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AWOE: How has God spread the word about it so far in your local community’s and across the country?
PZ: I thank God all the time for the power of the internet. Ha! Myspace, myspace, myspace has been a powerful tool for making the connections across the country. For a year and a half, I found myself meeting and building with people from all over, who were real to the bone gristle when it came to Christ. You see, people from similar backgrounds, similar testimonies and the same love of Christ seem to click. I don’t know, it’s just a spirit thing! These connections that have been made are connections that no man can tear apart!
I tell you how it finally went down here in San Antonio. Like I said, I’ve constantly been handing CDs out. Well, one day I’m sittin in traffic, got my one 6x9 speaker (I blew the rest) bumpin that Jacob Izrael and an older Mexican dude, all tatted up pulls up next to me and is pointing at his ear like “what’s that?” So, I throw the truck in park…hop out and give him a CD. Come to find out, he was sitting over there thinking to himself, “I’m going to have to minister to this brother” as he heard all the loud noise blasting. But he said, “then I heard JESUS.” So he had the intention of ministering to me and ended up ministered to! His name is Jimmy Robles, I love him like a brother! He has a ministry here called “Second Chance Ministries” and it is a real life drama showing the pitfalls of drugs, adultery, gang banging and all that. Very powerful, I cry every time. So I started helping him out, and what ended up happening is that connections were made with several other local ministries. The word is traveling around San Antonio regarding S.E.A.L.S. Ministryz and I attribute that towards the attitude of servitude, which the Lord has placed within me. Because it’s not about S.E.A.L.S. Ministryz, it is about Jesus Christ, we are only vessels. We are available to serve in any way we can, and people know that.
AWOE: What are some of the things ya’ll do to spread the gospel and to assist in building up your community?
S.E.A.L.S.I am constantly giving out the mixed CDs to any and everyone I run into listening to hip-hop. Because you know what, regardless of what they may think about Jesus…the music itself is HOT! And you see, they can’t help but be sprinkled with seeds once they pop in that CD. We just pray that it find that one crack to fall into and sprout up! And praise God! It has been effective! We remain ready to serve to assist any ministry whether it is to help someone set up a stage, feeding the homeless, or just picking up trash after someone’s event. For example on August 18th, the day after the Godstock event we will be setting up in the projects on the Westside of San Antonio, and will be feeding the poor, going door to door to minister and will have a stage set up over there to bless the people. I am so thankful that the individuals that the Lord has sent in our direction understands and realize it is ministry first, that music is just the means. Many of the artists coming to Godstock will be staying to minister on the 18th. Praise God!
AWOE: You guys have been involved with The Dream Center can you tell me a little about that?
S.E.A.L.S.: A couple of our brothers in ministry have a group on there in the Los Angeles area, and they go by the name Joshua Generation. That’s Purpose from Long Beach and J.E.R.K. from Compton, they are very involved in the community out there in Los Angeles and they have performed there at the Dream Center for the people. We was blessed enough to have been able to attend one of their events and support them brothers as they ministered to the crowd. What a couple of godly men they are, and just another example of the kind of connections being made through S.E.A.L.S. Ministryz. Both of these brothers would give the shirt off of their backs just so you can be warmer than they are. And that’s real talk! Both of them will be in town performing for Godstock. God is good!
AWOE: Why did you guys create a spiritual mixtape?
S.E.A.L.S.: Well, the connections that have been made…it only made sense and because God said so. The artists who are involved with S.E.A.L.S. Ministryz are all about saving souls, and they are some of the hottest rappers out there, PERIOD. Every mixtape we give out contains songs that these artists have contributed towards the cause, and know that they are being used for ministry. So in addition to getting that truth out there through the holy hotness, these brothers and sisters in music ministry are having their ministries blessed by the exposure. Be on the look out in 2008 for the official S.E.A.L.S. Ministryz compilation, which will feature exclusive songs from all of our partners in ministry. IT’S GONNA BE HOT!
AWOE: What is Godstock and how did S.E.A.L.S. get involved with Godstock?
S.E.A.L.S.: Godstock is a music festival that is held every year, for the last 10 years here in San Antonio. A couple years back, Diane Moreno, the Godstock Coordinator received a vision that holy hip-hop was going to be a major force, but it wasn’t God’s time then! We were introduced this year through Jimmy Robles of Second Chance Ministry, and it turns out we were both answers to each other’s prayers! I had been praying that the Lord open the opportunity for S.E.A.L.S. to bring these artists to San Antonio, and she had been praying for the connection in the holy hip-hop. There you have it!
AWOE: Why do you think God has given ya’ll a whole day dedicated to proclaim the gospel through Christian Hip-Hop?
S.E.A.L.S.: This is the first year in 10 years that they have had a whole evening for holy hip hop. First let me tell you, Narrow path Records has been holding it DOWN for San Antonio Texas! It is an honor to serve next to GLO, L.O.C., Christologist and Maurice in this hip-hop ministry. They have been carrying this city on their backs as far as the holy hip-hop goes and words can’t express the gratitude that I feel for them.
I believe God has given us a whole evening because HE’S READY TO CHANGE THIS CITY and He’s doing it behind enemy lines, the hip-hop culture. It’s mess…it’s poison, and we taking it back. I’m telling you, after this event, the city is not going to be the same! I claim that, and you better believe me…God is setting it OFF here in San Antonio. In addition to this event, we have free use of the Tripoint facility, which is an old Albertson’s grocery store building, with 12,000 square feet, blocked off with a professional grade stage, lighting and sound system. And would you believe me if I told you that this building, when looked at on the map…latitude and longitude this building falls right smack in the middle of San Antonio!! God’s ready to move, and this is the inaugural event for San Antonio! Once these people out here see that it’s hot like this, it’s not going to make any sense to try and go back to the worldly crap as far as hip hop goes. Chains are being BROKEN on August 17th, 2007…BELIEVE THAT!
AWOE: Can you tell me about some of the 30 artists that are involved?
S.E.A.L.S.: Well, we got Excelsius of Joined at the Hip Ministries based out of Houston Texas coming out to bless the crowd. The Lord sent me to this brother very early on, and I consider him a mentor to the whole S.E.A.L.S. Ministryz. Very humble, all about Christ and NEVER trying to shine on himself. What a wonderful example of Christ this man is. He’s prayed for me, with me and has been a crucial tool in S.E.A.L.S. Ministryz. We got Jacob Izrael coming from Nashville, and I’ve already touched on the impact this brother has made in the ministry. I can’t express the gratitude I have for this brother’s obedience and ministry. He’s family in every sense of the word. We got Leethal coming in from St. Petersburg Florida, the first Christian brother I met after being called back. Purpose and J.E.R.K. whom we’ve served in ministry with in California on several occasions. KT Johnson of Tulsa Oklahoma, he’s a vital part of inner workings of S.E.A.L.S. Ministryz. Narrowpath of San Antonio, it would not be a complete event here in San Antonio without them being involved. The whole Bound 4 Glory records out of Houston, another group of individuals whom we have been connected with for some time. Man, there are just so many. We got B.L.U.E., winner of the Underground Album of the Year at the Texas Holy Hip Hop Achievement Awards in Houston Texas 2007. That was definitely a connection of spirit made at this year’s event. Jun-nes from Nashville, Oldhead, Hardaway SS whom we have been connected with for a long time and a few other new connections that have been made. Oldhead, Black da Rapper, M.A.J.O.R.S., Nate G and national recording artist Heata from Dallas, and DEFINETLY can’t leave out DJ D-Lite, Holy Culture Radios Third Coast Fiya DJ representing the Much Luv family who will be working the boards for the whole evening. Let me tell you…IT’S GOIN DOWN! This isn’t no game. This is NOT a game!
AWOE: At the end of Godstock 2007 what do you guys want to see happen more than anything?
S.E.A.L.S.: First off, this is all being done in the name of Jesus Christ…to bring HIM the glory. In keeping our focus on Jesus, we are focused on His mission, and that is to rescue souls for the kingdom of God. So our primary concern is to get out there in the crowd, and minister to these souls individually and see souls saved. The second goal is to see the chains of secular hip hop broken off of people and to also open the doors for Christian Hip Hop in San Antonio!
AWOE: After Godstock what would you encourage those to do who are inspired to be a continued witness in their area?
S.E.A.L.S.: We pray that this event gives people the courage to be themselves in who the Lord made them to be. Be bold and remember that no one is where he or she are by accident, or created as we are by mistake. We are all designed and built with a testimony, which is created to be used for God’s glory. So find where you fit into the body by seeking Christ and connecting with other saints, and put your gifts to work for the body. DO NOT allow the devil to make you think you are not usable or not worthy because we are ALL God’s children and have the power of the Living God living within us! Who can stop ANY of us when we walk in that power?? NOTHING OR NOBODY!
AWOE: How can people get involved with the S.E.A.L.S. ministry?
S.E.A.L.S.: Well first…whoever feels they want to be involved really needs to take it up with big daddy, and that’s Yahweh. Because it is all about him. And if the connection is real, it will be confirmed in the spirit. There have been several times that we have run into and been brought in contact with individuals who are faking the funk, whether it be for the visibility, the connection, or the “riding of coat tails”, and they have been revealed to us by the Lord. So just know, it isn’t about S.E.A.L.S., it isn’t about YOU and it isn’t about ME. But the Lord has created this team, and as the mission statement says…we are being sent BEHIND the enemy lines. So be ready to get your knees dirty and your shoes scuffed up if you are brought into the fold…because THAT is our calling. Now, with that said…there are many areas that a person can be off assistance and not be on the streets or out front. So if the Lord leads you in that direction, then get at us. Just like the Navy S.E.A.L.S. require the dedication, the commitment, and the desire to seek those areas that others would rather forget about, to reach to those people that may make Reverend Never-done-bad kind of squirmy, that is where we are taking it.
Basically, if you are real…and if you are all about becoming invisible so that Christ can shine through you and use you to accomplish His work, then get with us. Serving requires work. And of course, financial contributions are always welcome. We pretty much work out of our own pockets, and the contributions made by people blessed by the ministry. More so out of pocket.hahahaha..but we know the Lord has others out there in that perfect place already prepared to give and donate financially. We trust God for that, it’s all His anyway right?
AWOE: Where can they learn more about it?
S.E.A.L.S.: People can contact us on our myspace page at www.myspace.com/S.E.A.L.S.4lyfe, email us at S.E.A.L.S.4lyfe@yahoo.com or hit us up on the cell phones. Shawn can be reached at 573-338-SEAL and PZ can be reached at 210-797-5227. You can rest assured that you will hear back from us.
AWOE: Are the S.E.A.L.S. available for speaking engagements?
S.E.A.L.S.: Yes ma’am, you better believe it. We are available for any speaking engagements you have as the Lord leads.
Shawn: I have been speaking at events all over the nation and I am always willing to go wherever the Lord leads. Over the last 2 year I spoke at events in California, Illinois, Missouri, New Mexico and Tennessee. I have shared with youth groups of all sizes, been involved in street ministry like feeding the homeless, and door-to-door ministry in the ghetto, as well as preaching and sharing my testimony in public parks and malls. Wherever God leads, I will follow.
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