By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer
DECATUR, Ala. – Phil Waldrep, a long-time evangelist who has offered the hope of the Gospel to thousands of the lost, has a message of hope for the faithful who are experiencing life crises as parents and grandparents with prodigal children or grandchildren.
“All is not lost,” Waldrep contends. He is the author of “Reaching Your Prodigal: What Did I Do Wrong? What Do I do Now?”
Moreover, Waldrep told the Baptist Message believers should be excited, regardless of the circumstances.
He said he will explain “why” to people at the Senior Adult Luncheon, Jan. 24, during the 2017 Louisiana Baptists Evangelism Conference (ECON) Jan. 23-24 at Temple Baptist Church in Ruston.
He also will speak during one of the sessions scheduled during the two-day evangelism training event.
“They will leave there with a skip in their step, knowing how vital they are and to be encouraged, not discouraged,” he said.
“I am more encouraged today than ever before,” Waldrep said. “I think we live in an unprecedented age that we can share the Gospel. More than any time in our history people are asking basic questions of “Why am I here?”, “Where do I come from?” and “Where am I going?
“As believers, we have the answers for these seekers,” he continued. “That’s the heart of evangelism.
“My goal is to assure Louisiana Baptists our best days are ahead,” he said. “We shouldn’t hang our heads but lift them – because the fields are white for the harvest.”
A native of Decatur, Ala., Waldrep began preaching at age 14. Six years later, in 1980, he and his wife, Debbie, started the Phil Waldrep Evangelistic Association.
He began preaching for revivals, many times before groups of only 10-50 people. Today, he organizes at least 20 pastor’s retreats and conferences every year, reaching nearly 100,000 people annually.
Waldrep and his wife also are involved with church planting in New England and recently were honored for their work with the Robert H. Brindle Award for Church Planting Excellence. The award is given by the Baptist Convention of New England for a person or church that represents commitment and dedication to multiplying new churches and extending the kingdom of God.
Last year, 450 pastors and spouses attended the Waldreps’ New England Pastor’s Encouragement Retreat.
“If there is one thing I want to do, I want to use whatever the platform the Lord gives me to focus the attention of people in areas where there is a need and I feel like I can make a difference,” he said.
Tickets for the Senior Adult Luncheon may be purchased for $12 by Jan. 16 at https://louisianabaptists.org/ECONLuncheon.
For more information about the 2017 Evangelism Conference, visit https://louisianabaptists.org/event/ECON2017.
