Tonight is the first night of the Black Hills Harvest!
May 15th, 2009 Posted in Harvest Crusades, Pastor's corner, travelTonight, I am speaking in Rapid City, South Dakota, for the opening night of the Black Hills Harvest. This begins our crusade season for 2009, which–by the way–marks our 20th year of holding these large-scale evangelistic events all around the world.
In June, we will visit Long Island, N.Y., and the finale will be in August at Angel Stadium here in Southern California.
But back to our event in South Dakota. The preparation is done, now we just need prayer and lots of it.
Who is a Harvest Crusades event geared toward?
I’m told there that there is a very high percentage of “unchurched” people in Rapid City. That is perfect! Just the kind of person I love to speak to.
That is because a Harvest Crusades event is for the person who would not normally darken the doorway of a church, but has questions and is seeking truth.
From the first prayer prayed, to the music performed, and finally the message that I will give, everything about a Harvest Crusades event is designed to present who Jesus Christ is, what He said, and make the gospel understandable.
The invitation
It all culminates in what we call “the invitation,” also referred to at times as “the altar call.” This is when I invite people to make a decision about Jesus Christ, and to come and put their faith in Him.
After all these years of giving them, and I have given quite a few, I never tire of watching God do His mighty work in people of all ages.
We have seen close to four million people attend these events, and some 400,000 respond to these invitations over the years.
Time will tell
I will be the first to admit that not all of the people who come forward are becoming Christians. Some come and never take the next steps in following Christ.
But I must tell you, many come and go forward spiritually and have their lives transformed by Jesus Christ. We have seen so many lives turned around, families saved, destructive lifestyles turned from, and the list goes on. Many are in ministry today as well, serving in the mission field or becoming pastors of churches.
So please join me and thousands of others as we focus our prayers on South Dakota this weekend for the Black Hills Harvest.
I’m praying for you. For travelin’ mercies, for the harvest to be plentiful, and that the response would be great. I’m so proud of you, Pastor Greg. Hang in there and keep doing what you do best; proclaiming the Truth (you’re good at it). Thank you for your diligent witness in the faith, even with a broken heart. I know that I’m just one of a whole bunch, but what an incredible blessing it has been to be a part of this ministry. Thank you for mentoring us in the Good News of Jesus, and for not giving up. We all love you and your family.
Hurry back safely.
I read your article in the local paper about the crusade, and then I read the comments below it. We really do need to pray for this Black Hills Crusade! I am praying for you, Pastor Greg, and for all those that don’t know Jesus. I hope the people that left those comments about the article will end up going to the crusade or watching the webcast. I myself was saved at the Anaheim Harvest Crusade and I know how much impact these crusades have.
God Bless!
Pastor Greg,
I’m reading and studying Kay Smith’s book and journal Pleasing God. In it, she writes that Hebrews 11 is filled with heroes of faith and they believed in a personal God Who watched and cared for them. I’m praying that God cares for and watches over each and every one serving at the Crusade, as it is by faith we believe. God has blessed you as our hero of faith at Harvest, and a special prayer goes out to you to be filled with the Holy Spirit each night and lead the multitudes to Christ.
God Bless,
Kim