By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer
TALLULAH – World-renowned professional fisherman Hank Parker helped reel in 10 lost souls for Christ during a one-night Harvest Night at First Baptist Church in Tallulah.
Nearly 200 attended the evangelistic outreach May 9 to hear Parker share about the outdoors and the Gospel. Jason McGuffie, pastor of First Baptist Tallulah, said people attended from as far away as Monroe and Vicksburg, Mississippi.
“We desired for the Gospel to be proclaimed and the Lord to be glorified,” McGuffie said. “Hank shared about outdoor things, and then tied it in so well to how God moved in his life. He spoke from a perspective that we could all relate to about brokenness and imperfection. Hank simply preached the Gospel and God blessed the evening. Lives were changed and we in Madison Parish are grateful.”
Madison Baptist Association Director of Missions Jay Morgan is excited about the seeds planted among the crowd, including a large segment of men who attended.
“I’m hoping the men who came will apply what they learned and it will have a far reaching impact among males from all across the association and beyond,” Morgan said. “God used Hank Parker in a powerful way to bring people in who normally wouldn’t come to some of the traditional big church events.
“When we saw those 10 people indicate at the end of Hank Parker’s message they wanted Christ it made all the preparation we did worth it,” he continued. “We give God all the glory.”
The revival was among a growing number held so far this year as part of the statewide Harvest campaign to “pray for every home and share with every person” in Louisiana.
Nearly 900 of 1,650 Louisiana Baptist churches have signed up to participate in concentrated prayer and soul-winning activities such as multi-church crusades, door-to-door outreach, one-on-one evangelism, single-church revivals and other activities which leverage compassion ministries to share about the love of Christ.
PRAYER FOCUS
Prayer was a major focus in preparing for the revival. The association’s pastors met for focused times of prayer for three months leading up to the event. McGuffie also distributed fliers to the association’s seven churches, along with the neighboring Bayou Macon Baptist Association and churches in Vicksburg.
“Prayer is the most important preparation we did,” Morgan said. “Before we do anything, we have to first invite God to lead us in it and make things happen. We have to enlist the help of God or else our efforts would be in vain.
“It’s always an encouragement to see the churches work together on any type of project, but especially an evangelistic one,” he continued. “And to see souls saved gets anyone excited.”
Hulon Martin, a member of First Baptist Tallulah, brought his children to hear Parker. He said the message planted Gospel seeds in many there.
“I think the way he shared the Word made a difference in our community,” Martin said. “He showed us despite his mistakes and faults, God saved him. I have young kids, so it reminded me to be focused and keep my eyes on the things of Christ.”
