Making history in Hall county
Rick Gage crusade draws crowds of more than 12,000
By Ruth McClellan, Special
Christian Index
Published October 23, 2003
Evangelist Rick Gage, increasingly becoming known as the Billy Graham of small towns, preached to crowds exceeding 12,000 during a four-night crusade at the Lanier National Speedway near Gainesville.
By the last night of the crusade, 550 spiritual decisions had been recorded, including 329 first-time professions of faith. Hundreds more first-time decisions went unrecorded at Youth Night on Wednesday.
"I've never seen anything like it in my life," said Crusade Chairman Henry Slack, owner of Slack Auto Parts Company. "Night after night people flooded to the altars. God moved in power and changed lives by the hundreds!"
"As I arrived at the crusade Wednesday evening and turned the corner, I saw a sight that literally took my breath away. More than 4,000 young people and adults packed the grandstands. It was as if I could see God's hand in Holy Spirit power sweeping over the crowd. It was the largest gathering of young people for any event in the history of Hall County."
"After Rick Gage preached, young people began to flood the altars in waves. The first wave brought over 300 who repeated the sinner's prayer out loud. We sent them to the counseling station where they could speak one-on-one with our trained counselors. Then, almost 500 came in a second wave! We asked for anyone in the stands who knew how to lead a person to Christ to come help counsel. Only a sovereign God can produce results like that!"
Youth night was the culmination of Gage's outreach to young people of the area through his "On Track" School Assemblies. Crusade Youth Chairman, Maclane Forbus, youth pastor of Blackshear Place Baptist Church in Flowery Branch, counted more than 14,000 young people from area schools who attended these assemblies where Gage talked about life's choices and addressed issues such as drugs, alcohol abuse, and teen suicide.
Those who attended the crusade were also challenged by a dynamic video testimony from Coach of the Year Mark Richt, head football coach of the 2002 SEC Champion University of Georgia Bulldogs. Coach Richt clearly shared his faith and his life's commitment to bringing glory to God and honor to Christ in all his football efforts.
Coach Chan Gailey, head football coach of the Georgia Tech Yellowjack-ets, shared via video what he feels is a calling on his life. "I have been called by God to coach football, called to tell my players and Georgia Tech fans everywhere about my faith in Jesus Christ!"
Five football players and several cheerleaders from Johnson High School in Hall County placed their faith in Jesus Christ during the crusade. "It was revolutionary for them," said Rick Stowe, associate pastor of Chestnut Mt. Church. "Scores of students from Johnson High who made decisions at the crusade are hungry for more of the Lord. They are meeting for Bible studies and influencing their fellow students."
"The impact on our community cannot be measured. Our church is baptizing over 30 people who were saved at the crusade. Decisions keep being made as the impact from changed lives permeates our county."
Pastor Robbie Foster of Hopewell Baptist Church said, "The crusade brought people together to win our Jerusalem for Christ. Its great impact extends not only to our church but to the entire county."
"Shaun Archer, one of the young men of our church who is a football player at Johnson High, got saved the first night of the crusade. He then began to bring his friends and saw many of them saved. I have already baptized ten of his friends, along with many others, who were saved at the crusade."
Major Wayne Mock, Police Operations Commander for the Hall County Sheriff's Department and member of Blackshear Place Church, was in charge of traffic and security for the crusade. "I felt closer to God at the Rick Gage Crusade than I have ever felt in my life," he said.
"At the end of the Saturday night pre-crusade rally, a 12-year-old boy came up to me and asked me if I was a Christian. I quickly replied, 'Yes, I am, son!' to which he replied with a radiant face, 'I've only been a Christian for five minutes.' My eyes welled up with tears as he hugged me. "All our effort would have been worth it if just that one young boy had been saved. That is the awesomeness of our God-He changes and transforms a life for all eternity in a moment of time!"
More than 40 churches of various denominations cooperated to reach Hall County with the gospel message. Their preparations began a year before the crusade team showed up.
Pastors agree that one of the most significant accomplishments of the crusade was the realization of the importance of working together to do outreach across denominational lines.
Rick Gage Ministries' Crusade Directors Bill and Tammy Loveless, members of South Calhoun Baptist Church in Calhoun, know that results such as those seen during the crusade do not come without a price. "Much sacrifice was involved over a year's time to see God work as He did. People who spent so much time working on the crusade reaped eternal dividends in many ways."
"Rudolph Uys, a co-chairman of the crusade, saw his son saved. Associate Pastor Rick Stowe, counseling and follow-up chairman, rejoiced as his 18-year-old son, Marcus, was saved; Mike Heddon, sound and video Productions chairman of the crusade, also had the privilege of seeing his son saved. As we rejoice and give God glory for every decision, we are especially grateful and humbled that God saved our 25-year-old daughter and her boyfriend. Our hearts are overwhelmed!"
James Merritt, a native of Hall County and pastor of Crosspointe Church in Duluth said, "It is quite possible that Hall County has never seen anything like this."
Rick Stanley, an evangelist and step-brother of Elvis Presley who often travels with Gage gave his testimony at the crusade. He has spoken at four Billy Graham crusades.
"Rick Gage has a heart for the towns that most people overlook," Stanley said. "His mentality is that there is nothing small in the kingdom of God. And God moves in mighty ways like He did here in Hall County."
"The old-time gospel still works," says Gage. "Crusade evangelism still works. Saturating our communities across America with the gospel must be done at all costs. It takes time, money, and involvement to reach lost people."
Rick Gage has witnessed more than 250,000 decisions for Christ through his many evangelistic outreaches in America and abroad. Rick Gage GO TELL Ministries include crusades, summer youth camps, school assemblies, one-day church revivals, and overseas missions trips.
Thursday, October 23, 2003
Making history in Hall county
Making history in Hall county
Rick Gage crusade draws crowds of more than 12,000
By Ruth McClellan, Special
Published October 23, 2003
Evangelist Rick Gage, increasingly becoming known as the Billy Graham of small towns, preached to crowds exceeding 12,000 during a four-night crusade at the Lanier National Speedway near Gainesville.
By the last night of the crusade, 550 spiritual decisions had been recorded, including 329 first-time professions of faith. Hundreds more first-time decisions went unrecorded at Youth Night on Wednesday.
"I've never seen anything like it in my life," said Crusade Chairman Henry Slack, owner of Slack Auto Parts Company. "Night after night people flooded to the altars. God moved in power and changed lives by the hundreds!"
"As I arrived at the crusade Wednesday evening and turned the corner, I saw a sight that literally took my breath away. More than 4,000 young people and adults packed the grandstands. It was as if I could see God's hand in Holy Spirit power sweeping over the crowd. It was the largest gathering of young people for any event in the history of Hall County."
"After Rick Gage preached, young people began to flood the altars in waves. The first wave brought over 300 who repeated the sinner's prayer out loud. We sent them to the counseling station where they could speak one-on-one with our trained counselors. Then, almost 500 came in a second wave! We asked for anyone in the stands who knew how to lead a person to Christ to come help counsel. Only a sovereign God can produce results like that!"
Youth night was the culmination of Gage's outreach to young people of the area through his "On Track" School Assemblies. Crusade Youth Chairman, Maclane Forbus, youth pastor of Blackshear Place Baptist Church in Flowery Branch, counted more than 14,000 young people from area schools who attended these assemblies where Gage talked about life's choices and addressed issues such as drugs, alcohol abuse, and teen suicide.
Those who attended the crusade were also challenged by a dynamic video testimony from Coach of the Year Mark Richt, head football coach of the 2002 SEC Champion University of Georgia Bulldogs. Coach Richt clearly shared his faith and his life's commitment to bringing glory to God and honor to Christ in all his football efforts.
Coach Chan Gailey, head football coach of the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets, shared via video what he feels is a calling on his life. "I have been called by God to coach football, called to tell my players and Georgia Tech fans everywhere about my faith in Jesus Christ!"
Rick Gage crusade draws crowds of more than 12,000
By Ruth McClellan, Special
Published October 23, 2003
Evangelist Rick Gage, increasingly becoming known as the Billy Graham of small towns, preached to crowds exceeding 12,000 during a four-night crusade at the Lanier National Speedway near Gainesville.
By the last night of the crusade, 550 spiritual decisions had been recorded, including 329 first-time professions of faith. Hundreds more first-time decisions went unrecorded at Youth Night on Wednesday.
"I've never seen anything like it in my life," said Crusade Chairman Henry Slack, owner of Slack Auto Parts Company. "Night after night people flooded to the altars. God moved in power and changed lives by the hundreds!"
"As I arrived at the crusade Wednesday evening and turned the corner, I saw a sight that literally took my breath away. More than 4,000 young people and adults packed the grandstands. It was as if I could see God's hand in Holy Spirit power sweeping over the crowd. It was the largest gathering of young people for any event in the history of Hall County."
"After Rick Gage preached, young people began to flood the altars in waves. The first wave brought over 300 who repeated the sinner's prayer out loud. We sent them to the counseling station where they could speak one-on-one with our trained counselors. Then, almost 500 came in a second wave! We asked for anyone in the stands who knew how to lead a person to Christ to come help counsel. Only a sovereign God can produce results like that!"
Youth night was the culmination of Gage's outreach to young people of the area through his "On Track" School Assemblies. Crusade Youth Chairman, Maclane Forbus, youth pastor of Blackshear Place Baptist Church in Flowery Branch, counted more than 14,000 young people from area schools who attended these assemblies where Gage talked about life's choices and addressed issues such as drugs, alcohol abuse, and teen suicide.
Those who attended the crusade were also challenged by a dynamic video testimony from Coach of the Year Mark Richt, head football coach of the 2002 SEC Champion University of Georgia Bulldogs. Coach Richt clearly shared his faith and his life's commitment to bringing glory to God and honor to Christ in all his football efforts.
Coach Chan Gailey, head football coach of the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets, shared via video what he feels is a calling on his life. "I have been called by God to coach football, called to tell my players and Georgia Tech fans everywhere about my faith in Jesus Christ!"
Thursday, September 18, 2003
Crowds of 10,000, 220 professions of faith at Rick Gage crusade
Sep 18, 2003
By Staff
Baptist Press
LONDON, Ky. (BP)--Evangelist Rick Gage, sometimes called the Billy Graham of small towns, preached to crowds of more than 10,000 during a four-night "Share Jesus Celebration" in London, Ky.
More than 500 spiritual decisions were recorded, including 220 first-time professions of faith.
"The English language cannot express what God did in our county!" local businessman David Altizer said. "... A mighty revival started here as God changed and transformed lives. I don't see how one life could have been left untouched.
During the day, Gage and his team conducted "On Track" assemblies in 13 area high schools, talking about life's choices and issues such as drugs, alcohol abuse and teen suicide.
More than 5,000 students were in the assemblies, and many subsequently attended the crusade's youth night featuring free pizza and contemporary Christian music as well as Gage's focused preaching.
Shaun, a young man from one of the Laurel County high schools, confided in the evangelist that evening, "Before you came to my high school today, I had decided to end my life. Instead, tonight I asked Jesus Christ to set me free. He saved me and has completely changed me. I feel like a new person and have hope for the first time in a long time."
Rick Stanley, an evangelist and step-brother of Elvis Presley who often travels with Gage, gave his testimony at the London crusade.
"Rick Gage has a heart for the towns that most people overlook," Stanley said. "His mentality is that there is nothing small in the Kingdom of God. And God moves in mighty ways like He did here in London."
More than 40 churches of various denominations cooperated to reach the county with the Gospel message, beginning their preparations many months before the crusade team showed up.
The churches and supporting businesses raised the entire budget in advance of the Aug. 24-27 outreach.
"We had decided not to ask one lost person for a financial contribution," Altizer said. "We raised all the money up front over many months so that we wouldn't have to take one single offering."
Corinth Baptist Church pastor Jim Blaylock said reports abound that the crusade sparked a revival that is still going strong as leaders follow up with those who made decisions to help them get involved in a local church.
"Last Sunday night we had a tremendous testimony service that went on for one and a half hours as people spoke who had made decisions at the crusade," Blaylock said.
Rhonda Napier, her husband, and daughter, Bethany, were in the service at Corinth Baptist. Napier works the front desk at the Comfort Suites in London where Gage and his crusade staff lodged, and each day the Gage team engaged in friendly talk with Napier.
Her voice trembles when she talks about her experience. "Rick Gage and his staff were fabulous people who were very friendly to me. So I decided to attend Wednesday night of the crusade. It was unbelievable! God was there and He spoke to my heart. Both my daughter and I accepted Jesus Christ into our lives that night! It has been so wonderful!
"My whole family attended Corinth Baptist Church [the following] Sunday morning where I joined the new believers class," Napier continued. "We are all going to join the church. Bethany and I are going to be baptized together! Sunday night we went back for a wonderful time as many shared how God had changed their lives. Some have been saved since the crusade because of the powerful witness of those saved at the crusade."
Pastor Brian Cheaks of New Life Christian Fellowship baptized 14 people in his Sunday morning service as a result of decisions made at the crusade.
Pastor Ken Felty of First Baptist Church in Bernstadt, Ky., reported that decisions were continuing to be made in his services that lasted much longer than usual. "Never in my Christian life did I ever expect to see such a move of God in our local community as we have seen in the Laurel and Tri-County area of southeast Kentucky."
Mayor Ken Smith of London commented, "Reports keep coming in from young people who were delivered from drugs. City policemen were saved. Whole families were united in Christ. The stories go on and on."
"The old-time gospel still works," Gage said. "Mass evangelism still works. The days of evangelistic crusades and revivals are not over."
Gage has been involved in more than 500 crusades, revivals and conferences in small towns all across America, witnessing more than 250,000 decisions for Christ. His GO TELL Ministries, based in Duluth, Ga., include crusades, summer youth camps, school assemblies, one-day church revivals and overseas missions trips.
By Staff
Baptist Press
LONDON, Ky. (BP)--Evangelist Rick Gage, sometimes called the Billy Graham of small towns, preached to crowds of more than 10,000 during a four-night "Share Jesus Celebration" in London, Ky.
More than 500 spiritual decisions were recorded, including 220 first-time professions of faith.
"The English language cannot express what God did in our county!" local businessman David Altizer said. "... A mighty revival started here as God changed and transformed lives. I don't see how one life could have been left untouched.
During the day, Gage and his team conducted "On Track" assemblies in 13 area high schools, talking about life's choices and issues such as drugs, alcohol abuse and teen suicide.
More than 5,000 students were in the assemblies, and many subsequently attended the crusade's youth night featuring free pizza and contemporary Christian music as well as Gage's focused preaching.
Shaun, a young man from one of the Laurel County high schools, confided in the evangelist that evening, "Before you came to my high school today, I had decided to end my life. Instead, tonight I asked Jesus Christ to set me free. He saved me and has completely changed me. I feel like a new person and have hope for the first time in a long time."
Rick Stanley, an evangelist and step-brother of Elvis Presley who often travels with Gage, gave his testimony at the London crusade.
"Rick Gage has a heart for the towns that most people overlook," Stanley said. "His mentality is that there is nothing small in the Kingdom of God. And God moves in mighty ways like He did here in London."
More than 40 churches of various denominations cooperated to reach the county with the Gospel message, beginning their preparations many months before the crusade team showed up.
The churches and supporting businesses raised the entire budget in advance of the Aug. 24-27 outreach.
"We had decided not to ask one lost person for a financial contribution," Altizer said. "We raised all the money up front over many months so that we wouldn't have to take one single offering."
Corinth Baptist Church pastor Jim Blaylock said reports abound that the crusade sparked a revival that is still going strong as leaders follow up with those who made decisions to help them get involved in a local church.
"Last Sunday night we had a tremendous testimony service that went on for one and a half hours as people spoke who had made decisions at the crusade," Blaylock said.
Rhonda Napier, her husband, and daughter, Bethany, were in the service at Corinth Baptist. Napier works the front desk at the Comfort Suites in London where Gage and his crusade staff lodged, and each day the Gage team engaged in friendly talk with Napier.
Her voice trembles when she talks about her experience. "Rick Gage and his staff were fabulous people who were very friendly to me. So I decided to attend Wednesday night of the crusade. It was unbelievable! God was there and He spoke to my heart. Both my daughter and I accepted Jesus Christ into our lives that night! It has been so wonderful!
"My whole family attended Corinth Baptist Church [the following] Sunday morning where I joined the new believers class," Napier continued. "We are all going to join the church. Bethany and I are going to be baptized together! Sunday night we went back for a wonderful time as many shared how God had changed their lives. Some have been saved since the crusade because of the powerful witness of those saved at the crusade."
Pastor Brian Cheaks of New Life Christian Fellowship baptized 14 people in his Sunday morning service as a result of decisions made at the crusade.
Pastor Ken Felty of First Baptist Church in Bernstadt, Ky., reported that decisions were continuing to be made in his services that lasted much longer than usual. "Never in my Christian life did I ever expect to see such a move of God in our local community as we have seen in the Laurel and Tri-County area of southeast Kentucky."
Mayor Ken Smith of London commented, "Reports keep coming in from young people who were delivered from drugs. City policemen were saved. Whole families were united in Christ. The stories go on and on."
"The old-time gospel still works," Gage said. "Mass evangelism still works. The days of evangelistic crusades and revivals are not over."
Gage has been involved in more than 500 crusades, revivals and conferences in small towns all across America, witnessing more than 250,000 decisions for Christ. His GO TELL Ministries, based in Duluth, Ga., include crusades, summer youth camps, school assemblies, one-day church revivals and overseas missions trips.
Wednesday, June 18, 2003
Tiger Coach Tells Campers of Daily Walk with Christ
By Joel Elliott
Friday, June 18, 2003
The Toccoa Record
“Learning about God is the most important thing you can do” was the message Clemson head football coach Tommy Bowden gave to 500 Go Tell campers.
Bowden’s appearance was a featured event of the opening week of Rick Gage’s Go Tell Camp held at the Georgia Baptist conference Center.
Gage said that 62 campers had made decisions for Christ the previous night, and, at press time yesterday, he said that total had risen to over 100.
Gage brought Bowden before the group of campers to impress on them the merits of living for God.
Bowden, who has been head coach of Clemson’s football team for the past five years, said he spends 45 minutes a day reading the Bible and praying in order to learn more about God.
“Living for Christ will not always be an easy task,” Bowden said, “you may even be ridiculed for your stand.” To be prepared for such an occurrence, Bowden said Christians should keep up a daily conversation with God.
“If a daily conversation with God can improve someone’s spiritual life,” Bowden said, “conversation with the wrong crowd can corrupt and erode it.”
Bowden said it is the Biblical principle that “bad company corrupts good morals” and urged the campers to choose their friends wisely.
Daily decisions such as these will help keep Christians on the right path, Bowden said.
“One of the ways for young people to stay out of trouble is for them to make good decisions,” he said in a later interview; but he then added a caution: “You won’t be perfect.”
Bowden addressed student athletes in the audience specifically, and exhorted them to take a bold stand as they played their sports, studied in school and spent time with their friends, many of whom they might make while at camp.
Gage said the number of campers will double next week, as he expects to see about 1,000 come onto the campus.
Gage and counselors are leading the campers in a ministry Gage calls “Servant Evangelism,” and they can be seen around Toccoa giving out free car washes, distributing free light bulbs door-to-door, and giving out free bottles of water.
Gage said the free light bulbs and water bottles are symbolic, as Jesus was referred to in the Bible as the “Light of the World’ and “Living Water.”
The Servant Evangelism concept is based on Acts 1:8, which Gage quoted: “when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you shall receive power and you shall be my witnesses….”
Gage said further that the Go Tell slogan he associates with his camps comes directly from another Bible passage, this one in Mark 5:19, where Jesus commanded someone to “Go Tell” the gospel.
Gage invited everyone in the community to come out to the Georgia Baptist Conference Center to see Sonic Flood, a Christian rock group, perform a free concert. The concert will be at 7p.m. Monday, June 21 and 7p.m. Monday June 28.
Friday, June 18, 2003
The Toccoa Record
“Learning about God is the most important thing you can do” was the message Clemson head football coach Tommy Bowden gave to 500 Go Tell campers.
Bowden’s appearance was a featured event of the opening week of Rick Gage’s Go Tell Camp held at the Georgia Baptist conference Center.
Gage said that 62 campers had made decisions for Christ the previous night, and, at press time yesterday, he said that total had risen to over 100.
Gage brought Bowden before the group of campers to impress on them the merits of living for God.
Bowden, who has been head coach of Clemson’s football team for the past five years, said he spends 45 minutes a day reading the Bible and praying in order to learn more about God.
“Living for Christ will not always be an easy task,” Bowden said, “you may even be ridiculed for your stand.” To be prepared for such an occurrence, Bowden said Christians should keep up a daily conversation with God.
“If a daily conversation with God can improve someone’s spiritual life,” Bowden said, “conversation with the wrong crowd can corrupt and erode it.”
Bowden said it is the Biblical principle that “bad company corrupts good morals” and urged the campers to choose their friends wisely.
Daily decisions such as these will help keep Christians on the right path, Bowden said.
“One of the ways for young people to stay out of trouble is for them to make good decisions,” he said in a later interview; but he then added a caution: “You won’t be perfect.”
Bowden addressed student athletes in the audience specifically, and exhorted them to take a bold stand as they played their sports, studied in school and spent time with their friends, many of whom they might make while at camp.
Gage said the number of campers will double next week, as he expects to see about 1,000 come onto the campus.
Gage and counselors are leading the campers in a ministry Gage calls “Servant Evangelism,” and they can be seen around Toccoa giving out free car washes, distributing free light bulbs door-to-door, and giving out free bottles of water.
Gage said the free light bulbs and water bottles are symbolic, as Jesus was referred to in the Bible as the “Light of the World’ and “Living Water.”
The Servant Evangelism concept is based on Acts 1:8, which Gage quoted: “when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you shall receive power and you shall be my witnesses….”
Gage said further that the Go Tell slogan he associates with his camps comes directly from another Bible passage, this one in Mark 5:19, where Jesus commanded someone to “Go Tell” the gospel.
Gage invited everyone in the community to come out to the Georgia Baptist Conference Center to see Sonic Flood, a Christian rock group, perform a free concert. The concert will be at 7p.m. Monday, June 21 and 7p.m. Monday June 28.
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