Morgan County Baptists are hoping Crusade 2000 will prompt the same excitement among Christians that the secular world has for rock concerts and athletic events.
Almost 600 people recently attended a kickoff banquet in Hartselle designed to lay the groundwork for the five-day series of meetings.
Scheduled for April 30-May 4 at the Southeastern Horse Center in Priceville, Crusade 2000 will feature evangelist Rick Gage.
Although Baptists have played a large role in the initial preparations, chairman Harold Fanning of Shoal Creek Baptist hopes for an interdenominational and interracial meeting.
“We’re working with several other denominations,” he said.
“So far we’ve had help from Assemblies of God, Church of God, and Methodists. Two Black churches were represented at the organizational meeting at our church.”
Fanning believes momentum is picking up.
“People seem enthusiastic and willing to join us. I’ve been well pleased,” he said. “We’re getting calls now from people who were waiting to see if it was all talk or if it was really going to happen.”
An evangelism rally is planned for March at Calvary Assembly of God in Decatur.
The speaker, Ted Acklin, is a black minister from Madison.
Fanning said Acklin is a dynamic speaker who is expected to mobilize even more people for the crusade.
The idea for the crusade was born out of a prayer group.
Fanning said several local ministers had been praying about the needs of the area for some time and felt the time was right to begin plans for a crusade.
He said Gage was an easy choice for the evangelist.
“We were hearing about Rick’s tremendous success in youth camps and crusades, especially the crusade in London, Ky.,” Fanning said. “We feel really good about him.”
Gage’s Kentucky crusade in September 1999 attracted more than 20,000 for the week of services, with more than 1, 000 salvation commitments.
Gage, the son of evangelist Freddie Gage, conducts crusades worldwide.
He is a former assistant football coach at Liberty University in Lynchburgh, Va., and is now based in Atlanta, Ga.
His ministry slogan is “Go Tell,” which he described as “Ministry with a mission, bringing a message of hope and new life in Jesus Christ.”
At the kickoff banquet, Gage issued a challenge to the people present, exhorting them to begin praying and volunteering to serve on committees.
The crusade is expected to cost $56,158. According to office manager Joyce Durham, half of the amount needed was raised through donations at the banquet. Durham said that many activities are planned in the next few months. “Our next event is a church leaders rally at West Hartselle Baptist Church,” she said. “After that, we have scheduled a men’s prayer breakfast, a women’s brunch, volunteer training sessions and several other activities.”
“We know every church in the area will not participate, but we are working to recruit as many churches as possible,” she said. “We also want as many volunteers as we can get.”
For information, call 256-773-7799.
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