Across Pacific Magazine



16TH ANNUAL SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
HARVEST CRUSADE

DRAWS 150,000 IN PERSON AND TECHNOLOGICALLY VIA THE INTERNET
TO HEAR CONSISTENT GOSPEL MESSAGE

Evangelist Greg Laurie, Joined by Musicians and X-Games Athletes to Get the Message Across, Tells Crowds How to Know God Personally

By Michael Ireland

Tuesday, July 19, 2005

Anaheim Stadium HarvestRIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA (ANS) -- Harvest Crusades with Greg Laurie has hosted evangelistic crusade events in Southern California for the past 16 years. This year, the 2005 Southern California Harvest Crusade was no exception as 100,000 people of all ages and backgrounds poured into Angel Stadium of Anaheim, July 15 – 17, joined by more than 50,000 via Internet technology. (Pictured: Crowd packs Angel Stadium).

Laurie was accompanied by musical artists and X-Games athletes who presented the Greg Lauriesame life-changing message, through music, sports, technology, as he told the audience how they could get to know God personally. (Pictured: Greg Laurie preaching at Harvest Crusade 2005).

In addition to those attending the crusade in-person, more than 50,000 people watched and listened via live Internet broadcasts and, for the first time, via podcasting technology, according to an e-mail press release received by ASSIST News Service (ANS).

The release states that during the weekend, more than 28,649 people from 61 countries, totaling over 3,767 hours of streaming, logged on to watch the crusade live on the Internet. "Hits" per night averaged 2 million. And during the past week, 22,581 requests have been received for Harvest’s podcast feeds at www.harvestpodcast.org.

Harvest Crusades says that while several people made decisions of faith in Christ through new technology, during the Southern California Harvest Crusade more than 8,500 people stepped onto the field of Angel Stadium to profess their faith.

HARVEST JAM YOUTH NIGHT PACKS THE HOUSE

Harvest xbikeThe Saturday night Harvest Jam youth program not only rocked the house with high-impact music and X-Games-level sports, it packed the house with more than 48,000 people in attendance, according to information released to the media. (Pictured X-Games biker).

Youth lined up outside the gates of Angel Stadium on Saturday afternoon, anticipating the change to hear a pre-crusade performance by Kutless and to watch a Motocross exhibition by riders including X-Games gold winner Nate Adams and X-Games qualifier Brian Dowdy, as well as favorites Dave Demangos and Kyle Loza.

harvest songsBy the time the evening Harvest Jam kicked off, virtually every seat in the stadium was filled, leading many to listen to Laurie’s message and music from Jeremy Camp and Toby Mac from the parking lot. (Pictured: Casting Crowns).

deliriousDuring each night of the Southern California Harvest Crusade, Laurie presented a clear, relevant gospel message, preaching on topics entitled "God’s Cure for Heart Trouble," "Are We Living in the Last Days?" and "How to Change for Good." In addition to Laurie’s talks, the crusade featured music from Casting Crowns, Delirious, Kutless, Toby Mac, Jeremy Camp, Jars of Clay, Crystal Lewis, and Steven Curtis Chapman.  (Pictured: Delirious).

NEW PODCAST TECHNOLOGY

For those not able to make it to Angel Stadium during the weekend, each night of the Southern California Harvest Crusade was broadcast live on the Internet (www.harvestcrusades.org)  and, for the first time, portions of the crusade were available to upload to iTunes nightly.

Information released to the media states that in a partnership between Harvest Crusades, The GodCast Network, and Life Spring, a series of four podcasts were produced during the week prior to the crusade, providing a background on the message, the music, the people, and the experience of the Harvest Crusade.

Six podcasts were produced during the crusade weekend, including the nightly messages given by Laurie, and the unique sound-seeing tours of all aspects of the crusade events like interviews with attendees and musical guests. Finally, two additional podcasts will be produced after the crusade, focusing on the experience of those who attended. The podcasts can be found on the web at www.harvestpodcast.org  or www.harvest.godcast.org.

Laurie, who founded the evangelistic Harvest Crusade events in 1990, also serves as senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California, one of the 15 largest churches in the U.S. During the past 16 years, the Harvest Crusades have drawn more than 3 million people to events in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Laurie's television program, 'Harvest: Greg Laurie,' is the top-rated religious program in its timeslot on KTLA in Los Angeles. In addition to the Southern California Harvest Crusade, Harvest hosted 2005 events in Augusta, GA, Athens, GA, and Santa Monica, CA. Harvest will travel to Newcastle, NSW, Australia, Sept. 8 – 11 and Christchurch, New Zealand, Sept. 14.

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

According to Laurie's ministry website, in 1990, a small group of people set out to present the gospel of Jesus Christ to Southern Californians in a non-traditional, non-church environment. With little more than personal experience, deep conviction, and great vision, they pursued their simple strategy of presenting Christ's timeless message in a contemporary format. A plan evolved for a casual evening of upbeat music, genuine worship, and a clear presentation of biblical messages.

The website says that at a time when many in America were questioning the effectiveness and the future of modern crusade evangelism, Chuck Smith, pastor of Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, and Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside (currently one of the 15-largest churches in America) believed that crusades had great potential for a new generation. The format would be contemporary and, while the crusades would be relevant for people of all ages, they would appeal particularly to youth.

On faith, they rented the Pacific Amphitheater in Costa Mesa for several nights in the summer of 1990, not knowing how many people would show up for the event. Remarkably, more than 90,000 people attended what was the first Harvest Crusade, featuring Greg Laurie as the evangelist. The results confirmed that people are still interested in hearing straight talk about life's challenges and problems.

TAKING THE MESSAGE TO THE WORLD

Since 1990, crowds totaling more than 3 million people have attended Harvest Crusades across the U.S., Australia and New Zealand. 2005 Harvest events will include a first-time visit to Georgia for crusades in Augusta (April 17 – 20) and Athens (April 22), Santa Monica, California (June 3 – 4), as well as return visits to Anaheim, California (July 15 – 17) and Newcastle, Australia (Sept. 8 – 11). Venues for Harvest Crusades range from 60,000-seat stadiums, like Angel Stadium of Anaheim, to the 10,500-seat minor league Dukes Stadium in Albuquerque, N.M. Since 1990, more than 251,944 people have registered decisions to commit their lives to Christ as a result of the crusades.

TECHNOLOGY MEETS THEOLOGY

The ministry site says that beginning with its first live crusade Webcast in 1998, Harvest Crusades has pioneered the use of cutting-edge technology to share its message of faith and hope with the world. More than 217,000 people have participated in Harvest Crusades via the Internet, watching live broadcasts from countries including the U.S., Macedonia, Brazil, India, and Japan.

Besides conducting evangelistic outreaches, Harvest Ministries sponsors A New Beginning -- an international radio program with messages by Greg Laurie -- as well as a television program called 'Harvest: Greg Laurie' that is currently rated the number one religious program on KTLA-TV 5 in Los Angeles, and also airs internationally on the Trinity Broadcasting Network, AFRTS, The Church Channel, and others.

Greg Laurie serves as president of Harvest Crusades, Inc., a position for which he receives no compensation. Harvest Crusades, Inc., is a not-for-profit corporation that exists for the sole purpose of presenting the life-changing message of Jesus Christ to as many people as possible, and to help believers mature in their faith.

HARVEST CRUSADES: MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN COMMUNITIES

The ministry site says that in addition to serving as an evangelist for Harvest Crusades, Laurie is the pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California, where as many as 15,000 people worship each week.

The site says that just as Harvest Christian Fellowship serves its community in many capacities, so do the Harvest Crusades positively impact communities around the world with evangelistic outreach. Whether attendees, volunteers, or local church members, thousands see powerful personal and corporate change as a result of a Harvest Crusade in their city.

HUNDREDS OF LOCAL CHURCHES AND VOLUNTEERS INVOLVED

In inviting Harvest Crusades to a city, hundreds of local churches from various denominations unite to form a hosting committee to organize outreach efforts. After the Crusade, local churches follow up with attendees who made a decision to follow Christ and invite them to worship.

Hundreds of local volunteers help host each Harvest Crusade. Though many of the tasks are basic, helping with parking, passing out programs, manning canned food drive drop-offs, many volunteers report real, lasting benefits from the opportunity to serve.

MORE THAN 3 MILLION IN ATTENDANCE SINCE 1990

Tens of thousands of people from all backgrounds attend each Harvest Crusade and its ancillary events, like Harvest Youth Jam, which feature free concerts with some of Christian music's top artists. There are literally thousands of stories of people whose lives are forever changed as a result of attending a Crusade, or watching one on television or a webcast.

Over the past 16 years, some 251,944 people have committed their lives to Christ as a result of the Harvest Crusades and the message of hope presented at each event by Laurie.


For more information about the 2005 Harvest Crusades or Greg Laurie, contact Laura Swickard McGowan at (847) 328-8009 or (847) 347-5206. To download high resolution photos of the Southern California Harvest Crusade, log onto the Harvest Newsroom at www.newsroom.harvest.org.

Laura Swickard McGowan
Laura McGowan Communications
Phone: (847) 328-8009 - laura@lauramcgowan.com - www.lauramcgowan.com


** Michael Ireland is an international British freelance journalist. A former reporter with a London newspaper, Michael is the Chief Correspondent for ASSIST News Service of Garden Grove, CA. Michael immigrated to the United States in 1982 and became a US citizen in Sept., 1995. He is married with two children. Michael has also been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station.


ASSIST News Service (ANS)  www.assistnews.net -- E-mail: danjuma1@aol.com






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