By Victor Villavieja
PINEVILLE (LBM) – D.A. Horton, pastor of Reach Fellowship in North Long Beach, Calif., led Louisiana College’s revival March 6-8, urging students to find their identity in Christ.
Horton, Chief Evangelist for the Urban Youth Workers Institute, warned that searching elsewhere will lead to a dissatisfying life.
“This new generation of believers struggles with the issue of identity. They are trying to find themselves, and they are trying to find who they are, and sometimes they root their identity in their experience and in their preferences,” Horton explained.
“I help them understand that their identity can be found in the finished work of Jesus,” he continued. “It allows them to live out[side] this cloud of uncertainty.”
Horton underscored that “Jesus meets us wherever we are,” contrasting that biblical truth with the endless search people make in trying to find themselves in possessions, or status, or accomplishments.
The three services, held at the Martin Performing Arts Center, were based on different focal passages, but each emphasized God’s immeasurable capacity to forgive and wash away the human sin.
“You can never ‘out-sin’ the bloodshed of Jesus Christ,” said Louisiana College freshman Maddie Starns. “We really need to focus on that in this generation. If you are a true Christian, show that to other people. Lead with your example. Today, the Holy Spirit definitely moved people, and I believe that their lives are going to be different from now on.”
Horton used Matthew 5:8-12 to expose the hypocrisy in trying to “play the part” of a Christian without actually being pure of heart.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven,” he recited.
“Pride takes its best pose as humility. Pride is false humility manifested through a life of someone who doesn’t know God, and then tries to play the role of someone who is meek,” Horton stated on Wednesday’s gathering. “Meekness doesn’t naturally come from your flesh. The source of meekness is God.”
LC freshman Aaron Howe told the Baptist Message the three-day event helped refresh his personal relationship with Christ.
“This whole revival has been a blessing to me. D.A. Horton relays the Gospel in a way we can understand it better. As Christians we don’t need to hide our sins from God, we need to be honest. There is this reliance with God that we have to make sure we express every time we come in contact with Him. This revival has taught me that I have to show people that I am relying on God, not just in myself.”
Louisiana College Voices opened the last service with the songs “What A Beautiful Name” and “In Christ Alone.”
In the final service Horton was somewhat critical of patriotism, relating his belief that Christianity wrapped in patriotism sometimes leads to segregation and racism dressed up as religion.
“Christianity wasn’t born in America. Christianity wasn’t born in 1776,” Horton declared.
Horton praised an international faith, a religion that does not know races, ethnicities, or social status, pointing out how difficult is to be a Christian in certain countries, citing in particular the persecution many face around the world because of their faith – even to the point of death.
Horton closed the 2018 Louisiana College revival by urging students to live for those brothers and sisters in need as a way of honoring their Lord and Savior.
Senior Ace Sylvester, once a missionary in Ecuador, believes the three-day revival will lead many students to do just that.
“I felt like God has been moving a lot of student’s hearts. I know people’s lives are going to change, and hopefully, many more will be dedicated to helping others,” Sylvester said.
