West CENLA GO TELL Crusade yields 527 spiritual decisions

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer

LEESVILLE, La. (LBM) – A small town crusade yielded big time results for Christ during the West CENLA GO TELL AMERICA Crusade, April 12-15.

By the end of the four-day spiritual encounter, 527 persons had made decisions for Christ, including 279 individ­uals stepping forward to accept Christ, 151 seeking restoration with the Lord, 35 seeking God’s will and two expressing a call to ministry, according to Chris Palmer, GO TELL director of ministry out­reach. 

Other commitments were made away from the four-night services but were part of the GO TELL strategy. They included:

-13 at a pre-crusade rally at Family Training Christian Academy, Leesville, March 28;

-10 during morning services at First Baptist Church, Anacoco, and five at Good Hope Baptist Church, Anacoco, April 12;

-100 at men’s and women’s detention centers in Vernon Parish, April 13-14; and

-50 at Family Training Christian Academy, April 14.

“The fruit that we witnessed is the result of the strong leadership and the preparation of all the hundreds of volunteers,” Evangelist Rick Gage, founder of GO TELL Min­istries in Duluth, Georgia, told the Baptist Message. “It was a work of God. We had been praying and working toward this effort for over a year. 

“What took place this week in Vernon Parish is the heartbeat of God,” he continued. “We believe there is nothing more dear to God’s heart than the salvation of sinners.”

The crusade fea­tured Gospel messages by Gage and two other evangelists, Ken Freeman and Tony Nolan. Additionally, testimonies were shared by Pro Football Hall of Famer Kevin Mawae (a Leesville native); Fort Polk Post Command Sgt. Major Oracio Pena, USA; Lt. Gen. Jerry Boykin USA (Ret.), a former member of the U.S. Army Special Forces Command; and Louisiana Christian University President Mark Johnson. Meanwhile, award-winning Christian band Rush of Fools shared about Christ through music.

As part of the outreach effort, Freeman presented a character development program, “On Track,” in 13 local schools while Palmer spoke in two schools, reaching 4,000 students, combined.

PREPARED

More than 500 people were trained to serve as cru­sade ushers, and decision and follow-up counselors. Organizers also recruited 130 prayer warriors who gathered for five months before the crusade inside homes, churches and on the football field.

“It was neat to see how they were devoted and how they remain motivated to keep seeking the Lord,” said Chad King, GO TELL Crusade coordinator and pastor with First Baptist Church, Anacoco. “One of the primary reasons this campaign was so successful is because so many people were praying.”

King said that God moved “mightily” among the 52 churches that included Louisiana Baptist, Independent Baptist, Assembly of God, Pentecostal and non-denominational congregations.

“There was no doubt God was stirring in the hearts and lives of people,” he said. “And while we had so many who were saved, the crusade wasn’t just evangelistic. We saw lives changed of people that have been involved in church and church ministry for a long time and yet allowed things from the past to interfere with their relationship with God. By the end of the week, they saw that restored.

“It was good to see that Christ followers were willing to work together and serve together and not be in a competition with each other,” King added. “This was just a wonderful week that was prepared, organized, and, no doubt, just bathed in prayer for weeks and weeks before the event.”

CHANGED

Among the many “God moments” King witnessed throughout the week was when a trustee with the Vernon Parish Jail became a Christ follower while setting up the crusade stage on April 11. After the crusade team had a time of prayer on the football field, a trustee began asking questions about why they prayed and the purpose of the event. Moments later, the trustee placed his faith in Christ and has asked to be baptized soon.

Other special moments included a man, whom his church had prayed for during the last 25 years, who came to Christ during the Monday evening session; and a family of eight in King’s church all accepted Christ during the final session.

“There are so many stories of how God moved,” King said. “We are thankful for what God did in so many lives and what He will do through this.”

For Dale Albritton, a deacon with Simpson Baptist Church, the highlight was when his friend, Jeff, accepted Christ during the Monday evening session. He said it is a reminder that a person should never give up that his or her friend will come to faith in Jesus.

“We have worked many together many years and to witness him humbly go forward and recognize a need of what has been missing in his life was a blessing,” Albritton said. “If you know a person who needs Jesus in their life, don’t stop praying for them and keep spreading the seed. It may not be meant for you to lead that person to Christ but God will give the increase at the right time.”

Wade Harris, pastor with Toledo Bend First Baptist Church, left encouraged after providing spiritual counsel to several students who came forward to make decisions for Christ.

“I was excited for them to make the decision to accept Jesus as their Savior at a young age,” he said. “I believe that children and young people coming to Christ at an early age will help our country turn back to God and again be the light in a darkened world.

“Their salvation will help them as they face temptation and peer pressure in school and early adulthood,” he continued. “With these young people’s salvation, America can see revival through godly young men and women taking a stand for what is right.”

The crusade brought back memories for Darin Worthington, pastor with First Baptist Church, Leesville, of one he attended as a student in Virginia in 1988. As he surveyed Leesville High’s Wampus Cat Stadium, Worthington was overcome with joy about the multitudes of new believers standing together.

“It brought tears to my eyes,” he said. “This is the most full I have seen our football stadium in Leesville during the four years I have been pastor in this community. As a community, this crusade really brought us together and we had no agenda except to see people come to Christ. I’m excited about what God is going to do in the future.”