Phil Wickham: Greg Laurie and Harvest Crusades Have Shaped the Culture in America
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Worship artist Phil Wickham believes Greg Laurie and the Harvest Crusades have altered the spiritual landscape of the United States and that God is reminding the Church of His fatherly love in this season.
"I think the Harvest Crusades have been a massive part of shaping the culture of Southern California," Wickham said in an interview with The Christian Post just before taking the stage on Sunday to perform at the 27th SoCal Harvest Crusade at Angel Stadium before 36,000 people.
"Without the vision of them, and the implementation of them, there would be a different spiritual environment. I'm so thankful for Greg and his commitment to the Gospel and his commitment to keeping it simple, preaching Jesus to the lost," he continued.
Wickham, 32, a native of San Diego, grew up coming to Harvest Crusades — his parents were worship leaders at the first one.
As for the spiritual climate today, he said, "I think everybody feels it, that [the nation] is in a different place than we've ever been before. And I think people are searching for hope. You're going to see events like this and Greg explode more and more with people looking for something that's bigger than a government to help, or bigger than money. And I'm excited to be a small part of what God is doing at Harvest."
Since Wickham is a prolific songwriter, CP asked how he sees worship anthems' influence the future life of the Church.
"I feel like across the board that every five years themes that happen in worship songs that you know were all kind of written at the same time, and I think it's because it's something for the Church today," Wickham said.
"Right now, I really feel like there's a lot of songs that are speaking about God as a Father, songs that are reminding the Church that we are His children — and all of that means there is no reason to fear, no reason to be ashamed. There is reason to love and be accepted and to accept others. And that's a beautiful theme that's happening now."
"I love seeing how it's almost like no one even knows about it. But everybody writes the same type of song and they all come about in the next year and-a-half, and all of a sudden the Church is reminded about some beautiful truth about who they are and who God is," Wickham added.
Phil Wickham's latest album is called Children of God and will be leading worship at the Harvest Crusade in Duluth, Georgia, from alongside Lecrae, Third Day and Chris Tomlin, on Sept. 23-25.
