Evangelist Hopes To Harvest The Faithful

Illawarra Mercury

Saturday May 13, 2000

By ANNE BRANSDON

FOR those of us who have been wondering about those Harvest 2000 car bumper stickers - the time has come to reveal that these people-movers have been spreading the word about one of the largest religious experiences to hit the Illawarra.

Harvest 2000 is expected to attract 25,000 people to Wollongong Entertainment Centre from May 25 to 28 and will involve more than 100 churches from the Illawarra, Shoalhaven and Southern Highlands.

American evangelist Greg Laurie, the senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship at Riverside, California, will lead the evangelical experience with an entourage of 100 from his own church.

Mr Laurie has spoken to more than two million people at public outreach events in the USA during the past 10 years.

He has been described in the media as a pastor who attracts both Generation Xers and Baby Boomers, is an MTV-savvy minister and who has the appeal of evangelist Billy Graham.

His style is reportedly charismatic, contemporary in music and gospel message and patrons will have their chance to commit their lives to Christ.

A few years ago, a Harvest event at the home stadium of the California Angels national baseball team drew 164,000 people, almost twice the nightly average crowd of a baseball match.

Mr Laurie rides a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and is also an author and broadcaster.

His Harvest events are supported by his own church members who, at their own expense, have mailed letters of invitation to Harvest 2000 to more than 40,000 households in the Illawarra. It is also expected that every home will be visited by a local church member to publicise the event.

Inquiries can be made at the Harvest 2000 office on 1300650663.