Mass Evangelism with Greg Laurie to Hit Calif.

By Lillian Kwon, Christian Post Reporter Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Evangelist Greg Laurie brings his renowned Harvest Crusade to Southern California this weekend. And after 18 straight years of soaking in So Cal sun, Laurie has shown that the days of mass evangelistic crusading are far from over.

"I try to do what I can to engage the people I'm speaking to," said Laurie. "I have a few moments with them (people who have never attended church). This may never happen again where they'll actually sit down and listen."

Although Laurie typically preaches to tens of thousands of people at a time, many testify that his down-to-earth messages about sin and salvation through Jesus Christ make it seem like the evangelist is speaking directly at the individual.

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Some critics question the effectiveness of mass evangelism, but Pastor John Collins, director of the Harvest Crusades, says one shouldn't "discount the primary method the Bible teaches and that the church has used throughout the ages - preaching!"

Responding to doubts that loom over the long-term effects of the thousands who step out of their seats and into the family of God as they accept Jesus Christ into their lives, Collins said, "In the 18 years of the Harvest Crusades, I can point to dozens of men and women who have come back to us to say they are now serving in the church as pastors and missionaries."

Moreover, there are numerous people who are now active in the church or who hold leadership positions after having been saved at Billy Graham crusades some 50 years ago, Collins further pointed out.

But even without those tangible conversions, Collins showed no indication of the Harvest Crusades stopping its mission.

"Are we, or are we not, commanded to 'proclaim' and 'herald' the good news of Christ?" he posed.

Laurie continues his mission at Angel Stadium Aug. 3-5 with top Christian artists, including David Crowder Band, P.O.D., and tobyMac, and the message of Jesus Christ. And he's joined by the newly added SWAT (Students With A Testimony)-G3 team in which youth groups are trained in street evangelism. More than 70 teams from 12 different churches received training weeks ahead of the Anaheim event to share the gospel message with Southern California residents.

Last mont, Laurie kicked off his 2007 Harvest Crusades in Raleigh, N.C., with more than 41,000 people.

Harvest Crusades can be viewed live at www.harvest.org.