Harvest Online ::: News

RIVERSIDE, Calif., July 15, 2004—Harvest Crusades with Greg Laurie celebrated 15 years of crusade ministry this summer by doing what it does best—reaching people with a message of Christ’s love through unconventional means that appeal to youth and adults alike.

True to form, Harvest Crusades held at the Waikiki Shell and Kapiolani Park in Honolulu, Hawaii (June 24-27) and at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif. (July 10) featured Extreme athletes flying from ramp to ramp during Motocross demos, BMX riders and skateboarders exhibiting tricks on a Vert Ramp, and crowds dancing to music from artists as diverse as Skillet and Fernando Ortega. But the underlying theme was the simple message of God’s love and salvation presented throughout each crusade event by evangelist Greg Laurie.

Called “a formidable, flexible event that has stayed in step with the latest trends in communication, music and current events” (The Orange County Register, July 10, 2004), Harvest Crusades with Greg Laurie has drawn more than 3 million people to stadium and arenas in the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand over the past 15 years, employing contemporary methods like edgy music, Extreme sports, and live Web casts.

More than 75,000 people attended this year’s Harvest Crusades, with some 25,000 people participating in afternoon Summerfest youth programs held in Hawaii and Anaheim, and an additional combined total of 50,000 people attending evening crusade programs in both cities. More than 4,300 people committed their lives to Christ as a result of the two crusades.

The Honolulu and Anaheim Harvest Crusades were also broadcast live on the internet, with more than 10,000 people logging on to watch the events in real time.

The 2004 Harvest Crusades featured the return of the popular Summerfest afternoon youth festival in Anaheim, and marked the first-ever Hawaii Summerfest. A crowd favorite, Summerfest events included Extreme sports like Motocross, BMX and Vert Skate from pro athletes including Christian Hosoi (skateboard), Mike Metzker (BMX and X Games qualified), Nate Adams (Motocross and X Games qualified), Kyle Loza (Motocross), Brian Dowdy (Motocross), Jimmie McGuire (Motocross), Thad Miller (BMX), Lance Mountain (skateboard), and Chad Kagy (BMX).

In addition to sports demos, Summerfest events featured a SportsZone and a KidsZone, and music from local bands Koa Siu, Unlearn, and Sam Kapu in Hawaii, and Tree 63, Skillet, The Elms, and By the Tree in California.

Evening crusade programs in both cities were a dynamic mix of genre-spanning music teamed with a powerful nightly message from crusade evangelist Greg Laurie. Speaking on topics like “Immortality” and “The Highway to Heaven,” Laurie challenged audiences to consider their future plans for eternity.

“You have to get on the right road to arrive at the right destination,” Laurie told crowds in Hawaii. “If you want to go to the North Shore, you need to get out on highway H-1. If you want to go to heaven, you take the directions God gives you for His road. Which road will you choose?”

Harvest Hawaii

Following a one-night capacity crowd event at the Waikiki Shell last year, Harvest returned to Hawaii for its seventh time since 1991. The four-night Harvest Hawaii crusade featured music from Crystal Lewis, The Katinas, Kutless, Doyle Dykes, and local bands Kapena and 7 Simple Pieces. The New Hope Hula Halau also performed. In addition, Some 300 youth traveled to Oahu from Prestonwood Baptist Church in Dallas to volunteer at Summerfest and sing in the Harvest Hawaii choir during the first night of the crusade.

While the Harvest Crusade took place by night, by day more than 40 kids from Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, Calif. participated in street evangelism in Honolulu, joining with local youth to distribute 15,000 event flyers and leading more than 120 people to make decisions of faith in Christ.

Southern California Harvest

Originally designed as a launch event for the now-postponed Billy Graham Crusade in Pasadena, the Southern California Harvest celebrated its 15th year in the Southland with a one-day crusade at Anaheim’s Angel Stadium. The day-long Southern California Harvest Crusade featured the return of the popular Summerfest youth festival and an evening “A Night of Worship” program. Musical guests included U.K.-based worship leader Matt Redman, Dove Award-winner Fernando Ortega, and singer-songwriter Tommy Walker, and a community gospel choir.

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. Harvest Crusades plans to host 2005 events in Newcastle, Australia; Christchurch, New Zealand; Augusta, Georgia; and Anaheim, California.

Media Contact:
Laura Swickard McGowan
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