Evangelist Rick Gage, who has been called the "small-town Billy Graham," will hold a kickoff banquet Jan. 8 at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry to gear up for an upcoming crusade in Warner Robins.
The Mid-State Go Tell Crusade is planned for April 29-May 2 at McConnell-Talbert Stadium.
For a decade, Gage, a former college football coach, has been filling high school football stadiums with Graham-style crusades in small communities like Dalhart, Texas; Gaffney, S.C.; Gardendale, Ala.; and, earlier this year, Dublin.
"We are very excited that Rick Gage is holding a crusade in Warner Robins. He is a dynamic, much sought-after speaker who is making a difference in communities across America," Audrey George, chairwoman of the Mid-State Go Tell Crusade, said in a release.
"Rick challenges, inspires and motivates people of all ages, and we believe his life-changing message will have a very positive influence on our community."
The kickoff banquet will be at 7 p.m. Jan. 8 at the Miller-Murphy-Howard Building at the Georgia National Fairgrounds. James Merritt, past president of the Southern Baptist Convention, will be the guest speaker.
For banquet ticket information, call 953-7480 or visit the crusade Web site at http://www.midstategotell.vze.com/. For more about Gage's ministry, visit http://www.gotellcrusades.com/.
