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
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.”
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
Rick Gage Team Ministers Hope in Russia
“We stepped through the doorway into a world
so completely different from our own that
it was almost incomprehensible.”
Ministering love and hope in the city of Kirov, Russia, Rick Gage and 20 GO TELL team volunteers were recently used of God to lead 460 precious Russian people to Christ while ministering aid to thousands.
Rick and the team reached out to the Russian people through meetings they conducted in churches, in a coliseum, and at the University of Kirov. They conducted evangelistic rallies; 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.
Of utmost importance to Rick Gage was providing assistance to their host church to begin a half-way house for orphans who are put out on the streets when they turn fifteen years old. About 80 percent of them now end up committing suicide or living in prostitution or drugs.
For the last six years, Gage’s overseas teams have blanketed the city of Bryansk, Russia, with the gospel and aid. “We saw literally thousands of Russians come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior there,” says Rick Gage. “Others are following up on our work and have taken up the mantle there. God made it clear we were to move to another unreached area.”
Kirov is a city of 600,000 people with only four small protestant churches. It is an area desperate for the gospel message and ripe for harvest. Located 700 miles northeast of Moscow near Siberia, it is a city which is bitterly cold and has much snow.
The team’s efforts were not without sacrifice. “You truly had to be sold out to the Lord to go on this trip,” commented team leader, Bob Thompson, who has been leading the Gage overseas ministry teams for ten years now. “We had a twelve-hour plane ride, followed by a fourteen-hour train trip, and then a four-hour bus ride each time we visited one of seven orphanages where we were privileged to minister.”
The team was made up of individuals from six different states and included eight teenagers. They unanimously agreed that the hardships they suffered were totally insignificant compared to the blessings they received. While ministering love and aid to thousands, the group came away feeling they had received far more than they had given.
Kenny Stokes reminisced, “Everyone should experience life outside the United States. Our children are so sheltered and oblivious to the poverty in the world. And it isn’t just about poverty in Russia. 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.”
Amber Prince stated, “This trip was the best thing that has ever happened to me. 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 member of the team, fifteen-year-old Kirstin Anthony, was challenged to overseas missions involvement at a GO TELL Summer Youth Camp where she committed her life to full-time Christian service. “God spoke to me at GO TELL Camp,” says Kirstin, “I really wanted to share Jesus in Russia. 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. Giving each of them a sticker, some candy, a balloon, a hug and a smile, and telling them Jesus loves them meant all the world to them. Twenty Americans led 460 Russian people to Christ—that’s 23 each! I wonder what the world would be like if everyone cared for others that much.”
The team took to heart the biblical principle that to whom much is given, much shall be required. Three church members from Oak Grove Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia, invested much. “God worked miracles on and before this trip,” said Mary Martin. “We were able to raise $3,000 and our church, Oak Grove Baptist, gave us $10,000 to give to the orphanages. Some of the orphanages we visited were a six-hour bus ride away. The conditions there were so bad. I couldn’t imagine using one of their bathrooms. Their beds 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. At the orphanages we sang, gave testimonies, and shared the gospel bracelet. We gave each child a New Testament, a book of Christian athletes in Russia, a toy, a balloon, and lots of stickers. They were so excited and crowded around us for our autographs.
“We visited one of the four churches in Kirov 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. God has placed a burden on our hearts for the orphans that will not go away.”
Rebecca Dempsey ministered in Russia with Rick’s 2001 GO TELL Team. Since that time she had been very ill, and although she wanted to return to Russia, she was afraid of her failing health. This year Rebecca stepped out in faith and made the physically-challenging trip. Upon her return, her doctors were so amazed at her improvement that they told her if a mission trip could improve her health so much, they wanted her to go keep on going.
Rebecca says, “The hours are long, but the rewards of going on a mission trip are unbelievable. To me, the moment I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior, I committed to the Great Commission. A mission trip is a chance of a lifetime to really see miracles in action. My heart will forever be with the Russian people.”
“The Spirit of God is moving in Russia, a land greatly in need of hope!” says Rick. “It has been amazing to see Russian men, women, and children giving their lives to the Lord. Those who go on a trip with us are forever changed as they share their faith and experience the power of God in a foreign land.”
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, schools assemblies, church revivals, overseas mission trips, and the GO TELL Academy.
“Everywhere I go people are personally embracing the Gospel message,” says Rick. “It is hope for the individual, for society, and for the world. Saturating our communities across America and the world 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.”
You, too, can experience a life-changing crusade to Russia with Rick Gage. For more information about Rick Gage GO TELL Ministries, please call 1-866-I-GO-TELL; email at info@gotellministries.com or visit his website at www.gotellministries.com.
so completely different from our own that
it was almost incomprehensible.”
Ministering love and hope in the city of Kirov, Russia, Rick Gage and 20 GO TELL team volunteers were recently used of God to lead 460 precious Russian people to Christ while ministering aid to thousands.
Rick and the team reached out to the Russian people through meetings they conducted in churches, in a coliseum, and at the University of Kirov. They conducted evangelistic rallies; 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.
Of utmost importance to Rick Gage was providing assistance to their host church to begin a half-way house for orphans who are put out on the streets when they turn fifteen years old. About 80 percent of them now end up committing suicide or living in prostitution or drugs.
For the last six years, Gage’s overseas teams have blanketed the city of Bryansk, Russia, with the gospel and aid. “We saw literally thousands of Russians come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior there,” says Rick Gage. “Others are following up on our work and have taken up the mantle there. God made it clear we were to move to another unreached area.”
Kirov is a city of 600,000 people with only four small protestant churches. It is an area desperate for the gospel message and ripe for harvest. Located 700 miles northeast of Moscow near Siberia, it is a city which is bitterly cold and has much snow.
The team’s efforts were not without sacrifice. “You truly had to be sold out to the Lord to go on this trip,” commented team leader, Bob Thompson, who has been leading the Gage overseas ministry teams for ten years now. “We had a twelve-hour plane ride, followed by a fourteen-hour train trip, and then a four-hour bus ride each time we visited one of seven orphanages where we were privileged to minister.”
The team was made up of individuals from six different states and included eight teenagers. They unanimously agreed that the hardships they suffered were totally insignificant compared to the blessings they received. While ministering love and aid to thousands, the group came away feeling they had received far more than they had given.
Kenny Stokes reminisced, “Everyone should experience life outside the United States. Our children are so sheltered and oblivious to the poverty in the world. And it isn’t just about poverty in Russia. 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.”
Amber Prince stated, “This trip was the best thing that has ever happened to me. 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 member of the team, fifteen-year-old Kirstin Anthony, was challenged to overseas missions involvement at a GO TELL Summer Youth Camp where she committed her life to full-time Christian service. “God spoke to me at GO TELL Camp,” says Kirstin, “I really wanted to share Jesus in Russia. 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. Giving each of them a sticker, some candy, a balloon, a hug and a smile, and telling them Jesus loves them meant all the world to them. Twenty Americans led 460 Russian people to Christ—that’s 23 each! I wonder what the world would be like if everyone cared for others that much.”
The team took to heart the biblical principle that to whom much is given, much shall be required. Three church members from Oak Grove Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia, invested much. “God worked miracles on and before this trip,” said Mary Martin. “We were able to raise $3,000 and our church, Oak Grove Baptist, gave us $10,000 to give to the orphanages. Some of the orphanages we visited were a six-hour bus ride away. The conditions there were so bad. I couldn’t imagine using one of their bathrooms. Their beds 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. At the orphanages we sang, gave testimonies, and shared the gospel bracelet. We gave each child a New Testament, a book of Christian athletes in Russia, a toy, a balloon, and lots of stickers. They were so excited and crowded around us for our autographs.
“We visited one of the four churches in Kirov 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. God has placed a burden on our hearts for the orphans that will not go away.”
Rebecca Dempsey ministered in Russia with Rick’s 2001 GO TELL Team. Since that time she had been very ill, and although she wanted to return to Russia, she was afraid of her failing health. This year Rebecca stepped out in faith and made the physically-challenging trip. Upon her return, her doctors were so amazed at her improvement that they told her if a mission trip could improve her health so much, they wanted her to go keep on going.
Rebecca says, “The hours are long, but the rewards of going on a mission trip are unbelievable. To me, the moment I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior, I committed to the Great Commission. A mission trip is a chance of a lifetime to really see miracles in action. My heart will forever be with the Russian people.”
“The Spirit of God is moving in Russia, a land greatly in need of hope!” says Rick. “It has been amazing to see Russian men, women, and children giving their lives to the Lord. Those who go on a trip with us are forever changed as they share their faith and experience the power of God in a foreign land.”
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, schools assemblies, church revivals, overseas mission trips, and the GO TELL Academy.
“Everywhere I go people are personally embracing the Gospel message,” says Rick. “It is hope for the individual, for society, and for the world. Saturating our communities across America and the world 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.”
You, too, can experience a life-changing crusade to Russia with Rick Gage. For more information about Rick Gage GO TELL Ministries, please call 1-866-I-GO-TELL; email at info@gotellministries.com or visit his website at www.gotellministries.com.
Thursday, September 30, 2004
Rick Gage Crusade Draws Thousands
Rick Gage Crusade Draws Thousands
Five-night event makes history in Donley County
The Clarendon Enterprise, 9-30-04
Evangelist Rick Gage has been filling football stadiums for more than a decade in small towns all across America. Many were skeptical that he could do it in the small county of Donley in the Texas Panhandle which claims a population of only 3,200.
Size doesn’t matter to Gage whose recent crusade in Clarendon was hailed by local pastors, business leaders, and church members as sparking a religious revival that has shaken Donley County to its core. When the dust had settled at the conclusion of the GO TELL GreenBelt Crusade, over 600 spiritual decisions had been recorded, including 349 first-time professions of salvation in Jesus Christ. Crusade counselors say another 200 decisions went unrecorded due to overwhelming responses.
The five-night event began with a Saturday night pre-crusade student rally, followed by four nights of crusade services where thousands flocked to Bronco Football Stadium at Clarendon High School. 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 met them all across the football field to pray and help them make eternal decisions.
Crusade Chairman Eddie Helms, who worked on crusade planning and preparation for over a year and enlisted more than 200 committee workers, said, “The crusade was the most thrilling thing we’ve ever experienced in Donley County. Our churches came together across denominational lines in a spirit of unity and cooperation to love and reach people, and we will continue what the crusade started.”
For almost 18 years, Pastor Truman Ledbetter who pastors First Baptist Clarendon has prayed for a sweeping revival. “God answered our prayers,” he says. “Nothing like this has ever happened in our community. Words are so inadequate to describe the mighty outpouring of God’s Spirit on so many. We are rejoicing in what God has done and in this great harvest that has eternal consequences. Our community will not just be changed for weeks or months, but for years to come.”
“God has burdened my heart to take the gospel to as many towns as possible in my lifetime,” Gage says. “As a native Texan, however, Texas is especially dear to me. I consider it an honor to preach in my home state, and I give God the glory for every life that has been touched and transformed by His power. The churches of Clarendon came together with vision and passion to meet a common goal. The dedication and hard work of the countless volunteers is exemplary.”
While maintaining his U. S. and overseas crusade schedule, Gage also embraces a GO TELL TEXAS Campaign which includes conducting 12 crusades in the Panhandle in the next four years, ending with a climatic crusade in Amarillo. The Clarendon Crusade followed those already conducted in Wheeler and Borger, Texas. Based on the results of his first three crusades in the Panhandle, if Gage’s vision comes to fruition, more than 25,000 commitments to Christ will be made in that area in the next four years.
Along with his GO TELL Summer Youth Camps in Georgia, Virginia, and Florida, in the summer of 2005, Gage and his youth camp team will again return to West Texas A& M University in Canyon. A crusade in Dalhart, Texas, will follow in September.
Today, however, citizens of Clarendon can’t stop talking about what just occurred in their town. “I was blown away seeing the hearts of so very many people touched and changed by the power of God,” say Pastor Darrell Burton of Martin Baptist Church. “I will never forget this crusade as long as I live. I can’t begin to tell what it did for me personally, as a pastor, as a believer, and as a member of this community. I will especially cherish one moment forever, in fact, for all eternity. It was the moment my nine-year-old daughter raised her hand to be saved.”
During the days of the crusade, Gage and his crusade team visited local schools, conducting Gage’s ON TRACK School Assembly Program dealing with life’s choices and issues such as drugs, alcohol abuse, and teen suicide.
Kelly Hill, Deputy Sheriff of Clarendon, works with the youth of his church. “Young people have a special place in my heart. I want to do any and everything I can to help them,” he says. “This crusade did more for them than all our churches could do in five years. I had the opportunity to attend some of the school assemblies. Let me tell you--no words could describe the fire these kids have after getting saved. I didn’t want the crusade to end, and we’ll make sure the fire never dies.”
Jay Lowder, staff evangelist with the crusade team, spoke to 40 of the basketball players from Clarendon College at the invitation of their coach. It was an exciting time as 31 of the 40 immediately leaped to their feet at the end of his talk, indicating their desire to give their lives to Jesus Christ.
Coke Hopping, Agricultural Science teacher and FCA leader at Memphis High School, coordinated an effort to bring nine van-loads of kids from his school to the crusade. “One-third of my high school was there,” he said. “Twenty-five of those precious kids made first-time decisions for Jesus Christ. Nine of our football players were saved! Twenty percent of our school were saved because Rick Gage cared enough to come to Clarendon and share the gospel.”
Mike Word, Elementary Principal in Clarendon, said of the crusade, “It was absolutely wonderful. I’ve never seen such a response from anything ever conducted in Clarendon or the stadium so packed out. God certainly worked. The school assemblies were wonderful. We even had the crusade musical team spend an entire morning at our school. The kids loved it and are still talking about it. Our town has been changed forever.”
Miracle stories abound in Donley County. Excited people are quick to share about what God did in the lives of their friends and loved ones. “I have a good friend for whom I had been praying for many, many years,” shares James Thomas. “Wednesday night of the crusade he surrendered his life to the Lord. I couldn’t believe it. He hugged me and cried; then looked me straight in the eyes and said, ‘God has changed my life. For so long I’ve done wrong, but now I have a chance to do things right.’ It is just a miracle!”
Many love to tell of the counselor who took off his counseling badge after the message Sunday evening, admitting that he had never really been saved. After praying the sinner’s prayer with another counselor, he put his badge back on and led a young person to Christ. One of the crusade staff baptized him that night.
Or, the 72-year-old man who, coming forward, asked the counselor, “Do you really want to deal with this hard-hearted old buzzard?” and then got gloriously saved. Several entire families were saved. One father and son accepted Christ the same night and the father testified, “I let my family down. Now it is time for me to take my role as spiritual leader of my home and raise my children right.”
The consensus among the community of faith is that the crusade was just the beginning of a great move of God in Donley County. Dr. John Howard of Clarendon General Medical Center says, “I was thrilled to have been a part of the crusade and am tremendously excited at the new growth, as well as the anticipated growth in our churches. We view the crusade as an ongoing process. Now that the crusade team is gone, it is not as if the event is over. It is as if something has just begun.”
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. The community Saturday morning prayer meetings that went on for many months prior to the crusade continue, as well as the luncheons and regularly-scheduled community meetings. Churches are baptizing new converts and adding new converts’ classes.
Rick Gage and his crusade team have moved on to another town and another crusade, but his thoughts are not far from Texas. “I look forward to being back to my native Texas soon,” he says.
Rick Gage has witnessed more than 250,000 commitments to 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 events, and overseas mission trips.
“Everywhere I go, people are personally embracing the gospel message,” says Gage. “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.”
For more information about Rick Gage GO TELL Ministries, please call 1-866-I-GO-TELL; email at info@gotellministries.com or visit his website at www.gotellministries.com.
Five-night event makes history in Donley County
The Clarendon Enterprise, 9-30-04
Evangelist Rick Gage has been filling football stadiums for more than a decade in small towns all across America. Many were skeptical that he could do it in the small county of Donley in the Texas Panhandle which claims a population of only 3,200.
Size doesn’t matter to Gage whose recent crusade in Clarendon was hailed by local pastors, business leaders, and church members as sparking a religious revival that has shaken Donley County to its core. When the dust had settled at the conclusion of the GO TELL GreenBelt Crusade, over 600 spiritual decisions had been recorded, including 349 first-time professions of salvation in Jesus Christ. Crusade counselors say another 200 decisions went unrecorded due to overwhelming responses.
The five-night event began with a Saturday night pre-crusade student rally, followed by four nights of crusade services where thousands flocked to Bronco Football Stadium at Clarendon High School. 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 met them all across the football field to pray and help them make eternal decisions.
Crusade Chairman Eddie Helms, who worked on crusade planning and preparation for over a year and enlisted more than 200 committee workers, said, “The crusade was the most thrilling thing we’ve ever experienced in Donley County. Our churches came together across denominational lines in a spirit of unity and cooperation to love and reach people, and we will continue what the crusade started.”
For almost 18 years, Pastor Truman Ledbetter who pastors First Baptist Clarendon has prayed for a sweeping revival. “God answered our prayers,” he says. “Nothing like this has ever happened in our community. Words are so inadequate to describe the mighty outpouring of God’s Spirit on so many. We are rejoicing in what God has done and in this great harvest that has eternal consequences. Our community will not just be changed for weeks or months, but for years to come.”
“God has burdened my heart to take the gospel to as many towns as possible in my lifetime,” Gage says. “As a native Texan, however, Texas is especially dear to me. I consider it an honor to preach in my home state, and I give God the glory for every life that has been touched and transformed by His power. The churches of Clarendon came together with vision and passion to meet a common goal. The dedication and hard work of the countless volunteers is exemplary.”
While maintaining his U. S. and overseas crusade schedule, Gage also embraces a GO TELL TEXAS Campaign which includes conducting 12 crusades in the Panhandle in the next four years, ending with a climatic crusade in Amarillo. The Clarendon Crusade followed those already conducted in Wheeler and Borger, Texas. Based on the results of his first three crusades in the Panhandle, if Gage’s vision comes to fruition, more than 25,000 commitments to Christ will be made in that area in the next four years.
Along with his GO TELL Summer Youth Camps in Georgia, Virginia, and Florida, in the summer of 2005, Gage and his youth camp team will again return to West Texas A& M University in Canyon. A crusade in Dalhart, Texas, will follow in September.
Today, however, citizens of Clarendon can’t stop talking about what just occurred in their town. “I was blown away seeing the hearts of so very many people touched and changed by the power of God,” say Pastor Darrell Burton of Martin Baptist Church. “I will never forget this crusade as long as I live. I can’t begin to tell what it did for me personally, as a pastor, as a believer, and as a member of this community. I will especially cherish one moment forever, in fact, for all eternity. It was the moment my nine-year-old daughter raised her hand to be saved.”
During the days of the crusade, Gage and his crusade team visited local schools, conducting Gage’s ON TRACK School Assembly Program dealing with life’s choices and issues such as drugs, alcohol abuse, and teen suicide.
Kelly Hill, Deputy Sheriff of Clarendon, works with the youth of his church. “Young people have a special place in my heart. I want to do any and everything I can to help them,” he says. “This crusade did more for them than all our churches could do in five years. I had the opportunity to attend some of the school assemblies. Let me tell you--no words could describe the fire these kids have after getting saved. I didn’t want the crusade to end, and we’ll make sure the fire never dies.”
Jay Lowder, staff evangelist with the crusade team, spoke to 40 of the basketball players from Clarendon College at the invitation of their coach. It was an exciting time as 31 of the 40 immediately leaped to their feet at the end of his talk, indicating their desire to give their lives to Jesus Christ.
Coke Hopping, Agricultural Science teacher and FCA leader at Memphis High School, coordinated an effort to bring nine van-loads of kids from his school to the crusade. “One-third of my high school was there,” he said. “Twenty-five of those precious kids made first-time decisions for Jesus Christ. Nine of our football players were saved! Twenty percent of our school were saved because Rick Gage cared enough to come to Clarendon and share the gospel.”
Mike Word, Elementary Principal in Clarendon, said of the crusade, “It was absolutely wonderful. I’ve never seen such a response from anything ever conducted in Clarendon or the stadium so packed out. God certainly worked. The school assemblies were wonderful. We even had the crusade musical team spend an entire morning at our school. The kids loved it and are still talking about it. Our town has been changed forever.”
Miracle stories abound in Donley County. Excited people are quick to share about what God did in the lives of their friends and loved ones. “I have a good friend for whom I had been praying for many, many years,” shares James Thomas. “Wednesday night of the crusade he surrendered his life to the Lord. I couldn’t believe it. He hugged me and cried; then looked me straight in the eyes and said, ‘God has changed my life. For so long I’ve done wrong, but now I have a chance to do things right.’ It is just a miracle!”
Many love to tell of the counselor who took off his counseling badge after the message Sunday evening, admitting that he had never really been saved. After praying the sinner’s prayer with another counselor, he put his badge back on and led a young person to Christ. One of the crusade staff baptized him that night.
Or, the 72-year-old man who, coming forward, asked the counselor, “Do you really want to deal with this hard-hearted old buzzard?” and then got gloriously saved. Several entire families were saved. One father and son accepted Christ the same night and the father testified, “I let my family down. Now it is time for me to take my role as spiritual leader of my home and raise my children right.”
The consensus among the community of faith is that the crusade was just the beginning of a great move of God in Donley County. Dr. John Howard of Clarendon General Medical Center says, “I was thrilled to have been a part of the crusade and am tremendously excited at the new growth, as well as the anticipated growth in our churches. We view the crusade as an ongoing process. Now that the crusade team is gone, it is not as if the event is over. It is as if something has just begun.”
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. The community Saturday morning prayer meetings that went on for many months prior to the crusade continue, as well as the luncheons and regularly-scheduled community meetings. Churches are baptizing new converts and adding new converts’ classes.
Rick Gage and his crusade team have moved on to another town and another crusade, but his thoughts are not far from Texas. “I look forward to being back to my native Texas soon,” he says.
Rick Gage has witnessed more than 250,000 commitments to 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 events, and overseas mission trips.
“Everywhere I go, people are personally embracing the gospel message,” says Gage. “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.”
For more information about Rick Gage GO TELL Ministries, please call 1-866-I-GO-TELL; email at info@gotellministries.com or visit his website at www.gotellministries.com.
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