SEC South: Getting caught in the net

PHARR—Dozens of students gave their lives to Christ while still more recommitted to their faith or committed to vocational ministry. But one young man couldn’t bring himself to go to the front during the invitation. He felt moved by the message but was obliged to stay put.

As a member of the security detail hired to work during the Student Evangelism Conference South event in Pharr, April 19-20, he could not leave his post.

So, he waited until the conclusion of the conference to speak with lead speaker, evangelist Sammy Lopez.

In a videoed exchange between the security guard and Lopez, Kris Jasso told Lopez he had never experienced the feelings he had during and after the conference. He had never heard a “Christian rock band” and “really loved it.”

When the call came for people to come forward and give their lives to Christ scores of students went forward. Garrett Wagoner, SBTC evangelism associate, said there were 36 salvations, 40 students recommitted their lives to Christ, 27 surrendered to vocational ministry, and 11 decided to be baptized.

All Jasso could do was watch as others responded. But in the video he told Lopez he felt ad by someone during the conference as he grabbed the front of Lopez’s shirt with both fists to illustrate. The two men prayed together.

“I left feeling amazed,” Jasso told Lopez in the video.

Wagoner said SBTC event staff also shared the gospel outside the event. In a post to SBTC staffers, Wagoner wrote, “God was at work everywhere including outside of the venue as we ministered to waitresses and clerks who were open to the gospel!”

Prior to the event people had been challenged to fast and pray 30 days leading up to the conference. Wagoner said the results were evident.

“It was an amazing Spirit-filled time as the harvest was plentiful,” he posted.