At 5 a.m., Pastor Richard Lorenzo Jr. was already suited up — not in clerical robes, but in an orange prison jumpsuit.
The reason? “Last night in prayer, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Wear the orange jumpsuit,’” Lorenzo said. “And when people ask you, ‘Why are you wearing this?’ you tell them, ‘There’s so many people locked up. You know, free in public, but locked up in the spirit, not free from the bondage of sin.’”
This wasn’t a performance piece. It was prophetic evangelism. And the setting was New York University — ground zero for what Lorenzo believes is a coming revival on college campuses.
“He definitely highlighted NYU specifically and said to go,” Lorenzo explained. “That’s what I’m doing, man. So, I’m at the airport right now. I’m actually dressed in this outfit.”
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Lorenzo’s mission was simple: share the gospel with strangers and let the Holy Spirit move. He hit the ground running straight from LaGuardia Airport to the subway, then into the streets, striking up raw conversations about life, purpose and eternity.
One man told Lorenzo, “You look like you just got out.” Lorenzo responded, “I low key did.”
In that conversation — like many others that day — Lorenzo used personal testimony to cut through cultural confusion and spiritual searching. “I had a disease for nine years the doctor said was incurable,” he told one man. “Supernaturally healed. Jesus is God, bro.”
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He continued: “The gospel is good news, bro. It’s that you can be in relationship with God, but your sins have to be wiped.”
Street interviews ranged from spiritual skepticism to heartfelt openness. In one moment, a woman said, “The purpose of life is whatever you want it to be.” Another confessed, “I’ve had sleep paralysis. I’ve seen crazy things.”
Yet with each person, Lorenzo offered the same message: “This whole life experience is to find God, a relationship with him. That’s it.”
At one point, he led a man in a prayer of salvation: “Jesus, I believe. You died on the cross. You were buried. And you rose from the dead. Your blood washes my sins.”
But not every encounter was met with agreement. When he introduced the name of Jesus to a Hare Krishna devotee in Washington Square Park, the tone shifted fast: “Why do you leave when I say Jesus?” Lorenzo asked. “We were conversating and then you — I said Jesus, you just want to end the conversation.”
For Lorenzo, these reactions are telling. “As you guys can see, everything was good until I brought up the name of Jesus,” he said. “It is what it is. Jesus Christ is King. Let’s get it.”
Demonic manifestations weren’t hidden either. “This is the fruit of the demonic. This is what happens, man. This is why we got to come out here and preach the gospel,” Lorenzo said as chaos unfolded in the park behind him.
And yet, amid resistance, there was revival. “We had a great time. We went to the park, Washington Square. Souls were saved in 24 hours after getting a word from the Lord,” he said. “It just goes to show you that if you listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit, he’ll always confirm his word.”
Whether it’s an orange jumpsuit, a subway sermon, or a bold street prayer, Lorenzo’s strategy is clear: “Whatever it takes to get this gospel out, man. I’m not tripping at all.”
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James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
