Thank you for your prayers!
August 16th, 2008 Posted in encouragement, Harvest CrusadesI want to thank all of you for your prayers for this year’s crusade.
Early Friday, I was having a hard day, missing Christopher, with a lot of tears. But I knew in the evening I had a task to fulfill, and I prayed for special grace to get through it, along with many of you.
I am pleased to say the Lord answered our prayers. I was even strengthened as I gave the message.
As I mentioned, one of the reasons I was speaking at our crusade this year – especially so close to Christopher’s early departure to heaven – was so I could not only preach the gospel to others, but also to myself! Just saying those beautiful words of comfort from the Bible about where our loved ones in the Lord go when they die encouraged me.
Two nights to go!
We have two more nights to go. Let’s go out of our way today to extend invitations and make those last-minute phone calls, e-mails, and texts to those that need to hear the gospel.
You just never know, this could be the last time they ever hear the gospel.
Rejoicing in heaven
The Bible says in Luke 15:10, “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (NKJV).
Notice that the verse says, “In the presence of the angels.” In other words, it does not say, “There is joy in heaven among the angels when one sinner comes to God,” but “in the presence of the angels.”
So, could that mean that the joy is among those who gone to heaven before us? Could it be that heaven knows what is happening on earth? Could my son have been aware of what God did through his testimony last night?
We know the Lord knows. But do our loved ones who are there know?
Perhaps. Perhaps much more than we realize.
But one thing is for certain, there was joy in heaven last night when 2,800 people made professions of faith. And there was joy here on earth too.
Heaven and earth joined in celebration. That’s exactly how it ought to be. Jesus said, “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Greg,
Wanted to write you a sincere condolence concerning your loss of your son Christopher. Your teaching has meant to me so much over the years, here on the East coast–and because you preach so personally–I do consider you a true friend and brother in Jesus Christ.
My older brother Chris (who lives in Redlands, CA) was the one who told of your sons passing, because he knew that I went to your church when I went to visit him. Please pray for my brother and his salvation–he is a practicing Catholic, but I’m not certain whether he is born again or not. He is a bio-chemist, very intellectual, an evolutionist but says he is definitely FOR Christ and not against him.
I will continue to keep you in my prayers as you process your grief as I am grieving the passing of my father (Apr. 23, 2008)–He definitely had a relationship with the Lord as your son did–Praise God!
Peace and blessings to you my brother!
Dear Greg,
I thank the Lord for giving you and your family the strength to continue the Harvest Crusades. I actually just heard about the crusade tonight through a church website I randomly found online that was promoting the Philadelphia Harvest Crusade. After doing my research about you, I read about Christopher. God definitely had a purpose for me to come across this site.
My brother tragically passed away when I was 10 years old. I’ve seen death destroy the faith of some in my family, and once I thought I would be the same way. Miraculously I was saved at the age of 15 when I realized God’s power and will for my life through a local church I attended with a friend. Now I can’t wait to get to heaven and see with my brother.
Thank you for preaching the truth. Christopher’s memorial service took my breath away. I’m sorry for your temporary loss, until you reunite in heaven. I will see you in Philly in October. My prayers are with you…
God Bless,
Liss
PS. Thank you for following the will for your life that the Lord has set out for you to pursue.
Dear Greg & Cathe, Jonathan, Brittany, and Stella,
Every day, throughout the day, I am praying for you.
We love you.
Jennifer Goetz
I just want to say, that having lost my own son in a car accident, I know how much you are hurting. I know that your hearts are broken. I often say there is not a word in the English dictionary that can describe the depth of sorrow and pain we feel when our child is ripped away so suddenly from us. I want you to know that I am so sorry for your loss, and I think and pray for you throughout each day.
Some scriptures that God placed upon my heart for you, Pastor Greg and for Brittany…May the Lord uphold you with His Righteous Right Hand of Mercy. I felt so many times in despair in my own struggles in life and the Word of God was always there to comfort me in my darkest hours of lonliness.
Here are some that God gave me for you:
Isaiah 60:20 “For the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.”
Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
Isaiah 41:10 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee.”
Job 23:10 “He knoweth the way that I take: when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
May God in Jesus’ Name bless you and your family with all the blessings of heaven and with much much shalom and peace that passes understanding.
In His Love,
Mrs. Arnow & Family.
“For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.” Philemon 1:7
Just wanted to say that we continue to pray for you and your family. We missed you today at the How to Walk Conference, but we prayed for you and your family as a body of believers. We know that you are doing all you can to get through this VERY difficult time. We wanted you to know that we are lifting you and your family up in prayer and asking God to comfort you the way only Our Father in Heaven can! God Bless You All!
Psalm 34 says:
The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.
I know this applies to you, God is strengthening you, and near to you in this time.
Psalm 34 also says:
The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry.
and: The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.
Hi Pastor Greg,
I’ll make a long story short. My friend Bryan and Amber came to know the Lord years ago at a Harvest Crusade. (So did Brad and I.) Bryan had a motorcycle accident and is now a paraplegic. They invited his friend and former boss to the Crusade and Dave accepted the Lord!!
Since I live in Texas (please pray for me.. haha) we watched the webcast of the Crusade on the internet. I love what you wrote about the possibility that our loved ones who are in heaven, rejoice when a sinner comes to the Lord. Oh–How Beautiful!
I love you and pray for your family. You mean a lot to me and my Christian walk. Not as much as Jesus though.
Sandy Mcgarrh
Corinth, Texas
Pastor Greg,
I watched all three nights of the Crusade last weekend. The entire presentation was amazing. So amazing that I could feel Jesus Christ with me as I watched it. There is no doubt that you were about as filled with the Holy Spirit as one could possibly be.
I did, and now even more so, admire you and am inspired by you for the One we live for. I am very grateful. I look forward to seeing you at the Crusade in Philadelphia.
A brother in Christ
David, of Calvary Philadelphia, PA
Good Morning Pastor Greg and Family,
You all have been heavy on my heart. Our Harvest Crusade in Philadelphia is approaching and next week will be my third Impact class. Every time I pass your picture on the highway, my heart gets heavier for you. I am lifting all of you up to Jesus, so that He can wrap His loving arms around you. Take care and I look forward to seeing you at the Philadelphia Crusade.
Because of Him,
Valerie
Continued grace and peace to your family. My 27 year old daughter, Rachael, went home to heaven one month to-the-day before Christopher. We buried her one month to-the-day before you did Christopher. I walk beside you in this journey of grief. May God continue to bless and enrich others through their testimonies.
Donna Richmond
Pastor Greg & Family,
You and your family have been in my prayers. My pastor’s son went home to be with the Lord last Friday night. His name was Tyler Wilkerson and he was 17 years old. He was a special young man who loved the Lord and his family. I heard you called Pastor John Wilkerson, and you have been praying for him.
God Bless,
Maureen Ramirez
Pastor Greg & Family,
God bless you & you are in my prayers.
I look forward to listening to A New Beginning every morning. I always look forward to receiving your Daily Devotionals. To Answer the question a question you ask; Do you Know God? Yes I do know God. I know him through believing in Jesus Christ.
Yours in Christ forever,
Jason Andrew Toppin
Boronia, Melbourne Victoria Australia
Dear Pastor Greg,
I thank God for the peace and grace that He has given you this past weekend to be able to witness to thousands of your faith and your son’s faith. I am sure there was plenty of rejoicing in heaven.
Weeks before the crusade, I kept on hearing you on KWAVE saying, ” Ok, here is how you invite someone. You pick up the phone and tell them that you are picking them up at 6:00.” Well, those words kept on playing in my ear, so I called my 80 year old dad and told him I was picking him up. I have prayed for his salvation for many years now, and I was surprised that he even went. I was expecting critical remarks afterwards of course, but much to my surprise, he said that it was a good message.
The seed has been planted and the Holy Spirit will do the rest. Thank you Pastor for your words that penetrate the heart.
Many blessings to your family,
Ebbie Dodson
Dear Pastor Greg and Family,
I will continue to pray each and every day that you will all breathe in the Lord and look to Him for your strength and that He will provide the peace and understanding that only He can provide.
I am so very honored to be a part of Harvest Christian Fellowship and to be a part of the body of Christ.
In Christ’s love,
Pat Andrade
Greg,
Romans 5:3 – Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
I just want you to know we are all praying for you and your family through this tough time, but I also can’t imagine how amazing it must feel to know your son is up in heaven with Jesus right now!
God Bless!
Dearest Pastor Greg!
I’ve been coming back often to your blog because I want to see how you and your family are doing due to Christopher’s going home.
I saw you at Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale not so long ago and was touched by your amazing testimony and by the deep love you showed for our Lord.
I was happy to hear how many people got saved at the last Harvest Crusade, and I do believe that Christopher was rejoicing with the angels in Heaven. His early departure was not in vain. Be encouraged, your son lives and you will all see him again one day!!
You are all in my prayers.
In Christ,
~Ursula~