We Witnessed A Harvest

​My family and I had the privilege of attending an event this past weekend that will forever be etched into my mind. It was a small glimpse of a future heaven that awaits those who believe in and confess Jesus as Lord.

I’ve been to AT&T Stadium—home of the Dallas Cowboys—many times. I’ve attended football games there, concerts, and the NBA All Star Game. However, this past Sunday was nothing like any of those. Normally when we pull up, the parking lots are filled with tailgaters who have been drinking since sunrise. Big screen televisions and smokers hang off the back of trucks and SUVs. During football season, people adorn their team colors and jerseys, and you clearly know which team they are rooting for.
 
This past Sunday afternoon was so much different. Instead of parking lots filled with tailgaters, parking lots were packed, but there was no one hanging out by their cars. As we made our way to the stadium, instead of Cowboys jerseys, we saw “Jesus” t-shirts. Long lines of waiting people wrapped the building.
 
What made Sunday different? Harvest America.

Greg Laurie brought his Harvest America evangelical crusade to the largest venue in Texas. His dream? To fill it to capacity to share the Good News with all who would come. He lined up four Christian worship artists, several local pastors, seven hundred and fifty participating churches, and thousands of volunteers to undertake this God-sized feat.
 
And it was FREE to the public.
 
Mind you, FREE had its challenges. FREE meant that no one was assigned seats, and it also meant they had no idea how many would actually show up.
 
When we arrived two hours before the start of the event, signs outside the stadium were flashing, “Levels 100 and 200 are already filled. Please go to Levels 300 and 400.” By the time we made our way in, Level 300 had filled, as well. One hour before the start of the event, they had to lock the doors and no one else could get in. 80,000 people had filled AT&T Stadium to worship the Lord and to hear a message about Hope.
 
What happened to those still left outside? They were sent to two separate plazas. They could accommodate 20,000 people. Everyone else learned a valuable lesson. Time is of the essence.
 
This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. (Romans 13:11, NLT)
 
I told my children that morning that they were about to witness a historical event. Even if everyone who showed up was already a redeemed sinner saved by grace, there may never be a time this side of heaven where they would sit in the presence of the Lord worshipping with nearly 100,000 fellow believers. However, I knew there would be at least one who would come that didn’t know Jesus. And if Jesus came just for that one, one would be good enough and well worth it.
 
I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. (Luke 15:7, NIV)

Initial numbers report that over 6,700 people received a Bible and made a profession of faith or a re-commitment of their faith. The earth shook and the heavens were filled with praise. 6,300 people publicly said, “Yes” to Jesus. Harvest America was live-fed over their website (harvestamerica.com) and over 4,000 venues tuned in. They still don’t have the total number of those who made decisions from those venues, and they may never have an accurate number, but I can only imagine that the number is large.
 
I also truly believe that every believer who witnessed what took place at AT&T Stadium was once again filled with hope and encouragement that not all is lost in this world. I know for one, I am.

We witnessed a great Harvest and I'm reminded that there is still a strong remnant in America. Don't give up Christians! 

But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. (1 John 4:4)