Welcome to the Central Valley Harvest Jam!!!! Sunkist Stadium in Visalia, CA is packed out! Contemporary Christian rock band "The Kry" is warming up the audience at this time. Jean Luc is introducing the band and giving glory to our Lord Jesus Christ for what they do. They are singing one of their popular hits, "Paradise."

The stadium lights are on now and people continue to stream into the already packed stadium. The audience of mostly teens is very responsive to this group as they clap along to "The Kry's" songs. Jean Luc shares some words with the crowd about how lost many kids are today in this crazy world Next sing "After All" followed by popular hit from the 70's, "Turn, Turn, Turn." Jean Luc asks everyone to stand to join in the song, "I believe it."

Pastor Ricky Ryan of Calvary Chapel Santa Barbara introduces Crystal Lewis. He says "She's Cute, she's powerful and she can rock!" Crystal starts with her hit, "God's Been Good to Me." Crystal was recently the 1998 "Dove Award" winner. She now sings "You'll Be Back for Me." Next she follows with "People Get Ready." Crystal shares some words with the crowd about her next song which talks about how we are filled with joy inexpressible when we know the Lord Jesus, and begins to sing "Lord I Believe in You."

Pastor Ricky Ryan shares about the offering for this crusade. He states that Pastor Greg Laurie receives no honorarium for these crusades and how every penny received from the sale of Harvest Crusade products goes directly to the ministry to help support these crusades. A pastor of a local church prays for the offering tonight.

Pastor Ricky Ryan now introduces Christian rock band, "Big Tent Revival" or commonly called, "BTR." They open with "Don't Let Me Down." Steve Wiggins, lead singer and lead guitar player introduces band members. He also introduces their next song, "Star in the Book of Life." Next the group sings their hit song, "What Would Jesus Do?" "Big Tent" finishes their set with final song "Best Thing in Life."

Pastor Greg Laurie announces that tonight's crowd is the largest in the history of Sunkist Stadium. He announces that there are two more nights of the Harvest Crusade, Sunday and Monday nights. Tomorrow night's message will answer questions such as "Why does God allow evil?" and "How can a God of love send someone to hell?" Tonight's message is called "A 2nd Chance in Life." He talks about improper concepts that we might have of God. Some envision God as an angry, hostile, uptight, supreme being who is constantly in a bad mood... Others envision Him as a sort of being, "Teddy-bear" up in heaven that really doesn't care about what you say or do. Jesus portrays God as a loving heavenly Father, who deeply loves us and desperately misses us when we sin or go astray. This story is called "The Parable of the Prodigal Son." Pastor Greg reads the story from the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 17. Pastor Greg shares statistics about the total number of children living in fatherless homes. Pastor Greg shares about his own childhood, coming from a fatherless home, his mother having been married seven times. Pastor Greg shares how the heart is deceitfully wicked, it's a heart problem we have. That is why it is almost laughable when people say "The answer is within..." The Bible teaches that "The problem is within..."He shares about his own high school days when Christians weren't ashamed to carry their Bibles and share God's love with others. He talks about how he was curious about why they were so happy all the time and he began to listen to what they were saying. He said that the speaker was saying "You are either for Jesus or against Him." Greg realized he didn't want to be against Jesus, so he went forward and made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ. He says how nothing will fill the void in your life without God. Greg speaks of the "prodigal sons and daughters" out in the crowd who need to come home to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He shares how the "prodigal" in the Bible comes home to his father and his father throws a party! That's how Jesus feels when His prodigals return to Him!"

Greg says "Don't settle for cheap substitutes!

#1 The world offers you friends - most of them stab you in the back, and tear you down or betray you. God offers you a new family, called the Church, brothers and sisters in God's family who really do care about you...

#2 The world offers lust...people hop from bed to bed looking for love. God offers true love, in a committed relationship with someone you love, and who loves you.

#3 The world offers a fleeting happiness that comes and goes. It is happiness that is dependent on one's circumstances. God offers a joy and happiness inside of your heart regardless of circumstances.

#4 The world says "Take drugs, get drunk, party, that's were it's at!" - God says "Don't be drunk with wine, but be filled with the Spirit!"

#5 The world offers pleasures that are passing and temporal. They leave people guilty and destroyed - the Bible says "In His presence is fullness of joy, and on his right hand pleasures forevermore."

In the story of the prodigal, the Father runs to His boy and Kisses Him! God receives us as we are! Notice how the Father blotted out the past. He ran to embrace the son as if nothing had happened. He commanded that this son's rags be stripped off! He removed every reminder of his past. God will do that for you. "Their sins and iniquities I will remember no more.."

Greg completes his message by praying for those in the crowd who have never committed their lives to Christ to come forward now to make a first time commitment or a re-commitment to Christ.

Hundreds of people have streamed onto the field now to pray with Pastor Greg to receive Christ. Crystal is singing "Come Just as You Are." Pastor Greg urges others in the crowd who have not come forward to come now, and receive God's forgiveness.

You at home or wherever you are can make this commitment too. Just pray a prayer asking for Jesus' forgiveness and invite Him into your heart. He will do it! Just e-mail us at www.harvest.org by clicking on the "e-mail" button and we will send you a "New Believer's New Testament."

Pastor Greg prays, "God I am sorry for my sin. I want to follow You as Your disciple, as your friend and as Your child. Thank you for coming into my life and help me to follow You!"

Welcome to the Family of God!!!