Tonight is the first night of the Black Hills Harvest!
Tonight, I am speaking in Rapid City, South Dakota, for the opening night of the Black Hills Harvest. This begins our crusade season for 2009, which–by the way–marks our 20th year of holding these large-scale evangelistic events all around the world.
In June, we will visit Long Island, N.Y., and the finale will be in August at Angel Stadium here in Southern California.
But back to our event in South Dakota. The preparation is done, now we just need prayer and lots of it.
Who is a Harvest Crusades event geared toward?
I’m told there that there is a very high percentage of “unchurched” people in Rapid City. That is perfect! Just the kind of person I love to speak to.
That is because a Harvest Crusades event is for the person who would not normally darken the doorway of a church, but has questions and is seeking truth.
From the first prayer prayed, to the music performed, and finally the message that I will give, everything about a Harvest Crusades event is designed to present who Jesus Christ is, what He said, and make the gospel understandable.
The invitation
It all culminates in what we call “the invitation,” also referred to at times as “the altar call.” This is when I invite people to make a decision about Jesus Christ, and to come and put their faith in Him.
After all these years of giving them, and I have given quite a few, I never tire of watching God do His mighty work in people of all ages.
We have seen close to four million people attend these events, and some 400,000 respond to these invitations over the years.
Time will tell
I will be the first to admit that not all of the people who come forward are becoming Christians. Some come and never take the next steps in following Christ.
But I must tell you, many come and go forward spiritually and have their lives transformed by Jesus Christ. We have seen so many lives turned around, families saved, destructive lifestyles turned from, and the list goes on. Many are in ministry today as well, serving in the mission field or becoming pastors of churches.
So please join me and thousands of others as we focus our prayers on South Dakota this weekend for the Black Hills Harvest.
