By Randy Lee
JONESBORO – Real Hope – that is what life is all about.
With the inevitability of death for all, the Real Hope in our life is ‘eternal security’ only available in Jesus.
That is the reasoning behind the North Central Baptist Association Crusade next month.
That is right, NEXT month!
- April 30 and May 1 – Jonesboro-Hodge High School gymnasium
- May 2 and 3 – Winnfield Middle School gym
Services will begin 6 p.m., nightly.
This world, Louisiana and our twin parishes are full of people who currently possess no ‘Real Hope.’
We know Real Hope is found only through eternal security from personal faith in Jesus Christ as God’s only begotten Son and Savior of the souls of men, women and boys and girls all over the world.
This is what we will emphasize throughout the crusade.
The messages will be preached by one of the leading evangelists in our nation for this generation, Bill Britt.
God has anointed Bro. Bill with the Holy Spirit power to preach to this generation to make a real impact for biblical faith everywhere he goes, and he has gone all over the world.
Now, Bro. Bill is coming to Jonesboro to preach the saving grace of God Almighty. These four nights of worship and preaching the Gospel is the Real Hope this area needs. Many, if not most 1) do not possess ‘Real Hope’ and 2) do not even realize that they are living without ‘Real Hope’.
The churches of North Central Baptist Association have sensed God’s direction to provide an area wide crusade to evangelize our neighbors and proclaim the truth in the availability of ‘Real Hope’ today through faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There is no one in Jackson Parish nor Winn Parish who is not acceptable to God!
But, how can they believe unless they hear and how can they hear unless they are present when the Gospel is clearly and powerfully proclaimed?
So, it is up to us to bring the lost to the crusade and allow the convicting Holy Spirit of God to convert lost souls into children of the living God.
Jesus is the only true source of ‘Real Hope’.
Prayer moves mountains … and the hearts of men (and women, and boys and girls).
Now is the time to identify ONE!
Instead of praying for ‘the lost’ as a whole, we are encouraging each member of all 54 NCBA churches to identify ONE – ONE person for whom you will pray earnestly and daily to
1) repent and be saved, and become a member of God’s family;
2) repent and restore fellowship with Christ, committing to live for Him and revere Him as Lord and Savior;
3) become submissive and obedient to the teachings and commands of the Lord Jesus Christ, beginning with obedience in public profession and baptism; and,
4) become personally engaged and committed to the church and God’s kingdom here on earth.
So many ‘claim’ faith, yet are still disconnected to any church or very shallow in their faith or inactive in any church for the cause of the kingdom of God.
More Christians MISS worship on Sunday than attend even in the Bible belt, and God has been relegated to “leftovers” in the lives of those who claim faith. Even Jackson and Winn Parish are spiritually dormant, although this is considered the buckle of the Bible belt.
Essentially, the lost world sees no reason to change their lifestyle because they sense no real difference in the lifestyle they’ve chosen and the lifestyle of believers.
Revival is needed!
God is still a jealous God, and when His children neglect their relationship with Him, He takes it personally.
Real Hope–JESUS!
Randy Lee is pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Jonesboro, La. His column originally was published in the March 23 edition of the church’s newsletter, “The Encourager,” carried in the Baptist Message as a special insert for the congregation’s subscribers.
