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FLINT, MICHIGAN, Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - Celebration
of Praise
In the bittersweet and hectic aftermath of seeing the Encounter
stage being disassembled, watching the huge media screens and
speakers coming down, and witnessing the huge trucks filling with
all the hardware necessary for such an involved event, it is good
to know that the Flint Encounter finished strong.
Wednesday, the fifth and final night of Flint Encounter 2003,
ended too soon for many who want to see their city transformed
through the power of God as transmitted through His church. Numerous
people were heard to profess their desire for a follow-up event
in the not too distant future to build on the spark that has been
struck. The lives of at least 175 individuals have been changed
forever because they attended the Encounter and accepted Jesus
as their Lord and Savior. That, in itself, is an amazing phenomenon
if you stop to think about it. The follow-up apparatus in Flint
is now actively working to disciple those decision makers and
to graft them into the local church family.
The program for the evening was highlighted by the always-mesmerizing
testimony of Police Chief (Dayton, VA) Buddy Farris. Buddy fascinated
the audience with his "near death" experience some 24
years ago as a young Virginia State Trooper. How anyone could
hesitate to want to follow Jesus after hearing Buddy is incomprehensible.
Encounter Recording Secretary Niki Christianson proclaimed a
moving opening prayer that touched hearts when she prayed that
God would allow every part of the Encounter to change lives and
that the world would know about Him as a result.
Sam Van Horn, the Flint Encounter choir, and the Praise Band
capped off their musical performances with "All Hail The
Power", "High and Lifted Up" and "Forever".
The five nights of Encounter have been a true showcase of the
finest talent and supporting technology you could hope to see.
Encounter Director Don Smith gave another sincere and persuasive
appeal just before Dr. Gavin Raath read the evening's Scripture
and introduced Steve Wingfield. Steve delivered one of his most
popular messages – “Passing on the Blessing” –
which encourages the use of four blessings to speak into the lives
of others. First, meaningful touch to connect with another person
in a way which conveys caring and love; second, spoken words that
uplift and edify; third, envisioning a special future for the
person like "someday you are going to positively influence
hundreds of lives" and, lastly, actively committing oneself
to helping someone else achieve God's will for their life.
As the curtain is drawn for the Flint Encounter and the church
community of Flint gets back to "normal", please pray
that the flame of revival will be the noticeable result of this
evangelistic effort. Pray and believe that the Church at Flint
will be an instrument of blessing and change in this challenged
city.
Steve and the Encounter team now head to Holmes County (Berlin),
Ohio for the next Encounter, July 19-24.
© Wingfield
Ministries, 2003
1600 Junior High Age Youth Attend SONFEST
LISLE, IL April 27, 2003 -- By partnering
with 29 local churches, the Eric Gorman Evangelistic Association's
SONFEST drew a crowd of more than 1600 junior high age youth to
Benedictine University's Rice Center. The "Junior High Specific
Evangelism Training and Outreach Experience," was EGEA's
second SONFEST in the Chicago-land area.
"Our ministry focuses on being a catalyst of evangelism
in the local church by equipping and empowering youth with tools
for sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with their friends.
Through the Outreach Concert we provide an environment for kids
to put these tools into practice," said SONFEST coordinator
Eric Gorman.
SONFEST 2003 trained 396 kids in Peer-to-Peer evangelism at eight
regional training sites and exposed youth to the Good News of
Jesus Christ through the music of Christian recording artists
Superchick and Skillet, as well as a message by Eric Gorman. Following
Gorman's talk, those who attended the trainings engaged their
invited friend with a personal testimony, the Good News booklet,
and an invitation to receive Jesus Christ. Over 67 kids responded
to the message and 144 follow-up booklets were handed out to those
who shared and responded so they could embark on the discipleship
process together.
SONFEST 2003 also provided a program for parents, "The Understanding
Your Teenager Seminar," with Dave Veerman. This program ran
simultaneously with the Outreach Concert.
"I am really excited about the concept of SONFEST, because
it equips, empowers, and exposes youth to the realities of sharing
their faith in Jesus Christ with their friends in an exciting
setting," said Joel Sisson youth pastor of Pleasant Hill
Community Church.
"Rachel, one of my eighth graders, has been praying for
her friend Stephanie for the last two years and has been living
out the Christian life before her by being an awesome friend to
her. At SONFEST 2003, Rachael finally had the opportunity to share
the Good News of Jesus Christ directly with Stephanie. With tears
streaming down her cheeks, Rachael passionately explained the
Good News of Jesus Christ. I wish I could say that Stephanie responded
to Rachael's heart-felt sharing but she didn't. Rachael is still
committed to being a great friend and Christian witness to Stephanie.
SONFEST has opened the door for further spiritual conversations
with Stephanie."
"After attending the SONFEST evangelism training seminar,
David had been looking forward to sharing his faith with his friend
Tom at the Outreach Concert. While Eric presented the Good News
Talk on stage, David, Tom and their friends were in the bathroom.
Not wanting to miss his opportunity to share the Good News with
Tom, David disregarded the awkwardness of the setting and whipped
out the Good News booklet that he had in his pocket. David walked
Tom through the Good News booklet just like he was trained to
do at the SONFEST evangelism-training seminar three weeks earlier.
Tom received Jesus Christ that day in the bathroom of Benedictine
University. Tom has been attending youth group regularly ever
since."
The Eric Gorman Evangelistic Association has just formulated
a four-year plan to saturate the Midwest with the SONFEST Evangelism
Training and Outreach Experience in hopes of creating a movement
of youth who are committed to engaging their friends with the
love, hope, healing, and purpose of Jesus Christ.
© Eric Gorman Evangelistic
Assn, 2003
Safe at Home: God used a baseball game to reach
people for Christ.
BIRMINGHAM, AL, April 13, 2003 --
April 13, 2003 will go down as one of the greatest nights the
Hoover Met has ever seen! Over 950 people made a decision for
Christ and we're continuing to hear story after story of lives
that were changed! With a record breaking attendance of almost
14,000, SAFE AT HOME with Scott Dawson and the Birmingham Barons
was a success!
It was a beautiful day in Birmingham as the Barons went into
extra innings with the Carolina Mudcats. Months of planning had
come to fruition as the 2nd Annual SAFE AT HOME began.
Shaun Alexander delivered his testimony--sharing how God changed
his life, his sport and the way he played the game through Scripture
(Psalm 37:4). Kevin Derryberry shared his testimony through music.
Avalon's music bridged the way for Scott Dawson to bring a message
of hope to almost 14,000 people in Birmingham, AL. When Scott
gave the invitation almost 1000 people made a decision for Christ!
The night ended with a concert from TOBYMAC.
© Scott
Dawson Evangelistic Assn, 2003
How the West Was Won to Christ
OKLAHOMA CITY, June 16, 2003 -- Still
preaching the same message of God’s love and forgiveness,
evangelist Billy Graham returned to Oklahoma City for his third
mission -- following crusades in 1956 and 1983 -- held June 12-15
with attendance totaling 102,000 (including overflow crowds) at
the new Ford Center and the Cox Center.
Mr. Graham spoke each evening emphasizing that the Gospel never
changes; nor has his message changed during more than six decades
of ministry because the needs of the human heart haven’t
changed. “Look at the world today with all of its problems
and turmoil,” Mr. Graham said. “Look at our homes today
with all the people hurting -- not just from the bomb and tornadoes.
We are asking God to save us from terrorism, to save us from deficits,
to save us from lawlessness. Jesus said I’m the way out.”
The evangelist believes that the return of Christ will be the
only solution for peace in the Middle East. “The situation
in the Middle East, in my judgment, has no answer but the coming
of Christ,” he said. “And there is a power stronger
than military power and that is the power God wants to give you
here tonight.”
Crowds averaging more than 23,000 attended the mission each evening,
of which nearly 950 came forward at Mr. Graham’s invitation
to make a commitment to Christ. Thursday evening’s audience
was the largest of the four-day event, setting a new Ford Center
attendance record of 29,000. Those making decisions were counseled
by many of the 10,000 volunteers mobilized for the mission, who
came from more than 450 area churches representing 49 different
denominations.
Oklahoma City Mayor Kirk Humphreys served as mission chair, providing
leadership to the 49-member executive committee for the six months
of preparation. Mayor Humphreys emphasized the great influence
Mr. Graham’s previous ministry to Oklahoma City has had on
the community, unifying its citizens and bringing many to faith
in both the 1956 and 1983 missions, and expressed his excitement
for what the mission could accomplish in the community.
“We feel really blessed by God,” Mayor Humphreys said.
“This mission is not something we’ve put together and
not something the (Billy Graham) team has put together, but something
that has been ordained by God to happen at this time for Oklahoma
City, and will impact the city for years to come.”
Most recently, he believes that Mr. Graham was instrumental in
bringing comfort and encouragement to the city following the bombing
of the Murrah Federal Building in April, 1995. Ironically, Mr.
Graham’s mission in the city has overshadowed news coverage
of the ongoing trial of Terry Nichols, accused accomplice in the
attack.
Mr. Graham’s son Franklin, who serves as president of his
father’s organization, addressed the crowd on Friday evening
mentioning the ongoing work of his organization, Samaritan’s
Purse, to combat AIDS. “HIV/AIDS has infected 42 million
people worldwide,” he said. “Last year three million
died and five million more were infected -- which is expected
to rise to 100 million more infections in the next five years.
We can’t win this battle without God, and you can’t
make it in this world without God.”
Former congressman from Oklahoma J. C. Watts made a surprise
appearance at Sunday evening’s mission, speaking about his
own appreciation for God’s love. “Man’s love says,
‘I love you when you do well and I love you when you succeed.
But I don’t love you as much when you make mistakes and when
you don’t do well,’” Watts said. “But God’s
love says, ‘I love you all the time. I love you perpetually.
I love you in spite of you.’”
Because Oklahoma is home to more Native Americans than any other
state, a special effort was made to reach out to area reservations.
On Friday evening, Neal McCaleb, who has served as assistant secretary
of the Interior and head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, spoke
of his own faith in Christ and encouraged individuals of Native
American descent to consider placing their own faith in Christ.
“Oklahoma was, and is, Indian territory,” McCaleb said.
“We are not here to separate by race or ethnicity. We are
here to unify as God’s children by faith in Jesus Christ;
to reunite by God’s grace with each other and with Him.”
Mr. Graham referenced the Native American heritage of the state
mentioning many of the tribes represented. “Jesus came from
a tribe,” he said, “the tribe of Judah.”
Mr. Graham commented that Native Americans are also a very spiritual
people, many of whom know Christ, and he credited that for saving
Oklahoma City some of the turmoil of other communities. “Many
cities are turning into jungles of terror. You have been spared
that in Oklahoma City because you are a spiritually-minded people.”
Various ethnic groups were able to hear the mission in their
own tongues, as translation and counseling were provided in nine
languages, including Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Farsi and Russian,
among others.
The Operation Starting Line prison outreach conducted in conjunction
with the arena meetings saw the Gospel presented to more than
2,000 area inmates, of which 375 made commitments to Christ and
another 350 indicated their interest in learning more about such
a decision.
This mission was part of a two-city outreach to Oklahoma, with
a Franklin Graham Festival to follow in Tulsa in September. While
in Oklahoma City, Mr. Graham continued to express his commitment
to God’s will in his ministry. While no plans have been announced
for further missions Mr. Graham said that he is considering a
few invitations. “I never say never,” he said, “because
in God’s work, I’m under His direction.”
© Billy
Graham Evangelistic Assn, 2003
NORFOLK, VA, June 9, 2003 -- Dr. Bob
Boyd, Founder of the Bob Boyd Evangelistic Association announced
today the Bob Boyd Team will travel to East Africa for a two city-wide
evangelistic campaign in Tanzania and Kenya, beginning June 20th
and concluding July 16th.
Dr. Boyd and his team will be bringing the message of the Good
News of Christ’s saving grace to 100,000 people in a country
where thousands are held prisoner by witchcraft, voodoo, and radical
Islam.
“We look forward to the challenge that lies before us, we
have been invited by over 200 churches to bring our message. We
trust in the Lord’s provision and protection. If just one
soul comes to know Christ, it will all be worth it,” stated
Dr. Boyd.
East Africa is not only rife with an AIDS epidemic, there is
also ever-present danger to missionaries and evangelists who are
in-country holding meetings and crusades. “We fervently request
the prayers of the faithful for our safety, and the safety of
those who will be participating,” Dr. Boyd stated. “We
know the dangers and the problems that lie ahead, but we also
know the Lord is with us.”
For more information on this crusade, prayer needs for the team,
and their financial needs, please contact: The Bob Boyd Evangelistic
Association, 217 Regent Road, Norfolk, VA 23505 (757) 624-9001
E-mail: bboydmin@exis.net
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