Greater Augusta Crusade Recap
BREAKING ATTENDANCE RECORDS AT
AUGUSTA CIVIC CENTER, HARVEST CRUSADE DRAWS MORE
THAN 27,000 OVER FOUR NIGHTS
Overflow Crowds Line Up to Hear Message of Hope from Greg Laurie and Music from Jeremy Camp, Mercy Me, Jars of Clay, and Others
 RIVERSIDE, Calif. April 21, 2005—Called "the largest evangelistic crusade in the history of Augusta," by many local residents, the Greater Augusta Harvest brought the best in Christian music and a powerful message of faith to more than 27,000 people in attendance over four nights, April 17 – 20. Drawing a large crowd each night, the Harvest Crusade broke attendance records at the Augusta Civic Center during its Harvest Youth Jam, packing 10,500 into the arena and two overflow areas.
WAGT-TV (NBC) news in Augusta reported, "The Augusta Civic Center was packed Sunday night for an historic event. For the first time in almost 20 years, an evangelistic crusade was held in Augusta."
In addition to the crowds packing the Civic Center, more than 12,000 people from 73 countries watched the Greater Augusta Harvest Crusade live over the Internet. Throughout the four-night crusade event, more than 1,400 people came forward to profess their faith in Jesus Christ.
In addition to a nightly message from Harvest Crusade evangelist Greg Laurie, speaking on topics including, "How to Be Happy" and "Immortality," the Greater Augusta Harvest featured music that brought crowds to their feet, regardless of the genre. Musicians included Mercy Me (whose hit "I Can Only Imagine" has been played on pop stations nationwide), Grammy winning band Jars of Clay with special guest Christopher Williams, Jeremy Camp, Crystal Lewis, The Katinas, Doyle Dykes, Dennis Agajanian, and a 700-voice Augusta community-wide choir.
Hosted by more than 135 churches in the August area, the Greater Augusta Harvest marked the first Harvest Crusade to be held in Georgia. Harvest will hold a second Georgia event in at the University of Georgia's Stegeman Coliseum in Athens this week, Friday, April 22.
Harvest Crusades, known for presenting traditional Christian beliefs in a culturally relevant way, employing of-the-moment methods like Internet technology, ultra-hip Christian music, and current event references, has drawn more than 3 million people to stadiums and arenas in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand since 1990. Each Harvest Crusade event features a message from Southern California pastor and evangelist Greg Laurie.
Harvest Youth Jam Reaches Kids in Augusta
Packing every one of the 8,000 available seats inside the Augusta Civic Center, plus an additional 1,200 overflow seats set up inside the facility and outside in a parking lot, the second night of the Greater Augusta Harvest combined a straightforward message of faith with music that rocked the house. The Monday night program of the crusade, called Harvest Youth Jam, was specifically geared toward youth and featured a talk about eternity Greg Laurie and rockin' music by Mercy Me and Jeremy Camp.
Speaking to an audience comprised primarily of young people, Laurie challenged, "It doesn't matter what sort of life you have had—drugs, alcohol, whatever—Jesus Christ can change your life."
Volunteering at the Harvest Jam were groups of teens from Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, Calif. These SWAT Teams (Student With a Testimony) travel to each Harvest Crusade to encourage local youth spiritually by teaming up with local church youth groups to pass out invitations to Harvest events. The SWAT Teams passed out more than 4,000 invitations throughout the week at the local college, the Tour de Georgia event, and other public areas, along the way leading 31 people to faith in Christ.
 An Unforgettable Interview
The Tuesday night Harvest Crusade kicked off with music from guitarist and singer Dennis Agajanian, called "the fastest flat picker in the world" by both Johnny Cash and the Guinness Book of World Records. While crowds cheered for Agajanian's rendition of "Nothing But the Blood of Jesus," an interview between Greg Laurie and local hero, ex-hostage Ashley Smith, brought them to their feet for a standing ovation.
Smith, an Augusta native, talked with Laurie about her faith and how it was strengthened when she was held hostage in her own home for seven hours by armed murder suspect, Brian Nichols. Smith said, "I surrendered completely and let God work in the situation. I would not be here if not for Jesus."
After a musical set from pop group, The Katinas, Laurie presented the evening's message, "How to Be Happy," emphasizing the choice Smith made to allow God to be her strength in midst of a time of need. "God doesn't want anyone or anything in your life to be more important than Him—material possessions won't make you happy," said Laurie. "You can be a good, moral person who has everything the world can offer, but the only thing that can bring true happiness is a relationship with Jesus Christ. Take your needs to Him."
Greg Laurie, who founded the evangelistic Harvest Crusade events in 1990, also serves as senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, Calif., one of the 15 largest churches in the U.S. In addition to the Greater Augusta Harvest, Harvest will host 2005 events in Athens, Ga. (April 22); Santa Monica, Calif. (June 3–4); Anaheim, Calif. (July 15–17); and Newcastle, NSW, Australia (Sept. 8–11).
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