I have been involved in the Alexandria Mardi Gras Association in Alexandria, LA for the past 15 years. The mission of the AMGA is to produce and direct three Mardi Gras parades on the last weekend prior to Ash Wednesday.
Each year, as part of the Children’s Mardi Gras parade, we have an International Guest of Honor and we promote his country. I really became inspired to invite Ukraine as the country we were to honor for 2009 after Rev. Vic’s visit to our church, FUMC in Pineville, LA and Rotary Club. I heard Rev. Vic preach that Sunday in 2007, but was unable to return later that day to hear the musical group he brought from Ukraine. I heard only rave reviews from everyone about the group at church, Rotary Club and the schools they visited.
I contacted Cyndee Knight in Atlanta and the ball began rolling – and rather quickly at that. She arranged for Rev. Vic to come to Alexandria in October on a whirlwind trip. Prior to his arrival, I arranged appointments at several local churches, Louisiana College and with representatives of the City of Alexandria and the Mardi Gras Association. We zig-zagged our way across Alexandria and Pineville meeting with pastors and the college President and two of his professors. I must say, it was a successful visit with the promise of several performances.
On the evening Rev. Vic was in Alexandria, he had dinner with representatives of the City of Alexandria and the Mardi Gras Association. He was asked about how his vision of Hope Now was started. He told us about his life as a child, young adult up to his current years. Wow, what an awesome story! He is truly an amazing man with a mission and a burning desire to accomplish all of his goals. As he talked, you could hear a pin drop. We all came away from that dinner with a tremendous amount of admiration for Rev. Vic and his ministry.
The students Vic is bringing on tour this February will attend the Classic Car/College Cheerleader Parade on Friday and have dinner with the cheerleaders later that evening. They will ride on the International Float in the Children’s Parade on Saturday morning with a reception and State Dinner scheduled for Saturday evening. They will be in the Alexandria/Pineville area for a week of fun, concerts and praise. Oh, and by the way, they are being accompanied by the Mayor of Alexandria, Ukraine, and his wife. What a Mardi Gras celebration it will be!
