By Ardie Arvidson
Staff Writer
The Messenger
September 30, 2005
Justin Hicks of McBee took more away from the Rick Gage Ministries visit to Hartsville a couple of years ago than a few evenings of inspirational messages.
The ministry’s work made an impression on Hicks and his youth group at Gum Branch Baptist Church. The group attended the Rick Gage Ministries GO TELL Camp in Georgia, and at the camp in June of this year, Hicks made the commitment to join Gages’ crusade to Russia. The group of 19 will leave Oct. 12 for Kirov, Russia, and return on Oct. 21.
For the last six years, GO TELL teams have visited Russia. They first drew their attention toward the city of Bryansk, preaching the Gospel and providing aid. Last fall, they turned their attention to the city of Kirov.
They helped their host church in beginning a halfway house for orphans who are put out on the streets when they turn 15.
The team also visited orphanages where they gave away shoes, meat and dairy products to 1,500 orphans; distributed 1,800 pounds of aid including medical supplies; and gave away 2,000 Bibles and Christian books in the Russian language.
Kirov is a city of 600,000 people 700 miles northeast of Moscow near Siberia with only four small Protestant churches.
Kirov is a high poverty area, said Hicks. “Mothers give their children to orphanages.”
Hicks, son of Butch and Melissa Hicks, said he would be visiting some of theses children in the orphanages and in a children’s hospital. They will be taking to them about the Bible.
“I feel God was calling me to go,” Hicks said. “Hopefully it will help me decide if mission work is something I want to do. I hope it will answer a lot of questions that I have about mission work”
Hicks said he went to the GO TELL camp last year and Gage asked the same question if any of them would like to go with him to Russia. Hicks said he held off and didn’t go.
He is the only one from Gum Branch to make the decision to go. Hicks met some of the youth who are going at camp.
Hicks said he hopes to touch some lives of the people in Russia.
“Maybe God will speak to me, too,” Hicks said.
The McBee High School senior said his parents agreed it was his calling.
“They are kind of scared for me to go,” he said.
Hicks said it was his first time ever going anywhere outside of South Carolina and the neighboring states of North Carolina and Georgia.
“I’m not scared,” he said. “I am anxious to go. I’m real excited. My friends think it is a great thing. They said they will miss me but are excited for me.”
His younger brother, Corey is excited for him, too. Hicks said his brother is more local with his work.
Missing school won’t be a problem, Hicks said. He said his principal has approved his time away from school, but he will have to make up the work.
Upon graduation from high school, Hicks hopes to attend Spartanburg Methodist College. At McBee High he is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and hopes to play baseball this year.
For his journey to Russia, Hicks not only had to make a huge commitment of his time away from school and family, but he had to raise money to go. He raised $2,500. He said his church is very big into missions and helped him raise the money.
“My church is very supportive of mission trips,” Hicks said.
The McBee native had to obtain a passport, and he purchased his plane ticket through the camp.
Hicks said he was told to take with him a journal to keep a record of his journey and to bring his Bible.
The youth said he knows the language barrier will present a challenge to him and others; however, he thinks it can be overcome. He is ready for the challenge he said God has put before him.
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Article from the Weatherford Democrat
The Weatherford Democrat
By Danie M. Huffman
When the youth group at Friendship Baptist Church went to camp in June, it agreed to take Jesus across the ocean. They could not think of a better place to visit than Bryansk, Russia.
“The group was impressed during a worship service to go on this trip,” Justin Alllision, the group’s youth pastor said.
The group’s only obstacle to making the trip a reality was money. So, the teens decided to hold fundraisers and work to pay for their trip.
“We took steps toward getting the money to go,” he said. “They held a fish fry, a karaoke night and several garage sales. They raised about $10,000 from the fundraisers and got about $2000 from individual donations.”
After successfully raising the funds, Lacee Stone, Jenni Burks, Andrew Bryant, and Benjamin Bryant were off on their adventure.
The hit Russia’s ground running.
Allison accompanied them on the trip, with Mechelle Bryant, Andrew and Benjamin’s mother.
A total of 29, including 13 others from around the country through GO TELL Ministries went to Russia.
Allison said the group met with six interpreters, who accompanied them through a public school, a few retirement homes, and several orphanages.
A Russian skit team from the city of Kirov performed for children to provide visionary tools to remember the Gospel by.
They passed out witnessing bracelets with beads of black, red, white, blue, green, and yellow. Each colored bead represents a Biblical truth in sharing the Gospel.
“We got to put the bracelets on the kids’ hands,” Allison said. “The thing that stands out the most was watching Andrew put on a presentation for children with the bracelets.”
“It’s not something that would happen in the United States – a school asking Americans to come in and tell the children about their religion and way of life. For that to happen in the U.S. would be extremely unheard of and controversial. But it happened in Russia.”
Benjamin Bryant said he learned he couldn’t be a “back-row Baptist.”
“You have to get out and talk to people so they can know you, so they can respond to you better,” he said.
The teens put on a show for children, sang songs, passed out stickers, and made animal shapes out of balloons.
“They went crazy over the balloons and stickers,” Benjamin said. “They like them a lot. We taught them who God is and what He’s done for them… about dying on the cross for their sins.”
Bryant said about 250 people accepted God and came to know Christ as their Savior from the teens’ action in Russia.
“I’m extremely proud of [the teens],” Alllison said. “I was very impressed with how they acted and ministered to the Russian people. They passed out invitations to an evangelism rally on the streets.”
Allison added the group was excited about speaking to people on the streets.
“It wasn’t a chore for them,” he said. “They chose willingly to do it.”
Benjamin said he believes the group changed some of the Russians’ opinions of Americans.
“I imagine before we came their opinion wasn’t too kind [of Americans] due to the Cold War,” he said. “By the time we left, they were inviting us back. We received a warm reception from most Russians.”
Benjamin said the best part of the trip was visiting the orphanages and putting on the show.
“I just had a wonderful time,” Andrew Byrant said. “It’s a trip I’ll never forget. It amazes me how the kids in Russia are just like the kids in America. They act the exact same, only they speak a different language.”
Mechelle Bryant said the students presented the plan of salvation with power bands.
She said the most memorable thing for her was visiting the orphanages, and she is doing research on becoming a liaison between the orphaned children and possible United States adoptive parents.
“Visiting the orphanages was heart wrenching and heartwarming,” she said. “Most had never seen an American before. It touched my heart so much to see [the children in the orphanages]. They really need homes and someone to love them. The need is so great. I want to know what we can do over here to help.”
Sunday, the group presented a slide show at Friendship Baptist Church, to show the congregation what they learned and accomplished in Russia. Each teen took turns speaking of the trip, their experiences, the people they met and God’s work accomplished through their actions.
An e-mail from Bob Thompson, the GO TELL Ministries mission leader, to the individual group leaders stated the works done on their mission.
While in Bryansk, Russia, the e-mail stated, the group helped distribute 1,000 pounds of food, clothing, and medical supplies.
More than $10,000 raised through GO TELL Ministries was donated to orphanages and churches. The group spoke to three churches, handed out approximately 800 Bibles and tracts, passed out more than 1,000 witness bracelets, and spoke to about 1,100 people in orphanages and hospitals.
By Danie M. Huffman
When the youth group at Friendship Baptist Church went to camp in June, it agreed to take Jesus across the ocean. They could not think of a better place to visit than Bryansk, Russia.
“The group was impressed during a worship service to go on this trip,” Justin Alllision, the group’s youth pastor said.
The group’s only obstacle to making the trip a reality was money. So, the teens decided to hold fundraisers and work to pay for their trip.
“We took steps toward getting the money to go,” he said. “They held a fish fry, a karaoke night and several garage sales. They raised about $10,000 from the fundraisers and got about $2000 from individual donations.”
After successfully raising the funds, Lacee Stone, Jenni Burks, Andrew Bryant, and Benjamin Bryant were off on their adventure.
The hit Russia’s ground running.
Allison accompanied them on the trip, with Mechelle Bryant, Andrew and Benjamin’s mother.
A total of 29, including 13 others from around the country through GO TELL Ministries went to Russia.
Allison said the group met with six interpreters, who accompanied them through a public school, a few retirement homes, and several orphanages.
A Russian skit team from the city of Kirov performed for children to provide visionary tools to remember the Gospel by.
They passed out witnessing bracelets with beads of black, red, white, blue, green, and yellow. Each colored bead represents a Biblical truth in sharing the Gospel.
“We got to put the bracelets on the kids’ hands,” Allison said. “The thing that stands out the most was watching Andrew put on a presentation for children with the bracelets.”
“It’s not something that would happen in the United States – a school asking Americans to come in and tell the children about their religion and way of life. For that to happen in the U.S. would be extremely unheard of and controversial. But it happened in Russia.”
Benjamin Bryant said he learned he couldn’t be a “back-row Baptist.”
“You have to get out and talk to people so they can know you, so they can respond to you better,” he said.
The teens put on a show for children, sang songs, passed out stickers, and made animal shapes out of balloons.
“They went crazy over the balloons and stickers,” Benjamin said. “They like them a lot. We taught them who God is and what He’s done for them… about dying on the cross for their sins.”
Bryant said about 250 people accepted God and came to know Christ as their Savior from the teens’ action in Russia.
“I’m extremely proud of [the teens],” Alllison said. “I was very impressed with how they acted and ministered to the Russian people. They passed out invitations to an evangelism rally on the streets.”
Allison added the group was excited about speaking to people on the streets.
“It wasn’t a chore for them,” he said. “They chose willingly to do it.”
Benjamin said he believes the group changed some of the Russians’ opinions of Americans.
“I imagine before we came their opinion wasn’t too kind [of Americans] due to the Cold War,” he said. “By the time we left, they were inviting us back. We received a warm reception from most Russians.”
Benjamin said the best part of the trip was visiting the orphanages and putting on the show.
“I just had a wonderful time,” Andrew Byrant said. “It’s a trip I’ll never forget. It amazes me how the kids in Russia are just like the kids in America. They act the exact same, only they speak a different language.”
Mechelle Bryant said the students presented the plan of salvation with power bands.
She said the most memorable thing for her was visiting the orphanages, and she is doing research on becoming a liaison between the orphaned children and possible United States adoptive parents.
“Visiting the orphanages was heart wrenching and heartwarming,” she said. “Most had never seen an American before. It touched my heart so much to see [the children in the orphanages]. They really need homes and someone to love them. The need is so great. I want to know what we can do over here to help.”
Sunday, the group presented a slide show at Friendship Baptist Church, to show the congregation what they learned and accomplished in Russia. Each teen took turns speaking of the trip, their experiences, the people they met and God’s work accomplished through their actions.
An e-mail from Bob Thompson, the GO TELL Ministries mission leader, to the individual group leaders stated the works done on their mission.
While in Bryansk, Russia, the e-mail stated, the group helped distribute 1,000 pounds of food, clothing, and medical supplies.
More than $10,000 raised through GO TELL Ministries was donated to orphanages and churches. The group spoke to three churches, handed out approximately 800 Bibles and tracts, passed out more than 1,000 witness bracelets, and spoke to about 1,100 people in orphanages and hospitals.
Monday, October 17, 2005
Vince Pienski
Dear Rick,
I always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when I pray for you, because of the love you have for the Word of truth, the gospel.
I am grateful for you and your staff’s hard labors in making the Go Tell Camp experience new, fresh, and better each. We have yet to attend a Go Tell Camp where first time and other major decisions for Christ have been made. As a result of our first camp experience in 2000, we have students “going” and “telling” every Sunday night. There is no greater joy than seeing fearless, passionate students sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ door to door and winning their campuses for Christ and it all began with a spark and a “fanning of the flame” every year at your camps.
I would also like to thank you for allowing me to be a part of your volunteer staff team at camps and conferences and would encourage other youth pastors to get involved and get some of their graduated senior high and college students involved as well. Please feel free to give any interested pastors my contact information so that I may share what a blessing it has been to me and my students.
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen!
In Christ,
Vince Pienski
I always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when I pray for you, because of the love you have for the Word of truth, the gospel.
I am grateful for you and your staff’s hard labors in making the Go Tell Camp experience new, fresh, and better each. We have yet to attend a Go Tell Camp where first time and other major decisions for Christ have been made. As a result of our first camp experience in 2000, we have students “going” and “telling” every Sunday night. There is no greater joy than seeing fearless, passionate students sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ door to door and winning their campuses for Christ and it all began with a spark and a “fanning of the flame” every year at your camps.
I would also like to thank you for allowing me to be a part of your volunteer staff team at camps and conferences and would encourage other youth pastors to get involved and get some of their graduated senior high and college students involved as well. Please feel free to give any interested pastors my contact information so that I may share what a blessing it has been to me and my students.
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen!
In Christ,
Vince Pienski
Sunday, October 16, 2005
NORTH JEFFERSON NEWS
James Phillips, Reporter
Evangelist Rick Gage has been filling football stadiums for more than a decade in small towns across America. Last week, Gage brought his Go Tell Crusade to Gardendale.
The four-day Gardendale event was attended by over 8,000 people and church leaders from across north Jefferson County are hailing it as an overwhelming success.
When the dust had settled at the conclusion of the Go Tell North Jefferson Crusade, more than 450 spiritual decisions had been recorded, including 199 first-time professions of salvation in Jesus Christ.
The event was held at Gardendale High School’s Driver Stadium Oct. 2-5. Each night thousands of people attended the crusade services. At the end of Gage’s preaching each evening, scores of people with tears streaming down their faces flowed out of the bleachers. Trained counselors, made up of both staff and lay leaders from more than 40 local churches, met them all across the football field to pray and help them make eternal decisions.
North Gardendale Baptist Church Pastor Stanley Kilgore said he was most impressed with the unity shown between different denominations during the crusade. “It was fantastic to see different denominations working together,” Kilgore said. “That is the thing that I will take from the crusade the most. I’ve already talked to some other pastors about possible doing a worship celebration for all denominations once a year.”
Crusade Chairman Ed Howse, who helped plan the north Jefferson crusade for more than a year, said the surrounding communities will feel the effects of this crusade for years. “I’m excited about what God is doing and what he will continue to do from what happened at the crusade,” Howse said. “We had a lot of people make decisions to follow the Lord and we will feel that for years to come because those people will go on to reach others.”
Rick Gage also commented on the decisions made at the event. “If just one person was reached for Christ, all the work for this crusade was worth it,” Gage said. “We had 199 make confessions of faith. Billy Graham was reached at a meeting like this and you never know when one of those 199 will become the next Billy Graham. We should never underestimate the impact of lives touched through this crusade.”
Every church that worked to bring about the crusade is now diligently following up on those who made decisions during the crusade. Scores of people are canvassing the community every day, knocking on doors and discipling those who made decisions. “This has had a great impact on our community already,” Pastor Gerald Brown of Warrior First Baptist Church said. “I don’t think we will truly know the impact for years to come.”
Rick Gage has witnessed more than 250,000 commitments to Christ through his many evangelistic outreaches in America and abroad. Rick Gage’s Go Tell Ministries include crusades, summer youth camps, school assemblies, one-day church events and overseas mission trips. “Everywhere I go, people are personally embracing the gospel message,” Gage said. “It is hope for the individual, for society and for the world. Saturating our communities across America with the glorious gospel must be done at all costs. It takes time, money and involvement to reach lost people. But it will be eternally worth it one day.
Evangelist Rick Gage has been filling football stadiums for more than a decade in small towns across America. Last week, Gage brought his Go Tell Crusade to Gardendale.
The four-day Gardendale event was attended by over 8,000 people and church leaders from across north Jefferson County are hailing it as an overwhelming success.
When the dust had settled at the conclusion of the Go Tell North Jefferson Crusade, more than 450 spiritual decisions had been recorded, including 199 first-time professions of salvation in Jesus Christ.
The event was held at Gardendale High School’s Driver Stadium Oct. 2-5. Each night thousands of people attended the crusade services. At the end of Gage’s preaching each evening, scores of people with tears streaming down their faces flowed out of the bleachers. Trained counselors, made up of both staff and lay leaders from more than 40 local churches, met them all across the football field to pray and help them make eternal decisions.
North Gardendale Baptist Church Pastor Stanley Kilgore said he was most impressed with the unity shown between different denominations during the crusade. “It was fantastic to see different denominations working together,” Kilgore said. “That is the thing that I will take from the crusade the most. I’ve already talked to some other pastors about possible doing a worship celebration for all denominations once a year.”
Crusade Chairman Ed Howse, who helped plan the north Jefferson crusade for more than a year, said the surrounding communities will feel the effects of this crusade for years. “I’m excited about what God is doing and what he will continue to do from what happened at the crusade,” Howse said. “We had a lot of people make decisions to follow the Lord and we will feel that for years to come because those people will go on to reach others.”
Rick Gage also commented on the decisions made at the event. “If just one person was reached for Christ, all the work for this crusade was worth it,” Gage said. “We had 199 make confessions of faith. Billy Graham was reached at a meeting like this and you never know when one of those 199 will become the next Billy Graham. We should never underestimate the impact of lives touched through this crusade.”
Every church that worked to bring about the crusade is now diligently following up on those who made decisions during the crusade. Scores of people are canvassing the community every day, knocking on doors and discipling those who made decisions. “This has had a great impact on our community already,” Pastor Gerald Brown of Warrior First Baptist Church said. “I don’t think we will truly know the impact for years to come.”
Rick Gage has witnessed more than 250,000 commitments to Christ through his many evangelistic outreaches in America and abroad. Rick Gage’s Go Tell Ministries include crusades, summer youth camps, school assemblies, one-day church events and overseas mission trips. “Everywhere I go, people are personally embracing the gospel message,” Gage said. “It is hope for the individual, for society and for the world. Saturating our communities across America with the glorious gospel must be done at all costs. It takes time, money and involvement to reach lost people. But it will be eternally worth it one day.
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
GO TELL’ deploys students
GO TELL’ deploys students to reach their towns, schools
Eighty-five saved, 40-plus called to ministry during SBTC-sponsored camp.
Written by Jerry Pierce, Managing Editor
Posted Tuesday, July 19, 2005
NACOGDOCHES—More than 540 youth and adult sponsors were deployed from Stephen F. Austin University July 1 to spread “the fires of revival to their homes, churches, schools, and communities” after a week of an SBTC-sponsored youth camp called “GO TELL.”
More than 85 students prayed to receive Christ and more than 40 surrendered to a ministry calling, said Brad Bunting, SBTC youth evangelism associate. The week included discipleship and evangelism training, high-energy worship services and several servant outreach projects to the Nacogdoches community.
Rick Gage, founder and director of GO TELL camps, part of Atlanta-based Rick Gage Ministries, said the Nacogdoches camp would hopefully lay the groundwork for other GO TELL camps in Texas in future years. This was the first collaboration between the SBTC and GO TELL camps.
The theme for the camp was “The Awakening.” Lanyards students wore around their necks featured the camp logo and an alarm clock—a reminder, Bunting said, of the need for God “to bring a fresh awakening to our country.”
“The whole alarm clock idea is that it’s time for us to wake up and be a witness for Christ and make an impact on the culture.”
Preachers for the camp included pastors Kie Bowman of Hyde Park Baptist Church in Austin and Frank Harber of First Baptist Church of Colleyville, evangelist Ronnie Hill and Gage, a football coach-turned-preacher and a son of longtime Texas evangelist Freddie Gage.
Bunting said the camp differs from many other camps because it is intentionally evangelistic in its preaching and training. And, “They call the students out to live for something beyond themselves,” he said.
Evening services typically last about 90 minutes, but on the final night the service, led by Gage, went three hours.
“He really challenged the students to have a burden for lost people and to basically realize what it means for a person to be lost and to remember that people are actually going to hell and that hell is a real place,” Bunting said.
Students flooded the altar; some walked the aisle in support of friends making first-time commitments for Christ. Others responded to a ministry calling.
“Students and their leaders left the Nacogdoches camp eternally changed—carrying the fires of revival to their homes, churches, schools, and communities,” Gage told the TEXAN.
Of the 540 registrants, about 75 were adults trained in building evangelistic student ministries by Norman Flowers of the North American Mission Board.
“Norman gave the adults some very practical tips on how to make their student ministries more outreach oriented by changing the dynamics and priorities of their youth groups,” Bunting said.
During a Wednesday morning session taught by the SBTC’s Jennifer Dean, about 275 girls gathered for a session on “relationships, purity, modesty, how to be a godly young lady,” Bunting said.
Also on Wednesday, droves of students converged on a local Wal-Mart parking lot, offering free car washes with no donations accepted. There, two people prayed to receive Christ “and numerous other seeds were planted” as students shared the gospel with those they served, Bunting said.
During another outreach project, done in cooperation with Fredonia Hill Baptist Church in Nacogdoches that involved canvassing neighborhoods in the area, two more people prayed to receive Christ.
According to Census Bureau numbers, America will have more teens in 2006 than at any previous time, Gage noted.
“Of the two million teens in Texas, one million are not connected with any church whatsoever. … It’s time for us to do everything we can to reach America’s youth and to lead them to make a difference for Christ.”
The GO TELL camp was one of several SBTC-sponsored student events this summer. A Pre-Teen Camp in June at Latham Springs drew 350 kids; 35 prayed to receive Christ.
Also, a joint Summer Worship University and Student Leadership Training camp (see story, page 7) held at Schreiner University in Kerrville June 20-24 drew 172 students from 50 churches across Texas, said Ken Lasater, SBTC church ministry support associate.
Eighty-five saved, 40-plus called to ministry during SBTC-sponsored camp.
Written by Jerry Pierce, Managing Editor
Posted Tuesday, July 19, 2005
NACOGDOCHES—More than 540 youth and adult sponsors were deployed from Stephen F. Austin University July 1 to spread “the fires of revival to their homes, churches, schools, and communities” after a week of an SBTC-sponsored youth camp called “GO TELL.”
More than 85 students prayed to receive Christ and more than 40 surrendered to a ministry calling, said Brad Bunting, SBTC youth evangelism associate. The week included discipleship and evangelism training, high-energy worship services and several servant outreach projects to the Nacogdoches community.
Rick Gage, founder and director of GO TELL camps, part of Atlanta-based Rick Gage Ministries, said the Nacogdoches camp would hopefully lay the groundwork for other GO TELL camps in Texas in future years. This was the first collaboration between the SBTC and GO TELL camps.
The theme for the camp was “The Awakening.” Lanyards students wore around their necks featured the camp logo and an alarm clock—a reminder, Bunting said, of the need for God “to bring a fresh awakening to our country.”
“The whole alarm clock idea is that it’s time for us to wake up and be a witness for Christ and make an impact on the culture.”
Preachers for the camp included pastors Kie Bowman of Hyde Park Baptist Church in Austin and Frank Harber of First Baptist Church of Colleyville, evangelist Ronnie Hill and Gage, a football coach-turned-preacher and a son of longtime Texas evangelist Freddie Gage.
Bunting said the camp differs from many other camps because it is intentionally evangelistic in its preaching and training. And, “They call the students out to live for something beyond themselves,” he said.
Evening services typically last about 90 minutes, but on the final night the service, led by Gage, went three hours.
“He really challenged the students to have a burden for lost people and to basically realize what it means for a person to be lost and to remember that people are actually going to hell and that hell is a real place,” Bunting said.
Students flooded the altar; some walked the aisle in support of friends making first-time commitments for Christ. Others responded to a ministry calling.
“Students and their leaders left the Nacogdoches camp eternally changed—carrying the fires of revival to their homes, churches, schools, and communities,” Gage told the TEXAN.
Of the 540 registrants, about 75 were adults trained in building evangelistic student ministries by Norman Flowers of the North American Mission Board.
“Norman gave the adults some very practical tips on how to make their student ministries more outreach oriented by changing the dynamics and priorities of their youth groups,” Bunting said.
During a Wednesday morning session taught by the SBTC’s Jennifer Dean, about 275 girls gathered for a session on “relationships, purity, modesty, how to be a godly young lady,” Bunting said.
Also on Wednesday, droves of students converged on a local Wal-Mart parking lot, offering free car washes with no donations accepted. There, two people prayed to receive Christ “and numerous other seeds were planted” as students shared the gospel with those they served, Bunting said.
During another outreach project, done in cooperation with Fredonia Hill Baptist Church in Nacogdoches that involved canvassing neighborhoods in the area, two more people prayed to receive Christ.
According to Census Bureau numbers, America will have more teens in 2006 than at any previous time, Gage noted.
“Of the two million teens in Texas, one million are not connected with any church whatsoever. … It’s time for us to do everything we can to reach America’s youth and to lead them to make a difference for Christ.”
The GO TELL camp was one of several SBTC-sponsored student events this summer. A Pre-Teen Camp in June at Latham Springs drew 350 kids; 35 prayed to receive Christ.
Also, a joint Summer Worship University and Student Leadership Training camp (see story, page 7) held at Schreiner University in Kerrville June 20-24 drew 172 students from 50 churches across Texas, said Ken Lasater, SBTC church ministry support associate.
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
NFL's Alexander Visits Camp
By Brent Holloway
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
The Toccoa Record
The group of teenagers surrounding Shaun Alexander Thursday night at the Georgia Baptist Conference Center began to swell.
Some were clammoring for autographs. Others waited patiently for their turn to get their picture taken with the former University of Alabama stand-out and current NFL superstar.
At the center of the crowd, Alexander stood with his powerful right arm draped over the shoulder of a slight youth, quietly imparting his wisdom to the boy who came seeking his advice. After a hug and a handshake the boy departed and up stepped the next young lad. Instead of hurrying through the ever-increasing throng of admirers, Alexander listened to the boy's concerns about his older brother's spiritual life, thoughtfully considered an appropriate scripture to share, and recounted an anecdote explaining why the Bible verse was important to him and how it might benefit the boy's brother.
The approachability and easy, down-to-earth manner of the pro-bowler grabs your attention at least as quickly as his bulging neck muscles.
But even though it would be easy to apply the "role-model" tag to an athlete like Alexander, he shuns such a moniker.
"To be honest with you, I'm not trying to be a role model. Christ is the role model," Alexander said. "All I can do is teach you who my king is. It's like I tell people, I'm not trying to force you to do anything, all I can do is give you the truth. And the truth is, there's only one way, and that's Christ."
That's been Alexander's message ever since college.
By the time he finished his senior season for the Crimson Tide, Alexander held 15 school records, including most career rushing yards (3,565) and most career touchdowns (50).
His status as a first round pick was assured.
But instead of scheming on ways to blow his hefty signing bonus, Alexander was already thinking of giving back.
Before the Seattle Seahawks selected him with the 19th pick of the 2000 draft, before he ever picked up his first endorsement deal or signed his first professional contract, Alexander founded his first non-profit organization.
In January of 2000, immediately after roasting Michigan for 161 yards and three touchdowns in the Orange Bowl, Alexander, then only 22 years old, formed the Shaun Alexander Family Foundation (SAFF). According to the group's Web site, he is the only NFL player known to have organized his own charity organization while still in college.
Through SAFF, Alexander helped establish scholarships for underprivileged children, provided food and gifts to needy families at Christmas, and supported inner city baseball leagues, among other organizations.
SAFF is now defunct, but by no means does that mean Alexander has given up on charity work.
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
The Toccoa Record
The group of teenagers surrounding Shaun Alexander Thursday night at the Georgia Baptist Conference Center began to swell.
Some were clammoring for autographs. Others waited patiently for their turn to get their picture taken with the former University of Alabama stand-out and current NFL superstar.
At the center of the crowd, Alexander stood with his powerful right arm draped over the shoulder of a slight youth, quietly imparting his wisdom to the boy who came seeking his advice. After a hug and a handshake the boy departed and up stepped the next young lad. Instead of hurrying through the ever-increasing throng of admirers, Alexander listened to the boy's concerns about his older brother's spiritual life, thoughtfully considered an appropriate scripture to share, and recounted an anecdote explaining why the Bible verse was important to him and how it might benefit the boy's brother.
The approachability and easy, down-to-earth manner of the pro-bowler grabs your attention at least as quickly as his bulging neck muscles.
But even though it would be easy to apply the "role-model" tag to an athlete like Alexander, he shuns such a moniker.
"To be honest with you, I'm not trying to be a role model. Christ is the role model," Alexander said. "All I can do is teach you who my king is. It's like I tell people, I'm not trying to force you to do anything, all I can do is give you the truth. And the truth is, there's only one way, and that's Christ."
That's been Alexander's message ever since college.
By the time he finished his senior season for the Crimson Tide, Alexander held 15 school records, including most career rushing yards (3,565) and most career touchdowns (50).
His status as a first round pick was assured.
But instead of scheming on ways to blow his hefty signing bonus, Alexander was already thinking of giving back.
Before the Seattle Seahawks selected him with the 19th pick of the 2000 draft, before he ever picked up his first endorsement deal or signed his first professional contract, Alexander founded his first non-profit organization.
In January of 2000, immediately after roasting Michigan for 161 yards and three touchdowns in the Orange Bowl, Alexander, then only 22 years old, formed the Shaun Alexander Family Foundation (SAFF). According to the group's Web site, he is the only NFL player known to have organized his own charity organization while still in college.
Through SAFF, Alexander helped establish scholarships for underprivileged children, provided food and gifts to needy families at Christmas, and supported inner city baseball leagues, among other organizations.
SAFF is now defunct, but by no means does that mean Alexander has given up on charity work.
Friday, May 13, 2005
Rick Gage extends Gospel from Georgia to Russia
May 13, 2005
By Staff
Baptist Press
EDITORS’ NOTE: The following story is part of a monthly Baptist Press series to explore and describe how individuals, churches, associations and conventions exhibit a passion for Christ and His Kingdom.
SWAINSBORO, Ga. (BP)--Evangelist Rick Gage has been filling football stadiums for more than a decade in small towns across America. At the same time, his ministry has been reaching into remote regions of Russia.
In Swainsboro, Ga., with a population of only 6,943, Emanuel County citizens were astonished when thousands flocked to Tiger Stadium at Swainsboro High School for a four-night crusade -- and 878 spiritual decisions were made, including 524 first-time professions of faith.
More than 40 churches worked together in what pastors say is the greatest sense of unity and spirit of cooperation for loving and reaching people ever seen in the county.
“The crusade was absolutely the most wonderful move of God this county has ever experienced,” said Jamie Archer, pastor of Blundale Baptist Church and crusade co-chairman. Working in tandem with Chairman Russell Collins for more than a year, the duo enlisted 200-plus committee workers whose prayers and labors helped open hearts across the county.
“The mighty outpouring of God’s Spirit sparked a revival that will continue,” Archer said. “God moved in power in countless lives, and the huge impact of this crusade has changed this county forever.
“We are already working diligently to follow up on the many decisions that were made,” the pastor added. “Blundale Baptist will baptize more than 50 people in the days ahead.”
Among the many who will be baptized are five family members of a woman who had attended Blundale Baptist alone for years. Words were inadequate to describe her joy as she saw her husband, three grown children and future-son-in-law make first-time professions of faith in Christ during the April 17-20 crusade.
Milton Gray, the crusade’s finance chairman and member of First United Methodist Church, said, “Our community is on fire for Christ now. Everywhere you go, people are talking about what God did and continues to do.
“God even worked in our budget,” Gray said, explaining, “Although it was large, everything came together perfectly. Our financial response was almost identical to our budget. It was the best money we ever spent. A call for Christ was issued like we’ve never had before in this community, and God showed up and changed and transformed lives for all eternity.”
“God has visited our county in a miraculous way,” said Cail Pressey, pastor of Hawhammock Baptist Church. “Relationships were healed; families were reunited; prominent citizens were led to faith in Christ by people broken with love for others; church members were saved; denominational and racial barriers came down. There is a different atmosphere in our community.”
Ray Jenkins, pastor of Oak Chapel and the crusade’s counseling chairman, recounted one of the miracles: “My heart raced as I looked at those standing in line waiting for counselors and there stood my grandson and his fiancé. What a personally elating time it was to lead them to faith in Christ.... The miracle stories just go on and on.”
Businessman Ken Warnock noted, “All our prayer vigil rallies and preparation were rewarded as God saved so many. How do you describe the tremendous impact of seeing a hardened 78-year-old man, a 74-year-old woman or a 20-year-old who had just moved to the community come to Christ? As Christians, we have been renewed, refocused and recommissioned.”
Karen Carter recounted that her husband “was so excited about the crusade and what God was doing that even though he works nights, he took his supper break to park cars....
“I still can’t get over the blessing of seeing several young guys get saved who had come to the crusade with coolers of beer in their cars,” Carter continued. “Instead of leaving the crusade to go party as they had planned, they went to the fairgrounds and poured out every bottle of alcohol after they gave their lives to Christ. It was amazing. There is no greater joy than being a part of seeing people come to Christ in so great a way.”
The first night of the crusade, Bo Pilgrim, chairman and CEO of Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, the second-largest poultry corporation in the world, gave his testimony. Rick Stanley, an evangelist and step-brother of Elvis Presley, recounted his life story on Monday evening. Swainsboro native Ben Troupe, a tight end for the Tennessee Titians, spoke Tuesday night.
Gage and his GO TELL crusade team addressed daily noon luncheons focused on testimonies and prayer. They visited three prisons where 70 inmates made first-time professions of faith in Christ. Decisions also were made at the Mel Blount Youth Home and the Paul Anderson Youth Home.
The team also visited local middle and high schools, conducting Gage’s “On Track” school assembly program dealing with life’s choices and addressing the dangers of issues such as drugs, alcohol abuse, teen suicide and premarital sex.
The Wednesday night culmination of Gage’s outreach attracted more than 4,500 people, including 2,500 youth who were treated to a free pizza blast prior to the evening’s service. University of Georgia first-string football players Russ Tanner, Josh Brock and D.J. Shockley held the students’ attention as they shared their personal testimonies and challenged young people and adults to live for Christ. After Gage preached, hundreds flooded the altars, registering 458 decisions for Christ that night.
“When I looked up into the stands, I was awe-struck by the number of teenagers,” Archer said. “We had worked and prayed, and God swept scores into the Kingdom.”
Coaches Brandon Jernigan and David Johnson of Swainsboro High School were co-chairmen of the crusade’s youth committee. “We prayed over every seat in Tiger Stadium, and they were filled just about every night,” Jernigan said. “After the stadium filled on Wednesday night we had to seat kids anywhere we could fit them, all over the grass and on the track.
“Wednesday night was a sight I will remember forever as young people poured to the altars in droves. Our high school is known for its athletic prominence, but the victory of this crusade far outweighed any human victory we’ve ever experienced.”
Rick Stanley, who has spoken at four Billy Graham crusades, said Gage “has a heart for the towns that most people overlook. His mentality is that there is nothing small in the Kingdom of God. And God moves in mighty ways like He did here in Emanuel County.”
“God has burdened my heart to take the Gospel to as many towns as possible in my lifetime,” Gage said. “Everywhere I go, people are personally embracing the Gospel message. It is hope for the individual, for society and for the world. Saturating our communities across America with the Gospel must be done at all costs. It takes time, money, and involvement to reach lost people, but it will be eternally worth it one day.”
And for Gage, indeed the message is global. For the last six years, GO TELL teams he leads have blanketed the Russian city of Bryansk with the Gospel and aid. Last fall, they turned their attention to the city of Kirov.
Gage and the 20-member team reached out through meetings in churches, in a coliseum and at the University of Kirov, recording 460 decisions for Christ.
Another priority was assisting their host church in beginning a halfway house for orphans who are put out on the streets when they turn 15, a large majority of whom end up in prostitution or drugs or committing suicide.
The team also visited orphanages where they gave away shoes, meat and dairy products to 1,500 orphans; distributed 1,800 pounds of aid including medical supplies; and gave away 2000 Bibles and Christian books in the Russian language.
Kirov is a city of 600,000 people 700 miles northeast of Moscow near Siberia with only four small Protestant churches.
The team’s efforts were not without sacrifice. “You truly had to be sold out to the Lord to go on this trip,” said Bob Thompson, who has been leading the Gage overseas ministry outreach for 10 years. Traveling to several of the orphanages, he said, entailed “a 12-hour plane ride, followed by a 14-hour train trip and then a four-hour bus ride.”
The team, including eight teenagers, said their hardships were insignificant compared to the blessings they received.
“Everyone should experience life outside the United States,” team member Kenny Stokes said. “Our children are so sheltered and oblivious to the poverty in the world.”
In Russia, he added, “[I]t isn’t just about poverty. They don’t see hope for tomorrow. No matter what happens in America, we still believe tomorrow will be better. The people of Russia don’t have that hope. But Jesus brought many in Kirov hope as we helped heal their physical and spiritual suffering. And a tremendous blessing was the heart change in our own team members as they came in contact with the Russian people and the tears began to flow.”
Team member Amber Prince said, “The impact on my life is indescribable in words. There was some music playing at one of the orphanages, and I started dancing with a little girl. I don’t think she’d ever had that much attention in her life. Her face changed as it lit up, and when she hugged me she wouldn’t let me go. Americans take everything for granted, especially the love they get from family and friends.”
The youngest team member, 15-year-old Kirstin Anthony, was challenged to overseas missions involvement at one of Gage’s GO TELL summer youth camps where she committed her life to fulltime Christian service. “God spoke to me at GO TELL Camp,” Anthony said. “... When I got home from camp, I talked to my family about going to Russia. I was so excited when they said I could go.
“God really worked in my life in Russia. It hurt my heart to leave the children in the orphanages, but I know God is keeping an eye on them,” Anthony said.
Mary Martin, from Oak Grove Baptist Church in Richmond, Va., said the children’s beds at some of the orphanages “were made of plywood, with the mattress being a folded blanket. Although they were as hard as a rock, the children were thankful for them.
“The Russian people are stoic, with no smiles, as if they have no hope. But we were able to witness for Jesus and offer them hope,” Martin continued. “At the orphanages we sang, gave testimonies.... We gave each child a New Testament, a book of Christian athletes in Russia, a toy, a balloon and lots of stickers....”
Martin also was touched by a visit to a church “that was started by a pastor who sold his apartment to start the church.”
“Life for those of us who went on this mission can never be the same,” she said of the Oct. 19-28 venture. “God has placed a burden on our hearts for the orphans that will not go away.”
Gage, noting that God “is moving in Russia, a land greatly in need of hope,” said, “It has been amazing to see Russian men, women and children giving their lives to the Lord.”
By Staff
Baptist Press
EDITORS’ NOTE: The following story is part of a monthly Baptist Press series to explore and describe how individuals, churches, associations and conventions exhibit a passion for Christ and His Kingdom.
SWAINSBORO, Ga. (BP)--Evangelist Rick Gage has been filling football stadiums for more than a decade in small towns across America. At the same time, his ministry has been reaching into remote regions of Russia.
In Swainsboro, Ga., with a population of only 6,943, Emanuel County citizens were astonished when thousands flocked to Tiger Stadium at Swainsboro High School for a four-night crusade -- and 878 spiritual decisions were made, including 524 first-time professions of faith.
More than 40 churches worked together in what pastors say is the greatest sense of unity and spirit of cooperation for loving and reaching people ever seen in the county.
“The crusade was absolutely the most wonderful move of God this county has ever experienced,” said Jamie Archer, pastor of Blundale Baptist Church and crusade co-chairman. Working in tandem with Chairman Russell Collins for more than a year, the duo enlisted 200-plus committee workers whose prayers and labors helped open hearts across the county.
“The mighty outpouring of God’s Spirit sparked a revival that will continue,” Archer said. “God moved in power in countless lives, and the huge impact of this crusade has changed this county forever.
“We are already working diligently to follow up on the many decisions that were made,” the pastor added. “Blundale Baptist will baptize more than 50 people in the days ahead.”
Among the many who will be baptized are five family members of a woman who had attended Blundale Baptist alone for years. Words were inadequate to describe her joy as she saw her husband, three grown children and future-son-in-law make first-time professions of faith in Christ during the April 17-20 crusade.
Milton Gray, the crusade’s finance chairman and member of First United Methodist Church, said, “Our community is on fire for Christ now. Everywhere you go, people are talking about what God did and continues to do.
“God even worked in our budget,” Gray said, explaining, “Although it was large, everything came together perfectly. Our financial response was almost identical to our budget. It was the best money we ever spent. A call for Christ was issued like we’ve never had before in this community, and God showed up and changed and transformed lives for all eternity.”
“God has visited our county in a miraculous way,” said Cail Pressey, pastor of Hawhammock Baptist Church. “Relationships were healed; families were reunited; prominent citizens were led to faith in Christ by people broken with love for others; church members were saved; denominational and racial barriers came down. There is a different atmosphere in our community.”
Ray Jenkins, pastor of Oak Chapel and the crusade’s counseling chairman, recounted one of the miracles: “My heart raced as I looked at those standing in line waiting for counselors and there stood my grandson and his fiancé. What a personally elating time it was to lead them to faith in Christ.... The miracle stories just go on and on.”
Businessman Ken Warnock noted, “All our prayer vigil rallies and preparation were rewarded as God saved so many. How do you describe the tremendous impact of seeing a hardened 78-year-old man, a 74-year-old woman or a 20-year-old who had just moved to the community come to Christ? As Christians, we have been renewed, refocused and recommissioned.”
Karen Carter recounted that her husband “was so excited about the crusade and what God was doing that even though he works nights, he took his supper break to park cars....
“I still can’t get over the blessing of seeing several young guys get saved who had come to the crusade with coolers of beer in their cars,” Carter continued. “Instead of leaving the crusade to go party as they had planned, they went to the fairgrounds and poured out every bottle of alcohol after they gave their lives to Christ. It was amazing. There is no greater joy than being a part of seeing people come to Christ in so great a way.”
The first night of the crusade, Bo Pilgrim, chairman and CEO of Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, the second-largest poultry corporation in the world, gave his testimony. Rick Stanley, an evangelist and step-brother of Elvis Presley, recounted his life story on Monday evening. Swainsboro native Ben Troupe, a tight end for the Tennessee Titians, spoke Tuesday night.
Gage and his GO TELL crusade team addressed daily noon luncheons focused on testimonies and prayer. They visited three prisons where 70 inmates made first-time professions of faith in Christ. Decisions also were made at the Mel Blount Youth Home and the Paul Anderson Youth Home.
The team also visited local middle and high schools, conducting Gage’s “On Track” school assembly program dealing with life’s choices and addressing the dangers of issues such as drugs, alcohol abuse, teen suicide and premarital sex.
The Wednesday night culmination of Gage’s outreach attracted more than 4,500 people, including 2,500 youth who were treated to a free pizza blast prior to the evening’s service. University of Georgia first-string football players Russ Tanner, Josh Brock and D.J. Shockley held the students’ attention as they shared their personal testimonies and challenged young people and adults to live for Christ. After Gage preached, hundreds flooded the altars, registering 458 decisions for Christ that night.
“When I looked up into the stands, I was awe-struck by the number of teenagers,” Archer said. “We had worked and prayed, and God swept scores into the Kingdom.”
Coaches Brandon Jernigan and David Johnson of Swainsboro High School were co-chairmen of the crusade’s youth committee. “We prayed over every seat in Tiger Stadium, and they were filled just about every night,” Jernigan said. “After the stadium filled on Wednesday night we had to seat kids anywhere we could fit them, all over the grass and on the track.
“Wednesday night was a sight I will remember forever as young people poured to the altars in droves. Our high school is known for its athletic prominence, but the victory of this crusade far outweighed any human victory we’ve ever experienced.”
Rick Stanley, who has spoken at four Billy Graham crusades, said Gage “has a heart for the towns that most people overlook. His mentality is that there is nothing small in the Kingdom of God. And God moves in mighty ways like He did here in Emanuel County.”
“God has burdened my heart to take the Gospel to as many towns as possible in my lifetime,” Gage said. “Everywhere I go, people are personally embracing the Gospel message. It is hope for the individual, for society and for the world. Saturating our communities across America with the Gospel must be done at all costs. It takes time, money, and involvement to reach lost people, but it will be eternally worth it one day.”
And for Gage, indeed the message is global. For the last six years, GO TELL teams he leads have blanketed the Russian city of Bryansk with the Gospel and aid. Last fall, they turned their attention to the city of Kirov.
Gage and the 20-member team reached out through meetings in churches, in a coliseum and at the University of Kirov, recording 460 decisions for Christ.
Another priority was assisting their host church in beginning a halfway house for orphans who are put out on the streets when they turn 15, a large majority of whom end up in prostitution or drugs or committing suicide.
The team also visited orphanages where they gave away shoes, meat and dairy products to 1,500 orphans; distributed 1,800 pounds of aid including medical supplies; and gave away 2000 Bibles and Christian books in the Russian language.
Kirov is a city of 600,000 people 700 miles northeast of Moscow near Siberia with only four small Protestant churches.
The team’s efforts were not without sacrifice. “You truly had to be sold out to the Lord to go on this trip,” said Bob Thompson, who has been leading the Gage overseas ministry outreach for 10 years. Traveling to several of the orphanages, he said, entailed “a 12-hour plane ride, followed by a 14-hour train trip and then a four-hour bus ride.”
The team, including eight teenagers, said their hardships were insignificant compared to the blessings they received.
“Everyone should experience life outside the United States,” team member Kenny Stokes said. “Our children are so sheltered and oblivious to the poverty in the world.”
In Russia, he added, “[I]t isn’t just about poverty. They don’t see hope for tomorrow. No matter what happens in America, we still believe tomorrow will be better. The people of Russia don’t have that hope. But Jesus brought many in Kirov hope as we helped heal their physical and spiritual suffering. And a tremendous blessing was the heart change in our own team members as they came in contact with the Russian people and the tears began to flow.”
Team member Amber Prince said, “The impact on my life is indescribable in words. There was some music playing at one of the orphanages, and I started dancing with a little girl. I don’t think she’d ever had that much attention in her life. Her face changed as it lit up, and when she hugged me she wouldn’t let me go. Americans take everything for granted, especially the love they get from family and friends.”
The youngest team member, 15-year-old Kirstin Anthony, was challenged to overseas missions involvement at one of Gage’s GO TELL summer youth camps where she committed her life to fulltime Christian service. “God spoke to me at GO TELL Camp,” Anthony said. “... When I got home from camp, I talked to my family about going to Russia. I was so excited when they said I could go.
“God really worked in my life in Russia. It hurt my heart to leave the children in the orphanages, but I know God is keeping an eye on them,” Anthony said.
Mary Martin, from Oak Grove Baptist Church in Richmond, Va., said the children’s beds at some of the orphanages “were made of plywood, with the mattress being a folded blanket. Although they were as hard as a rock, the children were thankful for them.
“The Russian people are stoic, with no smiles, as if they have no hope. But we were able to witness for Jesus and offer them hope,” Martin continued. “At the orphanages we sang, gave testimonies.... We gave each child a New Testament, a book of Christian athletes in Russia, a toy, a balloon and lots of stickers....”
Martin also was touched by a visit to a church “that was started by a pastor who sold his apartment to start the church.”
“Life for those of us who went on this mission can never be the same,” she said of the Oct. 19-28 venture. “God has placed a burden on our hearts for the orphans that will not go away.”
Gage, noting that God “is moving in Russia, a land greatly in need of hope,” said, “It has been amazing to see Russian men, women and children giving their lives to the Lord.”
Thursday, May 12, 2005
Revival wave hits East Georgia with powerful impact
The Christian Index
Revival wave hits East Georgia with powerful impact
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published May 12, 2005
Georgia Baptists' wave of revivals hit the eastern part of the state with a blessed fury in April with major crusades in Augusta and Swainsboro. Greg Laurie, the guest evangelist for the Augusta Harvest Crusade, has been called the next generation's Billy Graham.
Laurie is pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, Ca., one of the eight largest churches in America, and the speaker on a nationally syndicated radio program entitled A New Beginning that is heard coast-to-coast and overseas.
The California pastor began holding evangelistic crusades, called Harvest Crusades, ten years ago. Since 1990, almost 3 million people have attended Harvest Crusades.
The Augusta crusade, held April 17-20, was the result of 135 churches banding together to share the gospel with thousands in Augusta. When the final invitation was given more than 28,000 had been exposed to the gospel message, and 1,393 decisions had been made.
The Harvest Crusade, held in the August Civic Center, marked the first such city-side evangelistic meeting in almost twenty years. The last crusade held in Augusta was in 1986 with Leighton Ford.
The event also included several guest musicians: Doyle Dykes, Crystal Lewis, Dennis Agajanian, Jeremy Camp, Mercy Me, the Katinas and Jars of Clay. Ashley Smith, who was recently thrust into the spotlight after Atlanta shooting suspect Brian Nichols held her hostage, shared her testimony of that harrowing experience.
Mark Harris, pastor of Curtis Baptist Church, was chosen to serve as the crusade coordinator. Don Wheless, director of missions for the Augusta Association, Gordon Robinson, Billy Faulk, Jeff Harris and David Miller made up the Crusade Core Leadership Team.
The preacher for the Emanuel County crusade was Southern Baptist evangelist Rick Gage, who has been filling football stadiums for more than a decade in small towns across America. Many were skeptical that he could do it in Swainsboro, which claims a population of only 6,943 people.
Emanuel County's citizens were astonished when thousands flocked to Tiger Stadium at the local Swainsboro High School for a four-night crusade. By the conclusion of the crusade, 878 spiritual decisions had been recorded, including 534 first-time professions of faith.
More than 40 churches worked together in what pastors claim is the greatest sense of unity and spirit of cooperation of churches ever seen in Emanuel County. Churches came together across denominational lines with a united goal of loving and reaching people for Christ.
Blundale Baptist pastor and crusade co-chairman Jamie Archer declared, "The crusade was absolutely the most wonderful move of God this county has ever experienced. The mighty outpouring of God's Spirit sparked a revival that will continue.
"God moved in power in countless lives, and the huge impact of this crusade has changed this county forever. We are already working diligently to follow-up on the many decisions that were made. Blundale Baptist will baptize more than 50 people in the days ahead."
Revival wave hits East Georgia with powerful impact
By J. Gerald Harris, Editor
Published May 12, 2005
Georgia Baptists' wave of revivals hit the eastern part of the state with a blessed fury in April with major crusades in Augusta and Swainsboro. Greg Laurie, the guest evangelist for the Augusta Harvest Crusade, has been called the next generation's Billy Graham.
Laurie is pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, Ca., one of the eight largest churches in America, and the speaker on a nationally syndicated radio program entitled A New Beginning that is heard coast-to-coast and overseas.
The California pastor began holding evangelistic crusades, called Harvest Crusades, ten years ago. Since 1990, almost 3 million people have attended Harvest Crusades.
The Augusta crusade, held April 17-20, was the result of 135 churches banding together to share the gospel with thousands in Augusta. When the final invitation was given more than 28,000 had been exposed to the gospel message, and 1,393 decisions had been made.
The Harvest Crusade, held in the August Civic Center, marked the first such city-side evangelistic meeting in almost twenty years. The last crusade held in Augusta was in 1986 with Leighton Ford.
The event also included several guest musicians: Doyle Dykes, Crystal Lewis, Dennis Agajanian, Jeremy Camp, Mercy Me, the Katinas and Jars of Clay. Ashley Smith, who was recently thrust into the spotlight after Atlanta shooting suspect Brian Nichols held her hostage, shared her testimony of that harrowing experience.
Mark Harris, pastor of Curtis Baptist Church, was chosen to serve as the crusade coordinator. Don Wheless, director of missions for the Augusta Association, Gordon Robinson, Billy Faulk, Jeff Harris and David Miller made up the Crusade Core Leadership Team.
The preacher for the Emanuel County crusade was Southern Baptist evangelist Rick Gage, who has been filling football stadiums for more than a decade in small towns across America. Many were skeptical that he could do it in Swainsboro, which claims a population of only 6,943 people.
Emanuel County's citizens were astonished when thousands flocked to Tiger Stadium at the local Swainsboro High School for a four-night crusade. By the conclusion of the crusade, 878 spiritual decisions had been recorded, including 534 first-time professions of faith.
More than 40 churches worked together in what pastors claim is the greatest sense of unity and spirit of cooperation of churches ever seen in Emanuel County. Churches came together across denominational lines with a united goal of loving and reaching people for Christ.
Blundale Baptist pastor and crusade co-chairman Jamie Archer declared, "The crusade was absolutely the most wonderful move of God this county has ever experienced. The mighty outpouring of God's Spirit sparked a revival that will continue.
"God moved in power in countless lives, and the huge impact of this crusade has changed this county forever. We are already working diligently to follow-up on the many decisions that were made. Blundale Baptist will baptize more than 50 people in the days ahead."
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Go Tell Crusade a ringing success
LINCOLN TIMES-NEWS
Lincoln County’s Home Newspaper
Lincoln, NC
Go Tell Crusade a ringing success
by: Sarah Grano
(5/11/2005)
Bad weather didn’t keep people away from the Go Tell Crusade. Instead, it filled First Baptist Church in Lincolnton to the rafters, where attendees clapped along to songs led by Chuck Sullivan and his band, and heard an inspirational sermon by guest speaker Rick Gage. Chris Dean / LTN Photo
The Western Piedmont Go Tell Crusade, which has drawn thousands to Lincolnton High School’s football stadium, has a simple goal.
“There’s not but one purpose,” said Clyde Smith, chairman for the event, “and that’s winning people to Jesus.”
The crusade began Sunday night and concludes tonight. It features evangelist Rick Gage, who makes a habit of coming to small towns.
“God has just given me a heart for rural America,” he said. “Our goal is to come to towns like Lincolnton, North Carolina and join hands with the churches of this region to reach the unsaved and unchurched of this area.”
Crusade officials hope to one day have every Lincolnton citizen attending church.
“Any given Sunday with the population figures we have for Lincoln County, we really have probably way less than 30 percent (of the population) in church,” said Smith.
The focus of tonight’s crusade will be on young people. Organizers hope to draw a crowd with a “Pizza Blast” at 6 p.m., the youth-oriented band “7 miles” at 6:30 p.m., and the main event featuring Gage at 7:30 p.m. at the Lincolnton High School stadium.
“There’s never been a move of God, a real revival, that did not begin with the young people,” said Gage.
He believes the event’s location and time will draw in crowds who would otherwise stay home.
“We’ll reach people this week that won’t come to the church’s 11 o’ clock Sunday services,” he said. “It’s a lot easier to get them to come to the stadium for the gospel.”
Gage has already discussed values and morality with a number of Lincoln County middle school and high school students.
For 10 days he toured Lincoln County with his “On Track” program, which discourages students from drug and alcohol abuse and suicide.
“It starts with making the right choices and right decisions,” he said.
This evening, he hopes many students decide to dedicate their life to Jesus Christ.
For those who do, there will be 300 counselors on site to walk them through the process.
“We want to communicate to the young people of this community that God has a plan for your life,” he said.
This will be the last event of the crusade, which officials estimate has had 5,000 people attend.
It took nearly eight months to organize the event. Nearly 50 churches of a variety of Christian denominations were involved.
“It goes across demographic lines – races and cultures and creeds and anything else,” said Smith.
Lincoln County’s Home Newspaper
Lincoln, NC
Go Tell Crusade a ringing success
by: Sarah Grano
(5/11/2005)
Bad weather didn’t keep people away from the Go Tell Crusade. Instead, it filled First Baptist Church in Lincolnton to the rafters, where attendees clapped along to songs led by Chuck Sullivan and his band, and heard an inspirational sermon by guest speaker Rick Gage. Chris Dean / LTN Photo
The Western Piedmont Go Tell Crusade, which has drawn thousands to Lincolnton High School’s football stadium, has a simple goal.
“There’s not but one purpose,” said Clyde Smith, chairman for the event, “and that’s winning people to Jesus.”
The crusade began Sunday night and concludes tonight. It features evangelist Rick Gage, who makes a habit of coming to small towns.
“God has just given me a heart for rural America,” he said. “Our goal is to come to towns like Lincolnton, North Carolina and join hands with the churches of this region to reach the unsaved and unchurched of this area.”
Crusade officials hope to one day have every Lincolnton citizen attending church.
“Any given Sunday with the population figures we have for Lincoln County, we really have probably way less than 30 percent (of the population) in church,” said Smith.
The focus of tonight’s crusade will be on young people. Organizers hope to draw a crowd with a “Pizza Blast” at 6 p.m., the youth-oriented band “7 miles” at 6:30 p.m., and the main event featuring Gage at 7:30 p.m. at the Lincolnton High School stadium.
“There’s never been a move of God, a real revival, that did not begin with the young people,” said Gage.
He believes the event’s location and time will draw in crowds who would otherwise stay home.
“We’ll reach people this week that won’t come to the church’s 11 o’ clock Sunday services,” he said. “It’s a lot easier to get them to come to the stadium for the gospel.”
Gage has already discussed values and morality with a number of Lincoln County middle school and high school students.
For 10 days he toured Lincoln County with his “On Track” program, which discourages students from drug and alcohol abuse and suicide.
“It starts with making the right choices and right decisions,” he said.
This evening, he hopes many students decide to dedicate their life to Jesus Christ.
For those who do, there will be 300 counselors on site to walk them through the process.
“We want to communicate to the young people of this community that God has a plan for your life,” he said.
This will be the last event of the crusade, which officials estimate has had 5,000 people attend.
It took nearly eight months to organize the event. Nearly 50 churches of a variety of Christian denominations were involved.
“It goes across demographic lines – races and cultures and creeds and anything else,” said Smith.
Saturday, April 16, 2005
Students leave summer camp wanting to GO TELL others
By Ruth McClellan
Baptist Press
EDITORS’ NOTE: The following story is part of a monthly Baptist Press series to explore and describe how individuals, churches, associations and conventions exhibit a passion for Christ and His Kingdom.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--On the drive home from Rick Gage’s GO TELL Camp this summer, students from Robertson Avenue Baptist Church in Copperas Cove, Texas, put into practice what they had learned the previous week by ministering to everyone they saw at every stop.
At one stop, a gas station cashier asked Christ into her life right there on the spot.
“Our students would not leave until we had hooked her up with a good, Bible-believing church,” youth pastor Jeff Tulasosopo said.
What is particularly impressive about this story is that Robertson Avenue Baptist is a small church in a military town where most of the youth’s parents do not attend church. Tulasosopo’s youth group is made up of Koreans, Chinese, Mexicans, African-Americans, Samoans, Native Americans and Caucasians –- a highly diverse group that came together at the camp as a body full of love and unity.
“Their love for each other was unbelievable,” Tulasosopo said. “Those of our group who had attended GO TELL Camp the year before still had not lost their fire.... Of the 20 students we brought, five surrendered to full-time ministry.”
The heartbeat of GO TELL Camps is evangelism and discipleship, and speakers address students as adults. They don’t sugar-coat the truth, the challenge of living out the Christian faith or the cost students may have to pay for their faith.
“More than anything, because of what they experienced at GO TELL Camp, our students want to be real in their faith,” Tulasosopo said. “It is not an emotional thing -- it is a lasting thing, born of the Spirit of God. We go back home with conviction -- not just a camp experience -- and empowered to live for God. We share our faith and lead people to Christ.”
The Robertson Avenue youth group’s experience was far from unique. By the conclusion of the sixth GO TELL Camp near the end of July, more than 4,000 students and their leaders from 15 states and 181 churches had been impacted by God.
More than 1,200 commitments were recorded, including 241 from those who surrendered to full-time Christian ministry. Five hundred-plus students and leaders went out witnessing in GO TELL Camp’s local community evangelistic efforts, many leading a person to Christ for the first time in their lives.
“These are serious times,” said evangelist Rick Gage, who started the youth camp ministry in 1989. “The task of reaching students with the Gospel and discipling them has never been more urgent. Teenagers are tired of playing games. Their world is falling apart and they want answers. They have an incredible need to be led, challenged and empowered.”
And that is exactly what they got at each of Gage’s six GO TELL Camps, conducted at the Georgia Baptist Conference Center in Toccoa, Ga.; Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.; the Emerald Coast Conference Center in Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; and at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas.
“This is our fifth year at GO TELL Camp,” said Brett Patterson, youth pastor of Westside Baptist in Warner Robins, Ga. “How can you go anywhere else when, year after year, the camp’s primary emphasis, and our experience, is a powerful encounter with Jesus Christ?”
Gage and his staff request that youth pastors pray and fast with them regularly, asking God to move mightily in every area of the camps, from anointed preaching and teaching, inspiring worship, dramatic productions and powerful testimonies to exciting recreational activities.
Since 1989, more than 50,000 young people and their leaders have experienced a GO TELL Camp and testified of a changed life. In fact, many who were called into full-time ministry at a GO TELL Camp have returned as youth pastors with their own youth groups.
"We united as a group, and it was amazing to see youth and adults together opening their hearts and crying out to the Lord," said camper Sharon Birch "I’ve never experienced anything like this before in my life.”
Baptist Press
EDITORS’ NOTE: The following story is part of a monthly Baptist Press series to explore and describe how individuals, churches, associations and conventions exhibit a passion for Christ and His Kingdom.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--On the drive home from Rick Gage’s GO TELL Camp this summer, students from Robertson Avenue Baptist Church in Copperas Cove, Texas, put into practice what they had learned the previous week by ministering to everyone they saw at every stop.At one stop, a gas station cashier asked Christ into her life right there on the spot.
“Our students would not leave until we had hooked her up with a good, Bible-believing church,” youth pastor Jeff Tulasosopo said.What is particularly impressive about this story is that Robertson Avenue Baptist is a small church in a military town where most of the youth’s parents do not attend church. Tulasosopo’s youth group is made up of Koreans, Chinese, Mexicans, African-Americans, Samoans, Native Americans and Caucasians –- a highly diverse group that came together at the camp as a body full of love and unity.
“Their love for each other was unbelievable,” Tulasosopo said. “Those of our group who had attended GO TELL Camp the year before still had not lost their fire.... Of the 20 students we brought, five surrendered to full-time ministry.”
The heartbeat of GO TELL Camps is evangelism and discipleship, and speakers address students as adults. They don’t sugar-coat the truth, the challenge of living out the Christian faith or the cost students may have to pay for their faith.“More than anything, because of what they experienced at GO TELL Camp, our students want to be real in their faith,” Tulasosopo said. “It is not an emotional thing -- it is a lasting thing, born of the Spirit of God. We go back home with conviction -- not just a camp experience -- and empowered to live for God. We share our faith and lead people to Christ.”
The Robertson Avenue youth group’s experience was far from unique. By the conclusion of the sixth GO TELL Camp near the end of July, more than 4,000 students and their leaders from 15 states and 181 churches had been impacted by God.More than 1,200 commitments were recorded, including 241 from those who surrendered to full-time Christian ministry. Five hundred-plus students and leaders went out witnessing in GO TELL Camp’s local community evangelistic efforts, many leading a person to Christ for the first time in their lives.
“These are serious times,” said evangelist Rick Gage, who started the youth camp ministry in 1989. “The task of reaching students with the Gospel and discipling them has never been more urgent. Teenagers are tired of playing games. Their world is falling apart and they want answers. They have an incredible need to be led, challenged and empowered.”
And that is exactly what they got at each of Gage’s six GO TELL Camps, conducted at the Georgia Baptist Conference Center in Toccoa, Ga.; Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.; the Emerald Coast Conference Center in Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; and at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas.
“This is our fifth year at GO TELL Camp,” said Brett Patterson, youth pastor of Westside Baptist in Warner Robins, Ga. “How can you go anywhere else when, year after year, the camp’s primary emphasis, and our experience, is a powerful encounter with Jesus Christ?”
Gage and his staff request that youth pastors pray and fast with them regularly, asking God to move mightily in every area of the camps, from anointed preaching and teaching, inspiring worship, dramatic productions and powerful testimonies to exciting recreational activities.
Since 1989, more than 50,000 young people and their leaders have experienced a GO TELL Camp and testified of a changed life. In fact, many who were called into full-time ministry at a GO TELL Camp have returned as youth pastors with their own youth groups.
"We united as a group, and it was amazing to see youth and adults together opening their hearts and crying out to the Lord," said camper Sharon Birch "I’ve never experienced anything like this before in my life.”
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