The Devils backyard.

I have just returned from a tiring and very rewarding weekend in New Orleans. Our hotel sat on the corner of Orleans St. and Bourbon St in the midst of the famous French Quarter. It was my first time in New Orleans, and I was quite taken with the unique architecture and the liveliness of the City. We arrived late on Wednesday night, and it wasn't until Friday that I ventured onto Bourbon Street - and what an experience that was. Music was blasting from every open door on the street with the sounds of jazz at every turn. It seems that trumpet players and string bass players are two-a-penny in this musical mayhem where every store front was either a bar, a voodoo shop or a strip joint. People walked the street stoned, drunk and giddy on stupidity while both men and women threw beads in the hope that the recipient might be crass enough to reveal what should be kept private. When I got back to the hotel, I felt like I needed a shower...and I knew I had just walked through the Devils backyard.

On Saturday evening the Southern Territorial Band, Songsters and Performing Arts Ensemble sat in a bar on Bourbon St. The doors of the bar were opened and we began a concert of praise and hope right there in the midst of the famed French Quarter. The band played jazz and swing, all with a message of hope and Salvation while the Songsters (choir) regaled the listeners with spiritual songs. The performing arts stood in the middle of Bourbon Street and, to the blast of "I am not a stereotype" danced one of the most excellent high energy routines I have seen.

One moment of spontaneity will remain with me for ever. Throughout the concert, we were competing with a jazz club opposite. As the songsters prepared to sing, the band in the jazz club began to play "I'll fly away." Suddenly the Songsters joined them, adding the lyrics to this Hymn and then I noticed many of the Southern Territorial Band piling into the jazz club. My curious self joined them. Two of our bandsmen had taken their cornets (Brass band trumpets) and were jamming with the jazz band. After this impromptu performance had finished, the leader of the jazz band said, "who are you guys in the red jackets?" after which the jazz band took a break and everybody from the bar came out to listen to The Salvation Army.

Following the 2 hour long concert, Captain Ken Chapman grabbed the Salvation Army flag and, followed by a number of Salvationists, marched up and down Bourbon Street playing music in honor of our Savior Jesus Christ. That night Jesus Christ came into the backyard of the Devil and victories were won - praise God.