Newscast About the Trailer

Dear Prayer Team,

If you've been reading your emails lately, you've no doubt heard about the theft of our equipment trailer along with all of our sound equipment and a good chunk of our stock of RESCUE CD's and DVD's. The thing that is wonderful about times like this is that we really get to see the body of Christ in action. "Mac" announced our loss to his church (Sunset Presbyterian in West Portland) and immediately we started getting phone calls of support, donations, and the use of equipment, if needed.

Someone who goes to his church works at a local NBC affiliate TV station KGW and they set up an interview with "Over" on Tuesday. Since none of us other guys could be there for the interview, they used some footage of a RESCUE concert at the Men's Round Up at Camp Tadmor this fall. "Over" wanted to make sure that the point was made that just because our "stuff' was stolen, we are not worried that we'll lose our ministry opportunities, we believe God allows these things and that he'll bring us through it all just fine! "Over" said that the reporter was really great but that he seemed to want the "sad song" of a ministry in ruin. But Jason just wasn't going to give that impression! The big question was, which quotes would the reporter use? What kind of license would he take with the story. Jason was very concerned with how it was all going to go. I transcribed it, so read it for yourself!

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Evening Anchor Joe Donlon: It has been a test of faith for members of a local Christian singing group. Thousands of dollars worth of sound equipment and CD's were stolen during their busiest time of the year. News Channel 8's Dave Northfield joins us now with a story you'll see only on 8. Dave, what'll the group do now?

Dave Northfield: Well, they'll just keep singing! RESCUE sings Christian inspirational music and after the theft on Thanksgiving day the members needed some inspiration themselves.(Note: We aren't sure whether it was stolen on Thursday or Friday)

(Cut to video of RESCUE on the stage at Camp Tadmor's Men's Round Up. Dustin sings the opening lines to So Excited/Amazing Grace)

Dustin Allen: (singing lead) The world was spinnin', passin' me by...

(Cut to Jason Overstreet interview over music)

Jason Overstreet: December and late November are the busiest months of the entire year. Um, we're doing a lot of Christmas programs. We're an acapella group so the sound system that was in there is a pretty - it's kind of the instrument that we play.

Dave Northfield: Jason Overstreet leads the Christian vocal group, RESCUE. The five members kept their equipment in a locked trailer attached to a bus (Cut to video of church parking lot, building and marquee) which was parked here at Christ the Vine Lutheran Church in Damascus. RESCUE had a performance scheduled for a church in Salem last Sunday, then Overstreet says he got a call from the business manager the night before. (Note: Jeff got this wrong. Actually it was the road manager, Luke)

Jason Overstreet: ...And he gave me a call at about 8:00 on Sunday night and said he had bad news. Said that our trailer and sound system were gone!

Dave Northfield: Also stolen, copies of the group's CD's that sell very well this time of year, especially the Christmas album. Overstreet says the group was discouraged then was "rescued" by their faith.

Jason Overstreet: We know that God has a plan in this and, um, stuff like this doesn't happen for no reason.

(Cut to video of Jason opening new boxes of Christmas CD's (Note: The first 200 of the new order of Christmas CD's was stolen but we still had the other 800 coming))

Dave Northfield: Today a replacement shipment of Christmas CD's arrived and now these singers say they'll keep sharing their music and their message.

(Cut to video of the group singing the big finish of So Excited/Amazing Grace)

Jason Overstreet: (Voice over) But really, the real instrument is our voices, so as long as we have our voices, we'll keep singing!"

Brian Sell: (singing lead) Amazing Grace!

(Back in studio)

Dave Northfield: The total value of the equipment and the CD's is about $65,000. RESCUE is insured, but not for the replacement value of those losses.
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Immediately after the broadcast someone called Jason with a donation. I think the message is pretty clear to us that we don't think that God needs our stuff for us to be able to serve Him. If he wants us to minister, and if we're yielded to Him, He'll make a way!

Also, we found out today that the company where we bought the trailer had a man come in today and try to buy parts for a trailer. They are positive it is ours. They have an imprint of his credit card and have written down the company information that was on the side of his truck. Jason has given all of this information to the police.