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The
Name
Says
It
All!
By:
Nicee
D
Review:
2Restore
Community
Outreach
The
sun
is
beaming
down
on
the
closed-off
street
in
the
middle
of
Paterson,
New
Jersey
on
June
29th.
Four
large
projects
loom
overhead
to
the
left
and
to
the
right
newer
housing
units
line
up
in
a
row.
Matlock
street
is
about
to
get
a
dose
of
God's
love
with
an
outreach
called
"2Restore."
Sponsored
by
the
rap
ministry
Carriers
of
the
Cross,
"2Restore"
is
an
event
that
saw
many
churches
pull
together
and
bless
their
community
in
a
unique
way.
By
noon
the
street
was
filled
with
several
stations.
First
up
was
an
air
castle
where
kids
can
jump
all
their
energies
off!
A
basketball
hoop
attracted
a
crowd
that
was
willing
to
show
off
their
skills.
Off
to
the
side
were
tents
in
the
shade
where
baby-sitters
gave
parents
a
break
and
enabled
them
to
enjoy
the
day's
activities.
In
the
middle
of
the
street
was
a
huge
tent
where
free
food
and
clothing
were
being
distributed.
Finally,
the
stage
at
the
back
end
of
the
street
featured
several
area
Gospel
artists
who
punctuated
the
air
with
praise
and
ministered
to
the
people,
Holy
Hip
Hop
style.
Some
of
the
guests
included:
The
Process,
4th
Dimension,
Judah
Priest,
39
Lashez,
MDD,
P.U.R.E.,
King
Cyz,
Okima,
and
Mizchief.
Women
from
Cassa
Lydia,
a
women's
rehabilitation
center
in
the
Bronx,
shared
testimonies
as
a
part
of
the
afternoon's
ministry.
According
to
Carriers
of
the
Cross,
the
best
part
of
the
day
was
watching
various
churches
and
individuals
pull
together.
One
church
that
played
a
key
roll
was
Central
Baptist
Church;
Carriers
noted
the
support
from
Eric
Paternina
in
particular.
Other
key
supporters
included:
Ruthie
and
Pete
Rios
from
The
Gathering
Place;
Open
Door
Ministries;
and
ministers
from
the
Paterson
Pastor's
Workshop,
including
Rev.
Miller,
Rev.
McCombs
and
Rev.
Castro.
Carriers
of
the
Cross
started
the
event
in
1999
in
an
effort
to
introduce
Christian
Hip-Hop
to
churches
and
youth
in
the
area.
As
the
group
began
to
mature,
they
wanted
to
do
more
than
just
reach
out
through
music-they
wanted
to
have
a
positive
effect
on
the
life
of
their
community.
Carriers
has
been
so
effective
in
communicating
their
vision
with
various
organizations
around
Paterson
that
the
Mayor
actually
visited
the
event
during
the
day.
He
was
so
moved
that
he
pledged
the
City's
support
of
future
"To
Restore"
events.
For
that
dose
of
favor,
Carriers
definitely
gave
God
the
glory.
Carriers
Definitely
"sparking"
it
in
New
Jersey,
Carriers
of
the
Cross
is
not
your
usual
group
of
rappers.
The
fiver-year-old
ministry
is
comprised
of
Eddie
(Riz)
and
Jeremiah
(The
Prophecyer)
who
are
the
two
you'll
usually
see
rapping
on
stage.
But
then
there
is
Christian,
Izzy
and
Remy
who
round
out
the
team,
providing
music
production,
photography,
technical
support
for
the
website
and
administrative
help
for
their
ministry
events.
Taking
a
page
out
of
The
Cross
Movement's
book,
Carriers
has
its
official
non-profit
status
(501C3)
so
people
can
make
donations
to
help
with
outreach
efforts.
Event
though
they
drop
albums
(the
newest
one
simply
called
"Carriers"
hits
Christian
bookstores
in
October),
they
are
here
to
"carry
their
cross"
complete
with
spinters
and
all.
Next
up,
they
are
planning
an
outreach
to
target
young
people
who
would
quicker
go
to
a
club
than
church.
Set
for
October
5.
"Kemistree"
will
be
taking
place
at
the
Paul
Robertson
Theatre
in
Brooklyn.
Lined
up
to
minister
that
night
are
Corey
Red
and
Precise,
T.R.U.T.H.
from
Cross
Movement
Ministries,
The
Process,
and
Carriers
of
the
Cross.
If
you'd
like
to
know
more
about
Carriers
of
the
Cross,
visit
www.carriersofthecross.com,
E-mail
them
at
office@carriersofthecross.com
or
call
866.510.6555
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