The Crowd gathers

7:25 - Welcome to the opening night of the Second Annual Greater Philadelphia Harvest Crusade at the First Union Spectrum!

Sing Praises to the Lord!

7:30 - Tommy Walker and The Harvest Crusade Band open with "His Love Endures Forever" followed by "No Greater Love."

7:48 - Tommy and the band are now singing "I Could Sing of His Love Forever."

7:55 - Bob Shank welcomes the crowd and introduces Dennis Agajanian as the "fastest flat-picking guitarist in the world!" Dennis sings and plays "One Day at a Time." Dennis follows and closes with "Truth is Truth."

8:09 - Video showing past crusade statistics was viewed on screens. Bob Shank prays for tonight's offering. Greg Laurie receives no honorarium from Harvest Crusades. These events are paid for by donations from the churches involved and supporting businesses, the sale of crusade products, and the offerings taken at Harvest Crusades.

8:17 - Bob Shank introduces Big Tent Revival. They open with "Star In The Book." They follow with their big hit, "What Would Jesus Do?" The group closes with another favorite, "Best Thing in Life." They encourage the crowd to sing along with them and the crowd is eager to respond, singing the background.

8:29 - Video is shown of previous "Harvest Jam" which took place earlier this year in Anaheim, CA. Bob Shank encourages crowd to come back tomorrow and Saturday nights for the "Harvest Jam" here at The Spectrum in Philadelphia!"

8:34 - Bob Shank asks the crowd to remain in their seats as Dennis Agajanian sings a final song to prepare the audience for Pastor Greg's message.

The gospel is preached

8:39 - Pastor Greg approaches the platform and welcomes the crowd. He shares a few words about his message title for tomorrow night's crusade. The title will be "Why People Don't Come to Christ."

8:42 - Tonight's message is titled "A 2nd Chance in Life." The text is from the gospel of John 3:1-16, the story of Nicodemus. Pastor Greg reads the text of the story. He shares how maybe you have reached many of the goals in your life, but you still just don't find happiness. Nicodemus had everything in life and yet something was missing. Pastor Greg says in many ways we are a lot like Nicodemus. So many people that we look up to end up feeling empty too. Pastor Greg quotes Cher (of growing older)"I hate my 50's, they suck. I never felt older until I hit 50."Here is this woman who has experienced incredible success, and yet she is miserable.

8:53 - In answer to the question, "What is Happiness?" people responded with the following answers: "More ready cash" "A private island" "A bunch of women" "Winning the lottery" One lottery winner was asked, "Can money buy you happiness?" She said, "Of course not. but it can buy you a therapist. You go out and say 'That's what I want, I'll buy it.' But the emptiness comes back. Then what?"

8:58 - Nicodemus was a wealthy man, but something was still missing. He also was a very devout and religious man. He was well known, highly educated, but he was empty and hungry for true spiritual life.

Does that describe you right now?

Pastor Greg shares that the Bible says the very hairs of your head are numbered. He knows everything about you, and in spite of your shortcomings He loves you anyway. He died for you! Would you die for a friend or relative? Would you die for someone who robbed you or tried to kill you? The Bible says that while we were yet sinners, He died for us because He loved us and He loves us! Do you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that if you died right now that you would go to heaven? Pastor Greg share that he knows that if he died right now that he would go to heaven and you can know that you have eternal life tonight too. You might say, "Well, you don't know what I've done!" No, but I know that God knows, and that He wants to forgive you of every sin that you've committed. You can confess your sin tonight and ask Jesus to come into your life." All He asks is that you open the door of your heart and let Him in.

The same God who spoke to Nicodemus is speaking to you tonight. Ask yourself the question, "Do I really know God?" Can you say that? If not, respond and you can know that your sin is forgiven--that your name is written in the book of life just like Big Tent Revival sang about tonight.

Pastor Greg is inviting anyone who wants to come down on the floor of the stadium to openly acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior. He says it's important to make a public commitment. To know that the void in your life has been filled, if you want your sin forgiven, come forward now.

As many people respond to Pastor Greg's message, you too can respond. You can make the same decision to receive Christ right now. The band is singing "Come Just As You Are" as people pour onto the ground level to receive the Lord.

In a few moments Pastor Greg is going to pray with those who come forward. He tells the crowd not to put off making this decision for even one more day. "Today is the day of salvation. Tonight is the night. God is speaking to your heart tonight." He encourages anyone else to come. The band continues to sing "Come Just As You Are" as hundreds of people--young and old alike--come forward.

Pastor Greg tells the people that as they come to Jesus, to realize that He knows them already. He won't turn anyone away. He tells us that we must come on Jesus' terms. What terms? Admit you are a sinner. Know that He will forgive you. He prays with the crowd "God I'm sorry for my sin, but I thank you for sending Jesus, the Son of God, to die on the cross and for shedding His blood for every sin I've committed. Come into my heart. Be my savior, be my Lord, be my friend. Help me to be your child from this night forward. Thank you for accepting me. Thank you for forgiving me. Thank you that I am your child, and I am going to heaven. Amen!"

The room is filled with applause as Greg welcomes these new believers into the family of God. Greg explains that there are people with New Believer's Growth Books nearby to speak with the people who have come forward. If you have made this decision to follow Jesus, please let us know by pressing the feedback button and we will be happy to send you the same material that each new believer has received here tonight.

9:30 -Please join us again tomorrow night for the Harvest Jam when Greg's musical guests will be Big Tent Revival, The Kry, Jennifer Knapp and K2S. Good night and God bless you!

The work of the Holy Spirit