Local events

The Bridge, a local ministry, will bring the Rock in Love Tour to three communities in the area, including Ravenswood, next month.

The Rock in Love Tour will stop at Ravenswood's Riverfront Park on May 2. The musical line-up includes Through She Wrote, In a Different Light, The Hi-Fi Horizon, The Apprentice and The Bravos.

And while live music certainly is part of The Bridge concerts, this event includes some special non-musical guests as well. According to coordinator Charessa Wilkinson, Brandt, who calls himself the homeless evangelist, will be joined by Ugandan Prince Horrasias Balabyekkubo. Wilkinson said she first learned about Brandt through his MySpace page and reading about him in international Christian magazines. She called to speak to him and found out âhe was the real dealã and invited him to be part of the event.

She said Brandt refuses to take money for appearing at events, and any money he does get he gives back to the homeless and needy. He also refuses to stay in hotel rooms, opting to stay on his bus fueled by vegetable oil instead.

According to Brandt, he grew up in a Christian home and attended Texas Bible Institute. But it was during his time traveling and working as a âservantã to others that he began to understand his calling to serve to poor, the homeless and those in the most need. "All the money I receive I redistribute to those in need. There are no class lines in the Kingdom of God," he said.

Wilkinson said the Ugandan Prince is bringing brought to West Virginia by a church in Charleston which is paying for his plane tickets. She said his family runs a ministry in his home country called Smile Uganda. "Their level of expecting God to act on something is huge," Wilkinson said. His father was martyrred in his mid-30s, but that has not deterred his faith. Horrasias will be serving as the MC for the event.

"This is a huge task," Wilkinson said. "We don't want to go into this without prayer. Godás favor has been on this thing."

She said the Rock In Love Tour has received incredible support from churches and other groups in the towns they will be visiting. In fact, churches have donated food and services to the events to make them successful. But Wilkinson said some items are still needed for Ravenswood's tour stop. Items such as two-liters, chips and canned food are needed.

People who attend are being asked to bring canned food with them to help stock local food pantries. In Ravenswood, food will be donated to Community Resources and La Casa.

Wilkinson has received local help from Amy George who has visited area stores to have items donated. "I've been surprised when asking for donations," George said. "It's nice to see so many people are willing to help."

Seth Sharp said this event will differ from past Bridge concerts because of the special guests who are participating. âThis is someone who has decided to be a disciple in his own way. Heás not beating people over the head with Christianity but sharing love in the way Jesus did by feeding people and clothing them,ã he said of Brandt.

The Rock in Love Tour will stop at the Armory in Eleanor on May 1. The Ravenswood stop is planned for 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. May 2. The tour then heads to Davis Park in Charleston from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on May 3 and the City Mission in Clarksburg from 1:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on May 4.