The Denham Springs High School football stadium recently became a house of God during the Livingston Parish GO TELL AMERICA Crusade.
By the end of the four-day spiritual encounter (March 16–19), including all related outside events, 1,316 persons had made decisions for Christ, with 602 individuals stepping forward to accept Christ, according to Chris Palmer, GO TELL director of ministry outreach.
Evangelist Rick Gage, founder of GO TELL Ministries in Duluth, Georgia, shared that more than a year ago his team met with pastors and other leaders to plan a crusade that would help reach a parish that Eastern Louisiana Baptist Association leaders believe is 80–90% unchurched. Over the next year, this group prayed and prepared with anticipation of a mighty harvest.
‘Great move of God’
“It’s just been a great move of God, and it’s an area that was ripe for a harvest,” Gage told the Baptist Message. “We’re seeing pockets of revival across the nation and a great move of God among the younger generation.
“And as you study the moves of God and the revivals of the past, you learn that many of those great moves of God started with young people. Wasn’t it two and a half years ago at Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky, that revival started with a bunch of teenagers? So, we give God the glory for all that He’s doing.”
The crusade also featured Garrett Nussmeier, starting LSU quarterback; Adrian Despres, former University of South Carolina football team chaplain and current speaker with Forge Ministries in Denver, Colorado; Al Robertson, the oldest son of Duck Dynasty’s Phil and Kay Robertson; and Ken Freeman, founder of Ken Freeman Ministries in San Antonio, Texas, who brought Gospel messages. Meanwhile, award-winning Christian band Rush of Fools shared about Christ through music.
Additionally, Gage and Freeman presented a character development program, “On Track,” in 11 local schools and an estimated 8,000 students.
Prepared
Nearly 500 people were trained to serve as crusade ushers, decision and follow-up counselors and 500 prayer warriors also were recruited.
Organizers also held several events to pray, plan and reach the youth. Among those was a youth rally, Feb. 19, attended by almost 700 students hosted by First Baptist Church, Denham Springs. By the end of the rally, 60 students came forward and professed their faith in Christ and another 10 made other spiritual commitments.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Brian Blackwell and originally published by the Baptist Message.
