Crusade Connection Blog

It was a record-breaking night as we closed out the 20th Southern California Harvest!

A total of 50,000 people came out on Sunday, the largest crowd we’ve had at Angel Stadium since it was converted from football to baseball-only. Approximately 500 people were turned away when the gates were locked, though some were able to get in later.

The Katinas and Crystal Lewis opened the evening, and Chris Tomlin kicked things into a new gear with his worship music. Pastor Greg spoke on the topic of “Down-to-Earth Talk About Heaven.”

When the gospel invitation was given, 4,583 responded and came down to the field to make a profession of faith. What a tremendous response to the Good News of Jesus Christ!

To celebrate those new believers, and 20 years of Harvest Crusades, Chris Tomlin came back out for another set of worship, accompanied by a fireworks show!

Over the entire weekend, 126,000 people attended the Southern California Harvest, and 11,969 people came forward and either prayed to receive Christ or made a recommitment. We give God all the glory for what happened this weekend, and praise Him for what He has done in Southern California over the last 20 years through Harvest Crusades.

Seventeen-year-old Pierce came to the Southern California Harvest on Saturday with his friend Rachel, looking to fill the void in his life.

Growing up, Pierce was uprooted constantly because his parents moved often and eventually separated. He felt he did not belong anywhere, which led to a life of drugs and alcohol. His wealthy mom kicked him out of the house and he moved in with his broke father. Pierce had a hard time dealing with this adjustment in his life and soon gave up hope, feeling as if life was not worth living.

Pierce came to Angel Stadium not knowing what to expect. He had heard about Jesus, but did not know how to go about finding Him or any meaning in life. When Pastor Greg said, “The world is messed up. The only thing you can put your faith is in God,” it caught his attention. Those words pierced his heart and he knew the void could be filled by inviting Jesus into his life.

Peace and joy came upon Pierce after praying to receive Christ, and now he is looking forward to college and sharing the truth with other teenagers who may have lived under similar circumstances.

Stephanie met Mary three years ago at a church event. Mary counseled Stephanie and talked to her about Jesus and asked her if she was ready to make a commitment to Him. But Stephanie was going through a hard time and couldn’t let go of some things in her life.

Over the years, Mary ran into her in different places, but would always ask how she was doing. Saturday night at Angel Stadium, Mary ran into Stephanie again, only this time Stephanie had come down to the field to dedicate her life to Christ. What a lesson in God’s faithfulness and love.

They were all smiles Saturday night as Mary shared the awesome story with her dad, Pastor Steve Wilburn.

Chris Tomlin is easily one of the most popular worship leaders in Christian music today. We had a chance to talk with Chris earlier today and he shared how Calvary Chapel and the Jesus Movement played a part in shaping his music career.

My first exposure was just out of high school and going into college. I got these little tapes and CD recordings from a place called Choice Ministries that was in Texas, and the guy leading it was named Louie Giglio. They had taken some of the songs from Calvary Chapel, songs that had come out of the Jesus Movement and updated them.

That was really my first time I had been exposed to that type of music. I remember just devouring those tapes and I wanted to write songs like that.

It was years later that I met Louie, and we went into ministry together with Passion. It was incredible how God used that these songs coming out of this ministry in Texas that were actually influenced by the ministry out here with Calvary Chapel. It’s incredible how God just completes the circle like this.

There are few people as qualified as Crystal Lewis to comment on how much Harvest Crusades has changed over the years. But as she shared earlier today, the event she’s singing at tonight is very much similar to the one she sang at in 1990.

I don’t know that much has changed really. Greg keeps saying, “The message is the same,” and it’s true. There’s different bands, more current music maybe, from time to time, but for the most part it’s really amazing that the message of God is what it is and it keeps people coming back.

What a brilliant idea to take evangelism to a neutral location. It’s not a sneaky thing, but a reaching out thing. We’ll come out of our environment that might make you uncomfortable and let’s see where this goes. And obviously it’s worked very, very well.

Courtney invited Cheryl to come with her to the Southern California Harvest on Saturday, and they both tearfully responded to the invitation.

“I really needed this,” Courtney said. “And apparently so did she.”

Courtney wanted to come to the Southern California Harvest because even though she had been a believer for most of her life, she had been going through a lot of trials in the last year and had stumbled in her walk with God. When Pastor Greg mentioned Jesus writing in the sand instead of condemning the adulterous women, it hit home for her.

“It reminded me of all the sins I commit every single day,” Courtney said. “We’re so imperfect, and yet He is so full of mercy and love that He would eliminate all the sins from our lives and just love us for who we are.”

Cheryl became a Christian when she was 7, but hadn’t been going to church. Her faith was further shaken when her grandmother got sick and was on the verge of dying.

“I lost faith in God because she was supposed to die,” Cheryl said. “I just didn’t have the nerve to go back to church because I was so ashamed of myself for doubting Him.”

Let’s be praying that Courtney will be strengthened by Christ in her trials and trust God’s love for her. And pray that Cheryl will grow in her faith, knowing that God is there for her, even when she doubts.

After attending the Southern California Harvest on Friday night, Matthew and Diane returned Saturday because they loved the atmosphere. But when they heard Pastor Greg’s message, “The Writing Is On The Wall,” the words struck a chord in both of them and they each went forward to recommit their lives to Christ.

“You realize that everything [Pastor Greg] says is common sense,” said Matthew, who has been dating Diane for four years. “You realize, ‘Wow, it’s true,’ and then you wonder, ‘How can people not see the obvious things in life?’”

Matthew grew up in a Christian home, but the stresses of everyday life took their toll and his family’s relationship with God fell down the list of priorities. Diane said her family also believed in God, but never saw the need to attend church.

In addition to recommitting their lives, Matthew and Diane said they want to make sure that Christ is at the heart of their relationship.