By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer
NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – A weekend of block parties, door-to-door witnessing, prayer walks, compassion projects and other evangelistic efforts produced a spiritual harvest of 336 known decisions for Christ, June 9-10.
During the North American Mission Board report, June 13, Southern Baptist Convention messengers were told that 84 Crossover and Serve Tour events across Houma, New Orleans and the Northshore had 1,300 volunteers from 21 states. Furthermore, the events drew 12,180 individuals and resulted in 3,487 Gospel conversations.
Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn (joined on stage by Serve Tour Coordinator Alex Brian, Crossover Coordinator Jacob Crawford, New Orleans Baptist Association Executive Director Jack Hunter, Northshore Association Missions Strategist Don Pucik, Bayou Baptist Association Director of Missions Joe Arnold, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Professor Preston Nix, Louisiana Baptist Evangelism and Church Growth Team Director Keith Manuel and NAMB Send Relief and Send Tour National Project Director Sammy Simmons) said he was thankful for those who helped during Crossover and Serve Tour.
“What a blessing this year has been for us to prepare for you all to come to Louisiana,” Horn said. “I stand before you today, grateful for those that stand behind us who really shouldered the work. When we first learned that we were going to be host, my mind immediately went to the weekend before the convention. And to think of Jesus’ words that the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few, and then He tells us therefore pray to the Lord of the harvest, that He may send the workers. And I began to immediately think at least for a weekend we were going to have more workers for this harvest field.”
Among the captivating Gospel conversations teams encountered on the field was a young mother who yelled out to a team “I need to be saved.” Moments later, team members led the woman to a decision for Christ.
“Stories like that happened all over the city all week long and we praise the Lord for it,” North American Mission Board Vice President of Evangelism Tim Dowdy said.
Dowdy encouraged messengers to be diligent and focused about sharing the Gospel.
“We desire to inspire and prepare our family of churches to share the Gospel everywhere with everyone until the whole world hears,” Dowdy said. “The Great Commission is at the heartbeat of all that we do.”
