Distinctives

RSA seeks to show and share the love of Christ in word and deed by meeting physical needs through medical clinics and acts of service. Demonstrating God’s love in a tangible way, RSA mission teams are providing dental hygiene, vision assessments, eyeglasses, triage, medical treatment, clothing, food, clean water, and medications. Team members serving with RSA mission teams serve the disadvantaged with empathy and respect and share the Good News of Jesus Christ and pray with each person receiving care. The humanitarian aspect of RSA’s ministry opens doors to sharing the Good News; local governing officials are often more friendly toward a festival once the team has served the needs of their people.  “Whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for m.,” Matthew 25:40

RSA works with, for, and through local churches to reach a community for Jesus Christ. Followers of Christ are equipped to share the Good News with their friends, neighbors, coworkers, and family. RSA helps the body of Christ and its members to become mission-minded by providing evangelism training, counselor training, and messages for churches and related groups. Both locally and internationally, RSA prepares churches for the important work of discipleship by providing trainings and materials. Local churches members are encouraged to develop a relationship with those who make decisions to follow Christ at festivals and help them grow in that new relationship. Overseas, pastors are given Bible, teaching, and leadership training as part of a long-term strategy to impact a community for Christ.  “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up . . .” Ephesians 4:11-12

The power of God comes on a city when its people pray and unite to reach the lost. RSA partners with church, business, and community leaders to mobilize the body of Christ for a season of evangelism. For a period of one or more years in a US city, the RSA team works in an area to prepare for a two-day public festival which includes great music (like Jars of Clay, Salvador, Big Daddy Weave), Good News (presented throughout the days in multiple areas and from the main stage), and family fun (extreme sports, performances and activities for kids, sports zone, food court, and more). Local churches and Christian business leaders are empowered to unite and publicly share their faith. An RSA festival has lasting impact on a city, is recognized by the press, and opens doors of opportunity for the secular community to reach out and touch the faith community. International festivals utilize music, drama, and the Good News and incorporate a local coordinator, preparation trips from RSA team leaders, or a combination of both.  “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth,”  Acts 1:8

RSA recruits and trains team members during a several-month period precluding a mission trip. Each member is equipped and called on to share their testimony and the Good News of Jesus on a personal and public level during a mission. There is no passive observer on an RSA mission – every member is challenged to become more like Christ as he serves people in a variety of ways and boldly shares how Christ has changed his life.  “ . . . do the work of an evangelist . . . ” 2 Timothy 4:5

Through mission teams, festival preparation, and local training and mentoring opportunities, RSA is helping followers of Christ to understand the importance and methods of evangelism. In festival cities, the RSA team partners with local churches to provide friendship evangelism and counselor training. Locally, RSA staff members Reid Saunders and Brett Butcher teach a credited course on evangelism at Corban College. On international mission trips, selected team members are given opportunities to proclaim the Good News on stage. RSA is developing printed materials that can be used in festival cities to train believers in evangelism.  “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.”  2 Timothy 2:2

RSA’s vision is to seek out lost sheep. The team specifically targets areas where there is a low percentage of evangelical Christians, no or very few evangelistic events have been held within the area, there is a presence of body of Christ extending an invitation to RSA. One example of an unreached area where RSA has served is Red Hills India (February 2007). Local church leaders had been praying for over twenty years for an evangelist to come to their area and proclaim the Good News. Dozens of churches in Red Hills united in prayer and inviting the lost. In an area where less than 5% of the people are Christians, the RSA team showed and shared the love of Christ to over 16,000 people through medical clinics, service projects, and festivals and saw over 2,600 lost sheep begin a relationship with Jesus Christ. “Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent,” Luke 15:6-7

The Word of God is steadfast and eternal although culture is ever-changing. RSA seeks to be culturally-relevant without compromising the Good News of Jesus Christ. At US festivals, young people are drawn to see freestyle motocross and BMX athletes perform demonstrations and are given the opportunity to hear testimonies of how the athletes came into relationship with Christ. Biblically-based messages of the Good News are presented on the ramps and a call is made for listeners to give their lives to Jesus Christ. This is one of the many methods that RSA uses to reach people at their interest level and share the most important message they’ll ever hear.  “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction,”  2 Timothy 4:2