Changed Lives: Hawaii

CHANGED LIVES: HAWAII
Harvest Crusade Participants Share Their Stories

Harvest Crusades with Greg Laurie has drawn more than 3 million people to stadiums and arenas across the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand since 1990, but its message has never been based on the volume of people in attendance.  Rather, Harvest Crusades is about impacting its audiences, one person at a time, with a life-changing message of faith in Christ.

As a result of the Harvest Crusades, some 243,000 people have registered decisions to commit their lives to Christ, and two of these changed-life stories from Hawaii are listed below.

Tex Bruffey: Firefighter Finds God Through Tragedy

It took two personal tragedies before Honolulu firefighter Tex Bruffey came to really know God.  When Tex was four, his navy pilot father disappeared over the Bermuda Triangle, leaving him with a feeling of self-dependence.  And even though he sat in church each Sunday, he felt apathy toward God.

In adulthood, apathy turned to anger when, in 1987, his son was killed in an automobile accident.  As he and his wife searched for answers, Tex witnessed her eventual conversion to Christianity and the return of joy to her life.

In 1991, Tex attended a Harvest Crusade at the Waikiki Shell where he felt God pull him out of his seat and onto the field to declare his commitment of faith.  “The music was terrific and Greg Laurie’s message was unreal in the way in spoke directly to me,” said Tex.  “It was like a weight lifted off of my shoulders.”

Tex has worked for the Honolulu Fire Department for the past 25 years.  He plans to invite friends to the Harvest Hawaii crusade this year.

Lee and Ernie Quidilla: A Fresh Start as Husband and Wife

Born in Kaimuki, Oahu, Lee first committed her life to Christ as a young adult in 1983, and began working for a church in California.  But life became rocky, and a few years later Lee and her first husband divorced, leaving her angry, depressed, and questioning her faith.  Feeling let down by God, Lee walked away from her spiritual life.

A move back to Hawaii and a second marriage with a new husband who spent more time at the local bar than with his family prompted Lee to reconsider her relationship with God.  “I wanted this marriage to succeed more than anything in the world,” said Lee.

After agreeing that something was missing from their spiritual lives, Lee and her husband Ernie decided to watch the 2003 Anaheim Harvest Crusade live on the Internet.  That night, in their living room, Lee rededicated her life to Christ while Ernie made a first-time decision of faith.  A month later, Lee and Ernie attended the Hawaii Harvest Crusade at the Waikiki Shell with Ernie’s two young sons, ages 10 and 12, and both boys joined their parents in making a commitment of faith in Christ.

“The Gospel message presented at the Harvest Crusades was so clear that even the kids understood it,” said Lee.  “Our lives have changed a lot since last summer.  Our family now has a shared faith that is growing every day.”

The Quidilla’s currently attend Calvary Chapel, Honolulu and plan to attend the 2004 Harvest Hawaii crusade.

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