs, we—pornography, adult, we’ve done everything, everything, everything, everything, everything, everything. All we confess. I want you to know that just as surely as that physical hand is on you, the hand of the Lord is on you. The hand of the Lord is on you. The hand of the Lord is on you. The hand of the Lord is upon you. It’s been on you all of your life. It was on you when you were right. It was on you when you were wrong. It was on you when you were stinking. It was on you when you blew it. It was on you when nobody else wanted to touch you. When nobody wanted to trust you. When nobody wanted to help you. The hand of the Lord is upon you. He’s touching you now. He’s strengthening you now by his power, by his grace, by his mercy, his glory is falling upon you right now. He’s going to be your help, and your shield and your muffler. He’s speaking on your behalf right now. He’s cleaning your case right now. He’s interceding for you right now. He’s taken up your case right now. He’s set loose that man and let him go!

    Pink dress singer: . . . nothing. Nothing. Nothing but the blood of Jesus. My Jesus.
    What can make me whole again?
    Nothing, Nothing but the blood of my Jesus.
    What can wash away my sin?
    I’m telling you nothing but the blood of Jesus
    Yes, sweet Jesus
    What can make me whole again?
    Now, nothing but the blood of Jesus.
    It’s nothing but the blood of my Jesus.
    Oh! How precious is that flow
    That makes me white as snow;
    No other fount I know,
    Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
    (Nothing but the blood)
    (Nothing but the blood)
    No, it’s nothing, (but the blood)
    Halelluiah
    but the blood of Jesus
    (Praise Jesus)
    Oh! (How precious) is that flow (is that flow)
    Oh how wonderous (Oh! How precious)
    My savior’s blood (my savior’s blood)
    Oh how glorious (Oh! How precious) is that blood (is that flow)
    Oh how marvelous (Oh! How precious)
    My savior’s blood (the savior’s blood)
    Oh! How precious is that flow
    Oh how (oh) Oh (oh) Oh (oh) Oh (oh) Oh (oh) how (oh) Oh (oh)
    Oh it’s saving (oh)
    Oh it’s precious (oh)
    How it’s healing (oh)
    How it’s redeeming (oh)
    That there holy blood (oh)
    Of Jesus Christ (oh)
    He shed for me (oh)
    He shed it for you (oh)
    He died on cavalry (oh)
    So that you might have a ride (oh)
    To the dream (oh)
    Oh I’ll fight for you
    Oh I love you
    Oh I need you
    You know I can’t make it without you
    I say hang on
    Oh my Jesus
    I thank you for your blood
    Your blood is for giving
    Your blood is for cleansing
    Your blood is our blood
    (Nothing but the blood of Jesus)
    Hallelujah, it’s nothing but the blood
    (Nothing but the blood)
    I realize that its nothing but the blood
    It’s the blood, it’s the blood of Jesus
    Oh how (oh) Oh (oh) Oh (oh) Oh (oh)
    Can’t you feel it all? (oh)
    Can’t you feel it all? (oh)

    Can’t you feel him dying? (oh)
    Can’t you hear him crying? (oh)
    He died for you (oh)
    Up there on his cross
    He loved you, yes he did (oh)
    And you never said a word (oh)
    Thank you Jesus (oh)
    I want to thank you Jesus (oh)
    I absolutely thank you Jesus (oh)
    I saw you (oh)
    I can’t get enough of you (oh)
    God I love
    God I praise you (oh)
    It’s a wonder you died
    His blood is comfort
    His blood is forgiveness
    His blood will heal you
    His blood will keep you
    It’s not blood its healing
    Did you feel it?
    Can’t you feel it?
    Can’t you feel it?
    Can’t you feel it?
    Jesus died for you
    (Nothing but the blood)
    It’s nothing but the blood
    (Nothing but the blood)
    If you don’t remember nothing tonight, its that it’s the blood
    The blood is what keeps you from day to day
    (Nothing but the blood)
    Hallelujah
    It’s the blood, It’s the blood, It’s the blood, It’s the blood
    It’s the blood, it’s the blood of Jesus Christ
    YEAH
    Praise!

    Gil Scott-Heron: Mmmmm
    We’re sliding through
    Completely new
    Beginnings
    We’re searching out
    Our every doubt
    And winning

    We want to be free
    Yet we have no idea
    Why we are struggling here
    Faced with our every fear
    Just to survive

    We’ve heard the sound
    And come around
    To listening
    We’ve touched the vine
    Time after time
    Insisting

    We know what life brings
    Still we can find a way
    From dues we’ve got to pay
    We hope we’ll somehow say
    That we’re alive

    We’re sliding through
    Completely new
    Beginnings
    We’re searching out
    Our every doubt
    And winning

    We want to be free
    Yet we have no idea
    Why we are struggling here
    Faced with our every fear
    Just to survive

    Completely new
    Completely new
    Beginnings
    Completely new
    Completely new
    Beginnings
    Completely new
    Completely new
    Beginnings
    New beginnings

Funding

Lead support is provided by the Harris Family Foundation in memory of Bette and Neison Harris, the Zell Family Foundation, and Cari and Michael Sacks.

Major support is provided by R. H. Defares and Agnes Gund.

Generous support is provided by D. Elizabeth Price and Lou Yecies.