News

Christian group opens coffeehouse in Lee
By Derek Gentile, Berkshire Eagle
LEE -- A grassroots group of Christian businessmen and -women has opened a nondenominational coffeehouse at 10 Railroad St., the site of the former Lee Men's Club. Robert Grosz, the former owner of Sunflowers Natural Food store in Lenox, said last week that his group, which is in the process of incorporating as a nonprofit organization, is leasing the former bar-restaurant for a nominal fee. The coffeehouse is called His Place. The grand opening was Saturday night.

The present manager of the coffeehouse is evangelist Rick Newton, 51, a Miami native who has been carrying a 12-foot cross around the world for about 30 years. Earlier this year, his travels took him through Berk-shire County. He met Grosz and several other Christians at the Berkshire Blues Cafe on Route 102.

"Bob Grosz told me he was interested in getting a coffeehouse started up here in Lee," Newton said. "I told him that I was on my way to South America, but if he could find a space we could use, I'd come back and help him open it."

Grosz found the space, said Newton, "and here I am."

Newton said he plans to work at the cafe for about six months and then turn it over to a new manager.

He has opened several other Christian coffeehouses around the world, including shops in New Zealand and Russia.

"When I came through the Berkshires this summer," he said, "I was very impressed with the number of people who pulled over in their cars to talk with me."

Newton said that more people stopped to talk to him in the Berkshires than in any other part of the United States.

"There seemed to be a lot of interest in my work," he said.

The building, after the Lee Men's Club closed, was briefly a restaurant, Newton said. Earlier this week, he and a local volunteer, Ellen O'Grady, were sprucing up the room. The facility has about a half-dozen booths, as well as a bar and a longer table located apart from the bar area. There is a stage area for performers.

Newton said the stage will host local Christian performers "at regular intervals."
The coffeehouse will offer free coffee, tea, juice, hot chocolate, cakes, cookies and other baked goods, Newton said. All are donations from the community.

There is no alcohol available, he said.

"We're just up the street from a couple of bars, and we think that's fine," he said.
Grosz said earlier last week that he has wanted to open a coffeehouse like this for several years, even before he met Newton. Both men emphasized that, although the motif may be Christian, the house is open to all.

"There will be no Bible-thumping here," Newton said. "Just fellowship. If people ask questions, we'll try to answer them. If they need help, we'll try to provide it."

Area churches have been made aware of the coffeehouse, Grosz said.

"So far, the churches we've spoken to have been very supportive," Newton said.

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This article is from the Morning News - Florence, South Carolina - May 21, 2004
Walker's goal is to carry cross around the world
By DWIGHT DANA - Morning News
DARLINGTON -- The legendary image of Atlas supporting the earth is a familiar one, but Rick Newton hopes to make his mark walking around the world carrying a cross. Newton started his global quest sharing Jesus after Mardi Gras in New Orleans in 1972. He's covered about 20,000 miles, including Europe, the Mideast, Mexico and Central America. Newton was en route to Washington, D.C., Tuesday, walking toward Darlington on U.S. 52 with the cross on his right shoulder. The cross is equipped with a pneumatic tire to make it more maneuverable. "I'm on my way to Washington for a week of prayer and fasting," Newton said during an impromptu interview along the side of the road. "It's high time for the nation's capital to have a genuine revival like those foot-stomping ones in days gone by." Newton expects to reach Washington by the end of June. He is confident people will join him in prayer and fasting, perhaps ushering in a change across the country. "Hopefully we can saturate the nation with a network of people praying and fasting for a revival in our country," he said. "People are concerned about the direction we are going in because our freedom has been taken away from us as Christians. Sin is running rampant throughout our land." Motorists honk and wave at Newton as he trods along. He said people in motor homes, members of motorcycle gangs and even heads of state in limousines have pulled over during his pilgrimage. "People see the cross and know what it stands for. I share the news that God loves them and tell them why," he said. Newton barely had time to get the words out of his mouth before an SUV pulled over. The driver was Florence resident Andy Pusser, who is president of Chesterfield Lumber Co. in Darlington. Pusser gave Newton a cold soft drink. He looked at the cross that weighs about 30 pounds and can be disassembled for travel. He also inquired about Newton's ministry and told him he admired his dedication to his mission. "All kinds of people pull over to talk to me," he said. "Some want counseling for drug, marital and all other kinds of problems." Newton is never too busy to talk to them. And he takes as much time as they need. "I do what I do because I love people. I tell them that God loves them, too," he said. Newton figures out how far he will walk each day. He drives his van and camper to that destination. The next day he walks and hitches a ride back to his wheels. Newton said he hadn't attended church until he was saved at Mardi Gras. Both of his parents were alcoholics. "I got sick and tired of being sick and tired," he said. "I began witnessing wherever I could. I haven't looked back since." Newton said his mission has taken him from Jerusalem to the most distant parts of the earth. He said he was one of the first chaplains on the scene following the Columbine school shooting in Colorado. But his journey has just begun. He plans continue his walk around the earth later this year in South America. He's confident his message will get through and that the pneumatic tire on the cross will keep rolling. After all, he's only had one flat, and that was in Paris several years ago. The address for Newton's Ministry is P.O. Box 6155, Sevierville, TN 37864.

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Man bears his cross in walking around the world for 29 years.
by Gordon Anderson, The SANFORD HERALD

Rick Newton walks. And walks. And walks. For 29 years, Newton, who grew up in Miami and now calls Tennessee home, has walked "all over the world," carrying a large cross and delivering his Christian message to anyone who wants to hear it. "I started in 1975 at Mardi Gras, at the 'House of the Rising Sun,' and I've been doing it since," he said. "I'm just sharing with people that God loves them." On Tuesday, he was south of Sanford, where he told fascinating tales about his travels, which have taken him to Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and the former Soviet Union. Today and Thursday, Newton will walk through Sanford on his way up U.S. 1 to Washington, D.C. "I'm going there to pray and fast for the revival of this nation," he said. "We've backslid so far from what our founding fathers wanted. The only answer is a network of prayer from coast to coast." In one episode of his travels, he said he was detained by Egyptian police, who took him to the Sinai Desert in the baking heat. "I could pinch my skin and it would stand up," he said. "I was dying from dehydration." Newton said, "God made an escape plan for me," explaining that he ran from the Egyptian guards and into Israel. Despite such encounters, Newton said people all over the world have been "very gracious," citing Arabs in the Middle East who would bring him so much fruit that it would make his cross weigh twice its normal weight. The weight of the cross led Newton to construct a new plastic one - about 30 pounds - after he developed tumors in his back from carrying a 77-pound wooden one. "My doctor told me I had to do something, so I made a new cross," he said. "He never asked me to stop, because he knows it's out of the question." Newton seemed pleased with the people of central North Carolina, especially as one pulled off the side of the road to offer him a cold bottle of Gatorade to quench his thirst. "You just never know," he said. Newton runs Rick Newton Evangelistic Ministries, P.O. Box 6155, Sevierville, Tenn. 37864. He can be reached at (865) 368-2192. Since this news article has a video attached, I am just going to provide the link to the site:
Click Here to view Channel 9 Capital News out of Saratoga, New York.