Where would Jesus Christ Live?
The Occidental was the last of the old-time bucket-of-blood bars. I am sure that no patch of real estate in the West beheld more muggings, knifings, bar brawls and murders than this location at Logan and Main.
As one broken wreck of humanity told me as I threw him out the back door on a busy Saturday night: ‘I’ve seen honky-tonks and bars from Shanghai ta ‘Frisco, Cape Cod ta Cape Town. This plashe is da worst.”
Buzz Baizely,
Occidental Bouncer for 30 Years
Many have asked “Why do you meet at the Occidental Hotel?” (now named the Red Road Lodge). Growing up in Winnipeg, the Occidental Hotel had a reputation as a dangerous hotel, filled with alcoholics, prostitutes and the homeless. The bar was notorious for being a hangout for the most broken and lost in our society. It was not the type of place any ‘reputable’ person would be seen in. Yet one afternoon, several years ago, as my car was stopped at a red light at the intersection of Main Street & Logan Avenue, the Holy Spirit told me that this is where I was to build his Church and it should be called the Twelve Pillars. For several years I prayed and meditated about the message that was spoken to me. Since this time the Lord has revealed to me that his Church will be one of ‘Humility’. In addition, it was his desire to see the gospel shared as he had instructed in Luke 10:1. “After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.”
I believe that if Jesus Christ were physically living in Winnipeg today, he would live in the Occidental. As Christ said, “the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Luke 19:10. I believe that the Lord chose this hotel as for many years it had come to symbolize a home for “the Lost”. As believers, the Lord has commanded us “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous.” Joshua 10:25. We are to seek the lost and let our light shine from the darkness. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6.
I believe it is not “Accidental” that the “Occidental” is located at the corner of Main & Logan, a street corner with much heritage and formerly the “heart” of Winnipeg, a city located in the “heart” of North America (Winnipeg is in the very centre of the Continent). If we were to walk around this neighborhood today, we would see many homeless and impoverished people. While the government has tried to solve this problem with money and programs, none have proven effective.
Since the Lord spoke to me, the Occidental has been transformed in many ways. The present owner has shut down the bar and they no longer serve alcohol. We now meet in the renovated recreation centre which has been transformed under the new ownership. We believe that a personal encounter with Jesus Christ will similarly transform the many lost sheep in this city from the darkness that they live in. We are planting seeds each weekend that we believe will produce a harvest. Please join us!