Lil Prophet

ZEPHYRHILLS- Believeing that taking the gospel of Jesus to the streets will win more younf people to god's kingdom, four churches got together and reached out recently with an all-day concert in Zephyr Park.
Ryan Kelsie was there. Also known as Lil Prophet, the 19-year-old believes young people are going through tough times and need to be listened to and loved. Through his rapping music ministry, he hopes to show them god's love and draw more souls to Christ.
The churches that participated in the event are god's vision for Life Ministries in Zephyrhills and, from Tampa, Harvest Time Ministries, Lion's Den of Higher Hope Ministries and Revealing Truth Ministries.
Taking the gospel to the streets is an effective ministry, said Kenard Blyden, youth pastor for Harvest Time Ministries.
"Church is good inside a building, but this (street ministry) is good and very effective outside for those who can't or won't go inside a chruch," Blyden said.
His senior pastor, David Boyd, said the vision for the street ministry is attributed to rev. Steven Kelsie, pastor of the Zephyrhills church.
More than 150 people attended the concert in mid-June and some have visited the Zephyrhills church since. One visitor told Kelsie that he believed the passage from Psalms 133 that sayd "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethern to dwell together in unity" was fulfilled with that concert.
The Zephyrhills congregation meets at a storefront building at 35950 State Road 54. Services are ar 11 a.m. Sunday, youth group meets 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and there is a bible study at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Concerning the park outreach, Kelsie said it was a blessing for the four churches to get together.
"I believe God wants us Christians to be one church," he said, reffering to the body of believers.
"I believe it was very successful," said Erika Thames, who does publicity for God's vision for Life Ministries. "We are very excited about having another one next year."
Blyden spoke to the concert crowd about music and the influence it has on young people.
"I talked about the importance of having good lyrics for rap instead of negative influences," Blyden said. "I also talked about the importance of living a life without sin."
Sixteen music groups participated in the daylong concert with The Real Word Ridaz, Ryan Kelsie's group, finishing the day with Christian rap.
Ryan Kelsie will release a CD in April, Mission from God. Photos of him and his group along with their testimonies can be seen on the groups Web site. www.myspace.com/realwordrecords. For more information call Lee (813) 597-4754 - By: Michelle Jones Times Correspondent

April 10th, 2007

To Whom It May Concern:

My name is Ricardo J. Butler, also known as Reason Disciple of God’s Armor Gospel of Christ & Seed of Faith Tour 2007 Hip Hop & Music Ministries and Christ Church of Orlando. And I have worked with Ryan M. Kelsie also known as Lil Prophet, for quite a short time. But in that short time, the work that God has showed me in this young soldier’s life is amazing.

I invited him to be on the Seed of Faith State of Florida Gospel Music Tour 2007 after I heard his music. What even made me more finalize my choice after praying to the Lord about it was the fact that my 9 year old daughter was dancing to his songs and singing the lyrics after about a week or two. I love music with a message, but what I love more is music that can positively influence, impact, and inspire children. And because of that the choice was easy to make. That is the whole reason, purpose, and focus for this tour.

Now the thing is I have never seen nor heard from anybody about his anointing, his stage presence, nor his performance. We had our second tour date at the Upper Room Gospel Lounge here in Orlando, FL where I reside and Lil Prophet and his crew blew up the stage. He kept the crowd off their feet. He had my daughter dancing on the stage with him. Even my pregnant wife who is the godliest woman I know (after my mother) was shaken her belly.

But in the midst of all this, I had a little doubt in the beginning because he was young and I had no idea about his ministering. You see we as people of Christ and of the world seem to weigh the gifting and the charisma of a person on how well they do the job. But we always seem to miss the character or the disposition of a person. It’s easy to get caught up in Michael Jordan’s jump shot, but can he touch a life by his actions when his not working. Can he change the circle of people around him? What I’m really saying is as a Christian can he really make disciples? Can he influence someone from making that one costly mistake?

The answer is yes! Lil Prophet is more than a performer. He is more than a hype person. He is more than a 19 year old gifted young man on a stage with a microphone in his hand. He is no different from any pastor that gets in the pulpit and proclaims the Word of the Lord. He is no different from any guest speaker in the world on the stage proclaiming their mess. He is an MC which means to move the crowds. He is an MC which means Messiah Controlled. That brother inspires my walk with the Lord and I’m 28 doing it since I was his age at 19.

I and Lil Prophet are like Paul and young Timothy. The elders despised Timothy’s youth like the elders in music and in the church are repeating the cycle today, because we as Christians haven’t learned from the past. The Bible was right when the Holy Spirit by the mouth of Solomon said, “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). And I always tell Young Timothy aka Lil Prophet, “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1st Timothy 4:12). And Ryan M. Kelsie fills all those slots in the Lord’s heart, my heart, and those around him. He has been a blessing to my ministry, not a burden at all. And I pray and hope that he will not be a burden to your ministry, but a wonderful blessing.

God bless the reader, the hearer, and the doer of God’s Words. In the name of our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Thanks for your time and many blessing over you all.

Sincerely your brother in Christ,
Ricardo J. Butler
Reason Disciple the Mic Evangelist
God’s Armor Gospel of Christ Hip Hop, Prison Discipleship, & Leadership Ministries
www.myspace.com/godsarmormissions
ReasonDisciple@aol.com
gods_armor_missions@yahoo.com
407-580-5586
"Finally, my brothers and sisters in Christ, be strong in the LORD JESUS, and in the power of His Holy Ghost might. Put on the WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD!" (Eph. 6:10-11)


- Ricardo Butler