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Sunday night, March 6, will live with me the rest of my life. June and I were at AT&T Stadium where the Cowboys try to play football. On that night, 82,000-plus packed the building to hear the name of Jesus exalted. Greg Laurie’s Harvest Crusade was used of God like nothing I have ever witnessed. Over 6,000 people were saved at the event. More people were saved at one time than any evangelistic effort I have participated in, and 750 local churches have agreed to follow up and disciple the new believers.
I attended Billy Graham Crusades back in the day when mass evangelism was more than acceptable. Churches that had little in common other than the confession that “Jesus is Lord!” came together to hear the pure gospel proclaimed. Questions may be raised about discipleship methods or non-evangelical involvement, but the bottom line is that people did accept Christ in large numbers. Mass evangelism still works, and the DFW Harvest Crusade proves even metro areas can be impacted.
Revival and evangelistic results only come through prayer and individual time investment. If we will do our part, God will do his part. God still uses evangelistic events.
Last year one of my closest friends, Joe Senn, who pastors in Louisiana, experienced a move of God during a local church revival. Evangelist Bill Britt started a five-day revival that was extended several times. After a couple of weeks, more than 100 people came to Christ through an evangelistic outreach. Churches don’t have to do weeklong revival meetings, but they still work. The problem is the four-letter word “work.” Revival and evangelistic results only come through prayer and individual time investment. If we will do our part, God will do his part. God still uses evangelistic events.
Pastor John Meador at First Baptist Church in Euless created an outreach tool named “Can We Talk?” God has used the training to equip church members to be intentional with their witness. Byron McWilliams, pastor of First Baptist Church in Odessa, used the tool, and God’s Spirit has swept through the church and city with scores were saved. When people are equipped with a method, charged with an eternal mandate and empowered by the Holy Spirit, an ingathering of souls can take place. The Southern Baptists of Texas Convention is encouraging every local church to take part in “One in a Million,” a plan to blanket Texas with the gospel by local churches reaching a million homes by the year 2020 (Find out more at sbtexas.com/oneinamillion). Evangelism training still works.
A couple of weeks ago, I felt deeply impressed to speak to a young lady who was working in childcare. Quickly dispensing with small talk, I moved to diagnostic questions, and she was immediately open to a spiritual conversation. Within minutes I was able to share the gospel. She fell under conviction of her need for Christ, and it was my privilege to hear her pray to receive Jesus as her personal Savior. She was unashamed to share with others her newfound faith, and I was able to see her connected with a pastor and church. Personally sharing your faith is still effective.
Our nation is in chaos. The Southern Baptist Convention is declining. Local churches are struggling. Believers are discouraged. There is a solution. One on one, intentional gospel presentations will transform lives. Let’s get back to New Testament life by telling others about Jesus.
