June 11, 2001
Crossover records at least 1,041 decisions
___By David Winfrey
___Kentucky Western Recorder
___NEW ORLEANS--At least 1,041 people made professions of faith as a result of Crossover New Orleans, the evangelistic blitz preceding the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting.
___Heavy rains from Hurricane Allison put a damper on several Crossover events, but at least 41 churches hosted evangelistic block parties, door-to-door visits and other outreach activities May 9-10, according to Fred Dyess, director of missions for the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans.
A STUDENT from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary shares the gospel with residents and tourists during Crossover New Orleans.
___The bulk of conversions resulted from an inner-city evangelism team sponsored by the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board. That team, which spent time on the city's notoriously bawdy Bourbon Street, was responsible for 520 professions of faith, according to Don Smith, a Crossover coordinator for the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board.
___Other people took part in a "kindness explosion." Evangelist Jeff Harvel of Morristown, Tenn., and his wife, Kim, and children, Collin, 3, and Katy, 9, passed out bottles of water, free long-distance phone cards and packets provided by Woman's Missionary Union groups from Louisiana.
___"We handed out hundreds of packets and bottled water," Harvel said. People especially were receptive to taking the items from his children, he added.
___Stationed in an area near the popular Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans, the family shared Christ with people from all walks of life, he said. "We were able to minister to the world in that one spot."
___Jerry Drace of Jackson, Tenn., said he talked about his Christian faith to four lesbians who said they traveled to New Orleans specifically to boycott the SBC annual meeting.
___The opportunity to minister came when one of the women passed by Drace and he offered her a bottle of water. When asked "what was the catch," Drace replied: "There is no catch. We are giving it out in the name of Jesus, who is the living water."
___That gesture enabled Drace to talk with the four women in a non-threatening way, he said. "They were very surprised that I did not confront them, but rather presented the plan of salvation to them and told them God loves them."
___Another 299 decisions were recorded at block parties. Hosted by area churches, volunteers provided entertainment, meals and fellowship to reach out to the neighborhoods. Helpers came from congregations throughout the country to sing, cook, counsel or offer other assistance.
___"We kept busy and wet," said Art Sauer, youth minister for Lakewood Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky. The church team of 16 teenagers and 15 adults came to perform with puppets, drama, a band and interpretive movement.
___Sauer said the church where his group originally was scheduled to work postponed its party because of rain. When he called another church to offer help, he found that church's entertainment had not shown up.
___"I said, 'We can help you.' … It was just divine providence," he said. "We just let God work. It was awesome."
___Heavy rains kept many neighbors away from the party at First Baptist Church of Belle Chase, but the church fellowship and working with volunteers from other congregations was a needed blessing, according to Pastor Freddie Williford. "It reaffirms that we're not in this alone," he said.
___"We needed this as well, and God knew this day was going to be the day it was long before we did, and he knew we needed this," Williford added. "Being willing to be obedient determines success, not numbers."
___Crossover leaders said another 128 people became Christians as a result of NAMB's evangelism response center, a network of phone counselors who talked with people responding to television ads offering information about the Christian faith.
___Sauer said he wished more churches would take part in Crossover activities.
___"It's so easy to do. It's a lot of planning, it's a lot of coordination, but it really pays off to watch God work," he said. "The stories that we bring back are invaluable."
___With additional information from Lonnie Wilkey, editor of the Tennessee Baptist & Reflector
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