Live at L.P. Frans Stadium
Hickory, NC.
Friday, October 1st, 1999

The Crowd gathers

6:45 - Welcome to the 1999 Western North Carolina Harvest Crusade! Tonight is opening night and L.P. Frans Stadium is beginning to fill wih people.

7:02 - Tonight's musical line-up includes the Harvest Crusade Band, Crystal Lewis with her band and Paul Overstreet.

7:05 - It looks like the stadium tonight will be filled to capacity. It is a beautiful warm night in Western North Carolina.

7:15 - The crusade is about 7-8 minutes from kicking off!

Sing Praises to the Lord!

7:25 - The Harvest Crusade Band is on the platform now and warming up, ready to open tonight's crusade in worship. Hanz Ives, leader of the Harvest Crusade Band, opens with "Let It Rise." The crowd stands to their feet and joins along. They follow with "Our God is Great!" This is an enthusiastic crowd, eager and waiting to see what the Lord will do here tonight! They follow with "Rock of Ages."

7:40 - The Crusade Band closes with beautifu old hymn "Crown Him Lord of Lord of All.

7:45 - Bob Shank from The Harvest Crusade Board of Directors, hosts this evening's crusade. Pastor Steve Disher from St. Paul's United Church of Christ opens this evening in prayer.

7:50 - Bob Shank introduces Paul Overstreet. The crowd gives him a warm welcome. He opens with "Gotta Tell Everybody." Paul Overstreet follows with "One Day..." He closes with I'm Gonna Love You Forever and Ever" and "God is Good."

8:07 - Bob Shank welcomes the crowd in the overflow area and also on the hillside watching. He shares about the offering that is about to be taken tonight. He share that Greg Laurie receives no honorarium from Harvest Crusades, and that all of the proceeds from tonight's offering help to offset the cost of these crusades. Bob Shank prays for tonight's offering.

8:15 - Nascar race driver Dale Jarrett is introduced. Before he approaches the platform, a video is shown, showing some of his racing accomplishments. The audience here seems to know him well. He shares that a newspaper reporter asked him recently asked him why he continues to live in Hickory, N.C. He tells the crowd that "Because of all of you here, that's why I continue to live here!" He shares that he grew up in a Christian home, but he was doing things his own way, without the Lord being first in his life. He shares that one night he got a call from Coach Joe Gibbs, who asked him to join a race car club. He was asked if he were a Christian and he said "Yes, I believe in God." But the Lord spoke to his heart and impressed upon him the need to have a deeper and closer walk with God. He shares that he no longer works for Joe Gibbs, but that this was a real turning point in his life. He encourages the crowd here tonight to listen to the message and consider the importance of allowing Christ to do a work in their lives." He shares that you can never out give God. He will always give you more and more and more!

8:30 - Bob Shank introduces Crystal Lewis to share in music - Before Crystal comes to the platform, Bob asks the audience to prepare themselves for the message to be shared by Greg Laurie tonight.

8:35 - Crystal Lewis and her band are on the platform and she opens with "Lean On Me." Crystal shares that she had the opportunity to sing that previous song on the Grammy Awards and what an awesome opportunity that was...to sing those words in an environment like that! She follows with "Lord, I Believe in You."

8:50 - Greg Laurie comes to the platform. His message tonight is titled "A 2nd Chance in Life.

Greg shares from the New Testament story from the gospel of Luke Chapter 15:11-32. He shares that Jesus gives us a "snapshot of God, if you will." He says that he will share about the story of the prodigal sons, not "son, but sons"..He shares that we are always looking for other ways to be happy..."The grass is always greener." Maybe if I had this or that, I would be happy. If I could win the lottery, then I would be happy. We are always looking to the wrong things for happiness and fulfillment. That is what the prodigal was doing. He was separated from his father and family. The prodigal had all of this money, but as soon as the money ran out, so did his friends!! That's often what friends do. Pastor Greg shares that possibly that has happened to you, too. Maybe you have recently "hit bottom" too. Maybe you feel that there are too many hypocrites in the church! Pastor Greg shares that there is no "hypocrite-free" church and if you find one, don't join it, you might spoil it!

Pastor Greg shares that we shouldn't settle for this world's cheap imitatations! He shares that the world offers a fleeting happiness that comes and goes, it's happiness that is dependent on one's circumstances. God offers a joy and happiness inside of your heart regardless of circumstances.

Pastor Greg says that to get right with God, you need to utter 3 difficult words: "I have sinned." God cannot forgive the sin we will not confess: And how does the Father react to his returning prodigal? The Father runs to His boy and kisses him!" He shares that God receives us as we are!" You might say "I need to 'Clean my life up' and come to God!" Pastor Greg says "No, you need to come to God and He will clean your life up." Pastor Greg says that he mentioned in the beginning of this message that it was the story of "The Prodigal SONS." The other Prodigal in this story is the older brother. The problem with this older brother was though he had never left the father's house physically, his heart just wasn't in the right place! He was self-righteous! Pastor Greg shares that his descendants are with us today - the self-righteous. They are sure everyone else is wrong and they alone are right! They can talk loudly about the sin of others, but they are blind to their own sins.

Pastor Greg shares the words from an engraving from the cathedral of Lubeck, Germany, which beautifully reflect our Lord's teaching: Thus speaketh Christ our Lord to us, You call Me master and obey Me not, You call Me light and see Me not, you call Me the way and walk Me not, You call Me Life and live Me not, you call Me wise and follow Me not, You call Me fair and love Me not, you cal lMe rich and ask Me not, You call Me eternal and seek Me not, if I condemn thee, blame Me not.

Pastor Greg shares that it's time to come to God or back to the God who loves you. He misses you. Every day that you put this off your heart can grow a bit harder. Pastor Greg says that it's time to admit that you are a sinner and that you need Christ's forgiveness.

Pastor Greg prays for the crowd and asks those who would like to commit their lives to Jesus Christ tonight, to make their way down to the outfield and make that first time commitment or recommitment to Christ. Hundreds of people stream onto the field to register a decision to follow Christ.

Pastor Greg prays with the new believers on the field. If you would like to receive Christ, we will be happy to send you the same New Believer's New Testament that is being given to those on the field tonight. Simply press the "feedback" button and let us know that you have made a decision for Christ.

Please join us tomorrow night for the "Harvest Jam" featuring Jennifer Knapp, Audio Adrenaline and Big Tent Revival. Pastor Greg's message tomorrow night will be "What Happens When I Die?" Please join us!!

If you would like to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, click HERE.