Submitted by philip on
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer
HAUGHTON – Rock wall climbing, free chicken fingers, festive music, a classic car show, demonstrations by a professional fisherman and giant inflatables recently provided the backdrop for a perfect witnessing opportunity on Haughton High School’s football field.
Thousands from Haughton and other nearby communities came together for a block party on a sunny spring May Saturday.
The family fun day was more than just an opportunity to enjoy free games, food and entertainment. For four days in Haughton, thousands turned out for a ladies night, youth night, men’s beast feast and a community-wide celebration service – all which were designed to point some to a first-time relationship with Christ. The Haughton Adventure Weekend included giveaways such as a new car, gift cards and an RV.
Among those appearing at the events were Jay Lowder, evangelist and founder of Jay Lowder Harvest Ministries; Willie Robertson of A&E’s Duck Dynasty show; Jason Crabb, a Dove Award and Grammy Award-winning singer; Jimmy Houston, a member of the Professional Bass Fishing Hall of Fame and host of a No. 1 rated outdoors show on ESPN; Hank Hough, founder of Kingdom Dog Ministries; and LaDonna Gatlin, a national speaker and author.
Leading up to the Haughton Adventure Weekend, two program personalities appeared together at area schools. Lowder talked about typical teen stresses and Hough performed a generic dog obedience show. The in-school messages were secular in order to spread the word about the other faith-based events throughout the weekend.
By the end of the weekend, 321 accepted Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. The most on any given night was during the youth night on Thursday, May 1, with 180. Other events on the weekend recording decisions was the closing celebration rally on Sunday, May 4, which featured Robertson, with 73; a dog show during the family fun day, with 36; a men’s night on Saturday night, May 3 with 21; and a women’s event on Friday, May 2, with 11.
Organizers spent nearly a year planning the Haughton Adventure Weekend. The event was a vision of First Baptist Haughton, Eastwood Baptist Haughton and Central Assembly of God in Haughton, along with three area businessmen, to bring family-friendly, faith-based event to the community.
Greg Tilley, one of three businessmen who had the vision for the event, said he could hardly hold back his emotions when his saw students heading toward a stage during a decision time during the youth night. He said the decisions made during the weekend made the hard work and money spent leading up the event worthwhile.
“A community event such as this is a great way to reach people for Christ that the local church may not reach,” Tilley said. “It is also a great clean, community event to bring everyone together as a community. The morals of America are deteriorating and people need the Lord.”
Lowder, an evangelist who speaks at events such as the Haughton Adventure Weekend, said the event was a way to bring people hope.
“Just look at what’s going on in the nation,” Lowder said. “Everywhere you run it’s bad news.
“It doesn’t matter if you live in New York City or Shreveport, we are facing the same problems,” he said. “People are looking for hope.”
Lowder said the entire weekend was a chance for people and churches of different denominations to unite and put on an event that exposed some to the gospel who may never come to a church service.
“It was about community,” he said. “This brought churches of different denominations under one banner and brought the community together to give hope.
“At the end of day, it’s about bringing the gospel on neutral ground,” he continued. “Some people such as the men who attended the beast feast may never darken the door of a church. This weekend allowed a chance to break down barriers.”
Thomas Worsham, a long-time resident of the area and a youth minister at First Baptist Minden, said he was impressed with how the entire community came together for one cause.
“It wasn’t about one or two churches but about Jesus,” said Worsham, who brought 20 of his students to the Thursday evening youth event. “That was very evident with the organization of the event and the people that got saved.
“My youth thought it was cool to get together with other students from our area and be reminded that they weren’t alone in their stand for Christ here,” he continued. “This event was about Jesus. It was a true sense of community.”